Termly Reflection 

The Clifton campus really is showing off at present. With a growing crispness in the morning air, the autumn colours are beginning to emerge, most notably our iconic Maple and the vibrant trees across the Junior Primary, which are fast approaching their crimson glory. If one is fortunate, there may be a glimpse of one of our resident Duiker in Headmaster’s Woods before the day begins, and some might have heard the African Wood Owls on a gentle evening breeze… these seem to be the alpha and omega of a typical Clifton day. True to form, our children have dedicated themselves to living life to the fullest in the between-times, with maximum intention and purpose. HD Thoreau wrote of ‘sucking the marrow out of life’… could he have been a Clifton lad?

In matters relating to Clifton lads (and lasses), there have been some exciting developments over the course of the term. While our Gr 000 cohort has been reintroduced, with great excitement, our Grade 7s have also taken to their roles as servant leaders with aplomb, wearing their Grade 7 ties with great pride, and setting wonderful examples. The initiative to include the Clubs program into the curriculum, and during the last hour of Fridays, has been revolutionary, and certainly in keeping with our school’s ethos.

This Clifton ethos has been kept at the forefront of our sporting pursuits. Regular compliments pertaining to our children’s positive behaviour are sure to bring a smile to any Old Cliftonian, and the positive results, on the sports fields, on the courts, in the horse-riding arenas, and in the swimming-pools may well challenge the ‘good guys finish last’ adage. Our dedicated teachers continue to invest heart and soul in speaking into the lives of the children, too. What a gift to have this barefooted innocence as our ‘normal’ in a world which is slowly becoming abnormal.

There has been noise of another sort on campus, too. It has been exciting to watch the new Grade 4 block rise like a phoenix from ‘ground zero’. Within a relatively short space of time, we should have the Grade 4 children in their new space – how exciting. Usher House is taking shape beautifully, too, and it may be fair to say that the lads of ‘Usherville’ are thoroughly enjoying their new ‘digs’, too. When a Grade 7 boy was asked if there was any truth in the rumour that the frequency of night runs was on the up, it was emphatically denied, albeit with a twinkle in the eye… some habits die hard; Clifton is maintaining its soul, that is clear! In the subject of rumours, it was heard that 2026 marks 40 years of service to Clifton by Mr Elvis Kalika… perhaps you could ask him yourself?

Perhaps the noise and busyness of the term was best encapsulated by the excitement of the Junior Primary gala last week. A happy flurry of splashing, cheering, being brave, supporting one another and laughter… perhaps the greatest lesson of all lies right there?

Term 2 will soon be upon us… it promises to be another few weeks of excitement, fulfilment and growth. Watch this space!