Senior Preparatory Weekly Memo

Grade 6 News

The start of Grade 6 has filled our corridors and playgrounds with an infectious sense of excitement and anticipation. Laughter, friendly catch-ups and eager conversations have marked the beginning of what promises to be a meaningful and memorable year. As the leaders of the Senior Prep, they have already begun to step up, showing responsibility and a wonderful sense of teamwork. It has been heartening to see how quickly they have adapted, reconnecting with friends and forming positive relationships with their new teachers in a warm and supportive environment.

This week, we focused on setting the tone for the year ahead by creating Grade 6 vision boards, encouraging learners to reflect on their goals, strengths and hopes for the journey ahead. These activities sparked thoughtful discussions and allowed learners to share their aspirations while building a strong sense of community within the class. Time was also spent getting familiar with routines, expectations and classroom spaces, ensuring everyone feels secure and ready for the challenges and opportunities that Grade 6 will bring.

We kicked off the year by diving straight into learning about communities. Learners explored the different types of communities around them and discovered the many communities they themselves belong to - from families and schools to neighbourhoods, sports teams, and friendship groups. 

Our History lessons brought out the inner explorers, as learners learned about archaeologists and artefacts. The highlight? Pretending to be archaeologists themselves! Learners imagined, designed, and explained their own artefacts, proudly presenting their discoveries like true professionals.

Despite the busy schedule, our Grade 4 learners are settling into the new routines with ease. They are adapting beautifully to new expectations, showing responsibility, independence, and a genuine love for learning. We are so excited to see how they continue to grow, explore, and shine as the year unfolds!

Tennis Squad Trials

Dates: 27 Jan Tuesday and 29 Jan Thursday

Time: 07h00-07h45

Sports Kit
All learners may wear their sports kit to school on their PE Day and on Fridays for Sports hour. 

Swimming during PE in Quarter 1 and 4
Please pack in Parklands Swimming costumes / Parklands Swimming Cap / Towel and sunblock. 

Although coaches guide and support learners during swimming in Physical Education lessons, we are not a Learn to Swim School and for their own safety it is critical that learners are water safe and able to swim.  Please liaise with the coaches if you need contact details for LEARN TO SWIM schools for your child to attend.

Sport Quick Links

OUTREACH 2026

General

Lockers and Locks

Each learner has been allocated a locker on campus. Please ensure your child has put a lock on their locker. Combination locks are available from reception at R85 per lock, and 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 for larger items (eg Cricket bags). These lockers are not allocated to any learner and can be used by anyone. Learners must purchase an additional 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.

For security purposes, learners may add a lock to their zips to secure the contents, particularly when using the bag outside for matches. 

Any bags found in the passages or left unattended will be taken to reception.

Pre-Primary Play Items Wanted

If you have dress-up clothes, dolls’ clothes, or home-corner play items in good condition that your family no longer uses - especially after the festive season - we would gladly give them a new home in our Pre-Primary classrooms. These little additions make playtime richer for the children. Donations can be dropped off at the Pre-Primary at your convenience.

Healthy Lunch Boxes

Learners require a packed lunch box and a bottle of water for an early morning snack and two break times. 

Please note that Parklands College is a nut free zone and no nut butters i.e. peanut butter, Nutella or nuts may be sent to school.

Learners store their lunchbox and water bottles in the classroom. All items must be clearly marked with your child's name. 

There are NO tuckshop facilities for the Senior Preparatory learners.

Sunblock & Sun Hats

Please apply sunblock on all exposed parts of your child’s body before they come to school in the morning. All learners must wear the Parklands College cap/hat for break time and sports. 

In order to protect your child’s skin from the harsh rays of the sun, we have a “no hat, no play” policy.

Quick Links

Lost Property

Please help us by checking that all the items that your child brings home actually belong to them. If they come home with someone's elses item (such as an extra shoe, hat, etc) please send it to reception the next day so that we can return labelled items to the owner. 

It is important that all items are labelled clearly so that lost items can be returned. Parents are welcome to come in to reception to view lost property items. Items not labelled will be in lost property and donated to the second hand shop at the end of each quarter.

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Reminder that the co-curricular programme commences from Monday and the Sports Meeting for Grade 1-6 Parents is on Monday at 17:00. 

Have a wonderful weekend

Paul Mayers

Senior Preparatory Principal

pmayers@parklands.co.za 

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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