Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo

28 February

2025

Dear Parents

We had an incredible start to this week with the announcement of the full cast of Madagascar Jr production in assembly which will take the stage in August 2025.

Its been another wonderful week of academics and sport as well. Find all the highlights of week 6 in the memo this week.

Grade 6.mp4

Grade 6 video highlights in one minute from week 6...
credit Ms Simoné Prinsloo

NOTICES

Lockers:

Each learner has been allocated a locker on campus. Please ensure that your child has put a lock on their locker. We will be conducting checks on lockers next week. If your child does not have a lock on their locker by the end of the week you will be billed R85 for a new combination lock. Combination locks are available from reception at R85 per lock, which will be billed to your account. Bags, with iPads should be kept safe and locked away.

For sport practice, bags are kept in the learner's locker and collected after the session.
For away games bags must remain on the bus which is locked, the team manager will let learners know if there is a different arrangement.

There are also lockers installed in the Senior Prep changing rooms. These lockers are not allocated to any learner and can be used by anyone. Learners must purchase a lock from reception to use in the changing room lockers. No bags may be stored on the changing room benches and no bags may be stored in the changing room lockers without locks. These lockers are to be used by learners in the afternoon for matches at school. The team manager will let learners know if there is a different arrangement, however this should still be in a safe place which is locked.

Sports bags are stored in Club 7 and 11. For security purposes learners may add a lock to their zips to secure the content particularly when using the bag outside for matches.

Any bags found in the passages or left unaccompanied will be taken to the office and learners will receive a demerit upon collection.

ACADEMICS

Reports and feedback meetings

Senior Preparatory Reports will be released on Monday 24 March and report feedback meetings will take place on Tuesday 25 March, Wednesday 26 March and Thursday 27 March. Your child’s class teacher will share the link to their Google Calendar in order for you to book a meeting to discuss your child’s academic progress.

Appointments are usually 15 mins in length. We greatly value our parents’ and teachers’ time and urge parents to be on time in order to ensure that other parents are not kept waiting. Please contact your child’s class teacher directly should you be unavailable to meet on the specific days and times scheduled.

Sample Assessment Calendar Entry

Please be reminded that formal assessment dates can be found on the assessment calendar for each grade on academic tab. Each calendar entry contains the specific date and study details of each assessment. The study details are posted at least two weeks before the assessment.

NEWS

Magadascar Jr Cast Announcement

There was so much excitement at our Senior Preparatory Assembly on Monday with the announcement of the cast for Madagascar Jr which will showcase the cultural talents of every learner at the Senior Preparatory. All Grade 4 and 5 classes have been allocated roles in the show and our Grade 6s will be our lead characters. Well done to each of the Grade 6s participating in the audition process. I know you are going to make us proud. We wish Mrs Buckle, our director, and her incredible team in the culture department all the best as they start with rehearsals. See the cast list below:

I like to move it....mp4

Grade 6 News

Our Grade 6s powered through their Geography and Maths Formal Assessments this week, showing focus and determination in every lesson! Their hurricane-resistant structures were put to the test after weeks of designing and building in Science and Technology. Safe to say-we’ve got some impressive young engineers in Grade 6!

In Afrikaans, the Grade 6s embarked on a wild adventure with 'n Dag in die wildtuin, designing their own safaris while exploring South Africa’s incredible wildlife and national parks.

Grade 6 English was all about folktales, where learners dove into the art of storytelling and began crafting their own narratives—each with a powerful life lesson at its heart. It’s been a week of dedication, creativity and hands-on learning!

Grade 6 Team

Grade 5 News

This week, our Grade 5 explorers traveled back in time to uncover the fascinating world of hunter-gatherers and their lasting influence on our national coat of arms!

This week, our Grade 5 explorers travelled back in time to uncover the fascinating world of hunter-gatherers and their lasting influence on our national coat of arms!

In Maths, we're unlocking the secrets of polygons and discovering how different shapes fit together to create the world around us. With formal assessments in full swing, our teachers are bursting with pride at the dedication and effort our Grade 5s are putting into their studies—keep up the fantastic work!

Grade 5 Team

Grade 4 News

We are so proud of how our Grade 4s bravely tackled their first formal assessment in Natural Sciences and Technology this week. They showed great dedication in studying and preparing, and we loved seeing all their study notes leading up to the assessment. This highlighted the importance of scheduling daily study sessions and applying the study techniques learned during our Study Skills Workshop. Geography was another highlight this week, as the Grade 4s thoroughly enjoyed learning about landmarks and even creating their own!

Mathletics Certificates

Congratulations to Naledi and Kgothatso (Gr 4), as well as Heath and Keyaan (Gr 5) who have levelled up in Mathletics this week and received their silver certificates.

Outreach

We have four weeks left to collect donations for our fury friends at Fallen Angels. Please support this initiative by donating cat and dog food (dry pellets or tin food). You are also welcome to donate pet toys, blankets, water bowls, jerseys or beds.

To our Muslim Families

Happy Ramadan

We wish you a time of reflection, renewal and spiritual growth over the fast.

CO-CURRICULAR

Our weekly co-curricular programme can be found on the Sports and Co-Curricular Tab

Science Club

At Science Club, learners explored Newton’s Laws of Motion by designing and building balloon-powered cars. They discovered how Newton’s First Law keeps the car still until the balloon’s air is released, setting it in motion. Newton’s Second Law showed that the more air in the balloon, the faster the car accelerated. Finally, Newton’s Third Law came to life as the air rushed out of the balloon (action), propelling the car forward (reaction). This hands-on activity made physics fun and interactive, helping learners see science in action!

Makerspace Club

Makerspace Club had an absolute blast this week, harnessing the power of the wind to design and build parachutes and kites—then heading outside to test them in action! We can't wait to see what exciting creation we'll tackle next! 🌬️🎈✨

Makerspace Club.mp4

SPORT

From the Sports Desk

Rising to the Challenge and Looking Ahead

Sport is more than just competition - it’s about growth, resilience, and the lessons learned along the way. Over the past few weeks, Grades 4-6 have truly embodied this spirit, showing incredible progress, determination, and teamwork across all sporting codes.

Whether it’s on the cricket pitch, tennis courts, softball field, or in the pool we’ve seen learners push their limits, refine their skills, and step up when it matters most. Their development has been inspiring, and their commitment to their teams continue to make Parklands College Preparatory proud.

As we wrap up an exciting quarter of summer sports, we turn our focus toward Autumn sports on 10 March 2025 for a Pre-season period. The transition to Hockey (Boys & Girls), Netball, and Rugby brings new challenges, fresh opportunities, and a chance for learners to embrace different sporting experiences. These sports test agility, teamwork, and strategy, and we can’t wait to see how our learners rise to the occasion.

Before officially closing the summer season, we look forward to our final Interschools Swimming Gala on Friday, 7 March 2025, hosted at the Senior Preparatory. This event promises to be a fantastic showcase of skill, spirit, and sportsmanship - a fitting way to celebrate a season of dedication and growth in the pool.

As always, we encourage our learners to embrace every opportunity, challenge themselves, and most importantly, enjoy the journey. The sporting year is just starting, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Yours in sport,
Jared Margetts
Head of Preparatory Sports

Looking Ahead: Final Week of Summer Sport!

As we wrap up our final Summer Sports fixtures, our learners have shown fantastic growth, teamwork, and determination.

This last week sees:

Cricket vs Reddam Durbanville

Softball vs Canonns Creek

Interschools Gala Hosted at Parklands College

The Week That Was:

This week saw some thrilling matches as our summer sports season nears its close. Our U12 Cricket team put on a dominant performance, securing a 30-run victory over Edgemead, with Karis named Player of the Match for an all-round display - 2 wickets, key runs, and sharp fielding. Our U11 Cricket team faced a tough challenge against Edgemead but showed resilience, with Adem earning Player of the Match honors. Meanwhile, our U10 cricketers claimed a 15-run victory over Milnerton, with Zach and Jean-Louise stepping up as standout players.

On the tennis courts, our U12 Mixed Team took on the Parklands U13 squad in a competitive showdown, emerging victorious with a 4-2 win.

Our softballers faced CBC St. Johns U10 losing to CBC st. Johns 4-7 with Rebecca & Sinisipo Players of the Match. Our U11 & U12 girls narrowly losing to CBC st. Johns 4-5 with Lily and Jenny Players of the Match.

PRE-SEASON AUTUMN SWITCH: 10 - 20 MARCH 2025

SP Extra Mural Timetable AUTUMN SWITCH 2025 MEMO - Google Docs.pdf

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

Save the Date: Autumn Awakenings Choir Concert

Celebrate the start of Autumn with Music! The choirs from Table View Primary, Blouberg Ridge and Blouberg International will join the Parklands College Junior and Senior Preparatory Choirs in this celebration of song!

Bookings can be made on quicket using the following link or QR Code

https://www.quicket.co.za/events/260969-autumn-awakenings-choir-festival#/

LIBRARY

New Arrival

This week we received the much anticipated Book 6 in the Worst Week Ever! series: Saturday has arrived and Library classes enjoyed creating their own cover for the book in SketchesPro. It is always fascinating to see if the learners copy the illustrator or totally follow their own instincts. There are some gorgeous covers in production that we are looking forward to displaying in the library.

Extreme Reading

We have been excited to receive all the wonderful photos for our Extreme Reading challenge and are impressed with all the creative ideas. Thank you to every family who participated. We hope you have enjoyed it as much as we did.

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)