A letter to Mr E Prinsloo – Headmaster of Clifton Prep School, Notties
As our Family Clifton Journey comes to a finish this year, I have reason for self-reflection, and look back at our time involved in the Clifton Family with such fondness.
Over 200 000 km’s on farm and district roads, 7200 school trips along the D450, 3600 days beginning and ending with school trips, through Dairy herds, along muddy roads and dust clouds, crawling behind tractors and silage crews, dodging piles of organic fertilizers and road shale, 3 boys but only 1 school.
A long long time ago … there was a car advert that had a punch line “when you turn on your car – does it do the same?” and I often think of this as I drive through the gates of Clifton, and I can say yes – because the place my children spend so much of their time, does excite me. We have been incredible privileged to have such a facility on our door step, to recognise that and to be able to utilise it.
The magic of Clifton is hard to describe. but magic seems the only feeling appropriate for this incredible place. The ideal place to grown children. And I am often reminded of this when I hear people comment that “the children of today don’t climb trees enough, don’t walk barefoot enough, don’t play enough, don’t create in nature” … or when people feel their children are not being heard and supported through their growing years. Clifton encourages these activities and so so much more, and to do this with the obvious love that our children are shown is remarkable. It takes a community to raise a child and I am so very grateful that our children have been included and have been a part of the loving Clifton family.
40 staff, 25 teaching staff, 2 that I would passively avoid at a social function, 1 that I would actively avoid but only 1 staff member has ever “needed” a serious chat on a bench under a tree. The teachers that we have encountered over the years just seem to “get it”, they are from the same tribe as our family and share the same values.
Now for the fun part … the parents’ functions. No matter what mood you are in when you head out to a Clifton party, you get back later than planned, having had more fun that expected. Once again this is our tribe and we love it. I am going to miss this interaction beyond words.
Definition from the Merriam Webster
tribe
\ ˈtrīb \
Definition of tribe
1a: a social group composed chiefly of numerous families, clans, or generations having a shared ancestry and language
Synonyms for tribe
Synonyms
Pink Farm Chick 