25 April 2025

Dear Parents

Week 3 has been full of fun and learning as we celebrated both STAR week and World Book Day.

Reminder that school is closed next week for the mid-term break and will reopen with all learners wearing winter uniform from 5 May.

Week 3 Q2 Memo 2.mov

NOTICES

Upcoming Mid-Term Break
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.

THANK YOU

We want to extend a huge thank you to all our wonderful parents for your generous Easter egg donations! Because of your kindness, we were able to spread some Easter joy to the the following:

✨Indy from Elundini Educare in DuNoon
✨IEkhayakidz Educare
✨IRia Abel
✨IHuis Zonnekus
✨Table View Angels

Your contributions made a real difference — bringing big smiles, sweet treats, and happiness to grateful hearts. Moments like these remind us of our incredible community. Thank you for helping us share the love this Easter! 💐🐰

NEWS

World Book Day Dress-Up celebrations

Our school came alive with colour, creativity, and characters as we celebrated World Book Day! Our learners brought the magic of reading to life, dressing up as their favourite literary legends—from The Lorax to Harry Potter, Disney princesses and even superheroes from their favourite stories. The energy was electric, the costumes were incredible, and the love for reading was absolutely contagious!

Grade 6 News

Exploring Our Oceans: Biodiversity & Marine Sustainability

This week, our Grade 6s took their learning beyond the classroom walls with an exciting outing to the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront. They explored the rocky shores of the Atlantic Seaboard, discovered the life cycles of fascinating marine creatures and saw classroom concepts such as tides, ecosystems and biodiversity come to life.

The experience sparked meaningful conversations around marine sustainability, food webs, pollution and the role we all play in protecting our oceans. From plankton to penguins, it was an unforgettable day filled with learning, wonder and ocean inspiration!

Grade 6 PE = Fun on the Field!

This week also brought loads of energy and laughter to the field as our Grade 6s enjoyed some skills-based learning during their PE lessons! They tackled ladder runs, side shuffles, and ball skills with enthusiasm and teamwork.

Whether they were zipping through drills or cheering each other on, it was clear: movement + fun = the perfect combo for growing strong bodies and sharp minds!

Responsible Citizens & Leadership Inspiration

In our Responsible Citizen lesson, learners explored the qualities that make someone truly 'Hall of Fame' worthy—not just in sports, but in life. Each learner selected a personal hero, researched their journey, and created vibrant posters celebrating their achievements, leadership, and positive impact. From legendary career highlights to meaningful community work, our Grade 6s reflected deeply on how these heroes have overcome adversity, shown sportsmanship, and inspired others.

This inspiring activity wasn’t just about admiration—it encouraged learners to think critically about the values they hold dear and how they, too, can lead with purpose, kindness, and courage.

Grade 5 News

This week in Grade 5, our PBL question "Why Mine in Space?" sparked some out-of-this-world curiosity as we began exploring the possibilities and challenges of space mining. In Maths, we stretched our thinking with equivalent fractions — they really made us pause and problem-solve! In English, we were excited to dive into our brand-new class reader, uncovering the wild and wonderful adventures of Roald Dahl’s life. In Robotics, things really took off as we used Minecraft EDU to build and test our own rockets — a fun and creative way to connect to our space theme. Be sure to ask your children about what they’ve learned — there’s lots to share!

New 5K Class

Our new 5K Class will be opening on 5 May 2025. Principal Paul engaged each of the classes this week and we have a number of learners excited to be joining this new class. If you would like your child to join this class please email Principal Paul on pmayers@parklands.co.za

Grade 4 News

Our Grade 4s created a digital postcard for the 'Club Of The Future' website this week. The digital postcards will be compiled and journey to space and back aboard the Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. They drew their vision of 'How space can be used for the benefit of Earth' or 'What our future in space looks like'. These postcards are going to be flown to space!

In Mathematics we enjoyed working with money this week from Racing to R30 and going on a Spending Spree! board game adventure. It is wonderful to see how much fun the Grade 4 learners are having while playing games with money! Not only are they enjoying themselves, but they are also building real-life skills like counting, budgeting, and making smart choices. Learning through play is one of the best ways to understand how money works. Well done, Grade 4s — you're becoming money-smart in the most exciting way!

Science Club

This week at Science Club was an explosion of excitement and discovery! We kicked off with the "Exploding Hearts" experiment, where we delved into the fascinating world of surface tension. Watching those colourful hearts burst into vibrant splashes taught us so much about how liquids behave on different surfaces.

Next, we turned our attention to the "Fizzy Lemon Volcano," exploring chemical reactions in action. The fizzy eruptions and lemony scent filled the air as we observed the power of acids and bases at work. Finally, we navigated our way through the mysteries of magnetism by crafting our own compasses.

It was amazing to see how a simple magnet could guide us and point to Earth's magnetic field. Each experiment brought laughter, learning, and a deeper appreciation for the wonders of science!

STAR (Science, Technology, Aerospace and Robotics) Week

What an exciting and inspiring STAR Week it has been! Our learners were fully immersed in a world of Space, Technology, Aeronautics, and Robotics through a range of hands-on, creative activities that sparked curiosity and innovation. Grade 4 learners put their engineering skills to the test by designing and building their own satellite models, while our Grade 5s explored the challenges of space exploration by constructing lunar lander modules. Grade 6 learners took a deep dive into space science, learning about the Hubble Space Telescope and crafting their very own handheld paper models of this iconic observatory. It was a week filled with discovery, imagination, and a whole lot of learning fun!

Our Grade 6 learners were especially inspired this week by a captivating session with Mr. Duffield, our passionate high school Physics teacher, who shared the wonders of science and its vital role in shaping our future. Through exciting experiments and thought-provoking discussions, he sparked a sense of curiosity and wonder that truly resonated with the learners. As a special highlight, our Science Expo participants were treated to an unforgettable evening under the stars, guided by Enzo Afanzo—a proud Parklands alumnus. Under his expertise, we explored the night sky and had the chance to view Mars, Jupiter, and dazzling star clusters through a telescope. To top it all off, learners attended a thrilling rocket workshop where they began constructing their own rockets, which are set to launch later this quarter. What an extraordinary week of exploration, inspiration, and innovation!

ROBOTICS

Hyperion Bots Shine at FIRST Tech World Championships in Houston

The Hyperion Bots’ participation in the FIRST Tech World Championships in Houston was a thrilling blend of competition, learning, and unforgettable experiences. The team proudly represented South Africa, delivering a strong judges’ presentation and passing both robot and field inspections with ease. On the field, they fought hard in the Edison Division, earning exciting wins in matches Q-11, Q-25, Q-139, and Q-158, and tackling technical challenges—including a broken robot arm—with impressive perseverance and teamwork.

The vibrant atmosphere at the competition was electric, with learners enjoying the mascot dance, trading team memorabilia, and cheering on alliances from around the world. Beyond the competition, the team explored the wonders of space at Johnson Space Centre, discovered cutting-edge space travel technology at Limitless Space Institute, and capped off their trip with a fun visit to the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences. From presenting like professionals to dancing with mascots and learning about nanotechnology, every moment was packed with energy, inspiration, and pride.

Well done to the team who placed 47th in the Edison division, an outstanding achievement for a first-year team.

OUTREACH

SPORT

From the Sports Desk

Senior Prep Sport – Netballers Take Off for Knysna! 🏐💙💛

And we’re off! Our U12 Netball team has officially departed for the 2025 Knysna Netball Tour, and we couldn’t be more excited and proud. Over the next three days, our girls will take on 11 challenging matches against some of the top primary schools in the country, all while building memories through two awesome adventure activities. This tour is not only a test of skill and endurance but also a celebration of teamwork, determination, and school spirit. Let’s go, girls – we’re cheering you on every step of the way! 💪🔥

In preparation for the tour, our U10–U12 Netballers faced off against CBC St. John’s in a pre-tour fixture that brought out the best in our teams. The matches were full of grit, growth, and game-readiness – exactly the confidence boost we needed heading into the tour and the rest of the season.

As we approach the mid-term break, our athletes are already preparing for a packed schedule of fixtures upon their return. The commitment shown on the courts and in Physical Education sessions has been nothing short of incredible. The learners are working hard, learning fast, and showing that they’re more than ready for what’s to come.

A little reminder as we head into the holidays: while rest is important, consistency is key! We encourage all our learners to stay active, keep those netball hands sharp, and enjoy their break with a healthy dose of movement and fun.

Here’s to an exciting tour, a well-earned rest, and an action-packed return. Let’s keep the momentum going!

#KnysnaTour2025 #SeniorPrepNetball #OurBloodRunsBlue #DedicationInAction #ParklandsPride

U12 Netballers: Pre-tour Prep

Massive thank you to our Knysna Tour Sponsors! 🏐💙💛

To all our generous sponsors – thank you for making the Knysna Netball Tour 2025 an unforgettable experience for our U12 team!

The hoodies, warm-up T-shirts, travel mugs, and coffee mugs were more than just gear – they were symbols of support, pride, and unity. You've helped create lasting memories and truly brought the Parkie spirit to life!

Your contributions didn’t just add warmth and style to our tour – they fostered a sense of team identity, belonging, and excitement that our girls will carry with them both on and off the court.

We are beyond grateful for your support. You’ve helped us celebrate our athletes in the best way possible.

Thank you for being a part of our journey! 🏐💙💛

Week That Was – Netball Dominance and Team Spirit! 💙💛

What a week for our U10, U11, and U12 teams who took to the courts against CBC St John’s, and what followed was a clean sweep of brilliant performances and determined play across all age groups.

U10 stormed to an impressive 11–1 win, showcasing sharp passing, excellent positioning, and relentless energy. Player of the Match: TBC – the team truly shone as a unit!
U11 kept their cool in a competitive clash, pulling off a strong 3–1 victory with great communication and tight defense. Player of the Match: TBC – always leading from the front!
U12 wrapped up the afternoon with an exciting 8–5 win, digging deep and showing real leadership and composure on court. Player of the Match: Casey-Lee – a standout performance filled with hustle, vision, and heart.

Beyond the scorelines, what truly stood out was the dedication, team spirit, and unity on display. These victories weren’t just about talent – they were about trust in teammates, hard work at practice, and the willingness to support one another when it mattered most. 💪

A big shoutout to all our players for showing what it means to wear the Parklands badge with pride. As we continue our sporting journey this term, we know these moments of teamwork and determination will pave the way for even greater things ahead!

#ParklandsNetball #TeamSpirit #WeekThatWas #OurBloodRunsBlue #ProudlyParklands

External Achievements in Sport

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

SPORTS INFO

TRAVEL CONSENT

EXTERNAL ACHIEVEMENTS

SPORTS CALENDAR

CULTURE

LIBRARY

WORLD BOOK DAY 2025

"It is really hard to be lonely for very long in a world of words. Even if you don't have friends somewhere, you still have language, and it will find you and wrap its little syllables around you and suddenly there will be a story to live in." – Naomi Shihab Nye

This week we celebrated one of our favourite days of the year. Gone were the learners, and in their place a colourful crowd of book characters attended school for the day. And oh, the lovely book conversations that were heard everywhere! Once again, the ladies from Bargain Books at Table Bay Mall did a mammoth job in setting up a well-stocked shop with a diverse range of books for all ages and interests. The learners thoroughly enjoyed this experience as they browsed to find their favourites, while discussing recommendations from friends and teachers. How lucky we are to enjoy the gift of books and stories!

Birthday Books

Happy birthday to Cooper, who is donating such a treat: not one, but 14 books in the Ultimate Football Heroes series! Our soccer-loving boys and girls devour these books and will blow you away with their impressive knowledge of the game and their favourite players. Thank you, Cooper, these will be loved and treasured.

Happy birthday and thank you to another super reader, Kahlia. We are in love with this gorgeous edition of The Secret Garden, a timeless classic.

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)