Junior Preparatory Weekly Memo
23 January 2026
Embedded Files
Dear Parents
We have had a fantastic week together and are so proud of each and every learner.
The staff email addresses are all included below, and the general Preparatory email address is prep@parklands.co.za
We had a fabulous turnout for our Parent Meetings and Orientation. Thank you for attending!
STAFFING
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Chantel Lamb
Principal
clamb@parklands.co.za
Emma Oxley-Simpson
Associate Principal
eoxleysimpson@parklands.co.za
Roché Buckle
Head of Culture
rbuckle@parklands.co.za
Elise Crouse
Head of Media Centres
ecrouse@parklands.co.za
Jared Margetts
Head of Sport
jmargetts@parklands.co.za
ADMINISTRATION
EDUCATORS
EDUCATORS
Sharon Louw
Learning Enrichment Centre
slouw@parklands.co.za
Khanya Mbikwana
isiXhosa
kmbikwana@parklands.co.za
Licia Hammond
Aftercare
lhammond@parklands.co.za
Desothini Naidoo
Aftercare
GRADE HEAD
Grade 1P
Siobhan Duke
sduke@parklands.co.za
Grade 1A
Andrea Martch
amartch@parklands.co.za
Grade 1R
Samantha Naidoo
samnaidoo@parklands.co.za
Grade 1K
Carmen Thyssen
cthyssen@parklands.co.za
Grade 2P
Tammy Labuschagne
tlabuschagne@parklands.co.za
GRADE HEAD
Grade 2A
Caressa Manickum
cmanickum@parklands.co.za
Grade 2R
Nadia Rabe
nrabe@parklands.co.za
GRADE HEAD
Grade 3P
Cara De Aguiar
cdeaguiar@parklands.co.za
Grade 3A
Sarah de Graeff
sdegraeff@parklands.co.za
Grade 3R
Anine de Lange
adelange@parklands.co.za
Grade 3K
Karen Hunt
khunt@parklands.co.za
SPORT
SPORT
Jared Margetts
jmargetts@parklands.co.za
Nadine Marais-Swart
nmaraisswart@parklands.co.za
Gary Gilder ggilder@parklands.co.za
ROBOTICS
ROBOTICS
Justine de Wet
jdewet@parklands.co.za
Nikki Niemand
nniemand@parklands.co.za
Khanya Mbikwana
kmbikwana@parklands.co.za
CULTURE
CULTURE
ART
Kirsten Hartley
khartley@parklands.co.za
MUSIC
Thurloe Ernstzen
ternstzen@parklands.co.za
MUSIC
Serena Domingo
sdomingo@parklands.co.za
DRAMA
Roché Buckle
rbuckle@parklands.co.za
DANCE
Sylvia Stander
sstander@parklands.co.za
DANCE
Candice Holder
cholder@parklands.co.za
DANCE
Amy Dean
adean@parklands.co.za
IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
2026 dates
2026 dates
Summer Quarter: 20 Jan - 26 March
Autumn Quarter: 8 April - 24 June
Winter Quarter: 22 July - 23 September
Spring Quarter: 14 October - 4 December
Monday 26 January:
Grade 1s stay a full day
Sports and Culture co-curriculars start
17:00 Grade 1-6 Sports Meeting for Parents
Monday 02 February:
Happy birthday Annastacia Mvulana
Thursday 05 February:
World Read Aloud Day
JP Picnic with Parents
Happy birthday Sarah de Graeff
Thursday 12 February:
Happy birthday Andrea Martch
Friday 13 February:
Friendship Day (Dress in Red, Pink and White)
Grade 3P + 3A Cake Sale
Saturday 14 February:
Open Day
Tuesday 17 February:
Happy Birthday Nikki Niemand
Ramadan
Chinese New Year
Wednesday 18 February:
Happy birthday Kirsten Hartley
Friday 06 March:
Grade 3R + 3K Cake Sale
Saturday 07 March
Softball Festival
Tuesday 10 March:
Grade 3 Outing to the Fire Station (TBC)
Wednesday 11 March:
Happy birthday Christopher Robin Pre-Primary
Thursday 12 March:
Grade 2 Splashtacular (1-2pm)
Friday 13 March
Grade 3 Splashtacular (8:15-9am)
Saturday 14 March:
Happy birthday Nadia Rabe
Monday 16 March:
Grade 1s Individual Photos
Tuesday 17 March:
Grade 2 & 3 Individual Photos
Wednesday 18 March:
SPCA Dress-up Day
Thursday 19 March:
Grade 3 Outing to the Fire Station
Friday 20 March:
Eid al-Fitr
Grade 2P + 2A Cake Sale
Saturday 21 March:
Public Holiday: Human Rights Day
Monday 23 March:
Reports Released
Report Meetings
Tuesday 24 March
Report Meetings
Autumn Awakenings Concert (6pm)
Wednesday 25 March
Report Meetings
Fallen Angels Drop Off
Thursday 26 March:
Last Day of the Quarter ( school closes at 1 pm)
Friday 27 March:
Sunday 29 March:
Happy Birthday Sisanda Mvulana
Friday 03 April:
Public Holiday - Good Friday
Monday 06 April:
Public Holiday - Family Day
CAKE SALES
Classes will all have an opportunity to host a cake sale and there is much excitement as the children eagerly look forward to this treat. Cake sale money is used to support various outreach projects.
We request that items such as cupcakes, popcorn, crisps, muffins, etc. are sent in by the classes that are hosting the cake sale. Please ensure that items donated for cake sales do not contain nuts. We love healthy goodies, especially popcorn!
Parents are welcome to send the year's money in advance to be kept safely locked away (i.e. 6 cake sales x R10=R60.00) or send in R10 on cake sale days.
If you are able to assist at your class cake sale from 09h40, please notify your child’s class teacher.
Friday 13 February: Grade 3P and 3A Cake Sale
Friday 06 March: Grade 3R and 3K Cake Sale
Friday 20 March: Grade 2P & 2A Cake Sale
Friday 17 April: Grade 2R and LEC Cake Sale
Friday 04 September: Grade 1P & 1A Cake Sale
Friday 30 October: Grade 1R &1K Cake Sale
OUTREACH
PARENT AND LEARNER DIRECTORY
PARENT AND LEARNER DIRECTORY
Please read through the Parent and Learner Directory, which includes important information about Parklands College and the Junior Preparatory learners.
SCHOOL HOURS
GRADE 1
GRADE 1
START: 08:00
END OF DAY: 14h00.
Collection from outside the Grade 1 classrooms. Learners who are not collected at this time will be sent to aftercare and billed.
GRADE 2
GRADE 2
START: 08:00
END OF DAY: 14:00.
Collection is in the Grade Two and Three Quad. Learners who are not collected at this time will be sent to aftercare and billed.
GRADE 3
GRADE 3
START: 08h00
END OF DAY: 14h30 (except for a Monday - the school day ends at 15h00)
Collection is in the Grade Two and Three Quad. Learners who are not collected at this time will be sent to aftercare and billed.
Please note that school opens at 7:30 and there is no supervision for learners until 07h30. To ensure everyone's safety, please do not leave your child unattended before 07h30.
School is LOCKED promptly at 16:45 daily. Please assist us by ensuring that your child is collected on time allowing our dedicated staff to return home to their own families. A late collection fee of R250 per half-hour (or part thereof) will apply for children collected from aftercare after 17h00.
Drop-off
Drop-off
Please ensure that learners arrive on time for the start of the academic day. Parents are welcome to drop their children off between 07:30 and 07:55 and are requested to use the Drop and Go Zone at the back of the school in Wood Drive.
Preparatory parents are reminded that the Pre-Primary Drive-through is reserved for Pre-Primary parents ONLY.
You are welcome to park in Wood Drive and walk your child to their classroom for the first few weeks of the quarter. Our Junior Preparatory parking area is a Drop and Go Zone and parents may pull into the yellow zone for learners to get out and walk into school on their own. Please do not park or leave your car in the Drop and Go Zone.
Aftercare
Aftercare
Aftercare is a combined group of Grade 1-3 learners. Parents, please inform the College via email should you wish to make use of our aftercare facility. Learners may wear their Parklands College sports uniform and in the interest of security, learners are signed out when collected. Learners attending Aftercare will be escorted to the venue. Parents who wish to make use of our aftercare facilities, must please inform us via e-mail. Learners must be collected before 17h00, as the College is locked at this time.
Security & Car Stickers
Security & Car Stickers
For safety reasons no learners are permitted to wait outside the College gates at any time.
Parents entering our campus are required to have a car identification sticker which can be collected from class teachers. By displaying the sticker on your car you will gain easy access to the College premises. Vehicles who do not have a sticker will be scanned. ‘At the Gate’ Access Solution is used by the College and involves drivers' and car license discs being scanned. This information is stored on a secure database off-site for future reference should the need arise. Pedestrians are also required to produce identification.
Our new 2026 stickers have arrived and been handed out. Please visit reception if you have not received your parking disc.
PARKING OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE
PARKING OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE
Parents are kindly reminded to be mindful of our neighbours when parking. Vehicles that block traffic or obstruct private driveways will be reported to the Traffic Department by our neighbours and will most likely be issued a fine/ticket. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that parking is done considerately and responsibly.
Pre-Primary Play Items Wanted
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.
AFTERCARE
AFTERCARE
HEALTH
HEALTH
HEALTHY LUNCH BOXES
Learners require a packed lunch box and a bottle of water for an early morning snack and two break times.
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 Junior Preparatory learners.
SUNBLOCK AND SUNHATS- "NO HAT - NO PLAY!"
SUNBLOCK AND SUNHATS- "NO HAT - NO PLAY!"
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.
Please remind your child to apply sunblock before they arrive at school. Sending in a small sunblock stick is great for reapplication during the day.
MEDICATIONS AND IMMUNISATIONS
MEDICATIONS AND IMMUNISATIONS
Should your child have a medical condition/ allergy /require prescribed medication to be administered, please e-mail Sisanda Mvulana on smvulana@parklands.co.za.
Please ensure that your child’s immunisations are up to date and forward a copy of the updated immunisation record to the secretary once your child has received the vaccine.
Department of Health recommended schedule: Childhood Immunisation Schedule
2026 REQUIREMENTS
2026 REQUIREMENTS
Device Requirements
Please click on the link below to view the device requirements for this year.
Stationery Requirements
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
UNIFORM
For free delivery to school, in the address block, please insert school name and address and add discount code before check-out.
Junior Preparatory - 91 Raats Drive, Parklands 7441
Senior Preparatory - 50 Wood Drive, Parklands 7441
Secondary Faculty - 1 College Avenue, Sandown 7441
Discount Code : PKLSCHOOL (both upper and lowercase works)
COLLEGE BLAZERS
Please be reminded that all learners are required to wear the new striped blazer with braiding from the start of 2026. Please ensure that the uniform is the correct size for your child, in particular the blazer.
All new 2026 blazers with braiding are in stock at School and Leisure.
SECOND HAND SCHOOL UNIFORM
Please contact Tania Fourie if you would like to buy or sell good-quality second-hand uniforms. She is also the supplier of Froggy School shoes. Contact details: +27 83 631 7683 or tania@sportstudio.co.za
LIBRARY
Book Club Invitation
Our vibrant Book Club is a weekly opportunity for book lovers to get together and celebrate stories, authors and new publications through games and fun activities. We meet on Wednesday mornings at 07:30 in the library. There are still some places available for Grade 3 bookworms. Please email Mrs Crouse to confirm. Just click on the link: Elise Crouse
2026 Library Challenge
Our year kicks off with our customary photo challenge, and this time our furry friends come into play. We can’t wait to see all the photos of you and your beautiful pets sharing a story.
World Read Aloud Picnic
It is almost time for one of our favourite book events of the year! We will be celebrating World Read Aloud Day on 5 February and would love our parents to join us to share in the magic. Please save the date and watch this space for more details.
Birthday Books
Happy birthday wishes to Leia and Kenzie, and a big thank you for sharing two beautiful Birthday Books. These lovely stories will be in our library for everyone to enjoy, and the birthday girls will be the first Grade 1s to present their books at our assembly on Monday. We appreciate these thoughtful gifts!
CULTURE
CULTURE
Save the Date:
SPORT
SPORT
We welcome Junior Prep families back to Quarter 1 sport and look forward to an active summer season.
Cricket, Softball, Golf, Tennis, Chess, and Swimming (Only for Grade 3) are on offer this quarter. Our Sporting Programme starts on Monday, 26 January. Please ensure that your child has the correct sports attire. See the Sports Attire List below.
Matches for selected Grade 3s are scheduled to begin from Monday, 2 February 2026 and parents will be notified if their child is participating.
Parents are reminded of the Parent Sport Meeting taking place on Monday, 26 January 2026, at 17h00. We look forward to welcoming families back to our fields, courts, and pools for another successful quarter of Junior Prep sport.
Sport Days (during the school day)
Grade 1: Tuesday and Thursday from 1-2 pm
Grade 2: Monday and Wednesday from 1-2 pm
Grade 3: Monday 2-3 pm, Friday 07:30-08:30
Sports Kit
All learners may wear their sports kit to school on their two Grade sport days as well as their PE Day.
Swimming during PE in Quarter 1 and 4
Please pack 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.
PE is back!
PE is back!
Please be reminded to pack your child's swimming costume as we all swim in PE each week!
SPORTS AND MATCHES
Sport in the younger grades is developmental, and our program is designed to build the foundational skills needed for various sport. Our Grade One program uses fun games to build strong, healthy bodies and develop fundamental skills.
Ad hoc internal/external matches begin in Grade Two once the Sports Department has determined that learners are adequately prepared and all safety considerations have been met. Game selection is rotational to give as many learners as possible the opportunity to develop their skills and get “a little taste” for the game. Key players will be selected for festivals.
The Grade Threes will have opportunities to participate in internal/external matches. We will field an A Team, while our B Teams will be selected using a rotational basis. This approach allows as many learners as possible to develop their skills and experience playing the game. The A Team will primarily participate in festivals, and we will enter additional teams where possible.
Junior-level sports (Mini cricket, hockey, netball, rugby, softball) have specific rules set by associations which are different to the rules of the various codes in the older age groups. The goal is to allow children to try different positions and build a wide range of skills before specialization begins in Grade Four.
If your little one has excelled in a sport outside of school, we would love to celebrate their achievements. Please use the link below to fill in the external achievements form to make us aware of their shining moment.
➡️ EXTERNAL ACHIEVEMENTS ⬅️
PARENT & LEARNER DIRECTORY
PARENT & LEARNER DIRECTORY
Please read through the Parent and Learner Directory, which includes important information about Parklands College and the Junior Preparatory learners.
QUICK LINKS
QUICK LINKS
EdAdmin Portal
EdAdmin Portal
The EdAdmin Multi Portal App (EdAdmin MP) is available on the Google and Apple App stores. The features include access to your child’s reports, calendar activities and daily attendance records to mention a few.
To install the App please follow the below instructions:
To install the App please follow the below instructions:
1.) Download the EdAdmin Multi Portal App by using the relevant link below:
● Apple App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ed-admin-multi-portal/id646910856
OR
● Google Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edana.edadmin&hl=en&gl= US
2.) Enter 230034 (Parklands College Code) and your email address to log in. For your convenience, please refer to the image below:
3.) The next step will require you to enter the login code sent to you via email. For your convenience, please refer to the image below:
Please ensure that you keep this App updated otherwise you will be logged out and will have to repeat the above process to regain access.
How to update the Edana app
with emergency contact details:
How to update the Edana app
with emergency contact details:
PARENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY
PARENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY
College parents are able to list their businesses in our Parent Business Directory for free – www.parklands.co.za/parent-business-directory/.
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...
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
We enjoyed a very busy and happy first full week at school.
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
We enjoyed a very busy and happy first full week at school.
We are looking forward to having the Grade 1s at school until 14:00 each day. A 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.
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