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

Telephone: +27 033 266 8200 Facsimile: +27 033 266 8252/253 E-mail: reception@cliftonnr.co.za

Reg. N0: 06-621 NPO CIPC Reg. N0: 2000/011970/08

Member of

25 November 2011

“All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.”

Albert Einstein

Dear Parents

Control tests are complete and we move into the end-of-year programme. We have seen encouraging results across the grades in the test results. The tests just written form 25% of the semester result; the other 75% being made up of continuous assessment results. The results of the first and second semester are combined to give a final result for the year, which is what parents in Grades 4 to 7 will see on the end-of-year report.

We have been tracking the results of the differentiation we have applied in teaching methods this year in some grades and have seem some exceptional gains in concept retention – up to 30% improvement in areas where children are taught concepts in a preferred style of learning.

Next week is quite busy with the two carol services, the leavers’ assembly, the Grade 7 leavers’ dinner and prize giving. Final assembly will be on Friday 2 December at 12:30pm and the leavers’ assembly will be at 8:00am for the Grade 7 children and their parents. This is a change to what is published in the calendar. We have decided to separate the leaver’s assembly to create a special time for the Grade 7 children. Only the Grade 7 parents are invited to share the ceremony with their children and the school.

Children Congratulations to Shana-Lee Bownes and Lucy Bryant who were awarded their Silver Certificates for academic effort.

Kayleigh Hughes and Danielle du Preez have both been awarded their Gold Certificates for excellent academic effort. Congratulations to both girls.

Jessica Britton completed all the requirements for her Bronze Out and About certificate. Congratulations Jessica!

Hilton Ratcliffe Talk Dr Hilton Ratcliffe spent time on Thursday 24th November, sharing his stunning slide show and amazing knowledge about space, stars and the planets with the Senior Primary Phase. Hilton is a South African astrophysicist, mathematician and astronomer who is passionate about sharing the Cosmos with children and university students to promote the study of mathematics and the sciences. The children were shown slides that attempted to give us some idea of the magnitude and diversity of space and the amazing structures that exist. The actual photos shown were, as quoted from Hilton, “…achingly beautiful.”

Clifton PA Golf Day Mrs Julie Flanegan writes: “After rain, hail, thunder and lightning, we are pleased to report that we had an amazing and successful, golf day. At this moment in time approximately R15 000.00 has been raised. 14 four balls played and most of the golfers got a prize at the end of the day. We even had a hole in one!

We would like to thank all the sponsors, prize givers, golfers and family members who joined us for an evening of music.

Our grateful thanks to those Friends of Clifton who sponsored prizes and holes:

Lythwood Lodge Arbour Acres Fuel and Gas Suppliers Monteagle Consumer Group Meander Real Estate and Rentals Clover Leaf Candles City Couriers Sir Juice

Argility Mass Earthworks Michaelhouse Indigo Fields Hilton College Sandra Berning Moffatt Optical Stationery 4u

Lawn Mower Shop Workwear Depot Pannar Seed Immunovet

Thank you once again.”

I would like to add the School’s gratitude to the sponsors who gave so generously and to the PA committee who organised the day. Mrs Gill Bergs and Mr Duncan Price co-ordinated and managed the day under difficult conditions. Those golfers who stayed the course had a superb day out.

Congratulations to Dr Carel Swarts who scored his first hole-in-one on the 8th hole!

Photographs can be viewed at http://cliftonprep.co.za/school/shop/product/clifton-pa-golf-day/

Social Upliftment We would like to ask for your support for two very worthwhile programmes members of our community are involved in; the Bruntville Dog Training Programme and the Silindele Primary School Classroom upgrade.

Bruntville Dog Training Programme Moira Low runs an amazing programme for about 40 to 50 children every Saturday in Bruntville, teaching the children how to handle and care for their dogs how to teach their dogs agility and obedience. What is being accomplished is just phenomenal. The dogs are now well cared for, the children are very proud and a life skill is being taught.

We are asking for donations of any leads, collars or bowls; new or old. Any families who can donate such items please send them to Mrs Fleischack’s or Mrs Horne’s classrooms where Jack and Katy Lund will collect.

Silindele Classroom Primary Upgrade We have been working with Silindele Primary for a number of years now. Mrs Oldfield is currently involved in the refurbishing of a teaching space and the creation of a reading, art and music room.

A visit to Silindele will confirm just how little the school has in terms of facilities. Mrs Oldfield will leave a box in each classroom next week for donations of old colouring pencils, koki pens, glue sticks, coloured paper, card, pastels, musical instruments (like tambourines or shakers) and children’s books. Mrs Oldfield will collect the boxes on the last day of term. Any of the above will be very greatly appreciated. Any families who would like to offer additional support are welcome to contact Mrs Oldfield directly.

Music Literacy Africa Mrs Helen Mennie (Director Music Literacy Africa and an ex-parent and staff member) writes: “What a wonderful morning was spent in the Clifton chapel on Friday 4th November.

Music Literacy Africa (MLA) is a programme affording all children the opportunity of learning to be literate in music and of playing an instrument. Four MLA recorder ensembles performed as did the Clifton Grade 3 children, for an appreciative audience. For some of the children it was the first time on a ‘stage’, with music stands and piano accompaniment. They conducted themselves admirably and really did MLA proud.

Mrs Barbara Kerr is to be given credit for the outstanding behaviour and performance of the MLA children. Their technique is excellent producing a beautiful quality of sound. The recorder is such a good instrument for children to learn as it is a transferable skill; children learn the correct blowing technique, dexterity in finger movements, the ability to read music and keep a rhythm whilst a different rhythm is being played, the ability to be constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone, rhythm, phrasing and feeling all train the brain in organising and conducting numerous activities at once. And the best part - all these skills are acquired whilst having fun! Thank you Mrs Kerr for bringing music alive and into the community of Nottingham Road!!

Transport is MLA’s limiting factor. Thank you to Clifton for transporting the children from Silindele and the Nottingham Road Combined School, without this help the concert would not have taken place.

We look forward to sharing music together in the future!”

The PA supports Music Literacy Africa through the MySchool Card programme. All funds raised by the MySchool programme at Clifton for the past three years have been directed to the MLA project.

Sport Please remember to complete the Sports Survey. This can be done by accessing the links at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/cliftonsportsection1 and https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/cliftonsportsection2

So far 67 parents have completed section one and 54 parents section two (open – 22; U11 – 11; U10 – 2; U9 – 8; U8 – 11). Thank you to all who have done so!

We would like to achieve at least a 70% return to make the results of the survey valid. Just fewer than 33% of parents have participated.

Commendations Helpfulness Jodi Simmans

Reading Progress Thomas Johnson, Lara van Niekerk, Robyn Bam

Selflessness Georgina Baker, Arabella Clouston

Honesty Jacob Kethro

Silver Certificates Shana-Lee Bownes and Lucy Bryant

Gold Certificates Danielle du Preez and Kayleigh Hughes

Out and About Jessica Britton (Bronze)

Enjoy your week-end!

Brendan Brady HEADMASTER

Calendar Reminders

Tuesday 29 November

JP Carol Service 18:30 for 19:00

Thursday 1 December

SP Carol Service 18:30 for 19:00

Friday 2 December

Leavers’ Assembly 08:00

Final Assembly 12:30pm

Grade 7 Leavers’ Dinner 18:30 for 19:00

Saturday 3 December

Prize Giving 09:00