Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo
30 October 2026
Embedded Files
Dear Parents
Thank you to all of the parents who attended the Culture, Sports and Technology Awards this morning. It was wonderful to celebrate the achievements of so many learners. Special Thanks to Ms Haupt, Head of Culture, Mrs de Wet, Robotics Lead and Mr Margetts, Head of Sport for sharing highlights of these important spheres of our school. I would also like to thank the awards team who put the event together. We will share photos in the memo next week.
Please take note of the 2027 Device, Stationery, Textbook and uniform requirements that are in the memo. 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:
2 - 13 November - Assessment Period
4 November - Local Government Elections (public holiday)
27 November - Growing Minds Celebration @ 09:00
Principal Paul Memo Q4W3-26.MOVClick on play to view Principal Paul's Video Memo
(If it does not appear, please refresh your browser)
SAVE THE DATE
SAVE THE DATE
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.
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.
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
Grade 6 scientists have been exploring the exciting world of electrical circuits! ⚡ Through hands-on practical activities, learners investigated how circuits work, connected different components, and experimented with making bulbs light up. They discovered how the components work together to create a complete circuit and explored the differences between open and closed circuits. After their practical investigations, learners put their knowledge into practice by drawing circuit diagrams using the correct scientific symbols. It was wonderful to see them learning through experimentation, problem-solving and putting their scientific knowledge into action!
GRADE 5 NEWS
GRADE 5 NEWS
This week was all about consolidating and showing what we know! In Maths, we pulled together our knowledge of ordering and comparing units of measurement, tackled perimeter and area, and put numbers in their place as we practised ascending and descending order. English kept our pens busy with a writing assessment on diary entries, where we shared our thoughts on some fun topics, and we also sharpened our comprehension and summary skills along the way. In History, we revised our Quarter 3 work on Ancient Egypt and practised our study skills by creating colourful mind maps to help the facts stick. Geography took us exploring the natural features around South Africa, from towering mountains to winding rivers, while in PSW we talked about safety measures at home and in the environment, so we all know how to stay safe wherever we go.
Look who received their pen licences 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
Our Grade 4 learners have been busy exploring, creating and discovering new things across the curriculum!
📏 Maths: Measuring Up!
Maths took us outdoors as learners explored the concepts of perimeter and area. Armed with chopsticks and wool, they worked together on the field to create different shapes. They then measured the lengths of the sides, putting their measuring skills into practice. Who knew Maths could be so much fun outside the classroom?
🍕 Afrikaans: A Slice of Fun!
In Afrikaans, we continued our Z is vir Zackie reading journey with the story “Die perfekte pizza”. Our learners enjoyed following Zackie's adventures while practising their Afrikaans reading and summary skills. A little bit of reading and a whole lot of pizza talk!
💧 Geography: Every Drop Counts!
Our Geography lessons focused on one of our most precious resources: water! Learners discussed practical ways to save water and explored the journey water takes before it reaches the taps in our homes and school. There were some surprised faces when they discovered that much of our water comes from dams! This sparked some interesting discussions about where our water comes from and why it is so important to use it wisely.
From measuring shapes on the field to discovering the journey of water, our Grade 4s are learning that some of the best discoveries happen when we get curious, ask questions and explore the world around us! 🌍💙
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.pdfUNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
Senior Preparatory 2027 Uniform requirements.pdf
CULTURE
CULTURE
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.
Grade 6 Art
Our Grade 6 artists have jumped headfirst into their recycling fashion show project, turning everyday trash into wearable masterpieces. Exploring mediums like plastic, cardboard, folded paper, and intricate binding techniques, the grade sixes are learning to problem-solve and think outside the box as they transform raw materials into structural designs. Each learner chose a meaningful theme and considered the lasting legacy they want to leave behind through their artwork. This hands-on project has challenged them to balance creativity with practical construction, resulting in a proud showcase of environmental awareness, resourcefulness, and artistic expression.
Ms Becker
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
Cosmic Coders and Nitrate at FLL Regionals
Last week, our two FIRST LEGO League teams, Cosmic Coders and Nitrate, competed at the Regional Championship. They took on this season’s Bio Glow challenge, presented their innovation projects to the judges and ran their robots against some strong teams.
Our learners researched a real-world problem, met with an industry expert during the holidays, designed their own solutions and stood up to explain them to judges. That takes courage, and they handled the day with great sportsmanship.
Each team came away knowing what worked, what to try differently and how much they can achieve together. That experience will carry them a long way into next season.
A special thank you to Mr Delport, who coached both teams with patience and energy, giving up many afternoons and holiday hours to help them get there.
Well done, Cosmic Coders and Nitrate. We are proud of you!
Private Invitation to the US Consulate for Our NanoLab Handover
On Wednesday, four of our ISS learners, Joshua, Sanako, Elise and Liam, were invited by the U.S. Consulate General, Allison Areias, to her private residence at the US Consulate. They were there to hand over their Springbot Project, which now begins its journey to Houston and then up to the International Space Station.
Liam and Elise presented on behalf of the team and did a wonderful job. They spoke clearly and confidently about how they coded their Springbot which will travel inside the NanoLab to monitor rooibos seeds on their trip into space, and the guests were genuinely impressed.
Our learners shared the afternoon with two of our high school learners who were also handing over a project, learners from Atlantis Secondary who are part of the Rooibos Seed Project, and students from UCT with an experiment of their own. All of these projects will travel together in the same box as four projects from Princeton and other universities. To have our learners’ work sitting alongside theirs is something truly special.
It was a tremendous honour for the College to be part of such an exciting occasion. Thank you to Allison Areias and the US Consulate for hosting us so warmly, and to Ms Hodges and Mrs de Wet, for guiding the team.
We can’t wait to see the results when the NanoLab comes back down to Earth!
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
We recently received the Guinness World Records 2027, and classes are currently introduced to the new edition by watching the book trailer, included here for your enjoyment: What's Inside Guinness World Records 2027?
The new GWR 2027 is neon green, and features green stars like Yoda, the Incredible Hulk and Elphaba (Wicked). There are 8 chapters with astonishing achievements that will entertain the whole family. From the world's longest snake to a really large baby marrow, an iceberg drifting past the Sydney Opera House, and a massive dinosaur making its way through New York streets, every page is designed to surprise.
Interested? It seems like Amazon is having a special early Black Friday offer!
OUTREACH
OUTREACH
A big thank you to all our wonderful families who have already donated items towards our Santa Shoebox outreach project! 💚 Your generosity and kindness will help make the festive season extra special for children in need.
A friendly reminder that completed Santa Shoeboxes are due on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. 🎄
Thank you for helping us spread a little joy, love and Christmas magic. Every contribution makes a difference! 🎁✨
SPORT
SPORT
Summer Sport Is in Full Swing!
Summer Sport Is in Full Swing!
What an awesome start we’ve had to our Summer Season! Our learners are back in action across Cricket, Tennis and Softball, and it’s fantastic to see the energy and enthusiasm out on the fields and courts.
These codes continue next week, while we head back into the pool for Physical Education. Please remember to pack your swimming costumes so that everyone is ready to go!
U10–U12 Gala Swimmers – You Were Incredible!
U10–U12 Gala Swimmers – You Were Incredible!
A huge congratulations to all our U10–U12 gala swimmers who represented Parklands at the Interschools Gala. You were absolutely incredible! We’re proud of the effort, determination and team spirit you showed in the pool. Well done, swimmers! 💙
🏏 The Week That Was
🏏 The Week That Was
Cricket – A Winning Week!
Cricket – A Winning Week!
Our cricketers enjoyed a fantastic week, with three impressive victories!
U12 vs Rallim: Won by 68 runs | POTM: Khewzi
U11 vs Milnerton: Won by 10 wickets | POTM: Blake
U10 vs Table View: Won by 5 wickets | POTM: Renier
Three wins and some excellent performances — what a way to kick off the Summer Season! Well done to all our teams. Keep those runs coming! 🏏
🥎 Softball
🥎 Softball
Our teams were in action against Blouberg Ridge, with results still to be confirmed. We’ll share the outcomes as soon as they’re available. Well done to everyone who took to the field!
🎾 Tennis
🎾 Tennis
A Team vs Edgemead: Drew 3–3 | POTM: To be confirmed
B Team vs Table View: Lost 5–1 | POTM: Jose
A competitive week on the courts, with our A Team sharing the honours in a close draw. There’s plenty to learn from every match, and we look forward to seeing our players continue to develop throughout the quarter.
Coming Up: Annual Mini Cricket Festival!
Coming Up: Annual Mini Cricket Festival!
Let’s show some support for our Junior Prep cricketers! The Annual Mini Cricket Festival takes place on 7 November, with almost 200 learners ready to take to the field.
Come and join us at the Secondary Campus from 08h30 to cheer on our young cricketers and help create a festive Parklands atmosphere. It promises to be a fantastic morning of cricket and school spirit!
Bring your cheers, bring your Parkie pride, and we’ll see you on the sidelines!
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
Bao-Sheng Chiu (Raphael) recently participated in his first 45th Freda Barnard Invitational Gala, a four-day swimming event. He performed exceptionally well throughout the competition, showing resilience and adaptability despite changing weather conditions and the challenges of competing over four consecutive days.
Competing in the Boys’ 11–12 age group, Raphael successfully completed all the required strokes, demonstrating dedication, perseverance and a positive attitude throughout the gala.
Bao-Cheng Chiu (Gabriel) recently participated in his first 45th Freda Barnard Invitational Gala, a four-day swimming event. He performed well throughout the competition, adapting positively to changing weather conditions and different challenges over the four days.
Competing in the Boys’ 11–12 age group, Gabriel successfully completed all the required strokes, demonstrating determination, perseverance and a positive attitude throughout the gala.
His first experience at this four-day invitational gala was a valuable opportunity to gain competition experience, build confidence and continue developing his swimming skills.
We are delighted to share that Olu participated in the Goju Kai Western Province Championships held on 24 October 2026, competing in both kata and kumite in the Under 11 division.
She achieved an excellent result, earning a bronze medal for her kumite. Well done Olu, we are very proud of you!
Lara, Telo and Amelia competed in the Junior Action Netball League, where their team proudly achieved a silver medal!
This is a fantastic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of these girls and all their hard work!
Holly was selected for the Western Province Go Ju Kai Karate team. She represented WP at the Western Cape Go Ju Kai Karate Championship on Saturday 24 October and won a bronze medal for Kata and a gold medal for Kumite.
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
Please be reminded of the Learner Attendance Policy
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
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 Tayla Blewitt a happy birthday for Monday 2nd November.
Reminder that the school will be closed on Wednesday 4th November due to local government election voting.
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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