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)

News

Grade 6 News

Our Grade 6s had a blast turning marking into a game with Mrs. Wells’ fast-food-inspired “drive-through!” Excitement filled the room as learners raced to “place their orders,” eager to upsize their work or fix any “order issues.” Laughter and learning went hand in hand, making this a marking experience to remember!

In English the learners have dived into their novel, "Sharkey's Son" and through critical thinking gave their best predictions on what the novel could be about; there were some fishy predictions. In Geography, the learners continue to orientate themselves around our globe, using coordinates to pinpoint exact locations of interesting places.

In Afrikaans, our learners explored 'n Seevakansie and created their own sentences using new vocabulary. Ask them about words like ontspan, branderplankry, tydskrifte, sonsambreel, and bruingebrand!

For World Read Aloud Day, we played Cricket Reading! Each error-free line scored a “run,” but mistakes meant the other team took over. Teams racked up points, competing for victory in this fast-paced reading challenge!

Grade 6 team

Grade 5 News

The Grade 5s had an exciting week exploring space in Afrikaans and took to the outdoors for isiXhosa. To celebrate World Read Aloud Day we shared some of our descriptive writing pieces while enjoying a picnic outside with friends.

Grade 5 Team

Grade 4 News

It was wonderful to see so many parents joining their children at the Study Skills session on Saturday 1st February. We are excited to be partnering with you and your child in the next stage of their academic journey. A reminder that your child's teacher is available via email should you have any questions or concerns. See the Staffing tab.

Grade 4 Saturday Study Workshop

Choo Choo! All aboard the English punctuation train! This week, our Grade 4s practised “air punctuation” to help them remember capital letters and full stops while editing some paragraphs.

Laughter and excitement filled the hall on World Read Aloud Day as Principal Paul brought The World’s Worst Teachers to life, captivating the learners with his enthusiastic reading.

Meanwhile, in our Science and Tech lessons, the Grade 4s are using the design process to plan habitats, which they’ll build with recycled materials over the next few weeks!  This project encourages creativity, problem-solving, and sustainability—stay tuned for their amazing creations! 

#YoungDesigners #SustainableThinking #HandsOnLearning

Grade 4 Outing to the Castle of Good Hope

Reminder to all Grade 4 parents to please complete the form below to give permission for your child to attend the following outing:

Thursday 13th February 2025

Departure time from school: 08h00

Departure time from Castle of Good Hope: 12h00

More details can be found on the form below:

Outing Permission Form

Outreach Quarter 1

Co-Curricular Programme

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

Science Club

In celebration of Friendship Month, this week in our Science club, we've embraced the theme by conducting experiments that embody the spirit of the occasion. We started with the "Hearts Exploding with Colour in Milk" experiment, which uses basic materials to produce a visually stunning effect while delving into surface tension and liquid density. Next, we crafted a heart confetti lava lamp to further explore chemical reactions, enjoying the mesmerizing display as the lamp came to life. Lastly, we observed the formation of carbon dioxide in a chemical reaction, delighting in the inflation of a balloon as a result. These activities not only fostered scientific curiosity but also shared moments of joy and discovery among friends.

SPORT

FROM THE SPORTS DESK

A Winning Start to the Season!

Sport is in full swing, and the energy on the courts, fields, and in the pool has been nothing short of inspiring. Our learners have embraced the new season with enthusiasm, showing incredible commitment and growth in their respective disciplines. The PE swimming programme has been a highlight, with learners making great strides in both confidence and ability. It has been rewarding to see swimmers of all levels taking to the water, pushing themselves, and discovering their potential.

The Week That Was: A Celebration of Sport & Growth

This past week at Parklands College was filled with personal growth, team spirit, and outstanding performances across all sporting codes.

PE Swimming Making Waves
Our PE swimming programme has been in full swing, with learners showing incredible progress and personal growth in the pool. Whether refining technique, building confidence or simply taking that first step into the water, it has been inspiring to witness every learner’s journey. Check out the Grade 6s PE swimming session.

Friday Sports Hour in Action
Friday saw all learners actively engaged in Softball and Cricket, embracing the opportunity to refine their skills while enjoying the camaraderie that sport brings. Our softballers were disappointed when their fixture was canceled, but our cricketers and tennis players made sure Parklands’ sporting momentum continued.

A First for Assembly – Sport Takes the Stage
For the first time, our weekly assembly featured a dedicated sports theme, spearheaded by the sports team with the message: “Commitment Through Unlocking Potential.” Learners were encouraged to reflect on how dedication, resilience, and a growth mindset can elevate their sporting and personal achievements.

Cricket Triumphs
Our cricket teams delivered standout performances, securing fantastic victories:

• U10 defeated Rallim by 42 runs – Player of the Match: Cooper Oxley-Simpson for his impressive batting display.

• U11 dominated Monte Vista, winning by 9 wickets, with Heath Beekmans smashing a rapid 38 runs and earning Player of the Match.

• U12 set the tone early, claiming a 52-run victory over Monte Vista, led by Player of the Match: Matthew Taylor.

🎾 Tennis Team Takes Charge

Our U12 Mixed Tennis Team put on an exceptional display against Table View, securing a 4-2 win. A special shoutout to Sophia de Carvalho Smee and Nina Davies for not dropping a single set and Sebastian Fourie stepping up to play U12's! However, the Player of the Match goes to Declan Paton for an outstanding performance and displaying impeccable sportsmanship!   

With such an energetic and rewarding week behind us, we look forward to building on these achievements and embracing the excitement of the matches to come! 

Thank you to our learners, coaches, and parents for their unwavering support - here’s to another fantastic week of sport!

Yours in sport,
Jared Margetts
Head of Preparatory Sports

Looking Ahead:

We’re gearing up for another action-packed week of sport with Cricket, Mini Cricket, T-ball, Softball, Tennis, and another exciting Interschools Gala at Reddam House on the schedule; so there’s plenty to look forward to. Our learners are ready to hit the courts, fields, and pool once again, bringing their energy and enthusiasm to every match and practice.

A special highlight this week is our Swim Squad session on Open Day on Saturday, 15 February. We’re inviting all prospective families to experience the spirit of Parklands sport with a Swim Squad session led by Coach Nadine and Coach Courtney (invite only), as well as a U9 Cricket session with Coach Liam and Coach Jared. Both sessions will run from 10h00 - 11h00.

Looking ahead, 22 February marks our first Mini Cricket Festival of the year, hosted at Van Riebeeckstrand Primary. Keep an eye out for match day notifications and get ready to cheer on our young cricketers as they take to the field!

Here’s to another week of growth, teamwork, and sporting success. Let’s keep the momentum going! 🎉🏏🎾🏊‍♂️

On That Note:

We need your consent for sports travel to away fixtures/practices. Please click the link below and select "Agree."

Consent to travel for Sport 

External Achievements in Sport

Congratulations to Isabella who obtained Western Cape Provincial Sport Colours - Dance Sport (Hip hop).

Congratulations to Benjamin for winning Bronze at the Lifesaving Western Cape Stillwater Championships.

Congratulations to Jean-Louis for taking Second place in Malibu Race at Fish Hoek Nippers Comp.

Congratulations to Sebastian for competing in Nippers Surf Competition coming 3rd, 3rd and 7th respectively. 

Please find a link to the notification letter informing the College of a learner's external achievements at Area/Regional/Provincial level.

External Achievements

CULTURE

Our Dance, Music and Drama teachers welcomed forty enthusiastic Grade 6 learners to our Madagascar Jr auditions on Saturday, 1 February. The auditionees were put through their paces, learning choreography and vocals to ‘Move it’, the music notes for ‘Best Friends’ and performed various extracts of dialogue. 

The audition panel was extremely impressed with the energy and confidence of every learner. Further improvisation skills were tested with callbacks and improvised reading of dialogue will take place in the next week. The audition panel has some very difficult decisions to make, but are looking forward to working with our very capable and talented Grade 4-6 learners.

Save the Date

Robotics

Prep Robotics is buzzing with activity!  Grade 6 explored the Microbit accelerometer, discovering how movement affects coding.  Grade 4s and 5s mastered coordinates in Scratch, using precise movements to control their projects.  Meanwhile, our WRO teams are in full swing, experimenting with grippers and gears to tackle exciting challenges!  Lots of hands-on learning and problem-solving in action!

 #FutureEngineers #RoboticsInAction

Library

Birthday Books

Open Day

DATES FOR 2025

Summer Quarter: 20 January - 28 March

Autumn Quarter: 08 April - 25 June

*Mid-term break: 29 April - 2 May

Winter Quarter: 22 July - 23 September

Spring Quarter: 14 October - 05 December

Parent Learner Directory

Our Parent Learner Directory contains all the information you will need. You can find this important document under the General Tab

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Paul Mayers

Senior Preparatory Principal

pmayers@parklands.co.za 

Follow us on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParklandsCollege/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParklandsTweet

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parklandscollege

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