Junior Preparatory Weekly Memo
11 October 2024
Dear Parents
Thank you to our Culture Department for arranging a wonderful assembly on Monday.
IMG_7918.MOVIMG_7920.MOVIMG_7919.MOVThe Grade Twos enjoyed a wonderful trip to Intaka Island today and had a great time exploring and learning. We are sure they will tell you all about it.
Summer Uniform
We have switched over to our Summer uniform.
Blazers
In order to affirm our unique image, the College blazer from Grade 1 - 12 has changed. Current parents will have until the start of the Academic Year 2026, to replace the existing light blue blazer with the new royal blue, striped blazer. This fabric is unique to our College, and therefore distinguishes our learners from other schools who are wearing the same colour as our current blazer.
Every Grade One learner and all new learners joining the College are required to wear the striped blazer.
Parents are reminded that our blazers are an important part of the uniform which sets us apart from other schools. We therefore request that parents be particular about the condition of a blazer and if it is either faded or too small, it must be replaced.
IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
Growing Minds Celebration
We are looking forward to our Growing Minds Celebration and seeing all our Parents there as every learner will receive a certificate. We are aiming for an hour but this event may be longer so please be aware of this. Learners may go home with their parents after the celebration if they wish.
DATES FOR 2024
Spring Quarter: 02 October – 04 December
PROVISIONAL DATES FOR 2025
Please note that there has been a slight change to the 2025 dates indicated in blue below:
Summer Quarter: 20 January - 28 March
Autumn Quarter: 08 April - 25 June
*Mid-term break: 29 April - 2 May
Winter Quarter: 23 July - 02 October
Spring Quarter: 14 October - 05 December
2025
DEVICE REQUIREMENTS
Please click on the link below to view the device requirements for next year.
Grade 3
Waltons Stationery Letter (How to order)
Details about ordering the Caxtons Textbooks to follow
Grade 4
Waltons Stationery Letter (How to order)
Details about ordering the Caxtons Textbooks to follow
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Grade 1
The Grade Ones had great fun planting beans this week.
The Grade Twos created these beautiful African silhouettes for Heritage Day in Keynote. Aren't they so striking!
ROBOTICS
Our Grade 3 WRO learners have been fine tuning their robot designs and code before they present to judges next week. Thank you to Teacher Nikki and Miss K, who have been so supportive in getting everyone to this point.
SPORT AND CO-CURRICULARS
Please get in touch with the Sports Department should you wish to sign your children up for Quarter 3 sport!
Football / Boys’ Hockey / Rugby: Liam Maharage
Netball / Girls’ Hockey: Nadine Marais-Swart
Head Of Department: Jared Margetts
OPEN DAY CRICKET FOR GRADE 2s AND 3s
Cricket Session with ex professional cricketer Mr. Gary Gilder. Junior Prep: 10h00 - 11h00
SAVE THE DATE: U8 & U9 Parklands College Mini Cricket Festival: 09 Nov ‘24
Bridgehouse Mini Cricket Festival on Saturday 19 October
Notifications for U8 and U9 have already been emailed to parents for this festival. If you did not receive an email, your child is not involved in the festival. Please RSVP to the email ASAP to give us time to select other learners should your child not be available.
Softball
Our U9 Softball team was super excited to play their very first game this quarter. It was close but Reddam Durbanville won 14 -11. Gloria was Player of the Match and we are very proud of our girls. Well done and keep up the great effort!
Last Friday, some of the Grade 3 learners cooled off in the unusual Spring heat and had a great time trying out for the U9 Swimming lessons. Even our coaches took a moment to cool off!
PE AND SWIMMING
Due to the pool being too cold, swimming will temporarily be replaced by Softball and Cricket respectively - however, please still pack costumes/towels/sunblock and goggles in case the pool warms up at any point. Learners to please come in PE clothes with packed swimming attire.
SPORTS MEETING FOR PARENTS
This has been postponed and a new date will be communicated to parents.
CO-CURRICULARS
Quarter 4 Cocurricular Time Table.pdfEXTERNAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Please find a link to the notification letter informing the College of a learner's external achievements at Area/Regional/Provincial level.
LIBRARY NEWS
EXCITING NEW ARRIVAL!
A new book by Children's Laureate and celebrated author Michael Morpurgo is always a momentous event. Cobweb arrived during this week and is one of those wonderful books that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Already it is getting five star reviews and will undoubtedly become a firm favourite in many homes. The remarkable story of this young dog takes place in 1815, just after the Battle of Waterloo, and features a fascinating piece of history.
Cobweb is sold as a young dog to become a Drover’s Dog. Drovers were herders of sheep and cattle who, with their dogs, used to drive farmers’ animals to market to sell them in the towns and cities. They did this for thousands of years, until the trains and roads came. They followed well known routes from inn to inn, travelling about 20 miles a day, while driving hundreds of sheep and cows.
A drover relied on his dog to drive the animals on and keep robbers away, and surprisingly a breed that was often used was the Pembrokeshire corgi. When they arrived in the city, the drovers stayed behind to sell the animals and the dog was sent home, 250 miles to the coast of Wales. These dogs would find their way home on their own, stopping at night in the same inns, where their food had been prepaid by the drover.
On his way home, Cobweb meets an unexpected stranger - and here a real historical figure makes his appearance - the French drummer boy. This book is available from both our libraries.
PRE-ORDER NOW!
Every October there is always a great sense of anticipation when a new Diary of A Wimpy Kid arrives. This is a reminder that you can pre order your copy at R250 by the 21st and have it delivered to school on the 22nd of October.
AUTHOR VISIT
Our Foundation Phase learners can look forward to a special treat when we welcome author and performer Bianca Flanders on October the 24th. Her delightful Pumpkin series is available in both English and Afrikaans, and Pumpkin Finds Her Beat has been shortlisted for the Otto Foundation Children’s Book Award for 2024. The books will be available on the day or can be pre ordered at R150. Please see your consolidation slides for details. Another memorable book event to build lifelong readers!
BIRTHDAY BOOKS
Happy birthday wishes and a big thank you to Kuyana for these lovely isiXhosa readers which he is donating. These are from the Tippie series and will provide enjoyable practice for the isiXhosa learners.
OUTREACH
As part of our Quarter Four outreach, we are excited to support the Santa Shoebox Project, a wonderful initiative that provides personalised gift boxes to children in need. Each class is responsible for preparing two boxes – one for a girl and one for a boy. Your child's class teacher will be in touch with details about what is needed for these boxes and how you can contribute.
If you would like to donate an additional box on your own, please reach out to Mrs. De Aguiar at cdeaguiar@parklands.co.za to pledge a box and receive further details. Thank you for your generosity!
CULTURE
The Junior Preparatory Choir took part in the West Coast Song Festival at Wolraad Woltemade School on Wednesday. What an entertaining evening! Their performance was absolutely beautiful and we are very proud of our learners and their commitment to choir throughout the year. A special thank you to Mr Ernstzen and Mrs Domingo for their hard work and expertise.
WhatsApp Video 2024-10-09 at 21.44.59.mp4WhatsApp Video 2024-10-09 at 21.45.06.mp4
The Grade 2's weaving bowls
The Grade 3s created frozen images in Drama this week.
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...
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
We wish our Jewish families a meaningful Yom Kippur.
Our Grade ones are looking forward to singing a special farewell song to our Matrics on Wednesday. Please ensure their consent form has been completed and that your child comes to school looking very smart in their winter uniform and blazer. We promise to share a video of their singing with our Parents.
We wish Siobhan Duke a very happy birthday for Friday 18 October. We hope she has a very blessed year ahead.
We wish our Grade 3s all the best for their Explorer Robotics event on Tuesday and hope they have lots of fun coding with their special visitors.
Please invite interested friends and family to our Open Day tomorrow. We are looking forward to showing those families our beautiful school and sharing the amazing learning opportunities our children experience.
Chantel Lamb
Junior Preparatory Principal
clamb@parklands.co.za
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Links to other faculty blogs:
Pre-Primary Faculty: https://ppblog.parklands.co.za
Senior Preparatory Faculty: https://spblog.parklands.co.za
Secondary Faculty: https://secblog.parklands.co.za