Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo
21 July 2025
21 July 2025
Dear Parents
This memo provides you with useful information for the upcoming quarter starting Tuesday, 22 July 2025.
Madagascar Jr
We open the show next week on 31 July. Make sure you have booked your tickets via Quicket.
Co-curricular Programme
The Grade 4-6 culture and sport programme will commence on Wednesday, 23 July 2025. All sport, dance and music will continue as it was in quarter 2.
Emergency Contact Details
We would like to remind you that it is imperative for us to be able to contact you or a member of your family or a close friend in the case of an emergency. Kindly visit the Edana App and check the contact details in the fields provided. To ensure that the information is complete and correct, it is vital that the contact numbers are accessible at all times by the College.
This is a very important request, and we are asking you to comply immediately as a safety precaution.
Please select your profile, then "Contact Information" update, and "Emergency Contacts" and update accordingly. Please click on the link for step by step guidance.
The Parklands College family would like to express our heartfelt Congratulations to Jared Margetts on the birth of his baby boy, Liam! We know Liam will bring you many years of happiness and that you will be an incredible father!
Parklands College Preparatory Faculty presents DreamWorks Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR.
DreamWorks Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. features original music and lyrics by George Noriega and Joel Someillan, and book by Kevin Del Aguila.
As the show opens, we learn that Marty the zebra may be celebrating his tenth birthday at the Central Park Zoo with his friends Alex the lion, Gloria the hippo, and Melman the giraffe, yet he longs to experience life outside of the zoo’s walls. When Marty eventually escapes, his animal friends from the zoo pursue him into New York City. After reuniting, the animals are chased by the police, and ultimately felled by tranquilliser darts. They awake, trapped in crates, on a ship, which, through a series of events, is thrown off course. Upon reaching land, the animals discover they have been shipwrecked on the island of Madagascar. Ultimately, it is only in being so lost that they can begin to discover where they really belong.
Every Grade 4 - 6 learner as well as every Grade R - 3 dancer is getting ready to Move it! We hope to see you join in the fun too! Tickets can be purchased on Quicket.
In the last few days leading up to our performances of Madagascar Jr, some co-curriculars will be cancelled on certain days. Please see below for details
Grade 4 and 5 Design Society
Will take place on Wednesday 23 July and next Wednesday, 30 July from 14:30 - 15:30
Grade 6 Design Society
Will take place on Thursday 24 July from 14:30 - 15:30
Will be cancelled on Thursday 31 July.
Gr 4-6 Drama Society
No Drama Society this week.
Will take place next week on Tuesday 29 July 14:30 - 15:30 for Gr 4-6 learners
Gr 4-6 Junior Chefs Club
Will take place this week on Thursday 24 July for Gr 4-6 learners 14:30 -15:30
Will be cancelled on Thursday 31 July.
Gr 4 & 5 Marimba
Will start next week on Tuesday, 29 July from 07:15 - 08:00
Gr 6 Marimba
Will take place this week on Friday, 25 July from 07:15 - 08:00.
Will be cancelled on Thursday 31 July.
Gr 4-6 Choir
Will take place on Wednesday, 23 July from 07:15 - 08:00 and next Wednesday, 30 July from 07:15 - 08:00
SP Orchestra
Will take place this week on Thursday 24 July and will take place next Monday 28 July and Thursday 31 July for Gr 4-6 learners 07:00 -07:45.
Gr 4 & 5 Science Club
Will take place this week on Thursday 24 July from 14:30 - 15:30.
Will be cancelled on Thursday 31 July.
Gr 6 Science Club
Will take place tomorrow Wednesday, 23 July from 14:30 - 15:30 and next Wednesday, 30 July from 14:30 - 15:30.
Chess
Will only start next Tuesday, 29 July from 14:30 - 15:30.
Will be cancelled on Friday, 1 August.
Dance (Ballet)
Wednesday 23 July - 14:30 - 16:45 - Zoo animals (Penguins, Flamingos, Peacocks, Zebras)
Thursday 24 July - No Ballet morning
Thursday 24 July - 14:15 - 15:15 - Mice
Friday 25 July - 12:30 - 13:30 Mice (including photographs)
Friday 25 July - 14:15 - 15:15 - Waves (including photographs)
Friday 25 July - 15:15 - 16:45 - Zoo animals (Penguins, Flamingos, Peacocks, Zebras) (including photographs)
Monday 28 July - 14:15 - 15:15 - Waves
Monday 28 July - 15:30 - 16:45 - Zoo animals (Penguins only)
Tuesday 29 July - 14:15 - 15:15 - Mice
Tuesday 29 July - No Ballet morning
Tuesday 29 July - 15:30 - 16:45 - Zoo animals (Flamingos, Peacocks, Zebras only)
Wednesday 30 July - No Ballet morning or afternoon
Dance (Modern and Tap)
Dance teachers will arrange days and times with learners.
Sport
Sports practices will be cancelled on the afternoons of Thursday, 31 July and Friday, 1 August.
College blazers
Please be reminded that all learners need to wear the new striped blazer from the start of 2026, with the obvious exception of those who wear Honours Blazers. To ensure timely delivery, we advise you to place your order with our uniform supplier, School and Leisure, early.
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
We are excited to share the details of the upcoming Grade 6 outing as part of our Quarter 3 learning programme.
Date: Friday, 15 August 2025
Venue: Intaka Island, Century City
Transport: Springbok Atlas (school to venue and back)
Cost: R187 (billed to your school account based on attendance)
This enriching excursion ties into our Natural Sciences curriculum, where learners will explore where electricity comes from, investigate how much electricity common household appliances use and consider the environmental impact of energy consumption. Learners will also get a first-hand look at the renewable energy methods currently being used at Intaka Island.
Important Information:
Learners must arrive at school at the usual time (07:30).
They will return to school in time for normal collection or their chosen extra-murals.
Learners should wear their full school uniform.
Please ensure your child brings a healthy, easy-to-eat packed lunch.
Please click the link below to complete the Google Form confirming your child’s attendance:
Intaka Island
Reflect, Reset, and Reignite!
As we step into the second half of the year, our Grade 6 learners began with thoughtful reflection and fresh focus.
During our Responsible Citizen lesson in the final week of Quarter 2, learners took time to look back, look inward and look ahead—a meaningful way to close one chapter and start a new one with intention.
Reflecting on the First 6 Months of Grade 6
Using a guided reflection process, learners explored their academic, social and emotional growth since the beginning of the year.
They:
✅ Celebrated personal and class achievements
✅ Identified challenges they faced and how they were overcome
✅ Shared moments of resilience, friendship and success
✅ Set new goals and positive intentions for the second half of the year
It was a powerful opportunity for learners to pause, acknowledge their growth, and take ownership of their journey moving forward.
📎 See the PDF used in this reflection lesson for more insight into the questions and activities.
As we dive into Quarter 3, we’re bringing fresh motivation, clearer goals and a strong sense of who we are becoming—together.
This quarter, our Grade 5s will be participating in the Real Life 4 Kids programme - an exciting, 3-dimensional life skills programme designed for children from age. Through this interactive educational game, your child will experience real-world scenarios in a safe virtual environment, learning to open virtual bank accounts, earn salaries, purchase land, build homes, own businesses, and manage city contracts.
The programme's full academic curriculum integrates seamlessly into our normal school day across all subjects. This innovative approach gives learners a valuable snapshot of adult responsibilities and financial literacy, preparing them for real life while having fun and reinforcing their academic learning. We will pay each of our grade 5 learners a virtual salary for arriving at school on time each day. They will use Minecraft Education this quarter to build their virtual homes once they have earned enough money.... it is going to be an exciting quarter!
The Grade 4s enjoyed an exciting final week of Quarter Two.
In Monster Math, the classroom was buzzing with imagination and problem-solving as learners solved a variety of maths challenges to earn features for their very own monster creations. Each correct answer brought them closer to completing their quirky creature proving that maths can be both fun and frightfully creative.
Our Maths Scavenger Hunt took us on a thrilling journey around the school as learners raced to find hidden clues and solve tricky problems. There was laughter, teamwork, and some seriously impressive mental maths on display.
Over in the Maker Space, we wrapped up our Social Sciences work with a collaborative project to build giant puzzle maps of South Africa. Each group was assigned a province to research. Using images and information provided, they designed a puzzle piece that showcased what they had learnt, highlighting landmarks, animals, and unique features of each province. The end result? A vibrant, collaborative map filled with colour, creativity and knowledge!
We are all looking forward to seeing what our incredible Grade 4s will produce this quarter.
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.
At the start of this quarter we are collecting gently used shoes to help children in need. Please send these through to your class teacher. From week 2 we will be collecting toiletries to create care packages for the residents of Ria Abel retirement home. Thank you for your ongoing support of our outreach initiatives.
Our much anticipated performances of Madagascar Jr kick off on 31 July. Please invite you friends and family. We look forward to performing to full houses. Tickets can be purchased via Quicket
Tickets can be purchased via Quicket
Welcome back to Quarter 3! We hope everyone enjoyed a restful break and is ready to dive into what promises to be an action-packed winter sports season.
We officially kick off all sport on Wednesday, 23 July – and that includes Golf, which resume this week as well. Learners will continue with the winter sport they selected in Quarter 2, and all training times remain unchanged. Please make sure your child is prepared with the correct sports attire, gear, and a tracksuit for the cooler days ahead.
🎭 Please take note: Due to the upcoming school performances of Madagascar Jr, there will be no sports practices on Thursday, 31 July, or Friday, 1 August. We wish all our performers the very best as they take to the stage!
👟 Winter Sport Reminder:
As per our school policy, participation in a winter sporting code is compulsory for all Senior Prep learners in Quarter 3. If your child is unsure of their chosen sport or needs to clarify any details, please feel free to contact the Sports Office.
📅 SAVE THE DATE – DERBY DAY IS COMING!
Mark your calendars: Saturday, 16 August is our annual Somerset College Derby Day, hosted at Parklands Secondary Campus. This will be our biggest and most exciting fixture of the year – a day of celebration, school spirit, and fierce but friendly competition. More details to follow in the coming weeks.
🗓️ Stay Up to Date
This quarter is jam-packed with fixtures, festivals, and key events. Be sure to check the Parklands Sports Calendar regularly – many of the upcoming matches and events are already loaded so you can plan ahead.
Here’s to a strong, spirited start to Quarter 3. Let’s bring the energy, the teamwork, and the passion – we can’t wait to see what this term holds!
Jared Margetts
Please find a link to the notification letter informing the College of a learner's external achievements at Area/Regional/Provincial level.
🚀 Igniting Young Innovators: FLL Explore & Challenge Launch at Our Prep School
At Parklands College, we’ve long believed in empowering learners through real-world STEM experiences, and we’re thrilled to expand our robotics journey with the launch of the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Explore and Challenge programmes in our prep school.
These globally recognised programmes add exciting new layers to the coding, engineering, and robotics skills many of our learners have already begun developing. And the best part? It’s all done through playful, hands-on teamwork that feels more like fun than learning.
🔍 What Is FIRST LEGO League?
FIRST LEGO League is an international initiative that inspires children to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through engaging, real-world challenges. You can learn more about it on the official website: www.firstinspires.org.
At the College, we’re launching two of the core FLL programs:
FLL Explore (Grades 2 - 4): Designed for younger learners, this programme builds foundational STEM skills using themed LEGO models and simple coding in a team-based format.
FLL Challenge (Grades 5 - 8): Perfect for older learners, this more advanced programme involves designing, building, and coding LEGO robots to complete missions on a themed mat, as well as researching and presenting a real-world problem connected to the season’s topic.
🌟 Why This Matters
We’re proud to already offer a rich STEM environment at Parklands College. The addition of FLL Explore and Challenge enhances this by:
Encouraging creativity – learners dream up solutions and bring them to life.
Building collaboration – teams learn how to communicate, solve problems together, and support one another.
Strengthening critical thinking – by working through open-ended challenges.
Boosting confidence – as learners share their work with others and take pride in their achievements.
These programmes make learning exciting, meaningful, and memorable—just the way it should be!
🛠 How the Programmes Work
Throughout the season, learners will dive into a themed mission (which changes each year).
In FLL Explore, they’ll research a real-world topic, build a LEGO model with moving parts, and prepare to present their discoveries.
In FLL Challenge, they’ll create and code a LEGO SPIKE or Mindstorms robot that completes tasks on a competition mat, while also developing and presenting an innovative solution to a connected challenge.
🔗 A Gateway to Bigger Opportunities
FLL Explore and Challenge are part of a broader FIRST robotics pathway we’re proud to offer.
As learners move into Secondary school, they’ll have the opportunity to take part in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)—a more advanced robotics program using metal components, sensors, and complex programming.
If you’d like to learn more about the global programme, visit www.firstinspires.org.
Let the building, coding, teamwork, and discovery begin! 💡🤖🌍
We have a wonderful tradition of donating a book to the library on your child's birthday.
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)
Winter Quarter: 22 July - 23 September
Spring Quarter: 14 October - 05 December
Summer Quarter: 19 Jan - 26 March
Autumn Quarter: 8 April - 25 June
Winter Quarter: 22 July - 23 September
Spring Quarter: 14 October - 4 December
Our Parent Learner Directory contains all the information you will need. You can find this important document under the General Tab
Update emergency contact details on the Edana Multi-portal App
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...
Happy birthday to Mr Gilder, Mrs Govender and Ms Magadana who celebrated their birthdays over the school holidays.
Here are some important dates for this quarter:
Winter Quarter Dates
Tuesday 22 July:
First Day of the Quarter
Co-curriculars begin!
Sunday 27 July:
Happy Birthday Justine de Wet
Thursday 31 July:
Madagascar Jr Production #1 @ 18:00
Friday 1 August:
Madagascar Jr Production #2 @ 18:00
Friday 2 August:
Madagascar Jr Production #3 @ 14:00
Tuesday 5 August:
Grade 6 Tour De Maths Competition @ 17:30
Friday 8 August:
WRO Regionals
Saturday 9 August:
Women’s Day
WRO Regionals
Sunday 10 August:
Happy birthday Tracy Pienaar
Wednesday 13 August:
Formal Assessments Commence
Friday 15 August:
Grade 6 outing to Intaka Island
Saturday 16 August:
Derby day vs Somerset College at Secondary Faculty
Monday 18 August:
Cape Town Regional Science Fair (EXPO)
Tuesday 19 August:
Cape Town Regional Science Fair (EXPO)
Wednesday 20 August:
Cape Town Regional Science Fair (EXPO)
Thursday 21 August:
SP Choir Performance at Blouberg International
Friday 22 August:
Cape Town Eisteddfod in Senior Preparatory Hall
Tuesday 26 August:
Happy Birthday Khanya Mbikwana
Saturday 30 August:
Happy Birthday Tarin Hodges
Winter Quarter Dates
Monday 1 September:
First Day of Spring
Tuesday 2 September:
Happy Birthday Jesse Kirsten
Wednesday 10 September:
SP Prestige Music Concert @ 18:00
Friday 12 September:
Funky Socks Day
WRO Nationals in Jhb
Saturday 13 September:
Open Day
Roald Dahl Day
WRO Nationals in Jhb
Monday 15 September:
International Dot Day
Happy Birthday Daniella Mizrachi
Thursday 18 September:
Reports Released
Report Feedback Meetings
Friday 19 September:
SPCA Dress up day
Report Feedback Meetings
Happy Birthday Amy Dean
Saturday 20 September:
Happy Birthday Efraim Cupido
North vs South Prep Derby
Monday 22 September:
Report Feedback Meetings
Tuesday 23 September:
Last day of the quarter
Wednesday 24 September:
Public Holiday-Heritage Day
Thursday 2 October:
Rosh Hashanah
Happy Birthday Simoné Prinsloo
Sunday 5 October:
World Teachers Day
Tuesday 7 October:
Happy Birthday Roché Buckle
May you have a wonderful Winter Quarter
Paul Mayers
Senior Preparatory Principal
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Links to other faculty blogs:
Pre-Primary Faculty: https://ppblog.parklands.co.za
Junior Preparatory Faculty: https://jpblog.parklands.co.za
Secondary Faculty: https://secblog.parklands.co.za
Tickets can be purchased via Quicket