Dear Parents and Learners

Book donations for Academic Top Achievers

If you are prepared to buy or sponsor a book prize for our Grade 6 - 11 Top Achievers at the Academic Awards in January, please email Gillian Oppenshaw (goppenshaw@parklands.co.za)

Uniform

Kindly note that all learners are required to wear the braided striped blazer in 2026 and Parklands socks available from School & Leisure.

Free delivery from School & Leisure to the school

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) 

LOOKING AHEAD

Start of Summer Quarter 2026

We look forward to welcoming back our learners on Tuesday, 20 January 2026.  

The Inter-House gala will take place on Wednesday, 21 January towards the end of the academic day and on Thursday, 22 January, we will have our Academic & Honours Awards Ceremony at 18:00.  Note that this is a compulsory event and all learners are required to attend.

National Senior Certificate (NSC) Matric Results

The 2025 NSC results will be released on 13 January 2026 at 10:00.  Candidates and their parents/guardians are invited to a celebration in the foyer of the Innovation Centre.  Details will be confirmed once we receive information from WCED.  Results can also be accessed online at WCED Exams from 10:00 onwards on Tuesday, 13 January.

Textbooks and stationery for 2026

Device information 2026

Parent discount

Parent discount flyer.pdf for live links

Grade 8 - 12 Grade Camps in 2026

The Grade 7s will only go on camp at the end of the Summer Quarter, the rest of the school will depart early in the new year.  It is imperative that parents complete the indemnity forms as soon as possible.

Here are the links to the different camp sites:

Grade 8 (2026): https://sites.google.com/parklands.co.za/sec-2026gr8camp-site?usp=sharing

Grade 9 (2026): https://sites.google.com/parklands.co.za/sec-2026-gr-9-camp-site?usp=sharing

Grade 10 (2026): https://sites.google.com/parklands.co.za/sec-2026-gr10-camp-site?usp=sharing

Grade 11 (2026): https://sites.google.com/parklands.co.za/sec-2026gr11camp-site?usp=sharing

Grade 8 to 11 (2026): Parklands College Online Indemnity Form & Service Provider’s Online Indemnity Form

Grade 12 (2026): Parklands College Online Indemnity Form & Service Provider’s hard copy Indemnity Form

Grade 12 learners please return the hard copy form to your Camp Leader, Mrs Weigelt-Harvey.

French course in 2026

LEARNER NEWS

Annual Mathematical Camp

We are thrilled to announce that Jennifer Zhou, Puneet Nagendrakumar and Aden van Rhyn have been selected to attend the South African Mathematics Foundation’s annual Mathematical Camp at Stellenbosch University, taking place from Sunday, 7 December to Friday, 12 December 2025. 

Invitations to this prestigious camp are extended to a select group of learners from across South Africa who have shown exceptional interest and ability in mathematics through competitions such as the South African Mathematics Olympiad, the South African Mathematics Training Programme, and the South African Mathematics Challenge. 

The camp will feature a variety of stimulating mathematical activities, including lectures, tests, and group discussions, with a focus on problem-solving typical of Olympiad-style challenges. This exciting experience will also serve as the first step in the selection of teams to represent South Africa at the International Mathematical Olympiad and the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad.

We congratulate Jennifer, Puneet and Aden on this outstanding achievement and wish them a rewarding and inspiring week of mathematics!

Anette Rossouw - Head of Mathematics

STAFF NEWS

Long Service Awards

This week special certificates were awarded to staff members who have been at the College for more than 25 years,

Annastacia Mvulana, Ethel Nkata and Jane Majweta with the Directors and Principals

Grade Heads 2026

The Grade Heads for 2026 are listed below.  We wish them all a successful year ahead.  Please feel free to contact them using the email address provided.

ACADEMICS

2026 Academic Report Cards

The final report card for 2025 will only be released once promotion and progression have been approved by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). The progression meeting with WCED is scheduled for early December. Parents will be notified via email as soon as reports are available for viewing on the parent portal.

Promotion & Progression Requirements

GET Phase (Gr7-9)

    50% in English Home Language

    40% in Afrikaans / isiXhosa First Additional Language

    40% in Mathematics

    30% in three other subjects

FET Phase (Gr11-12)

Bachelor Degree Pass (allowing candidate to apply for entry into degree studies): 

4 subjects at 50% (excluding Life Orientation), English HL must be at 40% (not more than one subject below 30%)

Diploma Pass (allowing candidate to apply for entry into diploma studies): 

4 subjects at 40% (excluding Life Orientation), English HL must be at 40% (not more than one subject below 30%)

Higher Certificate Pass: 

4 subjects at 40% and 3 subjects at 30%

Should you have any concerns about the above, please contact our academic team so that they can clarify.

Food Technology

The Grade 8 Food Technology learners have had two very successful practical exams creating a puff pastry pizza! It was the finale of their pastry project!   Well done to you all! 

FEEDBACK

Three Parklands College World Robot Olympiad teams are currently representing South Africa at the 2025 WRO International final in Singapore.

After the second day our two Robomission Junior teams, Technoblade and HighTechDragonRiders are placed 9th and 56th respectively. This is out of a total number of 7332 teams globally. Technoblade managed two full scores with their fastest being 84 seconds. This is the first time a South African RoboMission team has placed in the Top 10 teams at this stage.

Our Robomission Elementary team, HyperTech 2.0 is currently placed 64th out of 7641 teams globally.

We wish them the best of luck for the final day of the competition today.

OPPORTUNITY

 Drone Remote Pilot Certification (RPC) Training Program

LEARNER AFFAIRS

Caffeinated carbonated drinks

We strive to provide nutritious meals and drinks to our learners at the College. We strongly prohibit the consumption of caffeinated canned drinks on our campus.

1. Health Concerns: Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and other additives that may be detrimental to the health and well-being of children. 

2. Impact on Learning: High stimulant content may negatively affect a learner's concentration and ability to focus in class, hindering their academic progress. 

3. Behavioural Changes: Reports from schools indicate that energy drinks may alter children's behaviour, leading to concerns from many experts.

Lockers

Our learners have been advised on the following:-

1. A learner can not use a locker that has not been allocated to him/her.

2. A locker that has been allocated to a learner needs to have a lock. This should be locked at all times. Locks can be purchased at reception.

3. We can not be held liable for missing items if a learner is using a locker not allocated to him/her or a locker without a lock.

Learners driving to school

Every year, we receive requests from learners driving themselves to school to park their vehicles on the school grounds.  We will not allow that for the following very important and well-considered reasons:

1. Safety:  Hundreds of younger learners are dropped and picked up in the parking lot daily and the danger of allowing an additional approximate 100 inexperienced drivers (by the second half of the year) onto campus, is a risk too big to take.

2. Insurance:  The school has public liability insurance for injuries due to school-related events.  Driving a car is not a school-related event and will therefore not be covered by our insurance.

3. Necessity:  There is close enough access to public transport (MyCiTi) for there to be no need for learners to drive themselves to school if their parents are unable to do so.

4. Unlicensed driving:  Some parents allow their children to illegally drive vehicles to school.  As learners arrive and leave during peak times, it is impossible for the security guards to check licences without causing massive congestion.

There are parking embayments in College Avenue for learners to park their vehicles and when that is full, there is ample parking space available at Checkers.  The parking area on the East side of the gate is also available for parking.  This can be accessed from Sandown Road.

Second-hand school uniforms

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

Emergency Contact Details

We would like to remind you that it is imperative for us to be able to contact you or a member of your family or a close friend in the case of an emergency. Kindly visit the Edana App and check the contact details in the fields provided. To ensure that the information is complete and correct, it is vital that the contact numbers are accessible at all times by the College.  

This is a very important request, and we are asking you to comply immediately as a safety precaution.  

Please select your profile, then "Contact Information"  update, and "Emergency Contacts" and update accordingly. Please click on the link for step by step guidance.

Communication & Information

Please use secondary@parklands.co.za if you are unsure about who to contact.  Your mail will be directed to the correct person.

Please click on the tabs at the top of the Memo to access useful information:  Calendars, Academic info and Assessment Calendars, Uniform requirements and Operational Information (including Parent&Learner Directory, EDANA app instructions and KARRI app guidelines for use at Kauai)

We have updated the Parent & Learner Directory on 7 August 2025 with a revised Learner Attendance Policy.

We will be sharing snippets from our Directory with learners in the daily notes, and those same snippets will be included in the weekly memo to parents under Operational Info.

SERVICE

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Educator Liaisons: Mrs. Alexis Matsimela & Mr. Peter Bates

Prefect Liaisons: Liya De Allende & Mia Bezer

Email: equity@parklands.co.za

FROM THE SPORTS DEPARTMENT

The Arthur Johnson Sportweek – Mossel Bay 2026

Thank you to everyone who has signed up for the tour. It's going to be a fantastic way to launch our 2026 winter sports season. We're thrilled to be taking the following teams: U19 rugby, U16 rugby, U19 Boys & Girls Hockey and U19 & U16 Netball.

Quarter 1 – 2026 Summer Sport Sign-Ups

Information regarding Quarter 1 summer (and Quarter 4 spring) sports was shared with families on Thursday, 27 November. If you haven't completed the form, please do so by Tuesday 2 December. 

Link: Summer Sport Q1 Letter 

Link: Summer sport Q1 sign up 

Thank you

Thank you for an outstanding year of sport. Wishing all families a restful, well-earned break.

Please contact dhunt@parklands.co.za if you have any questions.

DH

Sports Tour 2026

Accommodation for the 2026 tour:

A few pics from this year's tour:

Feedback

Our hockey astroturfs have been certified!

The FIH Category 3 field means that both Parklands College’s hockey pitches meet the International Hockey Federation’s standards for national, regional and club-level competition. It offers a consistent, high-performance surface that enhances skill development, ensures player safety and supports competitive play. This certification reflects Parklands College’s ongoing investment in professionally recognised, well-maintained facilities  - a clear demonstration of the school’s genuine commitment to sport and to providing young athletes with an environment where they can develop their skills, compete confidently and thrive.

Sports department coordinators

For general enquiries about specific winter sports, contact:

• Athletics, Softball and First Aid mviljoen@parklands.co.za

• Cricket and tennis     dviljoen@parklands.co.za

• Aquatics (swimming and water polo) sbloem@parklands.co.za

• Head of Cricket ggilder@parklands.co.za

• Head of Sport dhunt@parklands.co.za 

2026 Sports Prefects

• Dominique Yuill

• Matias Munsamy

• Malik Bunting

Summer Sport Timetable 2026

Please remember to subscribe to our Secondary sports calendar using this link:  Secondary sports calendar 

Are you ready to try something new? 

The Parklands College Music Department offers expert tuition on a variety of instruments, taught by industry specialists. 

Whether you're looking to start your musical journey or try out a new instrument, we've got you covered!

Not sure which instrument suits you best? No problem! 

Email Mrs. Matsimela at amatsimela@parklands.co.za to book a try-out session. 

2026 Enrolment Form: https://forms.gle/P9VACre2GnMWXk9R6 

Find out more: https://sites.google.com/parklands.co.za/sec-music-department/home 

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity! 🎹🎸🥁

🎵 Please Note: If you're already part of the extra-mural music programme,  no need to sign up again for 2026—you’re automatically enrolled! Should you wish to terminate lessons for 2026,  please kindly do so in writing to amatsimela@parklands.co.za by 26 November 2025.

DANCE 

Dancers for Dancers

Alexa-Rose Schreuder and Clara-Mari Vosloo performed in "Dancers for Dancers" at the Baxter this week in a charity fundraising event, organized by the Theatre Dance Association. The event featured various dance genres to raise funds for the newly formed Cape Ballet Africa. 

TAP ISTD Examination

Our beautiful Clara-Mari just before her ISTD Gr6 Tap examination. Results will be released in 2026. We wish her all the best.

LEARNER SUPPORT 

Mrs Scott (C block):  sjscott@parklands.co.za

Mrs Kistan (Resource Centre):  skistan@parklands.co.za

TERTIARY STUDIES 

OVC - GAP YEAR OPPORTUNITIES 

We’re hosting two upcoming events on 15 November and 13 December 2025, where we’ll be chatting about Gap Year Opportunities and the different ways learners can work, travel, and gain global experience.

These sessions are all about inspiring learners to think bigger, to see what’s possible beyond matric. From cultural exchange programs and work abroad options to travel experiences that build real-world skills, there’s something for everyone. The events are informative, interactive, and genuinely motivating, perfect for students who are curious about life after school. They’ll hear real stories from South Africans who’ve gone abroad and come home with new skills, perspectives, and confidence. www.ovc.co.za

Join OVC for our in-person presentation on Gap Year Opportunities!

Saturday, 15 November 2025 Mowbray - location provided on RSVP

Saturday, 13 December 2025 Brackenfell - location provided on RSVP

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

We will be hosting our annual Study Abroad Soccer ID Camp from the 8th to the 11th of January 2026 in Dinokeng (40km from Pretoria), where we bring together top university coaches from the USA and the UK. This four-day residential camp is designed to provide talented boys and girls with:

• Elite technical and tactical training sessions

• Exposure to international university coaches

• Insights into educational pathways beyond the football pitch

• Scholarship opportunities and the chance to be scouted for international college and University programs

• Recruitment guidance and personal interaction with overseas institutions

For full event details and registration, please see the link below:
https://www.howler.co.za/events/soccer-id-4-day-camp-a2c4

On-campus Open Day: Saturday 18 April 2026

On our annual SU Open Day, we welcome grade 11 and 12 learners, their parents, teachers and guidance counsellors to our Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses. View our exhibitions, attend demonstrations and information sessions, and engage with our faculty staff, all while experiencing our vibrant campuses and student communities and exploring the available housing options.

Time: 08:00 - 15:00
Place: SU's Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses
Ticket Bookings: Quicket (available from 18 March 2026)

This is a chance not to be missed!

USA Scholarships ISAM360 webinar: 3 December 2025

USA Scholarship opportunities for Gr 11 & 12 Students

3 December 2025 - Webinar @ 18:00 

We have an online LIVE session for all Grade 11 & 12 students, regarding scholarships and bursaries for overseas study.

This session will be hosted ONLINE by ISAM360, who currently assist thousands of South African students to find scholarships and placements in overseas institutions. There is a level for every student, as the goal is to make studying abroad more affordable for everyone. 

Please note that these scholarships are limited and will not be provided again to these grade levels in 2025.

 Please register on the following link - https://event.webinarjam.com/6olq9/register/502q3i4x

Please note

Important reminders for parents

College Crest and Logos

The College Crest and logos are registered trademarks and may not be used without permission from the Head of Marketing: cdevos@parklands.co.za 

Access to Campus

Please note that for security reasons, no parents or visitors are allowed past the Admin building during the week without reporting to reception.  We have instructed our learners and staff to ask anyone without a Visitor's Badge to report to reception.

No Dogs Allowed

Please note that the College does not allow animals, especially dogs, on campus, except in the following cases:

• Officially registered guide or support dogs (with the necessary harness).

• Pets owned by personnel residing on campus for security purposes.

Lost Cellphones

Almost on a daily basis we are asked to assist with finding lost cellphones.  It has become an impossible task and we simply cannot expect staff to actively look for misplaced cellphones.  We provide adequate facilities for the learners to lock their devices away.

If a learner misplaces or loses their cellphone, parents are required to report the missing device to the local police station.

Learners need to complete a report about the missing device at reception of the ICT desk in the event that it is handed in.

AirPods

We do not look for missing AirPods.  Learners have been told that they should rather not bring AirPods to school, as they get lost easily.

2025 Dates

Spring Quarter: 14 October - 05 December

2026 Dates (subject to change)

Summer Quarter:  20 Jan - 26 March

Autumn Quarter:  8 April - 24 June

Winter Quarter:  22 July - 23 September

Spring Quarter:  14 October - 4 December

CONCLUSION

This is my final opportunity to sign off the weekly memo.  Thank you for the memories ...

I wish you all a joyous Festive Season and a wonderful future.