Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo
22 November 2024
Dear Parents
This coming Monday, five of our incredible robotics teams: Eco Trio; HighTech Dragon Riders; Technoblade, Techtron and Super Robot Builders will head to Turkey to represent South Africa at the World Robot Olympiad International Competition!
We are proud of the hard work and determination these teams have shown, and we wish them and their coaches, Austyn Delport, Phumlane Nkosi, Justine de Wet, and Richard Knaggs, the best of luck as they take on this exciting challenge - go and show the world what South African innovation and teamwork are all about!
Safe travels and good luck, we will be cheering for them every step of the way!
Eco Trio: Maximilian Stork, Yihan Dai, Yuhan Jiang
HighTech Dragon Riders: HuiQuan Sun, Kishan Murugan
TechNoBlade: Veer Atwaru, Daniel Spuhler
Techtron: Aidan Chow, Ashley Machine,
Priyanka Ramlakan
Super Robot Builders: Hugo Bazin, Enoch Onyems
Grade 4 - 6 Growing Minds Celebration
Last day of school
A reminder that school will close on Wednesday, 4 December at 11:00, and there will be no Aftercare. Please make arrangements to collect your child by 11:00.
2025 Requirements
Please refer to the 2025 requirements tab for important information. 2025 Grade 7 learners will find information about their camp in the first quarter.
Class Placements
It is impossible for the school to accommodate all class requests, approximately 50 different requests in each grade, and it would be unfair to allow some parents to make requests and not others. An example of these requests would be:
Johnny's mom has asked for him to be with his best friend Mark, however, Mark's mom has asked that they are not placed together. Mark's mom would like him with Peter and Paul, however, Paul's mom would like him to be with Johnny and not Mark. Peter wrote on his friendship slip he would like to be with Johnny, however, Peter's mother does not want him with Johnny or Mark. All with an added request that we don’t tell the other parents.
Should a parent make a request for placement as shown in the above example, we will need to share the request with the other parent in order to avoid unfair parent conflict with the teacher. Unfortunately, parents can sometimes be aggressive and rude to teachers when their requests are not met even though this could be due to many conflicting requests.
With this in mind, we ask that you trust the teachers’ ability to place your child in the most suitable class. Class placements are a mammoth task and many hours are spent deliberating over the most suitable combinations for the learners.
We trust that you will support our decision, as it is based on our professional evaluation of each learner within their learning environment. We promise to do our very best to ensure each child is placed in a class in which they will thrive.
Extra Mural News
SP Individual Music sign up
We invite parents of all current individual music learners as well as those wishing to commence individual lessons in 2025 to please complete the following enrollment form: SP Individual Music
We require a new form to be completed annually. A form for Ensembles, including Marimba, Choir, and Orchestra, will be shared at the start of 2025.
We will endeavour to ensure that your child is placed with the same teacher as in 2024, but we can only finalise a time slot at the start of 2025.
The Grade 4s sculpted cute tortoises
from clay, with stunning radial pattern
designs on their shells.
Sports News
Sports Announcements
We invite all our parents to attend the Sport Meeting on Thursday 28 November in the Senior Preparatory Hall. We look forward to seeing you there and engaging with you directly about our sports programme!
Notes and Reminders:
Sport Fixtures
Please look at the Calendar and Events tab for the Sports Calendar.
Cricket Sport Results
Parklands College beat Elkanah by 20 runs. Corbyn Beekamans (Player of the match). A massive shout out to Matthew Taylor and Ewan Eichbauer for stepping up and assisting the U12s.
2024 SP Spring Quarter 4 Co-Curricular Timetable FINAL.docxSport Uniform Requirements
Boys Hockey: College Hockey shirt (same as soccer), College PE shorts, Long blue sports socks, trainers, shin pads, gum guard and hockey stick.
External Achievements: District, Regional & Provincial Sports Achievements
The External Achievements form must be utilised by parents of learners who have been selected to represent an official Regional, District and Provincial team outside School. This document serves as a communication tool between the parents and the School to record a child’s External Regional, District and Provincial selections and achievements.
Please note that only District, Regional or Provincial selections and achievements will be recognised on stage at the weekly assemblies, as well displayed in the weekly School Blog.
We will keep record of learners’ external achievements for recognition purposes at the end of the year. The form must also be submitted along with an official letter from the respective sports body confirming your child’s selection or achievement.
Please also submit a high-resolution photo with your child wearing his or her District, Regional or Provincial uniform.
Learners will only be recognised once all documentation has been received
Please only submit this form if your child has been selected for an official District, Regional or Provincial team.
Cultural acknowledgements will be recognised for exceptional achievements in external examinations, Eisteddfods and theatrical productions.
This form, along with the supporting sports or culture documentation must be emailed latest Tuesday afternoon to be recognised in the Friday’s assembly and Blog. External achievements communicated after Tuesday will be recognised at the next week’s assembly and Blog. For any other cultural achievements, the class teacher must be emailed with the details.
Link for External Achievements
Please note that the cut off date for external achievements to appear in the magazine 2024 was 31 August 2024.
Any entries after that date will appear in 2025.
On 26 October, Jakeem Mipando proudly earned his Orange Belt,
and Haydn de Wet achieved his Green Belt in the Teen Division of Krav Maga Self-Defense. Congratulations to both on their hard work and dedication!
Library News
Birthday Books
On Monday these three boys will join each other on stage as they present their Birthday Books, and in a way they represent the reading journey that teachers and the libraries facilitate for each reader.
Sebastian read furiously this year in Grade 3 to stay on top of every new book that came our way. He honed his skills with great determination and can hardly wait for the senior prep library where there is such a varied choice for his age group.
Mandla entered the SP this year and has already established his preferred series; now he is ready to stretch his wings and explore different genres.
Calvin has loved the library since he joined the school in Grade 1. Next year he is moving on to the Secondary Faculty’s Resource Centre, where a whole new world of teen and Young Adult literature is waiting to be enjoyed.
Thank you for sharing your books with us. May books continue to give you joy and open the world for you.
Cirque Extravaganza Through Time
Step into a mesmerizing journey with Cirque Extravaganza Through Time, where the past, present and future collide in a spectacular display of human artistry and athleticism. This enchanting show features breathtaking trapeze acts, graceful aerial silks, and the captivating elegance of lyra performances. Watch in awe as jugglers defy gravity and acrobats perform feats of incredible strength and flexibility. Each act is a tribute to the timeless wonder of the circus, blending tradition with innovation to create an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. Join us for a night where time stands still, and the magic of the circus comes alive!
Saturday 23 November at the Homecoming Center (previously Fugard Theatre).
Show times 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm.
Tickets available at Quicket: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/264432-cirque-extravaganza-through-time/#/
Parent Business Directory
Parklands College and Christopher Robin Pre-Primary parents who are in business are able to list their businesses in our Parent Business Directory – www.parklands.co.za/parent-business-directory/
LISTINGS ARE FREE and include contact information as well as the opportunity to include a business logo or advert. Listings are available 24/7 on the College website and will be updated each quarter.
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...
