CNR e-News Term 2

19 April 2024

Dear Parents,

Welcome back! It's with great joy that I extend my warmest greetings as we embark on another new term together.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education, it's a responsibility we cherish deeply, as we remain committed to nurturing your child's potential while prioritising their safety and well-being.

I wish to encourage each of you to study the term calendar and identify opportunities to actively participate in what the school has to offer. This will continue to grow that strong sense of community, something which sets Clifton apart from living anywhere else on the planet!

Here's to a term filled with achievement, excitement, and endless possibilities!

What happened during the Easter holiday season:

A number of changes at the Riding School, which includes the addition of new lunge rings and stables.
The boys boarding house had a minor revamp with the refurbishment of the floors, ceilings were repainted and the bathrooms had much work done.
The outside of the boarding houses were also repainted and waterproofed.
Many of our roofs around the school were waterproofed and repainted.
The tree clearing project has now been completed and much work has been done to prepare the estate for phase two of this project. I will communicate more about this project in next week’s newsletter.
The electric fence project is now completed.
The maintenance of the road inside the school is nearly completed.
The upgrade to the reception area is now complete. Please pop in to see the major changes to this area.

Staff News:

Congratulations to Tayla (Kemp) and Jason Smuts on their recent marriage! Wishing them both a lifetime filled with love, joy, and happiness together.
It is with great sadness that I share the news of Jodie Sparrow's resignation, effective at the end of Term 2. Jodie will be embarking on a new journey with her family in Ireland. While we will bid a proper farewell in due time, I'd like to take this moment to express our gratitude to Jodie for the contributions she has made to our school. I extend our best wishes to Jodie, Andrew, Morgan, Jocelyn and Cara as they embark on this exciting overseas adventure.

The process of finding a suitable replacement has begun to ensure a smooth transition in this area of the school.

I am thrilled to introduce Mr Matthew Hoffman as the newest addition to our peripatetic music department, taking over the reins from Mrs Mennie with expertise and passion for music education.

Mr Hoffman brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted enthusiasm for teaching. With a robust background spanning various age groups, he has honed his craft over the years, becoming a highly qualified music educator. His journey in music education commenced at Scottsville Primary School, where he dedicated four years to nurturing young talents before assuming the role of Music Director at Carter High School, where he spent six years shaping the musical landscape.

Mr Hoffman has been teaching at Michaelhouse School since 2022, where he has been imparting his knowledge and love for jazz and classical piano. His influence extends beyond the piano keys, as he has also delved into teaching voice and directing choirs. From Drakondale Girls’ Choir School to Voortrekker Hӧerskool and Grace College, Mr Hoffman has left an indelible mark on countless voices, nurturing harmonies and fostering musical excellence.

As Mr Hoffman joins our Clifton team, we eagerly anticipate the transformative impact he will have on our students' musical journey. His arrival heralds a new chapter of growth and exploration, where melodies will flourish under his guidance. I extend a warm welcome to Mr Hoffman and look forward to the symphony of achievements that will surely follow in his wake.

I am also excited to welcome Rebecca Williams to our Clifton Equestrian Centre! Rebecca brings with her a strong riding background, a passion for working with children, and a deep love for horses. She'll be instructing our beginner horse riders and is eager to further develop her skills and knowledge at the Equestrian Centre.

Welcome to the team Rebecca.

Riding News:

Last Saturday, our Equestrian Centre hosted a 'IN YOUR HANDS' grooms course with Patsy Devine. Despite participants speaking four different languages, they found common ground in that they all speak 'horse'.

Covering everything from foot soak preps and tacking up to grooming techniques, addressing underlying fears, administering medication, correct leading, and understanding approach and retreat concepts, it became crystal clear: IT'S IN YOUR HANDS. What resides in your minds and hearts is conveyed to the horse through your hands.

Some Pertinent JP Initiatives:

Then, have you caught wind of the incredible initiatives underway in the Junior Primary section of our school this year? Please take a moment to read about the fantastic achievements that have already occurred and the exciting projects still underway within this section of our school:

Events:

Grade 1, 2 & 3 Parent workshop led by Linda Smallbones addressing the importance of initiating discussions about sensitive topics with our children.
Grade 2 & 3 Parent workshop led by Monique Langlois on the Time2Read Spelling and Reading Program.
Grade 1 Parent workshop led by Jeannie Shewan on the teaching of Reading and Spelling in Grade 1.
Grade 000, 00, and 0 Parent workshop led by Anita Whitehead to provide parents with a clearer understanding of the structure and content of PPA lessons, as well as the principles guiding Psychomotor education at Clifton.
Pre-Primary and Junior Primary Celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Pre-Primary and Junior Primary Art Auction.
Grades 000 & 00 Parent-Teacher Interviews were held earlier in the term to provide parents with an opportunity to connect with their child’s class teacher, assess their child's settlement, discuss their progress, and explore specific strengths and weaknesses.
Grades 0, 1, 2 & 3 Parent-Teacher Interviews were held at the end of the term to allow for detailed interaction between parents and class teachers to assess each child’s settling within the class and new grade, to discuss their progress, and further analyze their specific strengths and weaknesses.
Junior Primary Open classroom allowed parents to experience the learning happening in their child’s classroom and to actively engage in the classroom environment under the guidance of their child and class teacher.
Junior Primary Music Recital.
Junior Primary Science Day allowed children to investigate, discover, and experiment in the scientific world of inquiry.
Junior Primary Interhouse Gala.
Grade 1 Roselands trip.
Grade 2 Notties Farm trip.
Grade 3 Greystone camp.
Grade 3 Chocolate Dipping Day Trip.
Grade 3 Chinese banquet at school.
Grade 2 Bird Day.

Infrastructure update:

The Pre-Primary have extended their outdoor area to the field outside the pool area.
The focus is on a five-year maintenance and improvement plan for the classrooms to ensure all classrooms have been upgraded and improved as a matter of necessity. This includes installing aluminum window frames and doors, replacing carpets on the walls, and replacing classroom carpets. Changing the furniture in the classrooms to allow for collaboration and cooperative teaching and learning to take place as well as to allow for the various learning styles and learning support needs.
Pre-Primary Playground upgraded to accommodate the growth and increase of children and the younger age group.

Staff Development:

All Junior Primary Staff attended training with Aarnout Brombacher the founder and developer of the NumberSense Numeracy Program in Term 1.
Shelley Rossouw and Donna Moor will attend Rave-O Training at the beginning of Term 3.
Anita Whitehead will attend Search and Teach Training during the April.
Heather Kelland and Hanlie Prinsloo will attend Psychomotor Training for the next 18 months.

Intern Program:

The purpose of the intern program in the JP is to provide practical experience in support of the attainment of a suitable teaching qualification. Interns study part-time for their chosen degrees while undertaking on-the-job teacher training at Clifton.
Interns have the opportunity to train in a well-run school environment; with superbly equipped classrooms and facilities; to work with highly trained and professional teachers (mentors) and interact with learners, thus acquiring the skills and methods needed for effective teaching and classroom management.
To prepare high-performing teaching staff for employment as interns experience a variety of teaching situations and methodologies during their training.
The interns are strategically placed in Grades 0, 1, 2 &3.

Academic Curriculum:

Pre-Primary (Grade 00 – 0)

Psychomotor:

Each Pre-Primary child attends two lessons of PPA each week with their respective class teacher given by Anita Whitehead, Jeannie Shewan and Lu Jelliman.
The Junior Primary ascribes to the Psychomotor Principles as the cornerstone for the emotional development of the child.

Free Play:

The Pre-Primary has enjoyed the positive results of the timetabled free play.
Our outdoor learning area is a hub of activity throughout the week.
Children explore many concepts, incorporating many areas of learning that are strategically set up to entice and engage them in fun and interactive learning opportunities.

Phonological Awareness:

Multisensory approaches to the teaching of letter formation and sound-symbol relationships.
The principles of Time2Read underpin our approach.

Fine Motor and Pre-Writing Skills:

A range of methods to develop these skills both inside and outside the classroom is used.
The focus is on teaching the correct pencil grip, manipulation of small objects and materials, as well as to colour and trace accurately.

Perceptual Skills:

The focus is on developing a greater awareness of one’s body to move in a space and to perform set tasks.
Great focus on developing visual perceptual skills required for reading, writing, completing puzzles, cutting, drawing, and mathematics.

Gross Motor Skills:

The focus is on developing core strength and posture and practicing skills of locomotion, coordination, and agility.

Numeracy:

Focus is a hands-on, concrete, and interactive approach to teaching mathematical concepts and to laying down the foundations of mathematical understanding.

Junior Primary (Grade 1-3)

Literacy:

Time2Read Phonics and the Grade-specific reading program are being consolidated in each grade.
Continuation of guided reading (a teacher-guided reading program that has been implemented since the beginning of the year) Guided reading is timetabled 3 times per week for Grades 1 to 3.
RAVE-O Literacy program in Grade 1 and now it has formed part of the Grade 2 curriculum.
Good quality readers in Grades 1, 2, and 3 are well used in guided reading lessons.
Differentiated repeated reading in Grades 2 & 3 has seen positive results in term 1.
Individualized reading remains a focus.
Differentiated spelling is yielding good results in Grades 2 & 3.

Numeracy:

Small group work continues to be a focus for all grades.
Working in ability groups.
There is a focus on supplementing the NumberSense program through concrete learning for topics such as measurement, space and shape, patterns and functions, and numbers, operations, and relationships.
Focus on the development of problem-solving skills.

Strategic implementation of planning for 2024:

Grade 000 in the Pre-Primary.

To enhance our overall product.
Protect our market and the funnel to formal schooling in Grade 0.
Serve a community need by allowing siblings to attend the Pre-Primary a year earlier.
Focus on the Development of Strong Teams.

Pre-Primary Team:

Grade 000 - Heather Kelland & Catherene Maposa.

Grade 00 - Hanlie Prinsloo & Charlotte White.

Grade 0 - Anita Whitehead & JP Intern.

Focus on creating an integrated Pre-Primary team that works towards improved communication and working to each other strengths.
Focus on Pre- Primary Specific Community Events to develop a strong sense of community within the early years of formal schooling.
Development of Psychomotor Philosophy by sending Heather and Hanlie on the 18 months of training.
Enhancement of the product by incorporating Reggio Emilio Approach, in-house puppet shows, upgrading resources, and the development of an additional playground outside the swimming pool.

Junior Primary Team:

Grade 1 Jeannie Shewan & Jo Fly.

Grade 2 Donna Moor & Shelley Rossouw.

Grade 3 Emma Fyvie and Nicole Venter.

Focus on creating a well-established team that works towards improved communication and working to each other’s strengths.
Making Learning Visible
Drive within the JP to make learning visible.
This refers to the walls of the classroom (inside and outside).
PBL and outdoor learning have been marked as vehicles for this to occur.
STEAM has been added to the Grade 3 2024 Timetable.
Reggio approach to learning (Grades 000, 00 & 0) 100 languages of the child.
Outdoor learning days calenderised each term for each grade.
Development of higher-order thinking Skills Explicit Teaching Program
The focus is on the development of a higher-order thinking skills program to explicitly teach children how to think about their thinking. The executive skills to be taught are; finding the main idea, making comparisons, cognitive operation of organization, inference, cause and effect, prediction, identifying the problem, identifying the concept, summarise the story, making connections, recognize sequence, distinguishing between fact and opinion, elaborate and explain, asking and answering questions, identify the purpose, analysis of text, evaluation, and creation.
Designing a program with the JP Teachers in term 2 whereby each Grade (Grade 0-3) is allocated 5 age-appropriate higher-order thinking skills. The approach will be to create a hook, a story, around each skill to allow children to make connections and associations to the specific skill.
Develop ways to incorporate grade-specific higher-order thinking skills into the daily teaching program.
Integrate the taught skills into all teaching and learning.
Curriculum development across the Grades to Evaluate each Grade's Approach to Learning. (this process has been a focus in term 1).This will allow for a holistic approach to teaching.
The incorporation of a cognitive approach to learning, Inquiry-based learning, 21st Century skills, Outdoor learning, and inclusion.This will create better communication across grades.
Development of an active Big Brother/Sister program.The first event was held on the 18 March.
Development of a Mentorship Program across the JP and SP phase.

Values:

Forms part of the hidden curriculum.
Part of the teacher speak.
Opportunities for teaching and learning in everyday teaching and learning and at the JP assembly.

Curriculum:

Guided Reading. This enables weak readers to be supported in a safe environment, strong readers are afforded opportunities for extension and the introduction of new skills. Guided reading allows all readers to practice reading using taught strategies. Grade 1-3 Timetabled guided reading 3x a week (Use of interns, Kerri-Lyn Jones and Monique Langlois aid small groups).
Continuation of Rave-O in the Grade 1 program and the Grade 2 Program in Term 1 of 2024. Rave-O is an evidence-based, researched reading intervention program. A small group reading intervention program that targets reading challenges through new research on fluency. It is a unique cutting-edge instruction that develops and explicitly connects every aspect of a word as it is encountered -phonemes, meanings, morphemes, grammatical functions, and spelling patterns. Rave-O is an interactive, multisensory activity that enhances learners’ abilities to decode, read fluently, understand, remember, and enjoy what they read.
Encourage higher-order thinking (Thinking about their thinking).
Focus on concrete and small group Numeracy-based teaching and tasks.
Grade 000 & Grades 00 -Creating opportunities for a learner-centered approach to learning – Reggio Emilio inspired.
Focus on using our diverse campus and forest to facilitate learning in the Pre-Primary and Junior Primary.

Learning Support in the JP:

Learning support team:

Monique Langlois – In-house Learning Support Coordinator and Remedial Therapist in the JP.
Megan Osler – In-house Learning Support Therapist in the SP, and Private Educational psychologist.
Private Therapists; Jacquie Du Toit (OT), Tracy Barrett (Speech Therapist), Kelly Pellew (OT), Amy Wilson (O.T), Laura Odell (Speech Therapist).

Approach to Learning Support in the Preschool:

The Learning Support coordinator has conducted a thorough perceptual screening assessment on each grade 0 child. The test used is part of the 'search and teach' early intervention programme. The results of this test will be used to guide teaching and intervention strategies. Children who are identified as possibly being at risk are then included in paired support sessions with Monique Langlois. She sees each group for 45 minutes twice per week. Each child's intervention programme is designed to target his/her specific needs. These sessions aim to strengthen perceptual skills that form the foundation for academic success.

Approach to Learning Support in Grade 1:

Monique Langlois conducted a baseline readiness assessment on each grade 1 child at the beginning of term 1. The information gathered was used to guide teaching and determine which children require extra support. Children needing support attend learning support sessions with Monique. These take place in small groups for half an hour each, twice per week.

Approach to Learning Support in Grade 2:

Based on standardized testing performed towards the end of last year, as well as continuous monitoring and tracking a group of 7 children were identified as needing intensive Literacy support. These 7 children attend their daily Literacy lessons in the "middle room" with Monique. Here the same curriculum is followed but the small group allows for differentiation, scaffolding, individual attention, and an adjusted pace and quantity of work.
Children identified as needing maths support are accommodated in the classroom by ability based small group instruction during numeracy lessons. Those with severe maths difficulties attend a weekly support lesson with Monique.

Approach to Learning Support in Grade 3:

Based on standardized testing performed towards the end of last year, as well as continuous monitoring and tracking a group of 7 children were identified as needing intensive Literacy support. These 7 children attend their daily Literacy lessons in the "middle room" with Kerri-Lyn Jones. Here the same curriculum is followed but the small group allows for differentiation, scaffolding, individual attention, and an adjusted pace and quantity of work.

Additional support:

At present, we do not have the capacity to offer in-house Maths learning support in the Junior Primary on a daily basis as per the current needs of the children. Monique offers Maths support in Grade 1 and 2 and Kerri-Lyn offers Maths support for 60 minutes a week to Grade 3 learners.

This is what you can expect over the next two weeks:

Saturday 20 April

Rugby vs Highbury at Highbury
Girls’ U11A + B + 3rd team hockey festival vs Notties Primary at Notties Primary
KZN closed squash
Riding - Showing show at Ulwazi
Riding - Triple P Showjumping at Shongweni
Closed weekend for Gr 4-7 boarders

Sunday 21 April

Boys’ + Girls’ KZN Inland Hockey Trials (invited)
KZN closed squash
Riding - Showing show at Ulwazi
Riding - Triple P Showjumping at Shongweni
Closed weekend for Gr 4-7 boarders

Monday 22 April

Chapel at 7.30am - All welcome
Chess vs Laddsworth at Laddsworth: 2.30-4.00pm

Tuesday 23 April

Wednesday 24 April

Blood Drive - Pavilion: 10.00am-4.00pm
Girls’ hockey vs Treverton & Notties Primary
Rugby vs Merchiston at Merchiston

Thursday 25 April

Pre-Primary Tents, Torches, Trucks + Tutus: 4.30-7.00pm

Friday 26 April

Gr 3 Titanic Day
JP assembly at 7.30am - Gr 3V class assembly
Parent SEL + Outdoor Learning Info Mtg in the Chapel: 12.30-1.00pm
Cross country at Epworth
Marimba Band Performance at Notties Moonlight Market: 5.30-7.30pm

Saturday 27 April

Rugby vs Winterton at Winterton
Girls’ hockey vs Winterton at Clifton
Riding - Treverton Eventing + Maxwell’s Showjumping

Sunday 28 April

Riding - Treverton Eventing + Maxwell’s Showjumping

Monday 29 April

Chapel at 7.30am - All welcome (Special assembly has moved to 27 May)
Chess vs Cowan House at Clifton: 2.30-3.30pm

Tuesday 30 April

Gr 1+2 boys’ mini soccer at Laddsworth: 1.00-2.00pm
Gr 1+2 girls’ mini hockey at Laddsworth: 1.00-2.00pm

Wednesday 1 May

Gr 5 trip to Baynesfield departs: 7.30am
Gr 3 trip to Zingela departs: 7.00am
Riding - ESP Showjumping at Shongweni

Thursday 2 May

Gr 3s + 5s away
Gr 4s arrive for Showcase: 5.00pm
Gr 4 Showcase for parents in the EAC: 5.30-6.30pm
Boarders’ half-term travel arrangements finalised

Friday 3 May

JP assembly at 7.30am - Miss Rossouw
Gr 000, 00 + 0 - Parent Talk in the MPC: 12.00-1.00pm
Gr 3s return: 12.30/12.45pm
Gr 5s return: 12.30pm
Cross country at Cordwalles

Saturday 4 May

Inter-house rugby
Girls’ hockey vs Laddsworth

Sunday 5 May

Riding - Training Show at Karrigen in Howick

Have a lovely weekend and week ahead.

Kind regards,

Eswee Prinsloo

Headmaster

Boarding | Junior & Pre-Primary | Senior Primary

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This Week...

Chameleon's Trip to Piggly Wiggly

U13 Rugby Boys Shine at St Stithians Annual Rugby Festival

TWC Hockey Festival