Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo

8 November 2024

2025 Grade 7 Invite for parents and learners

Grade 4 - 6 Growing Minds Celebration

Dear Parents


We wish our gala teams a fabulous gala this afternoon and wish the Junior Preparatory well for their mini cricket tomorrow. Parents are welcome to pop down to the Secondary faculty to support our U8s and U9s at this annual event. 

Academic Information


Please refer to the academic tab for important information.

2025 Requirements


Please refer to the 2025 requirements tab for important information.

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.

Congratulations to our learners who received their Cape Town Eisteddfod Dance Certificates. We also recognise the dancers who performed in the ‘Midnight at the Toyshop’ Production number as well as those who did solo performances.

Sports Announcements

Notes and Reminders:


Swimming is back! Please pack in Parklands swimming costumes / swimming Cap / towel and   

sunblock. Whilst we are still playing it by ear, we’ll make a decision on the day regarding swimming for 

PE. 

Sport Practices and Matches in the week of 11-15 November 2024

Please see below for sport practices and matches in the week of 11-15 November:


No Gr 4-6 Softball practices or matches in the week of 11 - 15 November

No Gr 4-6 Cricket practices or matches in the week of 11 - 15 November

No Gr 4 - 6 Tennis practices or matches in the week of 11 - 15 November

No Gr 4-6 Water Polo practices or matches in the week of 11 - 15 November

No Squad Swimming practices or galas in the week of 11 - 15 November


Dance, Junior Chefs, Drama Society, Design Society, Chess and Golf will continue during the week of 11 - 15 November.


There will be No Marimba or  Choir and lessons next week. We wish Mr Ernstzen well with his surgery.  Orchestra lessons will continue, however, will end slightly earlier in the morning during the week of 11 - 15 November.

2024 SP Spring Quarter 4 Co-Curricular Timetable FINAL.docx

Sports Results 

Sport Fixtures

Please look at the Calendar and Events tab for the Sports Calendar.

Sport 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  is 31 August 2024. 

Any entries after that date will appear in 2025. 

Well done to Corbyn who swam in the WC Champs over the weekend and received a 4th place in the 50m Backstroke and 

PB by 27 sec in the 200 m Freestyle

Congratulations to Holly who achieved her 

1st Kyu Brown Belt grading. 

Library News



At this time of the year new books are arriving constantly. David Walliams is a great favourite with our learners of all age groups, and his new mystery novel created much enthusiasm this week. As can be expected from this author, the story is hilarious and also features great illustrations by Adam Stower.   However,  it also provides an opportunity to teach the elements that can be expected in the mystery genre. The SP learners already have some favourite mystery series to compare with, like the wonderful Adventures on Trains and Scarlet and Ivy. 



BIRTHDAY BOOK

We wish Calvin a very happy birthday and say thank you for his Birthday Book that was chosen with such care. Right from Grade 1, Calvin loved books and the libraries at school are some of his favourite places. As he is named after the character in Calvin & Hobbes, we are delighted to have his namesake reminder in the SP library. 

Learner News 

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/#/


Discount: 25% off.

Promocode: Showtime23.

Offer valid for first 50 tickets bought (valid until 8 November 2024)

Parent News

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...