Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo

Our busy week continued with our choir performing on Monday evening and our Robotics teams wrapping up an exciting event on Saturday. Well done to all our teams and their coaches for their amazing work and dedication. Congratulations to all the teams going to Nationals. Please below the wonderful results!

We wish our Science Expo learners well with the Regional portion of the Eskom Science Expo competition on Wednesday.

P.S A reminder to use the drop down arrow (when shown) for more information under a Heading

Individual photographs

The individual photographs taken by professional photographers were handed out to the learners on Monday. We are delighted to let you know that there’s still time to place re-orders, should you wish to do so! You have until the end of August to make your request. Kindly email prep@parklands.co.za to place an order.

Parklands College Robotics Teams Haul in the Medals at the 2024 Western Cape World Robot Olympiad Events

The World Robot Olympiad (WRO) takes place across 95 countries and brings together over 60 000 young people from all over the world to develop their creativity and problem-solving skills through challenging and educational robotics competitions. The official WRO® theme for 2024 is ‘Earth Allies’ where participants must investigate how robots can help us live in harmony with nature.

The number of teams participating in the South Africa WRO has doubled since 2023, which shows incredible growth and interest in this competition that promotes and develops global competencies. For this reason a total of nine events were held across the country over the past three weeks including two in the Western Cape. A total of eleven Parklands College teams competed in the Western Cape North and South events held on 27 July 2024 and 3 August 2024. Over 600 learners in 250 teams competed in these competitions.

Our Preparatory Faculty teams achieved the following places:

1. Robo Mission Elementary Category

1st Place (GOLD MEDAL): High Tech Dragon Riders - Hui Quan Sun, Kishan Murugan

2nd Place (Silver Medal): CyberTek - Saadhil Rampath, Matthew Beukes, Lucas Smee

3rd Place (Bronze Medal): HyperTech - Joshua Salter, Ewan Eichbauer

4th Place - CrimsonBots - Dariq Karachi, Karis Nyabadza, Damian Holtzhausen

1st Place (Gold Medal): Fusion Wave - Brynn Eichbauer, Mukundi Chikwati

2. Future Innovators - Elementary

2nd Place (Silver Medal): Eco Trio - Maximilian Stork, Yihan Dai ( Angelina), Yuhan Jiang (Emma)

1st Place (Gold Medal): TechTron - Aidan Chow, Ashley Machine, Priyanka Ramlakan

Our Secondary Faculty teams achieved the following places:

1. RoboMission Junior Category

2nd Place (Silver Medal): TechnoBlade - Matthew Francke, Luan Odendaal, Veer Atwaru

3rd Place (Bronze Medal): TechnoMind - Arcanjo Mwini, Daniel Spuhler

3rd Place (Bronze Medal): The Real Civil Engineers - Nkosinathi Nxumalo, Daniel Maidment

2. RoboSports - Doubles Tennis

4th Place: Super Robot Builders - Enoch Onyems, Hugo Bazin

All eleven of our teams qualified for the National competition of which four qualified first and second in the country in their respective categories. As a result of this success all of our teams have qualified for the Nationals Competition which will be held in Johannesburg on 14 September 2024. The Nationals winners will represent South Africa in Izmir, Turkiye at the “International Final” from 28 - 30 November 2024.

Please join me in congratulating the teams and coaches, Justine de Wet, Austyn Delport, Phumlane Nkosi and Richard Knaggs for their incredible contribution to our team's outstanding performances.

Extra Mural News

Design Society accordion book visual narratives

Sports Announcements

Sports Survey

We'd love your input on the benefits of sports for our children—please complete our survey and stay tuned for the results!

What does sport instill in our children?

Derby Day

We've arranged buses for our sports learners who have been selected to play at our Derby Day on Saturday, 17th August 2024. Please indicate if you would like your child(ren) to travel by bus to Somerset College by filling in the form below. If you prefer to drive them yourself, please ensure all learners arrive at Somerset College by 07:30.

Departure from Parklands College SP: 06:15
Return from Somerset College: Approximately 12:30 (after the U/13 Rugby fixture, as per the programme)

Link to Google Form

Programme

Sports Results

Q3 Sporting Fixture Schedule: U/9-U/13

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.

Learner External Achievements

Congratulations

Congratulations to Levi Le Grange for receiving his black belt in karate and making the Western Province Team. He will compete 9-11 August at SA Champs in Bloemfontein. Here he is with his brother Luke (Grade 9 Parklands Secondary Campus) who also attained black belt and Western Province and will also be competing at SA Champs in Bloemfontein.

We are very proud of the Le Grange brothers.

Library News

BOOK DONATION

We are so grateful to Mrs Chantel Lamb for donating this valuable Tom Gates collection. Our readers of all ages will enjoy them tremendously.

CELEBRATING WOMEN’S DAY!

This week in the Senior Preparatory, we are honouring amazing women who have made an impact in the world, stood up for women’s rights and set an example for our girls to reach for the stars. We wish all the ladies a wonderful day tomorrow.

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...

Senior Preparatory Drive Through and LEFT TURN ONLY

We kindly request that parents are courteous and respectful towards others during drop off and collection times. Please remember that extra time is needed when dropping off and collecting due to the traffic congestion during this time. Parents who are exiting the Senior Preparatory campus are reminded that they may ONLY TURN LEFT as indicated by the traffic sign. Thank you to the traffic department who was on duty this morning to remind our parents.