Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo

17 April 2025

Dear Parents


It has been a short week this week but we have really packed in the learning!


A special congratulations to all the newly elected Grade 6 leaders. We are looking forward to seeing you develop your leadership skills this year. 


Save the date for our Madagascar Jr Production on 31 July, 1st August and 2 August. Everyone is involved and you certainly don't want to miss this!


On Thursday, our U12 Netball girls' touring side, heads to Knysna to represent Parklands College. We wish you an incredible tour and safe travels. 


Week 2 Q2 Memo.MOV

NOTICES

Please take note of the following important upcoming dates and reminders:

Important Change Regarding Aftercare Collection Procedures
To further enhance the safety and security of our learners, effective immediately, all learners must be personally collected from aftercare and signed out on the register by their parent(s), designated lift service, or caregiver.


Library dates to note:
World Book Day (Dress-up) - Wednesday 23 April
Bargain Books Book Sale (Day 1 & 2) - 23 & 24 April


Upcoming Public holidays & Mid Term Break
Friday 18 April: Good Friday
Monday 21 April: Family Day
Monday 28 April - Friday 2 May: Mid Term Break

Winter Uniform - Monday 5 May:
Please note that we will transition to Winter uniform on 5 May. 

Grade 6 Q2 Aquarium 2025 Outing: 22 April 2025 - Consent Form

ACADEMICS

Formal Assessments

The assessment calendars have been populated with the formal assessments for the quarter. Please click on the specific grade on the academic tab to access the Gr 4 – 6 formal assessment calendars.  Herein, you will find the specific date and study details of each assessment.  The study details are posted at least two weeks before the assessment. 


Please also take note of the information regarding learner absenteeism of formal assessments in the academic section.


Quarter 2 Reports

In Grade 4 – 6, informal and formal assessments for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 are added together and weighted according to the revised CAPS requirements for 2025 as stipulated by the Department of Basic Education. The combined mark is displayed as a percentage and code under the heading called Autumn Quarter on the report.


In order for learners to progress to the next grade, they need to meet the following minimum requirements at the end of the academic year for Grade 4, 5 and 6:


50% in English HL

40% in Afrikaans FAL / isiXhosa FAL

40% in Mathematics

40% in the remaining subjects

NEWS

First Assembly of the Quarter

Our first combined Senior Preparatory assembly for the quarter was filled with exciting news and celebrations. Mrs Lamb delighted us all with her humorous and informative poem describing quarter two! What wonderful creativity.

In Assembly this week, we proudly introduced our Grade 6 Monitors and House Captains for 2025 at assembly! A huge congratulations to these amazing learners who will be leading the way with kindness, integrity and heart.

Class Monitors


House Captains

Harvard: Sophia de Carvalho Smee & Ewan Eichbauer
Oxford: Nia Morule & Ariyan Govender
Cambridge: Sofia Joubert & Benjamin Fourie
Yale: Ntando Mziba & Mukundi Chikwati

Culture Monitors

Library Monitors

We are so proud of our new leaders and can’t wait to see the impact they’ll make throughout the year!

Grade 6 News

Week 2 brought energy, creativity, and a few big announcements that had the whole school buzzing! The week started with the announcements of our Grade 6 Monitors (above). 

Afrikaans – “Ons winkels is oop!”


This week, we showcased our fantastic winkelsentrum posters to the class, using all that rich vocabulary we’ve been learning. The effort, design, and flair each group put into their shops blew Ms Prinsloo away! From colourful layouts to clever product choices, our shops were truly next-level creative.

Science – Water Wonders!


We continued our deep dive into wetlands and water pollution. This week, we explored the difference between soluble and insoluble pollutants through some exciting hands-on activities and discussions. From glittery microplastics to murky water mixes, we’re learning how to protect our precious H₂O! 


Grade 6 Q2 Aquarium 2025 Outing: 22 April 2025

We’re gearing up for our exciting Two Oceans Aquarium outing on 22 April! 


Expect fins, facts, and a splash of fun as we connect our classroom learning to the wonders of the ocean world. 


Grade 5 News


Grade 5s launched into their exciting new Space PBL by exploring the International Space Station using Minecraft EDU! 


In Maths, they continued working with patterns and learnt how to find the rule when dealing with larger numbers. Their enrichment lessons are in full swing —Field PE got them moving, play rehearsals are building momentum, and they have been diving into Tinkercad during Robotics. 


Grade 5 faces.mp4

Grade 4 News

Our Grade 4 learners explored quotation marks in a fun and hands-on way, using macaroni! They crafted sentences and used macaroni pieces to represent the quotation marks, bringing grammar to life in a tactile and memorable way. Who knew punctuation could be so creative?

In isiXhosa the Grade 4s explored the making of traditional steam bread—a beloved staple in many South African homes—while learning how it connects to weather and culture. This hands-on lesson gave learners more than just a recipe, it opened up a conversation about how food and environment are closely linked in our heritage.

Mathletics Silver Certificates

ROBOTICS

Hyperion Bots in Houston, Texas - ready to compete.

Well done to our learners who have levelled up this week. We celebrate Mathletics Achievements at SP lines each week on a Tuesday. 

New Class Teacher in Grade 5

Today we welcomed Mrs Trisha Govender to the College as our new Grade 5K class teacher. Mrs Govender will spend time visiting all three of our existing classes over the course of the next week so that the children get to know her. If your child would like to join the new class please email pmayers@parklands.co.za. Note that not all requests will necessarily be able to be accommodated in the new class. 

OUTREACH

SPORT

From the Sports Desk

Senior Prep Sports Update – Quarter 2 Is Off to a Flying Start! 🏐💪

This past week has been all things Netball and Physical Education – and what a start to Quarter 2 it has been!

Our U10–U12 A & B Netball teams kicked off their league season with great enthusiasm, taking on Elkanah in their first official fixtures of the year. The courts were alive with energy, teamwork, and skill as our girls put on some incredible performances. We’re thrilled with the effort, growth, and results across all teams – a fantastic day of netball!

On Saturday, our U12 girls took part in a netball festival at Van Riebeeckstrand, sharpening their skills and gaining valuable match experience as they gear up for the much-anticipated Knysna Netball Tour next week Thursday - wishing all these girls an incredible time as they represent Parklands College Prep in Knysna. To add to the excitement, Nia, Nthando, Jeeriya, and Sophia proudly represented Parklands College Prep at the Western Province Netball Trials – a remarkable achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their dedication and determination on this bigger stage!

Our Physical Education programme has been in full swing, with learners focusing on essential skills like hand-eye coordination, agility, handling, and passing. It's been fantastic to see the energy and effort in every session – be sure to check out the week’s PE photo highlights!

And for our Rugby, Hockey, and Soccer stars – your turn is coming!

We can’t wait to see even more learners taking to the fields and courts this term. As always, thank you, parents, for your continued support and encouragement – we love hearing your cheers from the sidelines!

Let’s keep the momentum going – Quarter 2 is shaping up to be something special. 💙💛
 #ParklandsPrepSport #Quarter2Action #NetballPride #PEInMotion #OurBloodRunsBlue

Week that was

Senior Prep Week That Was – Strong Starts & Stellar Performances! 💪🏉🏐

What a week it’s been for our Senior Prep athletes - full of grit, growth, and great results!

Our Rugby teams were in action against Rallim this past week and put on dominant displays across the board. The U11s were clinical in their approach, securing an emphatic 28–0 victory, with Adem named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance.

Our U13s had a slower start but quickly shifted into gear, showcasing their skill and teamwork to claim a 43–15 win. Special mentions to Marang and James, both awarded 'Players of the Match' for their impact and composure under pressure.

On the netball courts, our girls faced Rallim and Edgemead in their opening matches of the quarter. The determination and teamwork on display were fantastic to see! 

U10 Rallim Drew 2-2 - Sarah Player of the Match
U10 Edgemead Lost 5-1 - Mihle Player of the Match

U11 Rallim Won 4-0 - Holly Player of the Match
U11 Edgemead Lost 14-1 - Lara Player of the Match

U12 Rallim Lost 9-1
U12 Edgemead Lost 4-2

It’s clear that our Senior Prep learners have put in the work, and we’re proud of the intensity and effort they've brought into the start of Quarter 2. Let’s keep the momentum going - plenty more fixtures, learning, and memorable moments lie ahead!

U12 Netball girls at Van Riebeekstrand tournament

U12 WP Netball trialists

Physical Education in full swing this week

Chess

External Achievements in Sport



Benjamin

Congratulations to Benjamin for competing in the South Africa Level 2 Regional Age Group Champs 2025 (Nationals), winning Silver in 200 IM, Bronze in 50 Fly, Silver in 4 x 100 m Free Relay and Silver in 4 x 50 m Free Relay. 


Incredible achievement! Keep up the amazing work!



Matthew

Congratulations Matthew who took Gold at Karate South Africa Elite League 1 Championship in Bloemfontein Representing Western Cape Karate Federation. 



Jean-Louis

Congratulations to Jean-Louis who finished 2nd overall in his age group at the Western Cape Nipper Champs, with 2nd in the Board Race, and 3rd in Flags. 



Lea

Congratulations to Lea who cycled the full 109km with her dad on a tandem bicycle. They completed the race in 4hrs41mins. Awesome efforts! 

Please find a link to the notification letter informing the College of a learner's external achievements at Area/Regional/Provincial level.

External Achievements

Sport Quick Links

CULTURE

The Drama Lab’s 2025 annual theatrical offering is Disney’s Aladdin Jr.   


Bursting with nostalgic, irresistible, singable tunes - this show is guaranteed to lift your heart and get it singing.  This much-loved musical will be performed from Friday, 9 May to Saturday, 17 May 2025.

 

Olivia Huang (Grade 5) is 'Lago' in the Carpet Cast (along with Jorja Hoppé in Grade 9) and Lela Demissew (Grade 5) is 'Manal' in the Lamp Cast.

Aladdin poster.pdf

Bookings through Quicket https://www.quicket.co.za/events/215034-disney-aladdin-jr/ or take advantage of this special offer:


A special rate of R120 for the following performances:


Tuesday 13th May (Carpet Cast) at 19h00

Wednesday 14th May (Lamp Cast) at 19h00

Thursday 15th May (Carpet Cast) at 19h00


These tickets can be booked directly with Lee Merryweather via email:  merryweatherla@gmail.com or WhatsApp:  083 298 3141

LIBRARY


WORLD BOOK DAY 2025


In 1995, UNESCO held a General Conference in Paris, where World Book Day was born as a world-wide tribute to books and the people who bring them to us: authors, publishers, booksellers and libraries. This day was intended to honour books as a vehicle of peace and the eradication of poverty. Thirty years later, these truths have not changed, and we still know that reading to children, and assisting them to read with enjoyment and meaning, will change their lives forever. The books you share with your child impart language skills which are essential building blocks that will impact every area of their lives. 


We are pleased to invite you to our bumper Book Sale in the Senior Preparatory hall, where the ladies from Bargain Books will have an impressive selection available. Please see our poster for shopping times.

Birthday Books


This week Yoriola and Ava presented their Birthday Books at our assembly. We received a Famous Five adventure and an addition to the hilarious Pooch Parlour series. What fun!  Thank you for these lovely contributions to our library. 



Hooked on Books

A reminder of all the fun we had with the Hooked On Books Visit last week - well done to all the learner participants!

Quick Links

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)

Dates for 2025


Autumn Quarter: 08 April - 25 June

*Mid-term break: 29 April - 2 May

Winter Quarter: 22 July - 23 September

Spring Quarter: 14 October - 05 December

PARENT LEARNER DIRECTORY


Our Parent Learner Directory contains all the information you will need. You can find this important document under the General Tab

2025 SENIOR PREP P&L Information Directory.pdf

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...

CONCLUDING COMMENTS


We wish Mrs Julia Holliday a wonderful birthday for tomorrow, Friday 18 April.

To our Christian Families:










Blessings at Easter


We wish our Christian Families joy and peace as you celebrate Easter this weekend.


To our Jewish Families:







Happy Passover


Chag Same’ach to all who are celebrating. Passover began on Saturday night, and we wish you a continued time of joy, meaning, and connection.


Enjoy the long weekend and see you back at school on Tuesday for another short week before we break for the mid-term break. 

Paul Mayers

Senior Preparatory Principal

pmayers@parklands.co.za 


Follow us on:


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Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParklandsTweet

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parklandscollege


Links to other faculty blogs:


Pre-Primary Faculty: https://ppblog.parklands.co.za

Junior Preparatory Faculty: https://jpblog.parklands.co.za 

Secondary Faculty: https://secblog.parklands.co.za