A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made last weekend's Derby Day such a memorable weekend. To our parents, thank you for your wonderful support. It was truly heartwarming to see so many Parklands parents alongside the fields and courts, cheering on our learners. To all our educators and coaches, thank you for the countless hours, energy and commitment that went into making the weekend such a success. And to our learners -  thank you for your incredible school spirit, sportsmanship and enthusiasm. You represented Parklands with such pride and made us incredibly proud. 

While the scoreboard may not always have reflected the results we had hoped for, these are the moments that teach our young athletes some of life’s most valuable lessons. Sport is not only about winning; it is about learning how to handle disappointment, accepting the result with grace, getting back up and bouncing back stronger - and our learners did exactly that. We are immensely proud of the way they conducted themselves and of the spirit in which they competed.

Another highlight of the week was our Leadership Induction. Congratulations to our newly elected Prefects and House Captains! We are excited to see you embrace your leadership responsibilities and lead with purpose, integrity and pride. May you be role models who inspire others and make a meaningful difference to our school community.

Our Grade 12 learners have also begun their Preliminary Examinations, marking an important milestone as they prepare for their final NSC examinations. We wish them every success at this crucial stage of their Matric year. Stay focused, work hard, support one another and give it your very best. We are behind you every step of the way!

We are incredibly proud of all the learners who put themselves forward for leadership positions for 2027.

Standing for leadership takes courage, confidence and a willingness to serve others, and every candidate should be proud of the way they stepped forward and took part in the process.

We are delighted to congratulate our newly elected Learner Leaders for 2027. As they prepare to take on their new roles, we look forward to seeing them lead with integrity, empathy and purpose, and to watching them contribute to the life of our College in their own unique ways. The Class of 2027 is entering an exciting new chapter, and we cannot wait to see the impact they will make as they lead, support and inspire those around them.

Congratulations to our 2027 Learner Leaders, and well done to every learner who had the courage to stand for a leadership position. We are very proud of you all.

BACK: Zacchary Rawat (Learner Affairs), Ashley Machine (Technology), Joshua Wenlock (Events), Alexander Petersen (Learner Integration), Aphelele Momoti (Houses), Luke Le Grange (Culture), Joshua Kalapac (Sport), Madison Coleman (Sport), Puneet Nagendrakumar (Academics), Ryan Arnaudov (Technology)

2ND ROW: Tristan Strümpher (Technology), Shihan Huang (Diversity and Inclusion), Sabina Angel (Events), Leigh Maharage (Houses), Nolwazi Ngcobo (Events), Rebekah Esterhuizen (Learner Integration), Emma Lilienfeld (Sport), Aden van Rhyn (Academics), Keren Mulamba-Kiasso (Diversity and Inclusion)

1ST ROW: Jenna Simpson (Service), Hannah Burke (Houses), Logan De Araujo (Service), Kaylee-Jade Mestre (Learner Affairs), Alecea Vieira (Culture), Joshua Crosson (Culture), Liat Demissew (Learner Integration)

FRONT: Sesona Mbovane (Deputy Head), Gerhard Vosloo (Head), Alexa-Rose Schreuder (Head), Chulumanco Mdudu (Deputy Head)

BACK:  Joshua Daniels (Harvard Captain) , Arcanjo Mwini (Cambridge Vice), Lily Howe (Harvard Vice), Caitlin Smith (Oxford Vice) Tyler Fredericks (Oxford Vice),  Noah Fick (Yale Vice),  Courtney Milleskie (Yale Vice)

FRONT: Zelda Deiner (Cambridge Captain), Veer Atwaru (Cambridge Captain), Keagan Beaumont (Cambridge Vice), Clara-Mari Vosloo (Harvard Captain), Zara Gilder (Harvard Vice), Jorja Hoppé (Oxford Captain), Sabelo Ntuli (Oxford Captain), Yaseen Salie (Yale Captain), Mosa Sebapadi (Yale Captain)

Our Grade 9 learners are approaching an important milestone as they begin making their subject choices for Grade 10 and the FET Phase.

Parents and Grade 9 learners are invited to join us for our Grade 10 (2027) Subject Choice Evening, where we will unpack the subject choice process, explain the available subject combinations and provide guidance to help learners make informed decisions about the next stage of their academic journey.

📅 Thursday, 27 August

🕕 18:00–19:30

📍 Grand Central

Subject choice is about more than simply selecting subjects. It is an opportunity for learners to begin thinking carefully about their interests, strengths and future possibilities, and to ask an important question: What problem do I want to help solve, and what do I need to learn to be able to do that?

GRADE 12 DIGITAL ELECTRONICS FINAL PAT MODERATION

Well done to our Grade 12 Digital Electronics learners on successfully completing their final practical moderation! Our candidates approached the moderation with focus, confidence and a strong understanding of the practical skills and technical knowledge they have developed throughout the year. Their preparation, problem-solving ability and attention to detail were evident throughout the process.

We are incredibly proud of the way our learners represented themselves and our school, and we wish them every success as they continue towards their final NSC examinations.

MATRIC PRELIMS BEGIN

This week marked an important milestone for our Grade 12 learners as they began their Preliminary Examinations.

Their first paper was written in the Collabs, where eager sounds filled Grand Central as our Matrics prepared to begin the next stage of their Grade 12 journey, their final set of school-based examinations in preparation for the NSC Final Examinations later this year. With the first paper behind them, the remainder of the Prelim examinations will be written in Curie Hall.

The Prelims are an important opportunity for learners to consolidate their knowledge, refine their examination technique and identify the areas that still require attention before the final stretch.

As our Grade 12s move through the examination period, we wish them focus, confidence and resilience. Years of learning, preparation and hard work have brought them to this point, and each paper is another step closer to completing their school journey.

Good luck to the Class of 2026, we are behind you every step of the way!

ENGLISH IN THE WINTER SUN

Our Grade 11 English learners made the most of the winter sunshine this week as they continued working through their set work for the quarter, The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

In Mr Baker’s class, each learner takes on the role of a character from the play, giving everyone the opportunity to read aloud and bring the text to life during each lesson. This approach encourages learners to engage more closely with the characters, relationships and tensions that drive the play, while also building confidence in oral reading and interpretation.

A lovely way to combine literature, discussion and a little Cape Town winter sunshine!

GRADE 9 AFRIKAANS 

Our Grade 9 learners put their Afrikaans instruction-giving skills into practice by explaining how to make a sandwich in Afrikaans! A fun and practical way to build confidence, vocabulary and communication skills

JUNIOR TOUR DE MATHS

What an incredible achievement by our Junior Tour de Maths team! They won Round Three and are currently the overall leaders after three rounds!  A fantastic result so far - they are ready for the last round on 21 September. 

GRADE 9 VOLUNTEERISM: PUTTING SERVICE INTO ACTION

Our Grade 9 volunteerism initiative continued this week as learners built on the work they began during their Life Orientation lessons. After preparing love sandwiches for Sam’s Educare and assembling Soup in a Jar packs for FeedMe SA, the focus shifted from simply learning about volunteerism to seeing how small acts of service can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

The initiative has given our Grade 9 learners an opportunity to reflect on the role they can play within their own communities and to recognise that service does not always require a large gesture. Sometimes, it begins with giving a little time, working together and responding to a genuine need. We are proud of the way our learners have embraced the project and of the care and enthusiasm they have shown throughout. It has been encouraging to see the values of responsibility, compassion and community move beyond the classroom and into action.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVERS TOUR 2027

Travel & Sport has shared information regarding the 2027 STADIO Academic Achievers Tour, which is open to interested learners currently in Grades 7 to 10.

The 2027 programme offers four possible international destinations:

• USA

• United Kingdom

• Australia

• Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Depending on the selected tour, learners may have the opportunity to visit and experience leading international universities and educational institutions, including universities such as Harvard, Yale, MIT and Oxford.

Learners and families who would like to find out more about the programme, destinations, dates and costs are invited to visit the Travel & Sport website.

Information packs are also available for collection from Reception.

Please note that this is an independently organised tour and participation is arranged directly between interested families and Travel & Sport.

HPV VACCINATION

The HPV vaccination is available at many clinics. This is an important opportunity to protect young people against HPV-related diseases, and we encourage parents to speak to their healthcare provider or local clinic for more information.

TAKING PRIDE IN OUR APPEARANCE

“Take pride in how you present yourself; it reflects the pride you take in who you are.”

We ask our parents to please support us in encouraging learners to take pride in their appearance, abide by our dress and grooming expectations, and wear the correct school and sports uniform. For sports practices, the appropriate PE kit must be worn.

LOCKERS

“Being organised means being prepared, being responsible and giving yourself the best chance to succeed.”

Please remind learners to lock their belongings away between classes and to make use of their lockers responsibly. This will help to keep personal items safe, minimise lost property and keep our classrooms and corridors neat and organised.

On Saturday, 12 Grade 8–10 learners participated in the Maths competition at Derby Day. The competition was a fast-paced race against time, where learners worked together to solve challenging problems. Our learners thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Congratulations to Luke Cloete and Keagan Beaumont, who each won a spot prize.

We look forward to another exciting Maths Derby Day in 2027!

Thank you to Mr Goldstone and Miss Tyeda for ensuring that our teams safely boarded the buses, and to Mrs van der Merwe for capturing the event through photographs.

ASSESSMENT CALENDARS

Please visit the Academic Links section to view the Assessment Calendars.

TIMETABLES

Please use the links below to access the various timetables.

GRADE 12 FINAL NSC EXAMINATIONS 2026

Access the Official Timetable

Learners and parents can download the official DBE 2026 NSC Final Examination Timetable using the link below:

2026 DBE NSC Final Examination Timetable

The timetable has been published by the Department of Basic Education and contains all examination dates, session times and subjects for the October/November 2026 examination period.

Grade 12 Timeline

In addition to the official DBE timetable, all Grade 12 learners have been provided with a Grade 12 Timeline for the remainder of the academic year. This document highlights key dates and milestones, including examination-related deadlines, revision opportunities, practical assessments, matric events and other important school commitments.

Learners are encouraged to keep both the DBE timetable and the Grade 12 Timeline readily accessible and to use them when planning their academic, personal and extracurricular commitments for the remainder of the year.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

CONTACT

Please contact the counsellors for any learner support queries or information:

Samantha Scott: sjscott@parklands.co.za

Serlina Amy Kistan: skistan@parklands.co.za

TERTIARY STUDIES

Public tertiary institution application dates for the class of 2026

FROM THE HEAD OF SPORT

As we come to the end of the winter sports season, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our parents and learners for their incredible contribution and support throughout the season.

Despite our Derby Day weekend being an away fixture, it was exceptionally well supported by our Parklands community, and we are grateful to everyone who travelled and got behind our teams.

To our learners, thank you for the spirit, commitment and enthusiasm you have shown throughout the season, and particularly for the manner in which you conducted yourselves both on and off the field. You have represented Parklands College with pride, and we are incredibly proud of you.

Next week, our AstroTurf lights will undergo scheduled maintenance as we take a short break from hockey and rugby training. Our summer sports programme will resume on Monday, 31 August.

Learners who signed up for a summer sport in Quarter 1 will continue with the same sport in Quarter 4. We look forward to getting our summer sports programme underway and seeing our learners back on the fields and courts.

DERBY DAY 1 - SPORT

Boys' Soccer

Girls' Soccer

Girls' Hockey

Boys' Hockey

Rugby

Supporters...

LEARNER ACHIEVEMENTS

We always love to hear of our learners' external sports achievements. Please email a short blurb along with 3 high-quality photographs (1 Mb minimum) to External Sport News.  

WP Cross Country

Steffan Hillebrand (Grade 11) competed at the Western Province Cross Country Championships this past weekend, finishing 5th. He has earned a place in the WP team for the Western Cape Interprovincial Championships in at Riverville in Riversdale.  This is Steffan's second year making the team. 

Well done Steffan!

Indoor Cricket

Congratulations to Mackenzie Newman (Grade 11), who has been selected to represent South Africa in the U17A team at the 2026 Junior Indoor Cricket World Cup (JWS2026).

Mackenzie was officially capped in Pretoria on Saturday, 9 August 2026, as a member of the South African Junior Indoor Cricket World Cup Team. The tournament will take place in Pretoria from 26 September to 3 October 2026, where Mackenzie will compete against teams from seven other countries.

We wish Mackenzie all the very best as he prepares to represent South Africa on the international stage. What an achievement!

SPORTS DEPARTMENT

Girls' Hockey: Rebecca Walker (rwalker@parklands.co.za)

Netball: Jolene Tadema (jtadema@parklands.co.za)

Chess, Cross Country, and Boys' Soccer: Marc Viljoen (mviljoen@parklands.co.za)

Rugby and Girls' Soccer: Darin Viljoen (dviljoen@parklands.co.za)

Head of Cricket and Boys' Hockey: Gary Gilder (ggilder@parklands.co.za)

Head of Sport: Darryn Hunt (dhunt@parklands.co.za)

WINTER SPORT TIMETABLE 2026

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

COMMON SENSE MEDIA 

Looking for trusted advice on the apps, games, social media platforms, and digital trends your kids are using? Common Sense Media's Parents' Ultimate Guides offer practical, easy-to-understand information to help families make informed decisions, start meaningful conversations, and navigate the digital world with confidence.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/parents-ultimate-guides

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...

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: marketing@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 the 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.

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

Proposed 2027 Dates for Learners

Summer Quarter: 19 Jan 2027 -  18 March 2027

Autumn Quarter: 7 April 2027 -  23 June 2027

Winter Quarter: 21 July 2027 - 22 Sept 2027

Spring Quarter: 6 Oct 2027 - 3 Dec 2027

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Please follow us on social media

Parklands College & CRPP on Facebook

Parklands College & CRPP on X

Parklands College & CRPP on Instagram

MEMOS FROM OTHER FACULTIES

PP: https://ppblog.parklands.co.za

JP: https://jpblog.parklands.co.za

SP: https://spblog.parklands.co.za

Wishing all our families a wonderful and restful weekend.

Ancia Vosloo

Principal: Secondary Faculty

avosloo@parklands.co.za