Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo
7 August 2026
Embedded Files
Dear Parents
We have had another busy week at the Senior Preparatory. What an incredible weekend of sport we had at Derby Day last weekend. It was great to see the whole school come out and compete in Hockey, Rugby, Netball and Chess. Well done on your great performances and outstanding sportsmanship. Thank you to Blouberg Ridge Primary for hosting us and we look forward to hosting you in 2027.
Reminder that school is closed on Monday for observing women's day.
Principal Paul Memo Q3W3-26.MOVClick on play to view Principal Paul's Video Memo
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NEWS
NEWS
On Monday evening Parklands College hosted renowned former NASA astronaut, educator, geologist, and STEAM advocate Dorothy “Dottie” Metcalf-Lindenburger. The evening was opened by Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, who introduced her and reminded us all of the importance of STEM Education. He congratulated Parklands College on their consistent performance at the Mayor’s Science Fair, placing in the top three each year since the inception of the Science Fair. Thank you to each of our parents who took their children to this incredible event. It was certainly one to remember.
Rooibos is going to Space and Parklands is at the centre of it.
In October, Rooibos seeds will launch from Cape Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, dock with the International Space Station, and spend about six weeks in orbit before returning to Earth. It is the first time an indigenous South African plant has flown as part of a space research programme.Rooibos in Space is a project of the South African Rooibos Council and MaxIQ Space, backed by SANSA. Parklands is involved in three ways.The programme was launched on 16 July in our Innovation Centre. It drew national and international coverage, from News24 and SABC at home to France24 and RFI abroad.When the seeds return, our Secondary learners will plant them alongside Earth-grown controls and track how the two compare. Three seed types fly: untreated, scarified, and scarified with a protective coating, each matched to a control on the ground. The question is whether time in space changes how they germinate and grow.Our Senior Preparatory learners are coding the device that will monitor the environment they are exposed to. The seeds travel with a Springbot, a single-board computer built by MaxIQ Space in Cape Town. It records the conditions the seeds experience on the ISS: temperature, humidity, gases including carbon dioxide, light, and microgravity. Its accelerometer is what will prove the seeds reached orbit. Our Grade 6 learners are programming it in SpringBlock, a drag-and-drop language built with the original Scratch team. It is the first time a single-board education computer will run in space using block coding. The data is saved to a micro SD card and read back here in Cape Town.Parklands College is MaxIQ Space's Centre of Excellence, which is why our learners get first access to hardware like this.The seeds fly in October. We will share updates as the mission progresses.https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/stem-project-launches-rooibos-seeds-to-space-station/Rooibos is going to Space and Parklands is at the centre of it.
Grade sixes will be designing Mission Patches
Grade sixes will be designing Mission Patches
Every mission to space has a unique mission patch - small emblem that tells the story of the mission in a single striking design. We invite all learners 12 years old and older to submit a mission patch design to the https://sarooibos.co.za/mission-patch-design-competition website. The winner of the competition will have the honour of having their design selected as the official Rooibos in Space mission patch and featured on campaign materials. There are also some great prizes for first, second and third prizes.
ACADEMICS
ACADEMICS
In the third quarter, the formal assessments in Grade 4 - 6 will not only consist of control tests in certain subjects (which will require studying), they will also take the form of projects to be completed over a period of a few weeks. The projects will be completed entirely at school, under the guidance of the teachers. While we know that many parents are eager to assist, we kindly ask that you allow your child to complete the project independently within the classroom environment.
Project-based learning is highly beneficial for a number of reasons.
It promotes deeper understanding of academic content by allowing learners to explore topics in greater depth.
It encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.
It fosters independence and accountability, helping children take ownership of their own learning.
It develops research, communication and collaboration skills as learners are often required to work together for certain sections of the project.
It builds confidence as learners realise they are capable of creating something meaningful through their own effort.
These projects are more than just an academic requirement, they are designed to encourage deeper understanding, critical thinking and creativity. We look forward to seeing our learners grow into curious, capable and confident individuals in the process.
Please click on the grade assessment calendars to view the description and content to be studied for the control tests under the Academics tab.
For your convenience, please see an overview of the formal assessment dates for each grade below.
Grade 4 Assessment Schedule Quarter 3.pdfGrade 5 Assessment Schedule Q3 2026.pdfGrade 6 Assessment Schedule Q3 2026.pdfGRADE 6 NEWS
GRADE 6 NEWS
A Journey Through History at the Heart of Cape Town Museum 🫀
Last week, our Grade 6 learners swapped their classroom desks and iPads for an unforgettable learning experience at the Heart of Cape Town Museum at Groote Schuur Hospital. The museum, built around the original operating theatres, gave learners the unique opportunity to step back in time and discover the remarkable story of the world's first successful human heart transplant, performed by Professor Christiaan Barnard and his pioneering medical team in 1967.
As they explored the exhibits, learners were fascinated by the preserved operating theatres, authentic medical equipment and powerful stories of the people whose courage and innovation transformed modern medicine. Walking through the very spaces where history was made brought our Natural Sciences and Social Sciences learning to life in a way that no textbook ever could.
Beyond the historical significance, the outing encouraged our learners to think deeply about perseverance, teamwork, compassion and the incredible impact that one groundbreaking achievement can have on the world. Their curiosity, thoughtful questions and enthusiasm throughout the visit were a wonderful reminder of how valuable real-world learning experiences can be.
It was a day filled with discovery, inspiration and unforgettable memories. We hope our Grade 6 learners left with not only a greater appreciation for South Africa's contribution to medical history, but also the belief that curiosity, courage and determination have the power to change the world. 🫀🩺
Grade 6 outing Video.movGRADE 5 NEWS
GRADE 5 NEWS
In Maths, Our budding statisticians learnt how to ask "good" survey questions before polling their classmates and turning the results into colourful bar graphs! In English, our little wordsmiths kicked off an exciting new unit on drama and script writing, discovering just how much goes into bringing a play to life.
In Social Sciences, we travelled back in time to Ancient Egypt, marvelling at the religion, magnificent buildings, and iconic statues that still amaze the world today. We then hopped back to the present to explore the difference between weather and climate, and why meteorologists work so hard to predict it!
Our PSW lessons are buzzing! Our eco-warriors rolled up their sleeves for our Water Conservation project, proudly becoming official "Water Warriors" for the planet.
Congratulations!
A huge well done to all the learners who received their Pen Licence and Mathletics certificates this week. What a fantastic achievement! We are so proud of your hard work and dedication.
Reminders:
We're collecting stationery donations (new or gently used, in good condition) for a wonderful outreach initiative.
Please check your child's consolidation slides each day.
Learners must have headphones at school each day.
GRADE 4 NEWS
GRADE 4 NEWS
Grade 4 Learning Takes Flight! ✈️
Grade 4 Learning Takes Flight! ✈️
It has been an exciting week of learning for our Grade 4 learners! In English, we have started exploring the wonderful world of poetry, learning about the different features of poems and discovering how poets use words creatively to express ideas and emotions.
In Mathematics, we have been learning about mass, exploring different units of measurement and developing our understanding of how we measure and compare the mass of objects.
Our History lessons have also taken an exciting turn as we begin learning about air transport and how aeroplanes have changed the way people travel and connect with the world.
Our learning came to life during our outing yesterday to the South African Air Force Base, where learners had the opportunity to see aircraft up close and learn more about the important role of air transport. It was wonderful to see their excitement and curiosity as they connected what they have been learning in the classroom to a real-world experience.
It has certainly been a week where our Grade 4 learning has taken flight! ✈️📚
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 Mandalas
Grade 6 Art Mandalas
We would like to recognise the lovely digital ART Mandalas that the Grade 6’s created using the watercolour drawing app. This is an extension from the Radial symmetry lessons where they had to create “quarterly” symmetry using beads, paper, colourful sand or rubber. Learners then applied their radial symmetry understanding by “sixths” to create these digital Art mandalas. They also explored a variety of brush techniques and shape formation tools for the required result. Well done Grade 6’s.
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
There is great excitement for the current Formula 1 season and in the library we are all geared up for races to resume after the Summer break. Fans are looking forward to what will be a memorable event on 21-23 August as it will be the final F1 race on the challenging Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands. Tickets have all been sold out, but fortunately we can still read all about our favourite drivers.
Classes are still exploring the world of Nelson Mandela and are now being challenged to write the first paragraph of their own autobiographies. Watch this space next week to get a taste of what our young authors can achieve.
ROBOTICS
ROBOTICS
1st Robotics Learners Get Hands On with Circuits
Last week's Parklands 1st Robotics co-curricular session was all about breadboards, wires, batteries, and light resistors, with learners wiring up their very first circuits and giggling in delight as the lights turned on.
SPORT
SPORT
Senior Prep Sport
Senior Prep Sport
Derby Day Triumph & The Week That Was!
Derby Day Triumph & The Week That Was!
The biggest day of our annual sporting calendar is officially complete, and what an unforgettable success it was! A massive THANK YOU to our amazing Parklands community - you filled the sidelines, brought the spirit, and willed our Senior Prep athletes to incredible results and lifelong memories.
To every player who gave their all and every supporter who cheered from the touchlines: Derby Day would not be possible without your passion.
With a well-deserved long weekend ahead, take time to rest up and recharge. We have another massive week of sport waiting on the other side, with Netball, Rugby, and Hockey all back in action!
The Week That Was: Results Breakdown
The Week That Was: Results Breakdown
Hockey Fixtures
Our hockey teams delivered a series of high-intensity, courageous performances across the board:
U10 Girls: Drew 1–1 | Player of the Match: Layya
U11 Boys: Won 6–0 | Player of the Match: Cooper (A phenomenal 5-goal haul!)
U11 Girls: Drew 0–0 | Player of the Match: Avril
U13 Boys: Won 1–0 | Player of the Match: Great
U13 Girls: Won 3–0 | Player of the Match: The Whole Team (An outstanding collective effort!)
Netball vs Blouberg International & Rising Stars
Courtside action was fast-paced and edge-of-your-seat thrilling:
U10: Drew 1–1 | Player of the Match: Grace
U11: Lost 4–7 | Players of the Match: Tiana & Sine
U12B: Won 1–0 | Players of the Match: Keisha & Oyintando
U12A: Won 5–4 | Players of the Match: Lara & Rachel
Rugby vs Camps Bay
Our rugby sides faced exceptionally tough, clinical opponents in Camps Bay. Despite the scoreboard, the boys showed true Parklands character, tackling bravely to the final whistle.
U11: Lost 34–0 | Player of the Match: Jean-Louise
U13: Lost 50–0
Enjoy the long weekend, rest those tired legs, and let’s come back ready to hit the ground running next week.
Go Parklands!
WINTER QUARTER CO-CURRICULAR TIMETABLE
WINTER QUARTER CO-CURRICULAR TIMETABLE
The timetable for the Winter Quarter is the same as the Autumn Quarter
Senior Preparatory Sports Uniform: 2026
Senior Preparatory Sports Uniform: 2026
Senior Preparatory 2026 Uniform requirements.pdfANNOUNCEMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT
Friday Hockey Sports Hour
Please note, all Hockey learners will be transported to the Secondary Faculty for Hockey training on the astro at 13h15 - 14h30. All learners will be transported back to Parklands College Senior Prep - no learner will be permitted to be picked up from the Secondary campus.
EXTERNAL ACHIEVEMENTS
EXTERNAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Jordan who recently achieved a blue belt level in Krav Maga. We are proud of you!
Congats to Eva who achieved Distinction at the Acrobatic International Exam.
Khloé participated in the Western Cape Short Course Championships 2026, held from Thursday, 16 July to Sunday, 19 July 2026 in Somerset.
Over the four-day competition, Khloé competed in 10 individual events, achieving new Personal Best (PB) times in all 10 events. Her outstanding performances earned her two podium finishes receiving bronze medals, placing 3rd in the 50m Backstroke and 3rd in the 200m Individual Medley (IM).
Khloé's achievements reflect her dedication, hard work, and continued improvement as a competitive swimmer. Setting personal best times in every event while earning two podium finishes is a significant accomplishment and demonstrates her commitment to excellence in the sport.
Congratulations to Jean-Louis on an exceptional surf lifesaving (nippers) season, earning several prestigious club, provincial and national honours.
His achievements include being named Nipper of the Year – Surf, U11 Surf Victor Ludorum at the Western Cape Championships, and U11 Surf Top in Age Group. Jean-Louis was also crowned SA National Champion in Beach Flags (U11 Boys) and received the Erin Langenhoven & Jake Hutton Trophy for Best Board Award.
We are incredibly proud of Jean-Louis’s dedication, hard work and remarkable success. Well done on an outstanding season!
Congratulations to Jean-Louis, who was invited to compete at the prestigious Western Cape Short Course Championship.
Competing at Level 3 over four days, Jean-Louis delivered an outstanding performance, achieving multiple personal best (PB) times across his events.
We are incredibly proud of his dedication and achievements. Well done, Jean-Louis!
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
OUTREACH 2026 - Stationery
OUTREACH 2026 - Stationery
Stationery Outreach - Drive Every Donation Makes a Difference
At Parklands College Preparatory, we believe that even the smallest act of kindness can make a meaningful impact. As part of our ongoing commitment to serving our wider community, we are launching a Stationery Outreach Drive to support a school in need.
We invite our families to donate new or gently used stationery that is still in good condition. Items such as pencils, pens, rulers, erasers, sharpeners, glue sticks, crayons, colouring pencils, and other school essentials can make a real difference in a learner's educational journey.
By giving unused stationery a new purpose, we can help equip young learners with the resources they need to thrive in the classroom while encouraging our own children to experience the joy of giving.
Donations can be sent to school until Friday, 4 September.
Thank you for supporting this initiative and for helping us make a positive difference, one stationery item at a time.
GENERAL
GENERAL
Drop off & collection
Drop off & collection
Please ensure that learners arrive on time for the start of the academic day. Parents are welcome to drop their children off between 07:30 and 07:45 and are requested to use the Drop and Go Zone on the SP Campus in Wood Drive.
Parents may pull into the yellow zone for learners to get out and walk into school on their own. Please do not park or leave your car in the Drop and Go Zone.
All learners must be clocked in and ready for the day before this 07:45. Learners who attend early morning activities must clock-in before attending their session in order to avoid being recorded as 'Late Arrival' on the biometric system.
Aftercare
Aftercare
Aftercare is a combined group of Grade 4-6 learners. Parents, please inform the College via email should you wish to make use of our aftercare facility. Learners may wear their Parklands College sports uniform. Learners attending Aftercare will be escorted to the venue. Parents who wish to make use of our aftercare facilities must please inform us via e-mail.
School is LOCKED promptly at 16h45 daily. Please assist us by ensuring that your child is collected on time allowing our dedicated staff to return home to their own families. A late collection fee of R250 per half-hour (or part thereof) will apply for children collected from aftercare after 17h00.
Security & Car Stickers
Security & Car Stickers
For safety reasons no learners are permitted to wait outside the College gates at any time.
Parents entering our campus are required to have a car identification sticker, which can be collected from reception. By displaying the sticker on your car, you will gain easy access to the College premises. Vehicles that do not have a sticker will be scanned. ‘At the Gate’ Access Solution is used by the College and involves drivers' and car license discs being scanned. This information is stored on a secure database off-site for future reference should the need arise. Pedestrians are also required to produce identification.
We request, for the safety of our learners, that parents and visitors who are on our campus during academic time also sign in at reception and receive a visitors badge. The badge must be returned to reception before leaving campus.
PARKLANDS COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH KLIKD FOR A DIGITAL SAFETY SOLUTION
Parenting in the digital age presents unique challenges. Balancing your child’s need for online interaction with the responsibility of keeping them safe can feel overwhelming. Excluding your child from the digital world might seem isolating, yet providing them with unrestricted access to smart devices without guidance can pose serious risks.
It is vital to equip our children with the skills they need to navigate the digital world confidently, responsibly, and safely. That’s why we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Klikd, South Africa’s leading digital safety and citizenship company. We will be rolling out Klikd’s Digital Citizenship Programme for Schools for Grades 4-6.
About Klikd
Klikd was founded by clinical psychologist Pam Tudin and social media lawyer Sarah Hoffman, combining their expertise to offer an innovative approach to cyber safety and digital citizenship education.
In today’s world, knowing how to handle challenges such as cyberbullying, gaming addiction, inappropriate content, online predators, managing one’s digital footprint and Artificial Intelligence - is no longer optional -it's essential. These aren’t skills that can be taught in a single school talk but require continuous conversations and guidance, reinforced at school and at home.
The Klikd Digital Citizenship Programme for Schools
Through our partnership with Klikd, we will offer a carefully curated programme that provides learners with the tools they need to thrive in the online world. Importantly, it also empowers you, as parents, with weekly practical resources and strategies to support your child on this journey.
Klikd Parent Information Session Recording
If you missed the Klikd Parent Information Session last week you can find the link to a recording here
Klikd in your Pocket: Parent Update Whatsapp Group
Join KLIKD in Your Pocket - a weekly bite-sized update on what’s trending in your child’s online world.
This WhatsApp broadcast group delivers practical, no-fluff insights on topics like:
🎮 Managing devices during playdates and sleepovers
👀 Accidental pornography pop-ups
🎰 Live gambling features on Roblox (yes, really!)
Each week, you’ll also get 4–5 conversation starters to use at dinner, in the car, or while shopping for that “perfect” hoodie — helping you stay connected and informed.
🟢 No group chat, no noise — just super helpful info.
📸 Scan the QR code or tap the link to join:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/H6zTS0hHpaIIHF2G5PigPq?mode=gi_t
Quick Links
Quick Links
UNIFORM
UNIFORM
Uniform Requirements (link)
School and Leisure offers free delivery to school. To take advantage of this when ordering please insert school name and address in the address block and add discount code before check-out.
Junior Preparatory - 91 Raats Drive, Parklands 7441
Senior Preparatory - 50 Wood Drive, Parklands 7441
Secondary Faculty - 1 College Avenue, Sandown 7441
Discount Code : PKLSCHOOL (both upper and lowercase works)
Please ensure that the uniform is the correct size for your child, in particular the blazer
Second-hand school uniforms
Please contact Tania Fourie if you would like to buy or sell good-quality second-hand uniforms. She is also the supplier of Froggy School shoes. Contact details: +27 83 631 7683 or tania@sportstudio.co.za
Lost Property
Lost Property
Please help us by checking that all the items that your child brings home actually belong to them. If they come home with someone else's item (such as an extra shoe, hat, etc) please send it to reception the next day so that we can return labelled items to the owner.
It is important that all items are labelled clearly so that lost items can be returned. Parents are welcome to come in to reception to view lost property items. Items not labelled will be in lost property and donated to the second hand shop at the end of each quarter.
MEDICATIONS AND IMMUNISATIONS
MEDICATIONS AND IMMUNISATIONS
Should your child have a medical condition/ allergy /require prescribed medication to be administered, please e-mail Meagan Petersen on mpetersen@parklands.co.za.
Please ensure that your child’s immunisations are up to date and forward a copy of the updated immunisation record to the secretary once your child has received the vaccine.
HPV Vaccination
HPV Vaccination
The HPV vaccination is available for teenagers at most clinics. This is an important opportunity to protect young people against HPV-related diseases, and we encourage parents to speak to their healthcare provider or visit their local clinic for more information.
Immunisation_schedule.pdfImmunisations2.pdf
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)
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
Winter Quarter: 22 July - 23 September
Spring Quarter: 14 October - 4 December
Proposed 2027 Parklands College Dates
Summer Quarter: 19 Jan 2027 - 18 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
Sunday 9 August:
Women's Day
Monday 10 August:
Women's Day Observed - School Closed
Happy Birthday Tracy Pienaar
Saturday 15 August:
Happy Birthday Justice (Security)
Friday 21 August:
Cape Town Eisteddfod in Preparatory Hall
Tuesday 1 September:
First Day of Spring Dress Up Day
Monday 7 September:
SP Summer Sports Switch
Saturday 12 September:
Open Day
Monday 14 September:
Readathon Week
Wednesday 16 September:
Readathon Week: Lit Quiz Event Grade 3 & 4
Thursday 17 September:
Readathon Week: Lit Quiz Event Grade 5 & 6
Grade 6 Parklands Playground @13:00
Friday 18 September:
U12 Cricket Tour to Hermanus
SP Report Feedback meetings
Saturday 19 September:
U12 Cricket Tour to Hermanus
Matric Dance
Happy Birthday Amy Dean
Sunday 20 September:
U12 Cricket Tour to Hermanus
Monday 21 September:
World Space Week
Grade 4 Parklands Playground @08:00
Grade 5 Parklands Playground @13:00
SP Report Feedback meetings
Tuesday 22 September:
Ticket To The Moon Theatre Company 08:30 in the hall: Thabo the Space Dude
SP on the Run
SP Report Feedback meetings
Wednesday 23 September:
Last day of Quarter @ 13:00 - no aftercare
Friday 2 October:
Happy Birthday Simoné Prinsloo
Monday 5 October:
World Teachers Day
Wednesday 7 October:
Happy Birthday Roché Buckle
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Reminder that the school is closed on Monday as we observe Women's Day. We wish all the women in our Parklands Community a wonderful women's day.
We wish Tracy Pienaar a Happy Birthday for Monday 10th August and Justice Happy Birthday for Saturday 15th August.
Have a wonderful long weekend,
Paul Mayers
Senior Preparatory Principal
Follow us on:
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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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