Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo

SAVE THE DATES

Woolworths has recently introduced its new MyDifference loyalty programme, replacing the previous MySchool system.

To continue supporting Parklands College & Christopher Robin Pre-Primary through your Woolworths shopping, please follow the steps below before 31 October to select us as your beneficiary in the Woolworths app.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping us make a difference

• Download or update the Woolworths App on iOS (Apple App Store) or Android (Google Play Store).
  Log in or register for a Woolworths account and activate your MyDifference profile.

• Tap the "Loyalty" tab located at the bottom menu of the app.

• Select "Causes" or "My Causes" to manage your chosen beneficiaries.

• Choose "Choose My Own" and search for your specific school by name.

• Select your school from the search results and choose Parklands College as your active cause.

ACADEMIC NEWS

We have a short, but busy and exciting quarter ahead. We look forward to the many opportunities for growth and celebration that await our learners in the sporting, cultural, technological and academic spheres.

Formal Assessment Period

It is also that time of the year where our learners must focus on preparing for their final formal assessments of the year. The Grade 4 - 6 formal assessment period will take place from 2 November to 13 November 2026.

In order to give learners an opportunity to rest and revise in the afternoons, the academic school day will end at 13:30 during the week of 9 - 13 November. Sport and co-curricular activities will be integrated into the school day from 13:30-14:30 where possible (seperate timetable will be shared). There will also be optional supervised self-study sessions for those learners who remain until 14:30. Aftercare will continue as normal. 

Formal assessment schedules will be communicated in the next memo to assist with planning. Teachers have carefully planned the next few weeks to include regular revision in class, focusing on key concepts and skills.

We wish to remind parents and learners that regular school attendance is crucial. Consistent attendance ensures that learners don’t miss out on valuable lessons and preparation for their upcoming formal assessments. Please assist us by ensuring your child attends school regularly and punctually.

In the meantime, here are a few tips to get the academic ball rolling to support your child at home:

• Set up a quiet, organised study space – ensure your child has a calm, well-lit area free from distractions such as television or phones to revise or complete work.

• Set a routine – encourage your child to revise each day in short, focused sessions (about 30 minutes) with short breaks in between.

• Review work regularly – go over previously learnt notes and key concepts a little each day.

• Stay positive and motivated – praise efforts and remind them that every bit of revision helps build confidence.

GRADE 6 NEWS

Grade 6 Parklands Playground

Thank you so much to all the parents who joined us for our Grade 6 Parklands Playground showcase! It was incredible watching our learners take the lead as teachers, directing you through acting and video editing in the green screen studio, guiding you through space-themed Morse code programming with micro:bits, and introducing you to 6-part radial symmetry to design digital mandalas. We loved seeing your creativity, teamwork, and willingness to step into the role of the student for the day. Thank you for your enthusiastic participation and for making this interactive showcase such a memorable experience for our Grade 6 class!

PBL Showcase

On the final Friday of the quarter, our Grade 6 learners hosted an interactive showcase for the Grade 5s to present their 3D satellite prototypes as part of their "Mission: Save Earth from Space" PBL. Stepping into the shoes of space scientists and engineers, the Grade 6s pitched their satellite designs and demonstrated how space technology can monitor and address critical environmental issues in South Africa, such as droughts, deforestation, and climate change. The Grade 5s joined as an engaged audience, walking through the presentations and asking insightful, thoughtful questions that challenged the presenters to think deeper. It was a fantastic way to wrap up the quarter, giving our Grade 6s a chance to build confidence in public speaking while inspiring the Grade 5s with the power of modern STEM innovation.

Grade 6 Market Day

What a fantastic and vibrant Market Day we had to end off a busy, successful quarter! The atmosphere across the Senior Prep campus was electric as our young entrepreneurs showcased their creativity, business acumen, and hard work. The initiative was driven by Grade 6 learner Kahlia, who personally pitched the proposal for Market Day directly to Principal Paul, demonstrating incredible initiative and leadership to help bring the event to life. From handcrafted goods and delicious treats to interactive games, our learners put their planning and financial literacy skills into practice with impressive enthusiasm. Special thanks go to Ms Prinsloo and the grade 6 teachers for managing all the logistics behind the scenes and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Well done to Kahlia, Ms Prinsloo, and all our market participants for making the Market Day such a resounding success—you truly brought the spirit of innovation and community to life!

GRADE 5 NEWS

A big thank you to all the Grade 5 parents who joined us for our Parklands Playground showcase! It was incredible watching our learners take full control of the driver's seat—guiding you through their real-world Real Life for Kids banking portals and giving tours of their custom Minecraft EDU cities. From showing off 3D iMovie tricks and co-creating stop-motion reptile eye animations, to prototyping wheel-free GrassHopper robots and wrapping up with a thrilling parent-vs-parent Live Mathletics showdown, your energy was unmatched. Thank you for diving in, embracing the role of student for the afternoon, and celebrating how our Grade 5s use technology to solve problems and create every day!

GRADE 4 NEWS

Grade 4 Parklands Playground

Thank you to our Grade 4 parents who joined us for the Parklands Playground showcase! Our learners loved taking the lead and sharing how they use technology in class every day. It was wonderful watching parents and children collaborate as you built 3D models in Tinkercad, edited video clips in iMovie, and created fun animated GIFs on the history of the telephone. Thank you for jumping right into the activities and making the morning so memorable for our Grade 4s

COMING SOON: WIMPY KID 21!

For all the Wimpy kid fans out there, every new novel is an event, and this year it is extra special, as it is the 21st book in this popular series. What Jeff Kinney started as a daily newspaper comic for adults, has become a world-wide phenomenon. Ask the readers why they love it so much, and the answer is predictable: it is funny! A dad of two sons, Kinney knows his customers, and we owe him a lot for getting the most reluctant readers to read, and coming back for more. 

U12 CRICKET TOUR to Hermanus

EXTERNAL ACHIEVEMENTS

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 

External Achievements

Sport Quick Links

GENERAL

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 look forward to welcoming all our learners back in their summer uniform on Wednesday at 07:45 for the start of the Spring Quarter.

Paul Mayers

Senior Preparatory Principal

pmayers@parklands.co.za 

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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