Nottingham Road, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Private Bag X01, Nottingham Road, 3280 South Africa

Telephone: +27 033 266 8200 Facsimile: +27 033 266 6860

E-mail: reception@cliftonnr.co.za Reg. N0: 06-621 NPO

Member of

10 June 2011

“Setting a good example trumps having to maintain discipline.” Professor Jonathan Jansen

Professor Jansen writes in his book “We Need to Talk” of research done on why the most successful black scientists in South Africa achieved as highly as they did. Without exception parental authority was the major common factor in the academic success of these scientists. Professor Jansen suggests that “for parents to inspire children to learn … all they need is to enjoy learning themselves. Discipline is good, but when children equate education with threats and schooling with punishment, don’t expect them to enjoy learning and to aspire to higher education. It is the simple things parents do between tests and examinations, like the marvel they express when observing a loaded plane lift off the runway, the questions they pose about a scientific discovery, the joy they demonstrate when recalling a favourite poem, and the delight they exude when solving a puzzle.”

The semester tests have run very successfully. The teachers are enthusiastic about the children’s progress and performance. We have now entered the end-of-semester assessment phase and report writing has commenced. Reports will be handed to children on the final day of the term (24 June).

Academics The whole-school comprehension programme kicks into gear again this week now that the semester assessments are behind us. For the next fortnight we will be focusing on building vocabulary and understanding words. Two documents which will help you help your children at home and support what we are doing in the classroom are attached.

Please read through the attachments (both offer the same information presented in different ways) and chat to your child next week about what is happening in their literacy lessons.

Talks for Parents on Parenting the 21st Century Child! A reminder that creative parenting expert, Nikki Bush, will be presenting two topics at Clifton on 16 June. Nikki will be talking on “Future-Proofing Your Child” and “Parenting on the Go.” Please RSVP to Mrs Forbes on jphead@cliftonnr.co.za along with proof of payment (R100 per person) which can be made into the school account with the reference Nikki Bush.

Staff We are delighted that our three staff members who were injured in the accident last term are all back at work healthy and well!

Congratulations to Kirsten Connellan and her partner Donavan, they are the proud parents of Isabella Molly, sister to Jayden.

We have completed the interview process for a locum for Mrs Combrinck who goes on maternity leave at the end of this term. An announcement should be made by the end of next week regarding Mrs Combrinck’s replacement for the second semester.

Congratulations to Mr Smith Miss Jelliman who have both been selected to represent KNZ Inland at the annual Country Districts Hockey week in July.

Parent’s Association The School would like to extend our thanks to Mrs Jane Greenwood for her role as a grade representative and secretary of the PA these past three years. Jane and her family are relocating to Cape Town and we wish them the very best in their move.

Your PA grade representatives will be in contact with you shortly requesting a thorough check at home for items of clothing that do not belong to your child but may have inadvertently ended up in their cupboard. Please return any such items to school and their rightful owner.

While on the topic, the pile of unlabelled items of clothing in the lost property cupboard in the School Shop continues to grow. Please remember to take a detour past the school shop when next you are at school and check with Mrs Shaw if anything might belong to your son or daughter.

Culture

Grade 5 and 6 Cultural Showcase – Thursday 23 June Grade 5 and 6 parents please remember to book your tickets for “Miranda and the Magic Sponge” through Mrs Coetzer in reception. Please also check the play practice times carefully for when your child is required to be at a late play practice session.

Individual Music Pupil’s Concert – Friday 17 June The concert for the individual music pupils on Friday 17 June will take place in the SP Hall and not in the Chapel as advertised in the calendar.

Sport Congratulations to the following children who have been selected for the KZN School’s Team to represent KZN in the annual SANEF inter-schools competition in Johannesburg: Rachael Stevenson and Samantha Schallen (Levels 2 to 4), Michaela Strong, Emma Marshall, Katy Lund and Michaela Lane (Level 1).

Sports Results

Chess 6th June Juniors – Clifton 12; Cordwalles 4 Seniors – Cowan House 20; Cordwalles 15; Clifton 7

Horse Riding: Royal Show – 23 May to 1 June 2011 Showing:

First Ridden: 1st, 2nd & 3rd, Pippa Erskine and Penny Lane;

Working Riding Pony: 1st Rebecca Erskine and Rhapsody; 3rd Rachael Stevenson and Galaxy

Champion Young Childs Pony: Pippa Erskine and Penny Lane

Champion Working Pony: 1st Rebecca Erskine and Rhapsody

Reserve Supreme Champion Pony: 1st Rebecca Erskine and Rhapsody

Best Child Handler: 2nd Cameron Karg and Mayfly

Newcomer’s Working Riding: 4th Cameron Karg and Mayfly

Club Hunt: 3rd Mathew Green and Raindrop

Fox Hunt: 1st Daniel Dillon and Just Dandy; 2nd Rachael Stevenson and Magic Boy

Show jumping:

70cm Class: 3rd, 3rd Rebecca Erskine and Rhapsody

60cm Class: 1st, 4th Mathew Green and Raindrop

Cross-Country: New Hanover 3rd June

U9 U10 U11 U12 Open

F. Huggins 7th G. Baker 6th D. Leslie 5th L. Thomson 2nd C. Mandy 2nd

R. Ingledew 17th E. Visser 13th T. Oellermann 7th R. Melouney 3rd C. Rawlins 3rd

C. Muirhead 32nd A. Logan 25th H. Visser 12th J. Krige 12th J. Britton 4th

S. Butcher 16th T. Harper 26th T. Mecklenborg 12th M. Logan 20th A. Rawlins 7th

J. Barnes 30th D. Cribbins 34th J. Edwardes 14th J. Simmans 8th

B. Albertyn 11th P. Thomas 22nd

B. Lawrence 19th

M. Lubinga 27th

W. Albertyn 28th

Rugby vs Laddsworth 4th June

Hockey vs Laddsworth 4th June

Hockey vs Winterton 4th June

1st XV won 44-12 1st XI won 1-0 1st XI drew 0-0

U11A X won 40-10 2nd XI won 1-0 2nd XI drew 0-0

U10AX won 60-0 3rd XI drew 1-1 3rd XI drew 1-1

U11A won 5-0 U11A lost 2-3

U11B won 0-1 U10A lost 2-4

U10A drew 4-4 U10B won 7-0

U10B won 6-2 U9A lost 1-3

U9A drew 2-2 U9B lost 1-8

U9B won 4-1

Calendar Reminders – please note the highlighted changes

Wednesday 15 June

Girl’s Hockey vs Treverton – ALL MATCHES AT TREVERTON

Grade 1 and 2 Cultural Showcase in the JP Hall 17:30 for 18:00

Thursday 16 June – Youth Day (normal school day)

Nikki Bush presentation – JP Hall 09:00

Grade 1 and 2 Sports Festival 14:00

Friday 17 June

Individual Music Pupil’s Concert – 17:30 IN THE SP HALL

Soccer vs. St Charles – all matches at home

Horse Riding – Springvale Eventing

Saturday 18 June

Girl’s Hockey vs. Treverton – ALL MATCHES AWAY

Rugby vs. St Charles – all matches at home

Horse Riding – Springvale Eventing

Sunday 19 June

Horse Riding – Springvale Eventing

Headmaster’s Commendations

KZN SANEF Schools

Rachael Stevenson and Samantha Schallen (Level 2 – 4), Michaela Strong, Emma Marshall, Katy Lund and Michaela Lane (Level 1)

Helpfulness Courtney Hunter, Kylie Nicholson, Isaac Jarvis, Warwick Albertyn

I look forward to seeing you all at Family Day – wrap up warm, it is going to be cold!

Enjoy your weekend!

Brendan Brady HEADMASTER