Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo
24 July 2026
24 July 2026
Dear Parents
Welcome back to quarter 3. It has been a short week to start but packed with learning and fun! From next week our full co-curricular programme is in place so please check the schedules.
Congratulations to the Creative Team, Cast and Crew of the Secondary Faculty for the incredible opening night of High School Musical 2 last night. You can still book tickets for the shows for tonight and tomorrow using the quicket link. You don't want to miss this one.
High School Musical 2
School’s out, and the Wildcats are ready for the summer of a lifetime at the luxurious Lava Springs Country Club. As Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and the rest of the Wildcats navigate friendship, romance, ambition and rivalry, they soon discover that staying true to yourself is more important than fitting in.
Packed with energetic dance numbers, iconic songs, humour and heart, this exciting production promises fun for the whole family. Don’t miss the chance to see our talented cast bring this much-loved Disney musical to life on stage!
Click here for tickets: Quicket
Collection of learners at the end of school
Please will you move through to the entrance of the swimming pool to collect your child once school ends. We will be moving all children under cover in front of the hall so that cars can get in without blocking the entrance.
Reminder that if your child attends aftercare, we request that you come in and sign them out from aftercare.
Outreach - Nelson Mandela Day
1867 sandwiches in 67 minutes
Thank you to our families for supporting this meaningful initiative and helping us spread kindness throughout our community.
Today learners spent 67 minutes working together to prepare sandwiches to donate to those in need in our community, celebrating Nelson Mandela’s legacy of kindness, compassion, and service to others.
At the Senior Preparatory we made a total of 1867 sandwiches in the 67 minutes. They have been delivered to Ysterplaat Primary School for lunch today and to take home for the weekend!
💙🍞 🥪
Last Friday of the month is Pizza Friday!
We had such great success in May we are doing it again! On the last Friday of each month we will be ordering in small margherita pizzas for those children who would like to have a pizza for second break. If you would like to make use of this opportunity, please complete the form, and we will bill R34 to your account. The last Friday this month is 31 July.
Note that all orders will need to be completed by Wednesday 29 July. Unfortunately, we will not be able to process refunds for learners who are not present or do not collect. If you have more than one child, please complete the form more than once. Note - this is only for children at the Senior Preparatory.
After a well-deserved holiday, it has been fantastic to welcome our Grade 6 learners back to school. Although the mornings have certainly reminded us that winter is here, our learners have arrived each day with warm smiles, positive attitudes and plenty of enthusiasm for the quarter ahead. It has been lovely to see everyone reconnecting with friends and settling back into the classroom so quickly.
Our Grade 6 Mathematics learners have begun an exciting new project by creating a 3D drawing of a satellite. For many of the children, this was their very first experience of drawing in three dimensions, making it both a challenging and rewarding lesson.
Using rulers, pencils, erasers, templates and black fine liners, the class carefully constructed the first half of their satellite drawings. The second half will be completed next week as they continue developing their 3D drawing skills.
This activity forms part of their upcoming Science and Technology Space Project, where each learner will design and build their own satellite. By first learning the techniques of 3D drawing in Mathematics, they will have the confidence and skills needed to create and present their own original designs.
We are looking forward to seeing the finished drawings and the amazing satellite models that will follow!
In Afrikaans, we have started analysing texts and learning how to identify key information to write effective summaries. This quarter we are also placing a greater focus on speaking Afrikaans during our lessons. Our learners have embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, and it has been wonderful to hear so many Afrikaans conversations taking place in the classroom already. We are excited to continue building both their confidence and communication skills throughout the quarter.
In isiXhosa SAL Miss Ngaba welcomed the Grade 6s back with a beautiful song - head and shoulders, knees and toes - “Intloko amagxa sifuba nesinqe”. The learners had so much fun!!
In History, We jumped straight back into the history books this week, diving deep into the foundations of Democracy and Citizenship in South Africa. But rather than just reading about how democracy works, we decided to bring it to life right inside the classroom.
To kick off the quarter with some high energy, learners put their citizenship skills to the test with an official Class Election to decide our go to Social Sciences brain break activity. The creativity was flowing as our bright sparks proposed brilliant ideas for quick mid-lesson recharges. Once the "campaigns" were wrapped up, the real excitement began.
At the Polling Station, learners drafted and received their official secret ballot papers. We proceeded to cast the votes where eyes were bright and energy was buzzing as each learner stepped up to slip their marked ballot into the voting box. Finally, the Count, we tallied up the results together, demonstrating firsthand how every single voice and vote counts in a democratic system. It was a fantastic, hands-on start to our unit, proving that history and civics aren't just topics to study, they're experiences to live.
🩺 Grade 6 Outing: Heart of Cape Town Museum!
A friendly reminder to parents that our Heart of Cape Town Museum outing is next Friday, 31 July. Please ensure that all the necessary forms have been submitted and that learners come prepared for what promises to be an engaging and educational experience
🗓️ Date: Friday, 31 July 2026
📍 Venue: Heart of Cape Town Museum
💰 Cost: R215 (billed to your school account)
Please click the link below to confirm your child's attendance details for the trip: 👉 Complete the Google Form Here
Important Information:
Times: Drop-off at the usual time (07:30); collection at the normal time (14:30).
Dress: Full school uniform (please pack their PE kit to change into for Sports Hour).
Food: Pack a healthy, easy-to-eat lunch and a water bottle.
For a sneak peek of what they'll experience, visit heartofcapetown.co.za.
What a short but sweet week it has been! In Maths, we recapped our Quarter Two 2D shape properties with a fun guessing game, and learners earned house points for their sharp thinking.
In English, we jumped back into our reading and discovered even more about the exciting life of Roald Dahl's childhood when he went off to boarding school. In History, we explored the mighty Nile River – the longest in Africa – and learnt about the many wonderful ways it served the people of Ancient Egypt.
Friday was undoubtedly the best day of all, as we spent the morning giving back to our community in honour of Nelson Mandela, making sandwiches and writing notes of encouragement for those less fortunate than us. We can't wait to see what the rest of the quarter holds!
Ariya - Mandela Day Soup Initiative
During the holiday Ariya and her family took part in a Mandela Day Soup Initiative. Thank you for sharing this video with us. It is always wonderful to see our learners getting involved in community outreach!
This week, our Grade 4 learners travelled back in time in History to discover how animals were once the very first form of transport before exploring how transport has changed over the years. They developed their comparison skills by identifying the similarities and differences using hula hoops as Venn Diagrams to distinguish between the iconic penny-farthing bicycle and the modern-day bicycle, gaining an appreciation for how design has evolved to make cycling safer and more practical.
In English, the classroom was buzzing with excitement as learners took part in an energetic collective nouns matching activity. Racing around the room, they paired nouns with their correct collective nouns and were fascinated to discover some of the wonderfully creative names used for groups, including a bloom of jellyfish, a leap of leopards, and a fleet of ships. It was a fun, active way to build vocabulary while reinforcing grammar concepts, and the learners thoroughly enjoyed the challenge!
MUSIC:
We invite parents of all current individual music learners, as well as those wishing to commence individual lessons in 2026, to please complete the following enrolment form: 2026 SP Music Form
DANCE:
Please read through the
JP/SP Dance 2026 Enrolment Form information and contact Sylvia Stander sstander@parklands.co.za
if you have any queries.
During these chilly winter days, our library remains a cosy place to gather for a quiet chat and to escape into a fictional world. We will be starting our programme with an introduction to the Nelson Mandela collection and discussing the difference between biography and autobiography. Learners will all receive a copy of Long Walk To Freedom (the children’s version), in Book Creator, and be challenged to write the first paragraph of their own autobiography. We are also heading towards Roald Dahl’s birthday and will be encouraging the readers to brush up on their knowledge of the Roald Dahl stories. The next few weeks promise further delights as we visit some sports books and discover some of the great fantasy series in the library.
We are encouraging our learners to take responsibility for their library books and to bring them to the library for their weekly lessons, like they would do for any other subject. Please consider reading a book with your child, and ask them about the current books they are reading!
Celebrating Our Innovative Coolest Projects Participants!
We are immensely proud of Amara, Suriya, Amelia, Mthabisi, and the Nimbus Guitar 2000 team for representing our College at the global Coolest Projects Awards. This international showcase is a wonderful celebration of technology and young innovation, and our learners truly shone on this stage.
Amara and Suriya
Both learners entered the Hardware category, utilising MaxIQ devices as the foundation for their fascinating research. Amara explored the sound insulation properties of different materials, seeking innovative ways to foster quieter environments for living and learning. Meanwhile, Suriya focused on a practical school-day challenge, studying how carrying school bags affects learners' posture. Her project investigated how a wearable alert system might help mitigate back strain for her peers.
Amelia — It's Raining Tacos
Amelia showcased her creativity with a Scratch project that employs AI face-sensing technology. In this interactive app, users "consume" tacos on screen while the program tracks every bite. This project represents a fantastic evolution of her previous work, demonstrating her commitment to refining and expanding her digital ideas.
Mthabisi — Spellys Buddy SA
Mthabisi developed Spellys to support learners navigating Afrikaans pronunciation. This thoughtful app creates personalised word banks from school lists, reading words at variable speeds to assist with auditory recognition. Built over three months using AI and Swift Playgrounds, Mthabisi is already planning new features to enhance its impact.
Anna and Mea — Nimbus Guitar 2000
Closing our showcase, Anna and Mea engineered a working electric guitar using BBC micro:bits, tinfoil, and crocodile clips. By completing circuits with a simple touch, their clever code transforms basic materials into a musical instrument. It was a wonderful display of hands-on problem solving and technical skill.
A huge well done to all our bright sparks for representing the College so brilliantly. We are eager to see what you discover and build next!
Welcome back to Quarter 3! We hope all our Senior Prep families enjoyed a well-deserved break and are ready for another exciting quarter of sport.
We have an action-packed quarter ahead, with our U10–U13 learners preparing for a busy season of training, fixtures, and exciting sporting events. Next week sees the return of a full week of sport, and we can't wait to see our learners back on the fields, courts, astro, and chess boards.
The biggest highlight of the term is undoubtedly our Annual Derby Day against Blouberg Ridge, taking place on Saturday, 1 August.
Selected U10–U13 learners have already received communication regarding their selection and participation. Derby Day is our biggest sporting fixture of the year, bringing together our entire school community for a day of competition, pride, and unforgettable memories.
Our learners will be representing Parklands College across:
🏉 Rugby
🏑 Hockey (Boys & Girls)
🏐 Netball
♟️ Chess
We need your help to make Derby Day one to remember! If your child has committed to representing the school, we ask that families come out in full support by wearing your Parkie colours and creating an incredible atmosphere from the sidelines. Your encouragement and school spirit make a tremendous difference to our learners.
Let's pack the sidelines with green, bring the gees, and proudly support every learner representing Parklands College.
See you on the sidelines — let's make Derby Day our biggest and best yet!
Our Sports Clinic returned from 20–22 July, providing learners with the perfect opportunity to sharpen their skills ahead of a busy term of winter sport.
A special mention goes to our U11 teams, who have also been taking advantage of additional training sessions during the clinic. These extra practices have been specifically designed to ensure they are well prepared and up to speed ahead of their upcoming Western Province (WP) Play-Offs. We wish our U11s every success as they prepare to compete on the provincial stage.
The clinic has been a fantastic way for learners to reconnect with teammates, build confidence, and set the tone for an action-packed quarter ahead.
We look forward to seeing all our Rugby and Hockey players continue their hard work on the fields and astro as we build towards another exciting season of Parklands College Sport.
1. The Big Target: Derby Day at Blouberg (1st August)
Everything we have practiced this term is building toward a historic milestone on our sports calendar:
The Event: Formal Derby Day
The Date: Saturday, 1 August 2026
The Venue: Blouberg Ridge Primary School
Who is playing: U8 to U13 Teams
This promises to be an incredible, high-energy day of school pride and fantastic competition, with our Junior and Senior Prep teams joining forces. Be sure to block out your family calendar to come along and line the school fields in support!
They’ve done it again! Our incredible U11A Netball Team remained undefeated throughout all league fixtures last quarter, showcasing outstanding teamwork, determination, resilience, and commitment every time they stepped onto the court.
Their exceptional performances have secured them a place in the Metro North Blue League Playoffs, taking place today, Friday 24 July 2026, where they will compete against the top U11 school teams in the district.
We are immensely proud of our talented U11A players: Ayomide Mnisi, Sarah Jackson, Briteny Oni, Mihle Majokweni, Unako Dibi, Tumisho Galane, Amelia Campey, Iva Joseph, and Tiana Martins. Each player has played an important role in this remarkable season, and their hard work and positive team spirit have been evident throughout.
As the girls head into the playoffs this afternoon, we wish them the very best of luck. Play with confidence, enjoy every moment, and continue to make us proud both on and off the court.
Go girls - we are behind you every step of the way! #ourbloodrunsblue"
Congratulations to Miss Prinsloo on this incredible achievement!
We are thrilled to share that Miss Prinsloo was selected as a Coach for the Western Cape Inter district Schools Tournament. She coached the U12 Dolphins Cape Town Team in preparation for the tournament, which took place from 15–18 July 2026 at Bredasdorp High School.
This is a truly outstanding accomplishment and a wonderful recognition of Miss Prinsloo’s dedication to the sport. Her passion, commitment, enthusiasm, hard work, and genuine love for netball shine through in every coaching session and in the positive impact she has on her players.
Being chosen to coach at an interdistrict level is a testament to the excellence she brings to the court and the inspiring example she sets for young athletes.
We are incredibly proud of you, Miss Prinsloo, and we celebrate this well-deserved achievement with you!
The timetable for the Winter Quarter is the same as the Autumn Quarter
Friday Hockey Sports Hour
Please note, all Hockey learners will be transported to the Secondary Faculty for Hockey training on the astro at 13h15 - 14h30. All learners will be transported back to Parklands College Senior Prep - no learner will be permitted to be picked up from the Secondary campus.
Great job today, Eva. You were well prepared and focused
throughout your exam. You are showing great promise in
this genre. I loved the control you showed in your cartwheel
and your pre-backwards roll showed great fluidity. I liked
how you made your bonus skill your own and it was well
executed. Keep working on your flexibility in your splits
which will help in your skills going forward into future
levels. I know you can do it! Well done.
Khloé participated in the Western Cape Short Course Championships 2026, held from Thursday, 16 July to Sunday, 19 July 2026 in Somerset.
Over the four-day competition, Khloé competed in 10 individual events, achieving new Personal Best (PB) times in all 10 events. Her outstanding performances earned her two podium finishes receiving bronze medals, placing 3rd in the 50m Backstroke and 3rd in the 200m Individual Medley (IM).
Khloé's achievements reflect her dedication, hard work, and continued improvement as a competitive swimmer. Setting personal best times in every event while earning two podium finishes is a significant accomplishment and demonstrates her commitment to excellence in the sport.
Please find a link to the form to notify the College of a learner's external achievements at Area/Regional/Provincial level. We request that you upload an image to the form where possible.
Any queries to our Head of Sport, Coach Jared - jmargetts@parklands.co.za
Please ensure that learners arrive on time for the start of the academic day. Parents are welcome to drop their children off between 07:30 and 07:45 and are requested to use the Drop and Go Zone on the SP Campus in Wood Drive.
Parents may pull into the yellow zone for learners to get out and walk into school on their own. Please do not park or leave your car in the Drop and Go Zone.
All learners must be clocked in and ready for the day before this 07:45. Learners who attend early morning activities must clock-in before attending their session in order to avoid being recorded as 'Late Arrival' on the biometric system.
Aftercare is a combined group of Grade 4-6 learners. Parents, please inform the College via email should you wish to make use of our aftercare facility. Learners may wear their Parklands College sports uniform. Learners attending Aftercare will be escorted to the venue. Parents who wish to make use of our aftercare facilities must please inform us via e-mail.
School is LOCKED promptly at 16h45 daily. Please assist us by ensuring that your child is collected on time allowing our dedicated staff to return home to their own families. A late collection fee of R250 per half-hour (or part thereof) will apply for children collected from aftercare after 17h00.
For safety reasons no learners are permitted to wait outside the College gates at any time.
Parents entering our campus are required to have a car identification sticker, which can be collected from reception. By displaying the sticker on your car, you will gain easy access to the College premises. Vehicles that do not have a sticker will be scanned. ‘At the Gate’ Access Solution is used by the College and involves drivers' and car license discs being scanned. This information is stored on a secure database off-site for future reference should the need arise. Pedestrians are also required to produce identification.
We request, for the safety of our learners, that parents and visitors who are on our campus during academic time also sign in at reception and receive a visitors badge. The badge must be returned to reception before leaving campus.
PARKLANDS COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH KLIKD FOR A DIGITAL SAFETY SOLUTION
Parenting in the digital age presents unique challenges. Balancing your child’s need for online interaction with the responsibility of keeping them safe can feel overwhelming. Excluding your child from the digital world might seem isolating, yet providing them with unrestricted access to smart devices without guidance can pose serious risks.
It is vital to equip our children with the skills they need to navigate the digital world confidently, responsibly, and safely. That’s why we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Klikd, South Africa’s leading digital safety and citizenship company. We will be rolling out Klikd’s Digital Citizenship Programme for Schools for Grades 4-6.
About Klikd
Klikd was founded by clinical psychologist Pam Tudin and social media lawyer Sarah Hoffman, combining their expertise to offer an innovative approach to cyber safety and digital citizenship education.
In today’s world, knowing how to handle challenges such as cyberbullying, gaming addiction, inappropriate content, online predators, managing one’s digital footprint and Artificial Intelligence - is no longer optional -it's essential. These aren’t skills that can be taught in a single school talk but require continuous conversations and guidance, reinforced at school and at home.
The Klikd Digital Citizenship Programme for Schools
Through our partnership with Klikd, we will offer a carefully curated programme that provides learners with the tools they need to thrive in the online world. Importantly, it also empowers you, as parents, with weekly practical resources and strategies to support your child on this journey.
Klikd Parent Information Session Recording
If you missed the Klikd Parent Information Session last week you can find the link to a recording here
Klikd in your Pocket: Parent Update Whatsapp Group
Join KLIKD in Your Pocket - a weekly bite-sized update on what’s trending in your child’s online world.
This WhatsApp broadcast group delivers practical, no-fluff insights on topics like:
🎮 Managing devices during playdates and sleepovers
👀 Accidental pornography pop-ups
🎰 Live gambling features on Roblox (yes, really!)
Each week, you’ll also get 4–5 conversation starters to use at dinner, in the car, or while shopping for that “perfect” hoodie — helping you stay connected and informed.
🟢 No group chat, no noise — just super helpful info.
📸 Scan the QR code or tap the link to join:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/H6zTS0hHpaIIHF2G5PigPq?mode=gi_t
We would like to congratulate Trisha Govender who is expecting a baby in the Spring holiday. She will be taking maternity leave from beginning of September. We welcome Mrs Chimhundu in her place as the substitute teacher.
We also congratulate Khanya Mbikwana, our isiXhosa SAL teacher, who is expecting a baby in July.
We welcome Mrs Sandisiswe Dlakavu who will take over from Miss Mbikwana while she is on maternity leave
Mrs Chimhundu
Mrs Dlakavu
'The Beautifully Different Brain" with Andrea Grant
The Preparatory staff began the quarter with an inspiring professional development session led by Parkie parent and Neurodiversity Coach, Andrea Grant, on understanding neurodiversity in learners. Her engaging and insightful presentation provided practical strategies that teachers can apply in their classrooms to support every child's learning journey.
Uniform Requirements (link)
School and Leisure offers free delivery to school. To take advantage of this when ordering please insert school name and address in the address block and add discount code before check-out.
Junior Preparatory - 91 Raats Drive, Parklands 7441
Senior Preparatory - 50 Wood Drive, Parklands 7441
Secondary Faculty - 1 College Avenue, Sandown 7441
Discount Code : PKLSCHOOL (both upper and lowercase works)
Please ensure that the uniform is the correct size for your child, in particular the blazer
Second-hand school uniforms
Please contact Tania Fourie if you would like to buy or sell good-quality second-hand uniforms. She is also the supplier of Froggy School shoes. Contact details: +27 83 631 7683 or tania@sportstudio.co.za
Please help us by checking that all the items that your child brings home actually belong to them. If they come home with someone else's item (such as an extra shoe, hat, etc) please send it to reception the next day so that we can return labelled items to the owner.
It is important that all items are labelled clearly so that lost items can be returned. Parents are welcome to come in to reception to view lost property items. Items not labelled will be in lost property and donated to the second hand shop at the end of each quarter.
Should your child have a medical condition/ allergy /require prescribed medication to be administered, please e-mail Meagan Petersen on mpetersen@parklands.co.za.
Please ensure that your child’s immunisations are up to date and forward a copy of the updated immunisation record to the secretary once your child has received the vaccine.
Please bookmark the following calendars and add them to your personal calendar by using the + at the bottom of each calendar. They can also be accessed through the EdAdmin App (more information under the general tab)
Our Parent Learner Directory contains all the information you will need. You can find this important document under the General Tab
College parents are able to list their businesses in our Parent Business Directory for free – www.parklands.co.za/parent-business-directory/.
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...
Winter Quarter: 22 July - 23 September
Spring Quarter: 14 October - 4 December
Proposed 2027 Parklands College Dates
Summer Quarter: 19 Jan 2027 - 18 March 2027
Autumn Quarter: 7 April 2027 - 23 June 2027
Winter Quarter: 21 July 2027 - 22 Sept 2027
Spring Quarter: 6 Oct 2027 - 3 Dec 2027
Friday 24 July:
High School Musical 2 Production (Secondary Faculty)
Saturday 25 July:
Happy Birthday Lee Robyn
High School Musical 2 Production (Secondary Faculty)
Monday 27 July:
Happy Birthday Justine De Wet
Friday 31 July:
Grade 6 Outing: Heart of Cape Town Museum
Pizza Day - Last Friday!
Saturday 1 August:
Derby Day - Blouberg Ridge 07:00 - 13:00
Sunday 9 August:
Women's Day
Monday 10 August:
Women's Day Observed - School Closed
Happy Birthday Tracy Pienaar
Friday 21 August:
Cape Town Eisteddfod in Preparatory Hall
Tuesday 1 September:
First Day of Spring Dress Up Day
Monday 7 September:
SP Summer Sports Switch
Saturday 12 September:
Open Day
Monday 14 September:
Readathon Week
Wednesday 16 September:
Readathon Week: Lit Quiz Event Grade 3 & 4
Thursday 17 September:
Readathon Week: Lit Quiz Event Grade 5 & 6
Grade 6 Parklands Playground @13:00
Friday 18 September:
U12 Cricket Tour to Hermanus
SP Report Feedback meetings
Saturday 19 September:
U12 Cricket Tour to Hermanus
Matric Dance
Happy Birthday Amy Dean
Sunday 20 September:
U12 Cricket Tour to Hermanus
Monday 21 September:
World Space Week
Grade 4 Parklands Playground @08:00
Grade 5 Parklands Playground @13:00
SP Report Feedback meetings
Tuesday 22 September:
Ticket To The Moon Theatre Company 08:30 in the hall: Thabo the Space Dude
SP on the Run
SP Report Feedback meetings
Wednesday 23 September:
Last day of Quarter @ 13:00 - no aftercare
Friday 2 October:
Happy Birthday Simoné Prinsloo
Monday 5 October:
World Teachers Day
Wednesday 7 October:
Happy Birthday Roché Buckle
We wish Lee Robyn a happy birthday for tomorrow, 25 July, and Justine De Wet a happy birthday for Monday 27 July.
Have a wonderful weekend
Paul Mayers
Senior Preparatory Principal
Follow us on:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParklandsTweet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parklandscollege
Links to other faculty memos:
Pre-Primary Faculty: https://ppblog.parklands.co.za
Junior Preparatory Faculty: https://jpblog.parklands.co.za
Secondary Faculty: https://secblog.parklands.co.za