Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo
15 November 2024
Dear Parents
This week has been a busy week for the Senior Preparatory Faculty as all of our learners have focused on their academics and have been writing formal assessments. Our last formal assessment for this quarter will be on Monday, 18 November. However, please note that we will still continue with informal assessments and structured academic work to complete the required curriculum for the year.
Sport resumes as normal on Monday, 18 November and will continue until 29 November.
On Wednesday our Grade Fives will be departing for their camp at High Africa Adventures at the Breede River. We wish all our Grade Fives a wonderful camp and will share news next week. Please ensure that you arrive at school on Wednesday between 7 and 7:30 am for an 8am departure. Please take note of the letter emailed to all Grade Five parents with further details.
Grade Six parents will receive information in next week's Memo about the Grade Seven camp in February 2025. All Grade Six learners and parents are reminded of the orientation morning tomorrow (Saturday 16 Nov) at the Sandown Campus from 9:00 to 11:00 (see details below)
2025 Grade 7 Invite for parents and learners
Grade 4 - 6 Growing Minds Celebration
Formal assessments in progress
Grade Four and Gunstelling Kos
Our Grade 4 learners have been on a fantastic journey in Afrikaans, diving into lively conversations about their favourite foods. With each dialogue, they’ve shown just how effective and creative communicators they can be. It’s been amazing to see them embrace Afrikaans and connect through the universal joy of food!
Grade Five English Grammar
The Grade 5s were divided into groups and tasked with being purposeful collaborators and effective communicators. They were given an English grammar topic to prepare as a group and revise with the class. We learned a lot from one another and presented beautifully!
Grade 5 Mathletics
Grade Six Science and meteors on the moon
This week was definitely a fun practical week. Learners enjoyed exploring the variables that affect the impact of meteors on the moon. Learners measured the 'crater' size made by different sized balls and objects and explored the relationship between the impact size and the speed, angle and height the objects were dropped at. We used our data to revise our graphing skills too.
Grade Six and Heritage
Our Grade 6 learners embarked on an exciting project where they had to research their heritage and create a poster to showcase what they discovered. They explored their family history and cultural traditions, incorporating both visual elements and informative details in their posters. Once the posters were completed, the learners shared their findings with the class, explaining the significance of the information they had uncovered. This activity was not only a fun way to learn more about each other’s backgrounds, but it also sparked lively discussions and a deeper appreciation for the diverse cultures within our classrooms. It was an engaging and meaningful experience for everyone involved!
For more posters, see the Academics tab
Grade Six Fashion Show Preparation
Just two weeks to go! The outfits are taking shape and we cannot wait to see our Grade 6 models at their Recycled Fashion Show on 29 November.
Class Placements
It is impossible for the school to accommodate all class requests, approximately 50 different requests in each grade, and it would be unfair to allow some parents to make requests and not others. An example of these requests would be:
Johnny's mom has asked for him to be with his best friend Mark, however, Mark's mom has asked that they are not placed together. Mark's mom would like him with Peter and Paul, however, Paul's mom would like him to be with Johnny and not Mark. Peter wrote on his friendship slip he would like to be with Johnny, however, Peter's mother does not want him with Johnny or Mark. All with an added request that we don’t tell the other parents.
Should a parent make a request for placement as shown in the above example, we will need to share the request with the other parent in order to avoid unfair parent conflict with the teacher. Unfortunately, parents can sometimes be aggressive and rude to teachers when their requests are not met even though this could be due to many conflicting requests.
With this in mind, we ask that you trust the teachers’ ability to place your child in the most suitable class. Class placements are a mammoth task and many hours are spent deliberating over the most suitable combinations for the learners.
We trust that you will support our decision, as it is based on our professional evaluation of each learner within their learning environment. We promise to do our very best to ensure each child is placed in a class in which they will thrive.
Extra Mural News
Speech and Drama
Congratulations to Diyana Manga and Saurav Ramsunder who both received a Distinction for their Trinity Grade Three Solo Speech and Drama examination.
Robotics
Our Future Innovators team, Eco Trio presented their solution to the principals on Wednesday afternoon. Wow - you were amazing!
We wish them, and their coach, Mr Delport, all the best as they prepare for internationals in Turkey at the end of the month.
SP Individual Music sign up
We invite parents of all current individual music learners as well as those wishing to commence individual lessons in 2025 to please complete the following enrollment form: SP Individual Music
We require a new form to be completed annually. A form for Ensembles, including Marimba, Choir, and Orchestra, will be shared at the start of 2025.
We will endeavour to ensure that your child is placed with the same teacher as in 2024, but we can only finalise a time slot at the start of 2025.
Sports News
Inter-schools Gala
What a fantastic way to wrap up our Quarter 4 swimming programme on Friday 8 November! The Senior Preparatory welcomed three schools to a lively and memorable gala (Table View Primary, Elkanah House and Curro Durbanville). This gala was extra special, as we introduced our U9 girls to the event for the very first time. Each swimmer gave their all, competing with pride and determination - they should be incredibly proud of their achievements!
The event featured a full lineup of 48 races, including thrilling 4x25m relay events in backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and medley. The competition was fierce, making it an impressive showcase of skill and sportsmanship. It was an awesome send-off for our U12s and an exciting introduction for our U9s, who will soon be joining the Senior Preparatory family.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the parents, support staff, and organisers whose efforts made this event a huge success. We look forward to bringing this enthusiasm to the poolside again next year. We couldn’t have asked for a better celebration of our swimmers to end the season on a high note!
Sports Announcements
We invite all our parents to attend the Sport Meeting on Thursday 28 November in the Senior Preparatory Hall. We look forward to seeing you there and engaging with you directly about our sports programme!
Notes and Reminders:
Sport Fixtures
Please look at the Calendar and Events tab for the Sports Calendar.
Sport Uniform Requirements
Boys Hockey: College Hockey shirt (same as soccer), College PE shorts, Long blue sports socks, trainers, shin pads, gum guard and hockey stick.
External Achievements: District, Regional & Provincial Sports Achievements
The External Achievements form must be utilised by parents of learners who have been selected to represent an official Regional, District and Provincial team outside School. This document serves as a communication tool between the parents and the School to record a child’s External Regional, District and Provincial selections and achievements.
Please note that only District, Regional or Provincial selections and achievements will be recognised on stage at the weekly assemblies, as well displayed in the weekly School Blog.
We will keep record of learners’ external achievements for recognition purposes at the end of the year. The form must also be submitted along with an official letter from the respective sports body confirming your child’s selection or achievement.
Please also submit a high-resolution photo with your child wearing his or her District, Regional or Provincial uniform.
Learners will only be recognised once all documentation has been received
Please only submit this form if your child has been selected for an official District, Regional or Provincial team.
Cultural acknowledgements will be recognised for exceptional achievements in external examinations, Eisteddfods and theatrical productions.
This form, along with the supporting sports or culture documentation must be emailed latest Tuesday afternoon to be recognised in the Friday’s assembly and Blog. External achievements communicated after Tuesday will be recognised at the next week’s assembly and Blog. For any other cultural achievements, the class teacher must be emailed with the details.
Link for External Achievements
Please note that the cut off date for external achievements to appear in the magazine 2024 was 31 August 2024.
Any entries after that date will appear in 2025.
SDA Nationals Dance competition, got her Western Cape Colours, her team Girlsquad won 1st place. The team will go as part of the South African team to represent SA in Serbia and Spain in 2025.
Cape Town UniCity Champion 10 -11 Over 45kg Kumite
Cirque Extravaganza Through Time
Step into a mesmerizing journey with Cirque Extravaganza Through Time, where the past, present and future collide in a spectacular display of human artistry and athleticism. This enchanting show features breathtaking trapeze acts, graceful aerial silks, and the captivating elegance of lyra performances. Watch in awe as jugglers defy gravity and acrobats perform feats of incredible strength and flexibility. Each act is a tribute to the timeless wonder of the circus, blending tradition with innovation to create an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. Join us for a night where time stands still, and the magic of the circus comes alive!
Saturday 23 November at the Homecoming Center (previously Fugard Theatre).
Show times 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm.
Tickets available at Quicket: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/264432-cirque-extravaganza-through-time/#/
Parent Business Directory
Parklands College and Christopher Robin Pre-Primary parents who are in business are able to list their businesses in our Parent Business Directory – www.parklands.co.za/parent-business-directory/
LISTINGS ARE FREE and include contact information as well as the opportunity to include a business logo or advert. Listings are available 24/7 on the College website and will be updated each quarter.
Should you be interested in marketing your business to over 1000 families, email: marketing@parklands.co.za to get started.
All listings will be subject to the College’s final approval.
This week's feature business is...