Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo
23 October 2026
Embedded Files
Dear Parents
We look forward to celebrating this year's successes in Culture, Sport and Technology at our awards ceremony on Friday 30 October at 08:30. Reminder that school will continue as normal on Friday 30th but the last hour will be academic lessons and not sport hour. All learners must please come neatly dressed in full summer uniform with their blazers on Friday 30th October.
Please take note of the 2027 Device, Stationery and Textbook requirements that are in the memo this week. Note - our current grade 6 parents can access the grade 7 Textbook and Stationery lists in the Secondary Faculty Memo: https://secblog.parklands.co.za
Important dates:
30 October - Culture, Sports and Technology Awards @ 08:30
30 October - Pizza Friday (Pizza Order Form)
2 - 13 November - Assessment Period
4 November - Local Government Elections (public holiday)
27 November - Growing Minds Celebration @ 09:00
Principal Paul Memo Q4W2-26.MOVClick on play to view Principal Paul's Video Memo
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SAVE THE DATES
SAVE THE DATES
Parents of learners receiving recognition at this event will be invited via email. All Parents are welcome to attend.
All learners will receive a Growing Minds Certificate at this end of year event. We will also recognise Grade 6 academic achievement and Special Awards at this celebration.
Last Friday of the month is Pizza Friday!
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 30 October.
Note that all orders will need to be completed by Wednesday 28 October @ 12 noon. 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.
ACADEMIC NEWS
ACADEMIC NEWS
School Attendance
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.
Preparation For Formal Assessments
The Grade 4 - 6 formal assessment period for the fourth quarter will take place from 2 November to 13 November 2026.
Teachers have carefully planned the next few weeks to include regular revision in class, focusing on key concepts and skills. Teachers will share a suggested revision timetable and consolidation activities to further assist your child in preparation for assessments.
Please see the Quarter 4 formal assessment schedule for each grade below.
Gr 4 Assessment Schedule Q4 2026.pdfGrade 4
Gr 5 Assessment Schedule Q4 2026.pdfGrade 5
Gr 6 Assessment Schedule Q4 2026.pdfGrade 6
Co-curricular Activities and Sport in the week of 9 -13 November:
The academic school day will end at 13:30 during the week of 9 - 13 November. Learners may go home at this time in order to give them an opportunity to rest and revise in the afternoons. There will also be optional supervised self-study sessions for those learners who remain until 14:30. Aftercare will continue as normal.
Afternoon sport and co-curricular activities will move to an earlier time where possible (see days and times below). Note that aftercare will continue from 14:30-16:45 as normal.
Tennis will continue before school as normal according to the Q4 sports timetable.
Morning co-curriculars (Marimba, Choir and Orchestra) will continue as scheduled.
Drama Society, Design Society and Junior Chefs will take place between 13:30 -14:30 on selected days.
Sport practices and Dance will take place according to the timetable below:
Absenteeism During Exams and Formal Assessments
Kindly note that the only valid reasons endorsed by the Education Department are as follows:
Learners may only miss an assessment (examination) supported by documentary evidence, for the following reasons:
1. Illness (a valid medical doctor’s certificate required)
2. Family bereavement (letter required)
3. Representing the country or province in a sporting or cultural event (official letter required)
Should a learner miss a formal assessment due to illness, please share the doctor's certificate with the class teacher. The learner will write the assessment when he/she returns to school, as arranged with the teacher.
Should a learner need to miss a formal assessment for any other reason, please send an email to the Head of Academics, Miss Drawbridge requesting permission.
Weightings on Reports
The percentages that appear on the Grade 4 – 6 reports under the Summer, Autumn and Winter columns are derived from the assessments conducted in the first three quarters of the year and the average percentage is calculated each quarter. Therefore, the percentage displayed for each subject under the Winter column is an average of the percentages from Quarter 1, 2 and 3 and carries a weighting of 80% of the final progression mark.
The percentage that appears under the Spring column for each subject is derived from the assessments conducted in Quarter 4 only and carries a weighting of 20% of the final progression mark.
The final progression mark, which determines if a learner proceeds to the next grade, appears under the Final column on the report. For a learner to progress to the next grade they must obtain a minimum of 50% for English and a minimum of 40% for all other subjects.
GRADE 6 NEWS
GRADE 6 NEWS
Double the "Nie", Double the Fun! 🎬✨
Double the "Nie", Double the Fun! 🎬✨
This week, our Grade 6s turned "no" into pure creativity as we tackled the Ontkennende Vorm (negative form) in Afrikaans! Our learners worked through core grammatical rules, learning how to construct simple negative sentences with the double "nie" placement, respond to questions starting with "Nee", structure negative commands using "moenie", handle requests with "asseblief", and convert specific vocabulary such as transforming "iemand" into "niemand...nie". Using Keynote, our learners designed their very own animated GIFs to showcase their sentence-building skills, turning sentences into vibrant, moving masterpieces! Who knew mastering the negative form could bring so much positive energy to the classroom?
History in Colour: Grade 6s Movement-Inspired Portraits
The Grade 6 class has thoroughly enjoyed diving into the rich world of Art History as they explored a variety of artistic movements—12 to be exact. To put their learning into practice, each learner randomly selected a movement and undertook the creative challenge of applying that distinct aesthetic to their very own self-portrait. They worked through the artistic process by analysing the key visual markers of their assigned style and carefully selecting the medium that would best compliment it—from vibrant acrylics and graphic paint pens for Pop Art, to delicate watercolours, fine-liners, and gold accents for Art Nouveau. Others unlocked their subconscious with Surrealist magazine collages, captured intense emotion through dramatic Expressionist brushwork, or created tactile depth with charcoal on frieze-style compositions. The resulting collection is nothing short of incredible. Beyond mastering techniques and history, it has been a joy to watch the children's confidence and self-expression flourish as they saw themselves transformed through these diverse artistic lenses. Well done to all our young artists on a magnificent series of portraits!
GRADE 5 NEWS
GRADE 5 NEWS
This week was a whirlwind of learning! In Maths, we got to grips with elapsed time and dived into transformations, watching shapes flip, turn and slide across the page like little acrobats. English saw us recapping our parts of speech, with Adverbs and Pronouns taking centre stage. In Afrikaans and isiXhosa, we solidified our recipe writing skills and put them to the test in our very first writing assessment, so there were plenty of delicious words on the page! History carried on along our Heritage Trail around South Africa, uncovering the rich stories of our past, while in Geography we swam all the way down the river system, learning about its different parts and how it forms part of the water cycle. Our heritage project is still going strong too, as we keep designing our coats of arms and busily put together our class recipe books, filled with fun and flavourful family favourites.
Grade 5 Science: Rocks and the Rock Cycle 🪨
Our Grade 5 learners explored the fascinating world of rocks! They learnt about the three main types of rocks - igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic and discovered how rocks change through the rock cycle. The learners had fun investigating real rock samples, observing the different rock features and making observations to deepen their understanding of the different properties of rocks. A hands-on lesson that brought geology to life!
Congratulations to our Grade Five Mathletics Stars who have levelled up this week!
Grade 5 Camp
Our Grade 5 learners are heading to High Africa Adventures on the Breede River in Worcester for their upcoming school camp from Monday, 23rd November to Wednesday, 25th November.
Any required medication must be handed directly to the class teacher on departure morning in a labelled ziplock bag with clear instructions and a printed medical consent form.
Further information and indemnity Forms can be found in the email sent to parents.
GRADE 4 NEWS
GRADE 4 NEWS
Measuring Our Way Through Mathematics! 📏
This week, our Grade 4s have been on a measuring adventure, exploring everything from tiny millimetres to mighty kilometres!
We took our learning beyond the classroom and headed out onto the field for a fun challenge. What does 100 metres actually look like? Our young mathematicians put their estimating skills to the test before bringing out the trundle wheel to discover the actual distance!
There were plenty of curious minds, excited guesses and some surprising discoveries along the way! What a wonderful way to bring Mathematics to life through hands-on learning! 📏
Grade 4 Mathletics
2027 DEVICE REQUIREMENTS
2027 DEVICE REQUIREMENTS
Grade 1-6 2027 Device Requirements
2027 Gr1-6 Parklands College Device NewLetterhead.pdfGrade 7-9 2027 Device Requirements
2027 Gr7-9 Parklands College Device NewLetterhead.pdfParentDiscount2026.pdf
Stationery and Text book requirements
Stationery and Text book requirements
Please see the Textbook Requirements and Stationery for Grade 4 - 6, 2027.
Learners are required to take either Afrikaans FAL or isiXhosa FAL as subjects. Please ensure that you only order either Afrikaans or isiXhosa FAL books.
NOTE: Grade 4 - 6 Afrikaans FAL learners will receive an Afrikaans FAL workbook at the beginning of the year which will be billed to the account.
Note - our current grade 6 parents can access the grade 7 Textbook and Stationery lists in the Secondary Faculty Memo: https://secblog.parklands.co.za
Please take note of the letters from each of the suppliers with specifics of how to order. Note that you are either able to order the set boxes per grade or use the BackToSchool site to create a custom order with discount code provided in the letter.
Letter to Parklands Senior Preparatory School.pdf10 Percent Parklands College Voucher digital.pdfParklands College Preparatory Caxton School Books 2027.pdfGrade 4 Stationery and Textbook Lists 2027
Grade 4 Stationery and Textbook Lists 2027
Parklands College Senior Preparatory School Grade 4.pdfGrade 4 Caxtons Textbook list 2027.pdfGrade 5 Stationery and Textbook Lists 2027
Grade 5 Stationery and Textbook Lists 2027
Parklands College Senior Preparatory School Grade 5.pdfGrade 5 Caxtons Textbook list 2027.pdfGrade 6 Stationery and Textbook Lists 2027
Grade 6 Stationery and Textbook Lists 2027
Parklands College Senior Preparatory School Grade 6.pdfGrade 6 Caxtons Textbook list 2027.pdf
CULTURE
CULTURE
Please complete the Q4 Co-curricular Sign-Up Form. The Grade 4 - 6 sports and culture programme will commence on 14 October 2026. GOLF sign-ups are limited and will be issued on a first-come first-served basis. Please contact the relevant teacher should you have any questions regarding the programme
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.
Drama Society
Drama Society
Drama Society experimented with different body shapes and levels in order to create interesting tableau stories.
WEST COAST SONG FESTIVAL
WEST COAST SONG FESTIVAL
Congratulations to our Senior Preparatory and Chamber Choirs on their beautiful performances at the West Coast Song Festival.
IMG_1166.MOVIMG_1175.MOVIMG_1161.MOVScience Club: Exploring Density and Buoyancy! 🧪🌊
Science Club: Exploring Density and Buoyancy! 🧪🌊
Our Science Club learners dived into the fascinating world of density and buoyancy! They investigated how different liquids have different densities and discovered why some objects float while others sink. The highlight was creating their very own colourful density towers, carefully layering different liquids to see science in action. It was a fun, hands-on session filled with curiosity, experimentation and exciting discoveries!
Egypt Enrichment Tour September 2027
Egypt Enrichment Tour September 2027
On Monday 19 October we hosted an information evening on the proposed Egypt Tour for current grade 5 and 6 learners during the 2027 September school holidays (when they will be in Grade 6/7 in 2027)
The tour is exclusive to Parklands College Learners, and we will be accompanied by some of our own teaching staff and a dedicated guide provided by the tour organiser, Travel and Sport.
If you would like to join this tour please see the information and reply slip below. Tour deposit is payable at the end of October.
Parklands College SP - 2026.10.21.pdfEgypt Tour Reply Slip.pdf
ROBOTICS
ROBOTICS
We wish our FLL teams all the best for the Regional Competition this Saturday at Sandown! Show the judges what Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition® look like in action.
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
FIGHT OR FLIGHT HAS ARRIVED!
There were great celebrations on Tuesday as the much anticipated Wimpy Kid 21 arrived at school. Enthusiastic collectors could be seen everywhere carrying their precious yellow copies of Fight Or Flight, and reading at every available moment.
Library classes watched an interview with Jeff Kinney and got some insight into the book making process. He does all the illustrations directly on his huge tablet, and types the text using the Wimpy Kid font, from where copy is sent directly to the publishers. But before he starts a new book, he first collects 360 jokes. No wonder the readers enjoy the hilarity of the series so much!
Classes also followed a video with step-by-step instructions to draw the cover illustration, and spoke about the meaning of the title. Great fun!
OUTREACH
OUTREACH
As part of our Quarter Four outreach, we are excited to support the Santa Shoebox Project, a wonderful initiative that provides personalised gift boxes to children in need. Each class is responsible for preparing two boxes – one for a girl and one for a boy. Your child's class teacher will be in touch with details about what is needed for these boxes and how you can contribute. Completed boxes are due 3 November 2026.
If you would like to donate an additional box on your own, please reach out to Ms. Pietersen at kpietersen@parklands.co.za to pledge a box and receive further details.
Thank you for your generosity!
SPORT
SPORT
Parklands Staff on the Move!
At Parklands College, pushing boundaries isn't just something we ask of our learners - our staff live it, too!
Huge congratulations to our dedicated teachers and Sports Department coaches who recently took on two major races: the Nelson Mandela Marathon and the Slave Route Challenge! From early morning starts to grueling kilometers through historic routes, our staff showed remarkable determination, resilience, and heart.
It’s always inspiring to see our educators lead by example, proving that the commitment to health, fitness, and personal growth extends far beyond the classroom and sports fields. Kudos to everyone who completed these incredible races - you’ve made the Parklands community proud!
Full Summer Sport Is Back!
Full Summer Sport Is Back!
Our first full week of sport has come to an end, and Senior Prep is officially back in full Summer Sport swing!
It was great to see our learners back out on the fields and courts, representing Parklands in Cricket, Tennis and Softball fixtures. There’s plenty to look forward to as we settle into the new quarter!
Cricket – Runs, Wickets and Wins!
Cricket – Runs, Wickets and Wins!
Our cricketers got off to a strong start, with some excellent performances across the age groups.
U11 vs Sunningdale: Won by 8 wickets | POTM: Sarah
U12 vs Table View Primary B: Won by 68 runs | POTM: Keyaan, with an impressive 51 runs!
U10 vs Elkanah: Match drawn | POTM: Renier
A fantastic start to the quarter, with two wins on the board and some great individual performances. Well done to all our cricketers!
Tennis
Tennis
Unfortunately, the weather had other plans, and our Tennis fixtures were rained out this week. We’ll look forward to getting back on court as soon as the opportunity comes around!
Softball – Two Wins!
Softball – Two Wins!
Our Softball teams were straight into the action, with both sides recording victories!
U10: Drew 4-4 | POTM: Yara and Emily
U11: Won 8–5 | POTM: Unako
U12: Won 8–5 | POTM: Imogen and Minhle
The U12 match was a real battle, with Parklands coming through in a fantastic contest! Well done to both teams for getting the Summer Season off to a winning start.
Good Luck, Swimmers!
Good Luck, Swimmers!
A big good luck to all our swimmers taking part in the Parklands Interschools Gala at Senior Prep today! Give it your best, enjoy the experience and swim your hearts out. We’ll be cheering you on!
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
Next week, we gear up for another round of Cricket, Tennis & Softball fixtures as our Summer Sport programme gathers momentum.
Let’s keep building, keep improving and keep representing Parklands with pride.
See you on the fields, courts and in the pool! 💙
GRADES 4 – 6 SUMMER QUARTER CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME 2026
Please ensure that learners participating in outdoor activities have sunblock in their bags for application. ALL learners MUST wear their school caps when outdoors. NO HAT, NO PLAY!
Where practices and matches are affected by inclement weather, learners will be involved in indoor training sessions from 14h45 – 15h45.
Parents must collect learners after their session. If a parent is late and unable to collect on time, learners will be sent to aftercare and parents billed.
Reminder that the campus buildings are locked at 16:45.
Sessions will start in February 2027.
Note: this is in addition to the normal SP Sports programme
EXTERNAL ACHIEVEMENTS
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
Sport Quick Links
Sport Quick Links
GENERAL
GENERAL
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)
MY DIFFERENCE SCHOOL LOYALTY PROGRAMME
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.
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
Spring Quarter: 14 October - 4 December
Proposed 2027 Parklands College Dates
Summer Quarter: 19 Jan 2027 - 17 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
Tuesday 27 October:
Happy Birthday Nadine Marais-Swart
Thursday 29 October:
Happy Birthday Sivenathi Ngaba
Tuesday 27 October:
Happy Birthday Nadine Marais-Swart
Thursday 29 October:
Happy Birthday Sivenathi Ngaba
Friday 30 October:
08:30-09:30 Culture, Sport and Technology Awards (Dress Full Summer Uniform)
09:30-14:30 Academic day (no sports hour)
Monday 2 November:
Happy Birthday Tayla Blewitt
Assessment Period Begins
Wednesday 4 November:
School Closed: Local Government Elections
Friday 6 November:
Santa Shoe Box Drop Off
Sunday 8 November:
Diwali
Monday 9 November:
Assessment Period
School Ends 13:30
Sport: Softball 13:30-14:30
Optional Study Session 13:30-14:30
Tuesday 10 November:
Assessment Period
School Ends 13:30
Drama Society 13:30-14:30
Optional Study Session 13:30-14:30
Wednesday 11 November:
Assessment Period
School Ends 13:30
Design Society 13:30-14:30
Sport: Cricket 13:30-14:30
Optional Study Session 13:30-14:30
Thursday 12 November:
Assessment Period
School Ends 13:30
Junior Chefs 13:30-14:30
Design Society 13:30-14:30
Sport: Squad Swimming 13:30-14:30
Optional Study Session 13:30-14:30
Friday 13 November:
Assessment Period
School Ends 13:30
Optional Sports Hour 13:30-14:30
Wednesday 18 November:
Happy Birthday Mckaylan Daniels
Friday 20 November:
Happy Birthday Courtney Busi
Rugga Roots Demo @ 07:30
Monday 23 November:
Grade 5 Camp
Tuesday 24 November:
Grade 5 Camp
Wednesday 25 November:
Grade 5 Camp
Friday 27 November:
SP Growing Minds Ceremony @ 09:00
Monday 30 November:
Domino Day
Mathletics Celebration - 10:30-11:30 (Grade 4&5)
Tuesday 1 December:
SP FAL Day
Wednesday 2 December:
Happy Birthday Candice Holder
SP Takeover Day
Thursday 3 December:
Happy Birthday Austyn Delport
Grade 6 Fashion Show @ 11:30
Grade 6 Farewell @ 18:00
Friday 4 December:
Last day of the Quarter. School closes at 11:00
Monday 14 December:
Happy Birthday Emma Oxley-Simpson
Monday 17 December:
Happy Birthday Louise Wells
Monday 11 January:
Happy Birthday Lauren Drawbridge
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
We wish Nadine Marais-Swart a happy birthday for Tuesday 27 october and Sivenathi Ngaba Happy Birthday for Thursday 29 October.
We look forward to celebrating the successes in Culture, Sport and Technology at our awards ceremony on Friday 30 October at 08:30. Reminder that school will continue as normal on Friday 30th but the last hour will be academics and not sport. All learners must please come in full summer uniform with their blazers on Friday 30th October.
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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