Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo
15 May 2026
Embedded Files
Dear Parents
It has been another full week at the Senior Preparatory despite being closed on Tuesday on account of the weather warning. Our hearts go out to families who have suffered damage to their property over the last week. We are grateful that we are all safe here at school. Thank you to our maintenance teams for the ongoing maintenance of our campus.
Principal Paul Memo Q2W7-26.MOVLast Friday of the month is Pizza Friday!
We are going to try something new this month. 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 29 May.
Note that all orders will need to be completed by Wednesday 27 May. 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.
Class 5A Assembly Talk: Endangered Species Day
Class 5A Assembly Talk: Endangered Species Day
Today, Friday, May 15, 2026, marks the 21st annual Endangered Species Day. In our Monday assembly, class 5A delivered a powerful "courtroom" presentation, reminding us that since 1970, humanity has overseen the disappearance of 69% of Earth's wildlife. With over 40,000 species currently threatened with extinction - including the Black rhino (only 5600 left), Amur leopard (only 100 left) and the Javan rhino (only 76 left) - the message was clear: their destiny is in our hands.
You can help by what you eat, what you buy, what you speak up about and who you stand up for.
ACADEMICS
ACADEMICS
School Attendance
We wish to remind parents and learners that regular school attendance is crucial. Long-term absentees and extended vacations can result in learners missing these key learning opportunities. Please assist us by ensuring your child attends school regularly and punctually.
Please see our Learner Attendance Policy for further details.
Please note that a doctor's certificate is required if a learner is absent for a formal assessment. Please contact the Principal (pmayers@parklands.co.za) or Head of Academics (ldrawbridge@parklands.co.za) to ask for permission for your child to be absent for any other reason.
Informal Assessments
Our learners are in the process of completing various informal assessments, which are integrated into the daily class activities throughout the quarter. All informal assessments are completed at school and no studying is required.
Formal Assessments
A reminder to click on the specific grade assessment calendars on the academic tab to see your child's formal assessment schedule and study details. The study details are posted at least two weeks before the assessment. Please check calendars regularly to stay updated.
Grade 4 Assessment Schedules Q2 2026.pdfGrade 5 Assessment Schedules Q2 2026.pdfGrade 6 Assessment Schedules Q2 2026.pdfGROWING MINDS SHIELDS
GROWING MINDS SHIELDS
The future requires people who are innovative, humanity-centered, relationship-oriented, compassion-focused, values-driven, globally-conscious, and planet-sensitive, in order to guarantee that this generation will become REAL agents of change. The values necessary to sustain life on earth, as humans and environmentalists, are incorporated in five global competencies across our curriculum under our “Growing Minds” banner: Critical Thinkers, Effective Communicators, Purposeful Collaborators, Creative Agents and Responsible Citizens.
Fynn and Joshua are recognised for their dedication and hard work in Afrikaans this quarter, earning them both the Critical Thinker trophy. They consistently apply themselves in class, think carefully about their responses and are always willing to participate in discussions. Their growth, effort, and willingness to engage deeply with the language make them truly deserving of this recognition. Well done! (Mr Robyn)
Register for this free 30 minute webinar on 20 May @ 19h30 on QUICKET: link to registration form
(click the arrow to expand for more info)
Your child isn't choosing screens over you. They're choosing screens over everything. The reason looks very different depending on their age, and understanding ‘the why’ is just the first step to actually doing something about it.
In the first half of this webinar we will explain how, for younger kids, it's the relentless dopamine hit of short-form video (hello, YouTube Shorts and TikTok) that makes real life feel genuinely boring by comparison. For older kids and teens, it goes deeper: it's about belonging. Platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and darker spaces like the Manosphere, are meeting needs for identity, connection and acceptance in ways that are incredibly hard to compete with.
But the crunch comes in the second half of the webinar: we give you exactly what you came for: the script. Not vague advice - actual words to use with your child, adapted for their age, to open a real conversation, reach a workable agreement around their device use, and most importantly, what to do when they don't follow through.
Join digital safety experts and co-founders of Klikd, Pam Tudin (clinical psychologist) and Sarah Hoffman (social media lawyer) for a 30 minute FREE webinar where they bring you the real hands-on practical ‘bring my child back to me’ street map. Because knowing what to do is one thing. Knowing what to say is everything.
GRADE 6 NEWS
GRADE 6 NEWS
Maths Problem Solving Masterclass
The Grade 6 learners were recently divided into their four houses – Cambridge, Oxford, Yale, and Harvard – for a lively and engaging round of the classic 24-card game. Each learner was given four numbers and challenged to use them in any order, applying their knowledge of operations, to reach a total of 24.
The room quickly came alive with energy and excitement. Learners worked feverishly through their cards, eagerly solving each challenge and racing to record their progress. With stickers being placed on the board for completed sums and house points at stake, the atmosphere was electric – filled with cheering, movement, and a real sense of teamwork.
By the end of the lesson, across all four classes, the learners had collectively attempted an incredible 500 sums – a remarkable display of effort, determination, and enthusiasm for Maths. Whether every answer was correct or not, what truly stood out was the learners’ willingness to try, persevere, and enjoy the process.
Science: Separating Mixtures
This week, the Grade 6 learners explored the exciting topic of separating mixtures. They learned about different methods used to separate substances and investigated how these methods are used in everyday life. As part of their practical investigation, learners conducted a chromatography experiment to separate the colours found in ink.
They enjoyed observing how the different pigments travelled at different speeds on filter paper, revealing hidden colours within the ink.
The experiment encouraged curiosity, scientific thinking, and hands-on learning while developing their observation and investigation skills.
Science: Eskom District Science Expo
Science: Eskom District Science Expo
Some of our Grade 6 learners participated in the Eskom District Science Expo this past Saturday, 9 May. They presented their projects with confidence and proudly represented our school through their innovative, creative and interesting investigations. The learners demonstrated excellent scientific thinking, communication skills and enthusiasm throughout the event.
Congratulations to the following learners: N'wayitelo, Haydn, Amara, Nkosinathi, Isabella P, Liwa, Jakeem, Suriya, Keyaan, Lara and Ardni.
We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication, and we now eagerly await the results.
Lara interviewed on https://www.facebook.com/reel/1443764837078839
GRADE 5 NEWS
GRADE 5 NEWS
What an incredible week of learning and discovery!
In Maths, we put on our detective hats and dove into the fascinating world of patterns, using six bricks to unlock the secrets hiding in shapes and sequences all around us!
English had us playing with language like never before, as we got creative with abstract and collective nouns because who knew words could be so much fun?
In Afrikaans and isiXhosa, we rose to the challenge and put our comprehension and visual text skills to the ultimate test in our assessments and we gave it everything we had! History took us back in time as we revisited the lives of the Farmers, piecing together the stories of the people who shaped the land.
In PSW, we tackled some really important real-world topics. Unpacking unsafe relationships, standing up against bullying, and learning how to find support and be there for one another.
And to top it all off, our space journey continued in the most out-of-this-world way. We blasted off to explore different locations across the universe, on the hunt for the most promising mining sites in space! What a week, superstars, the sky is definitely NOT the limit!
Science: Processing Materials and Ice Cream Making
The Grade 5 learners had great fun exploring the science of temperature change through an exciting “Ice Cream in a Bag” experiment. Learners discovered how adding salt to ice lowers the temperature, allowing the ice cream mixture to freeze more quickly. Through this hands-on activity, they learned about freezing points, heat transfer, and how science can be applied in everyday life. The experiment encouraged teamwork, observation and active participation while making learning both meaningful and enjoyable.
Outing to the Planetarium, Digital Dome, and The Iziko Museum
We are so excited to share that Grade 5 learners have a wonderful outing to look forward to in Quarter 2. The Planetarium, Digital Dome, and The Iziko Museum on 17 June 2026! Please complete the consent form as soon as possible.
GRADE 4 NEWS
GRADE 4 NEWS
Assessment season has officially arrived and our Grade 4 classrooms have been full of busy brains, sharpened pencils and determined learners ready to tackle every challenge that comes their way! This week, our learners have been working exceptionally hard as they prepare for the start of assessments, showing wonderful focus, perseverance and plenty of enthusiasm along the way!
In Mathematics, learners have been rounding off numbers like pros! From rounding to the nearest 10, 100 and beyond, they have been stretching their thinking skills and practising different strategies to solve tricky questions. There have been lots of “Aha!” moments in class as learners discovered just how important rounding can be in everyday life.
Our Geography lessons have taken learners on an exciting journey across South Africa as they explored the nine provinces of our beautiful country. From the mountains of the Western Cape to the wildlife of Limpopo, learners have enjoyed discovering unique facts about each province while improving their map skills and geographical knowledge. We may even have a few future travel guides in Grade 4!
In Afrikaans, things got a little stormy, in the best way possible! Learners have been learning all about thunderstorms and weather vocabulary while building their confidence in speaking and understanding Afrikaans. The classroom was filled with exciting discussions about lightning, thunder, rain and wild winter weather. Luckily, the only thunder in our classrooms has been the sound of hardworking learners thinking carefully!
CULTURE
CULTURE
Quarter 2 and 3 Co-curricular Sign-up Form
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.
SENIOR CHOIR COMPETITION
SENIOR CHOIR COMPETITION
We wish our Senior Choir, their conductor Mr Ernstzen and their accompanist Mrs Domingo all the best for the ATKV competition on Thursday, 21 May.
ART
ART
Last quarter, our Grade 4 learners created beautiful bird artworks using oil pastels, while Grade 5 explored colour and composition with their vibrant cacti in pots. Both grades developed their blending techniques and confidently experimented with colour in their creative masterpieces! Here is some evidence of their incredible work:
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
NEW ADVENTURES
This quarter we are giving our readers a taste of different genres. After spending some time with our Mystery selection, we will now be moving on to Fantasy, followed by Historical Spy Mystery.
We are spoilt for choice as new books arrive constantly. Two new and developing series that we are introducing are:
Skyriders: a marvellous fantasy adventure series for all ages. In this world, there is a deep bond between humans and their skysteeds (winged horses). This is a great introduction to other fantasy series like Keeper of the Lost Cities.
Taylor & Rose Secret Agents is another new detective-turned-spy series set in the early 1900’s. Two young girls work together to solve cases in some of the biggest cities of that time: Paris, St Petersburg, Venice and New York. Exciting adventures in historical settings ensure great reading enjoyment!
Senior Prep: Weathering the Storm!
Senior Prep: Weathering the Storm!
What a week it has been! Between the lashing rain, heavy winds, and storms that rolled through on Wednesday and Thursday, our Senior Prep athletes had a true test of character. While the weather certainly played its part, it didn't stop the action. Our learners showed incredible resilience, proving that a little Cape Town weather isn't enough to keep them off the fields and courts!
The Week That Was: Match Results
The Week That Was: Match Results
Netball vs. Blouberg
The courts may have been damp, but the competition was fire! Our girls showed great footwork and tenacity despite the conditions.
U10A: Won 6-0. A clinical defensive display to keep a clean sheet. Liyana & Mikaela (POTM)
U10B: Lost 2-6. A tough battle, but the girls fought for every ball. Beyonce & Anaya (POTM)
U12A: Lost 5-7. A nail-biting, end-to-end game that could have gone either way. Olu (POTM)
U12B: Won 8-2. A dominant performance with fantastic movement in the circle. Kahlia (POTM)
Rugby vs. Rallim
The rugby fields were the definition of "grit" this week. Our boys embraced the mud and produced some fantastic results.
U11: Won 6-3. A defensive masterclass in tricky conditions. Calvin (POTM)
U13: Drew 25-25. A high-scoring, absolute thriller of a match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the final whistle! Nick (POTM)
Looking Ahead: Full Steam Ahead!
Looking Ahead: Full Steam Ahead!
We are hoping for clearer skies next week as we head into another full week of fixtures. We have a packed schedule across:
Rugby
Hockey
Netball
We encourage all parents and supporters to come down and braving the chill to cheer on our teams. Your energy on the sidelines makes a world of difference to the players!
A Spark of Motivation: Resilience in the Rain
A Spark of Motivation: Resilience in the Rain
There is a special kind of pride that comes from playing through tough conditions. It’s easy to play well when the sun is shining, but the real growth happens when the wind is blowing and the rain is coming down.
To Our Athletes: Resilience is like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets. This week, you didn't just play sports; you practiced mental toughness. Whether you won, lost, or drew in the mud, you showed that you are capable of pushing through discomfort to support your team. Carry that "storm-weathering" spirit into your practices next week!
Well done, Senior Prep—see you on the sidelines!
Senior Preparatory Sports Uniform: 2026
Senior Preparatory Sports Uniform: 2026
Senior Preparatory 2026 Uniform requirements.pdfANNOUNCEMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT
Friday Hockey Sports Hour
Please note, all Hockey learners will be transported to the Secondary Faculty for Hockey training on 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.
External Achievements in Sport
External Achievements in 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
Sport Quick Links
Sport Quick Links
OUTREACH 2026
OUTREACH 2026
GENERAL
GENERAL
Drop off & collection
Drop off & collection
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
Aftercare
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.
Security & Car Stickers
Security & Car Stickers
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
UNIFORM
UNIFORM
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
Quick Links
Quick Links
Lost Property
Lost Property
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.
MEDICATIONS AND IMMUNISATIONS
MEDICATIONS AND IMMUNISATIONS
Should your child have a medical condition/ allergy /require prescribed medication to be administered, please e-mail Meagan Kotze on mkotze@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.
Immunisation_schedule.pdfImmunisations2.pdf
CALENDAR AND EVENTS
CALENDAR AND EVENTS
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)
SPACE EDUCATION
SPACE EDUCATION
We are excited to announce that Parklands College Secondary Faculty will be hosting a Space Educators Conference during World Space Week in October.
PARENT LEARNER DIRECTORY
PARENT LEARNER DIRECTORY
Our Parent Learner Directory contains all the information you will need. You can find this important document under the General Tab
20260112 SENIOR PREP P&L Information Directory.pdfPARENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY
PARENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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...
2026 Dates
2026 Dates
Autumn Quarter: 8 April - 24 June
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
Saturday 16 May:
SP Choir Rehearsal for ATKV 9-12
Monday 18 May:
Junior Tour de Maths @ Milnerton Primary School 17:45
Wednesday 20 May:
Happy Birthday Serena Domingo
Thursday 21 May:
ATKV APPLOUS CHOIR competition @ Gene Louw Primary
Friday 29 May:
Reach for a Dream Slipper Day (bring shoes for sports hour)
Saturday 30 May:
Open Day
Monday 1 June:
Happy Birthday Chef Kerry
Wednesday 3 June:
Happy Birthday Chantel Lamb
Thursday 4 June:
Happy Birthday Elise Crouse
Friday 12 June:
SP Choir Performance
Monday 15 June:
Special School Holiday
Tuesday 16 June:
Public Holiday: Youth Day
Happy birthday Thurloe Ernstzen
Wednesday 17 June:
Grade 5 outing (Planetarium)
Thursday 18 June:
SP Music Concert 18:00
Friday 19 June:
SP Reports released to Parents
SP Parent Report Feedback Meetings
Sunday 21 June:
Fathers Day
Monday 22 June:
SP Parent Report Feedback Meetings
Tuesday 23 June:
SP Parent Report Feedback Meetings
Wednesday 24 June:
School Closes at 13:00, no aftercare
Monday 6 July:
Happy Birthday Gary Gilder
Wednesday 15 July:
Happy Birthday Trisha Govender
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Have a wonderful weekend
Paul Mayers
Senior Preparatory Principal
Follow us on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParklandsCollege/
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
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