Junior Preparatory Weekly Memo
25 October 2024
Dear Parents
This week our Grade Twos treated us to a very special message about having a fixed mindset or a growth mindset.
Mrs Hunt explained that our minds are like modelling clay. When you first start to mould clay it is hard and difficult to shape, however the more you work it and stretch it, the easier it becomes to make something amazing with it.
Sometimes we find things difficult or others might be better at something than we are. We might give up and say I CAN’T! This is a fixed mindset - just like the unused, cold modelling clay. It’s only when we decide to change our thinking and keep on trying that we get better at something. This is a growth mindset - just like the modelling clay that has been stretched, rolled and shaped.
The Grade Twos spoke beautifully and shared some ideas about how we can go from having a FIXED MINDSET to a GROWTH MINDSET.
We certainly encourage having a growth mindset at Parklands College. What a very important message, thank you Grade Twos!
IMG_8003.MOVIMG_8002.MOVCULTURE
Congratulations to our artists who received gold diplomas and were awarded certificates for the Cape Town Art Eistedfodd in assembly on Monday. Well done to you all!
Please enjoy the video clip of the learners' artworks that were entered in the Western Cape Art Eisteddfod and Cape Town Eisteddfod.
JP art Eisteddfod Entries lower.movMusic Melodies
Well done to our little performers who participated in our Morning Melodies Concert on Wednesday. We are very proud of their confidence and musicality.
IMG_8044.MOVIMG_8048.MOVSummer 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 should they wish to do so.
DATES FOR 2024
Spring Quarter: 02 October – 04 December
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: 22 July - 23 September
Spring Quarter: 14 October - 05 December
2025
DEVICE REQUIREMENTS
Please click on the link below to view the device requirements for next year.
Our roses and gardens are looking absolutely beautiful. Thank you to Mrs Roth, Bakujani and his team for creating such a beautiful place for our children to learn in.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Grade 1
The Grade Ones are learning about plants, the different parts of a plant and what a plant needs to grow. They planted their own beans and they are growing beautifully. Well done Grade 1s.
They also did orals about their lunch boxes and healthy eating, well done, Grade Ones!
SPORT AND CO-CURRICULARS
Bridge House Mini-Cricket Festival
The U9s arrived with excitement at the annual Bridge House Mini-Cricket Festival on Saturday. They won their matches against Bridge House and Curro Durbanville, but were challenged on their final match of the day and lost by 13 runs to Rhenish Primary.
Thank you to all the ‘support crew’ who arrived on the day with snacks, sunblock and BIG cheers. We appreciate you being there and supporting our cricket stars.
Thank you to Coach Dillon, Coach Liam and Coach Jared for their support and guidance on the day, our teams benefitted from your input and support immensely.
The final celebration of the day was had in the nets where the dads and coaches showed off their own Protea cricket skills.
The Parklands U/8 team ventured out to Bridgehouse in Franschhoek for a mini-cricket festival. The learners, coaches and parents were amped for the day's proceedings to begin as soon as they arrived. Mr Knaggs started off with giving the boys some coaching skills, along with coach Jared who helped the boys with team motivation before the start of the games. Parklands showed some amazing fielding skills against the first school we played, Rhenish. Even though we lost by 18 runs, a lot of fun was had. We played Bridgehouse for our second game and narrowly lost by 3 runs. For our last game, we played Applewood and won by 33 runs. Our learners definitely brought their 'A game' to the last match of the day, as they fielded, batted and bowled well. They really showed good team spirit and encouraged each other during the games. We are very proud of the coaches and the learners for their enthusiasm towards the festival. A special thank you to Marais Kroon, for joining the Grade Twos in this festival. Well done to the U/8 A team!
VIDEO-2024-10-21-10-19-03.mp4
Cricket on Thursday
Our very enthusiastic U/8 cricket teams played against Elkanah U9B and C team on Thursday. We lost by 20 runs in the first game and by 6 runs in the second game. The boys' skills are improving as they have more game time. There was some great fielding and batting and we are very proud of them.
The Players of the Match were Favour and Just. Well done and keep up the great work and improvement boys!
The U9 cricket team played against Elkanah on Thursday, winning by 8 runs. It was a tough game and we are delighted that the boys won in the end. Jean-Louis Kroon was named player of the match. Well done boys, we are very proud of you!
Parklands College Mini Cricket Festival: 09 Nov ‘24
Match notifications will be sent out next week.
PE AND SWIMMING
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.
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
WIMPY KID FEVER
It has been a festive week in our libraries and what fun it has been! On Tuesday the new Wimpy Kid novel, Hot Mess, was released and our readers could not wait to get their hands on a copy. They were not disappointed. The cover is so striking and the quality of the book superb - children commented on how good it feels to hold. Books were rushed back to school and photos taken in our stunning gardens. It was indeed a red letter day!
On Wednesday it was Wimpy Kid Wednesday and the Book Club crafted bookmarks that match the Hot Mess cover. These were laminated and they now have a lovely memento of this enjoyable day.
AUTHOR VISIT
On Thursday we welcomed the lovely Bianca Flanders, actress, author and entertainer extraordinaire. What a joyful encounter it was for our junior prep learners who clicked, danced, sang and welcomed Pumpkin into their hearts. We have it on good authority that a fourth book will soon be added to this amazing series. If you still want to order, you can place your order on The Book Box website and have your books delivered to school.
Mrs Buckle taught Bianca and they were delighted to see each other again
BIRTHDAY BOOKS
We recently celebrated birthdays with Micah, Azania and Anna-Marie and want to say a big thank you for these stunning Birthday Books. The girls both added to the Afrikaans section with three enticing books, while Micah contributed valuable stories on overcoming sadness and worry. Thank you all so much for these wonderful gifts!
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!
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 Coach Nadine Marais - Swart a very happy birthday for Sunday. We hope she had an amazing day.
We wish our Hindu families a blessed, healthy, and prosperous Diwali.
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