19 June 2026

Parklands College proudly presents Disney's

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2!

School’s out, and the Wildcats are ready for the summer of a lifetime at the luxurious Lava Springs Country Club. As Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and the rest of the Wildcats navigate friendship, romance, ambition and rivalry, they soon discover that staying true to yourself is more important than fitting in.

Packed with energetic dance numbers, iconic songs, humour and heart, this exciting production promises fun for the whole family. Don’t miss the chance to see our talented cast bring this much-loved Disney musical to life on stage!

Click here for tickets:

www.quicket.co.za/events/377695-disneys-high-school-musical-2/?ref=events-list#/

FROM THE OFFICE

Well done to all the learners for their hard work and enthusiastic participation this quarter. It is always noticeable when the College quietens at the end of a busy term. Without our learners, the campus feels still, but this pause offers a welcome opportunity for rest and a chance to reset before the term ahead.

We extend our appreciation to all fathers and father figures and wish them a wonderful Father’s Day this weekend. Thank you for the steady support, guidance, and care you provide in the lives of our learners.

Many of our learners and staff will be involved in the production rehearsals during the break. We are excited for the upcoming performances of High School Musical 2 and cannot wait to see all the hard work, energy, and creativity come together on stage. Please do support the production and the school by purchasing tickets and joining us for what promises to be a fantastic showcase.

This will be the final memo for the Autumn Quarter.

We wish all our families a safe and restorative holiday.

END OF QUARTER AND START OF WINTER QUARTER

School will close for the holiday at 13:00 on Wednesday, 24 June, and we look forward to welcoming our learners back on Wednesday, 22 July.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY MESSAGE

Father's Day Video.mov

CALENDARS

SECONDARY CALENDAR

SPORT CALENDAR

DATES AND HIGHLIGHTS

We encourage parents and learners to refer to the school calendar shared at the beginning of the blog. However, as our Grade 12 and Grade 11 learners enter an important and exciting period, we would like to highlight a few key dates.

22-24 June Grade 11 - Leadership Camp - all Grade 11s

23-25 July High School Musical 2

31 July Leadership Voting

7 August Grade 12 - 40 Day Breakfast

15 August Derby Day

18 August Leadership Induction Ceremony

18 September Sport Awards tbc

19 September Matric Dance

22 September STCL & Honors & Leadership Awards

23 September Valedictory & Locking the Legacy

13 October Grade 12 NSC Exam Start

LEADERSHIP CAMP FOR GRADE 11 - CLASS OF 2027

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~ John Quincy Adams.

Investing in leadership development is a key priority at our school, as we believe every learner has the potential to lead with purpose and integrity. Leadership is not limited to formal roles, but is developed across the entire grade, empowering all learners to contribute meaningfully in their final school year and beyond.

The Grade 11 learners depart on Monday morning - we wish them a memorable experience and look forward to welcoming them back with new friendships, strengthened leadership skills, and lasting memories.

FEEDBACK

OUTSTANDING COMRADES MARATHON ACHIEVEMENT

Congratulations to Mr Baker on completing the Comrades Marathon in an outstanding time of 9:04:23. Thank you to everybody who supported his initiative, Miles with Meaning!

GRADE 7 ROBOTICS SKILLS TO THE TEST

Our Grade 7 learners took on their June Practical Exam this term - and it was no small feat. Using a LEGO Spike Prime robot and block-based code, each learner had to complete five challenges on a live course: navigate to a colour wheel, program conditional sound responses based on detected colour, drive through a narrow gate without touching the sides, knock over two flag obstacles in a slalom, and finally stop exactly 10cm from a wall using the distance sensor.

It was wonderful to see learners debug their code in real time, think critically, and back themselves. That confidence is exactly what Robotics at the College is all about.

UCT MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD ROUND 2

On Saturday, seven learners who were invited to participate in Round 2 of the UCT Mathematics Olympiad took part in this prestigious competition. Participating at this level is a significant accomplishment and we are proud of their efforts and wish them every success.

OPPIETONG FINALS IN PRETORIA

Congratulations to Liat and Jorja who have been selected for the Oppietong National Finals to be held in Centurion in October.

Liat Demissew

Jorja Hoppé

CENTRE STAGE

We are incredibly proud of our dancers who participated in the prestigious production, Centre Stage – Dancing into Our Future, at the Artscape Theatre over the weekend.

This major fundraising showcase featured more than 300 young dancers from 20 different studios, performing across seven diverse dance genres in support of the Cape Town City Ballet. Being selected to participate in an event of this scale is a wonderful achievement, and we congratulate our dancers on their beautiful performance and their commitment to support the future of dance.

THE LIFE OF A DANCER... BEHIND THE CURTAIN - A day at Artscape

While the audience waits for the lights to dim and the music to begin, a very different story is unfolding backstage. The next time the curtain rises, remember that the magic on stage begins long before the spotlight shines.... (thank you to Isabella Manickum for sharing about the day at Artscape)

Artscape.mp4

THE CAST OF HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 BROUGHT EXCITEMENT TO OUR JUNIOR CAMPUSES!

Our talented performers spent time with our younger learners, sharing the energy, music, and fun of the upcoming production. Their enthusiasm was contagious, leaving everyone excited for what's to come!

Don't miss this spectacular production of High School Musical 2 – it's going to be a show to remember! 🌟🎶

🎟️ You can buy your tickets here: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 TICKETS

d4321b55-1944-41ad-a8ff-149ed0e5ff37.MP4

VIDEO-2026-06-10-13-55-51.mp4

IYPT

Parklands College young physicists represent South Africa at IYPT 2026

We are proud to announce that two of our Grade 11 learners, Liat Demissew and Kaylee-Jade Mestre, will represent South Africa at the 39th International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT) in Zurich, Switzerland, from 5–12 July 2026.

Liat and Kaylee-Jade have been selected as members of a five-learner national team that will compete as Team South Africa at this prestigious international event. Often referred to as the “Physics World Cup,” the IYPT brings together some of the most talented young physicists from around the globe to present, defend, and debate solutions to challenging open-ended research problems.

This year’s tournament will be hosted at the world-renowned ETH Zurich, one of the world’s leading universities and consistently ranked among the top 10 institutions internationally. The event will welcome approximately 170 learners from 35 countries, providing a unique opportunity for participants to engage with some of the brightest young scientific minds in the world.

The team will be led by two members of the Parklands College community: Mr Don Duffield, Team Manager, and Parklands College alumnus Frank Smuts, who will serve as Team Leader and International Juror.

We congratulate Liat and Kaylee-Jade on this remarkable achievement and wish them every success as they represent both South Africa and Parklands College on the international stage.

Kaylee-Jade Mestre

Liat Demissew

EISTEDDFOD

Our dancers showcased exceptional talent, dedication, and passion at the recent Eisteddfod, delivering performances that reflected countless hours of hard work and commitment. They represented our school with confidence, grace, and professionalism, earning well-deserved recognition for their artistry and technical ability.

We are incredibly proud of every dancer who took to the stage and extend our sincere gratitude to our dedicated educators, Mrs Stander, Mrs Holder, and Mrs Dean, whose countless hours of guidance, encouragement, and preparation played an invaluable role in our learners' success

UCT MATHEMATICS ROUND 3

Congratulations to Jennifer Zhou and Taylor Watson who made it through to the third round of the UCT Mathematics Olympiad!

Jennifer Zhou

Taylor Watson

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

The Grade 8 Food Technology learners have been very busy this week creating their own bread shapes in their practical exam. This was the finale of their bread project where they have learnt the fundamentals of bread making, the history of bread and manufacturing on a large scale! I was very proud of their end results... and so were they!

- Lucette Torbet

GENERAL

INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHS

Individual photographs have been sent home. If you do not wish to purchase the photograph, please return it to Reception before the end of term. Photographs that are not returned by this date will be billed to your account.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO...

ASTRONAUT AT PARKLANDS COLLEGE

www.quicket.co.za/events/374813-astronaut-dorothy-metcalf-lindenburger-at-parklands-college-3-august-2026/?ref=invite&?utm_source=invite&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=invite_system#/

2026 Metcalf-Lindenburger_Parklands_PressRelease

REPORT CARDS

The academic and cultural report cards will be released on the Edana Multi Portal App on Friday, 26 June 2026.

Parents will receive a notification when reports have been uploaded for viewing. Note that our educators will be on leave from Friday, 26 June, but details about parent educator meetings will be shared in the first blog of the academic term.

EDANA MULTI PORTAL APP

Please download the Ed-Admin / Edana Multi Portal App. The platform is used for important notifications and will also provide access to report cards.

Ed-Admin_Multi_Portal_Installation.pdf

EXAM INFORMATION

📝 Exam Timetables

Please see the examination timetables below. Grades 10 to 12 have also received their timetables in a PDF format.

JUNE EXAM TT 2026

📑 Exam Study Guidelines

Grade 12 Grade 11 Grade 10 Grade 9 Grade 8 Grade 7

Study Timetables

Grade 7 Study Timetable Grade 8 Study Timetable Grade 9 Study Timetable

MUSIC

📚 For timetables, teacher details, and all Music Department info, please visit our Music Department Learner Website.
💌 For any other questions, contact Mrs Alexis Matsimela.

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

Those still interested in getting started, we have space in the vocal, cello, drums, saxophone, trumpet, & piano departments. All relevant details, including lesson offerings, durations, and costs, can be found in the Music Tuition

Google Form link: https://forms.gle/uV4j9ChV4TDG8tuU9

Get ready to make some music! 🎹🎷🎤

Enrolment Form: https://forms.gle/gRidchZx8Q5nubVi6

DANCE

Please find the link below to enrol for Secondary Dance 2026.

Dance Enrolment Link

Inside the link, you’ll find the full timetable and all the details you need. Whether you’re passionate about dance or keen to try something new, we would love to have you join us.

Don’t miss out! Sign up and be part of the energy!

DANCE WEBSITE

Parklands College Dance Website

LAST DAY OF TERM

On 24 June, we will participate in a variety of 67-minute service activities in celebration of Nelson Mandela Day. Learners are requested to select their preferred activity by completing the form below.

As part of our outreach initiatives, we also invite learners, parents and staff to contribute donations of spreads, soup ingredients, and empty coffee jars, or make a financial contribution via SnapScan. Together, we will prepare sandwiches, assemble Jars of Hope, and engage in meaningful acts of service that honour Madiba's legacy of compassion and community.

Donations close: Monday 22 June | Drop-off point: IC Reception

MORE ON MANDELA DAY SERVICE INITIATIVE

🌟 NELSON MANDELA DAY 2026 🌟

67 Minutes Can Change a Life

On 24 June, the Parklands College community will come together to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day through a series of meaningful 67-minute service activities, reminding us that even small acts of kindness can make a significant difference.

In preparation for our Mandela Day initiatives, we invite learners, parents and staff to contribute towards our community outreach projects by donating any of the following items between now and Friday, 19 June:

🥜 Spreads

Peanut Butter
Flora Margarine
Jam

🥣 Soup & Pantry Ingredients

Rice
Red and/or Brown Lentils
Barley
Split Peas
Dry Soup Powder (Creamy Chicken, Mushroom, Vegetable, Beef & Onion, etc.)

☕ Additional Items

Empty Coffee Jars

💛 Prefer to make a financial contribution?
You are welcome to donate R50–R100 via SnapScan at Reception, and we will purchase the required items on your behalf.

Together, we will be preparing sandwiches, assembling Jars of Hope, and participating in service activities that embody Madiba's spirit of compassion, generosity and community.

Be part of the change. Share your 67 minutes. Make a difference.

Donations close: Friday, 19 June. | Drop Off: IC Reception

Dear Future learner leaders; incl. all Grade 11s (particularly those intending to run for leadership), current Class Representatives and to those intending to run for Class Rep in Q3, CLEs and anyone interested ....

we encourage you to register and be part of this meaningful and future-focused experience.

This year’s Indaba embraces the idea that inclusion is not simply about representation, but about connection, psychological safety, authentic dialogue, and creating spaces where every individual feels seen, heard and valued.

The Indaba aims to empower you to become a thoughtful changemaker who is equipped to navigate differences with curiosity, compassion and confidence, both within our school and beyond.

“Lead with empathy. Listen with intention. Build belonging.”

We are proud to collaborate with organisations equally committed to youth empowerment and social justice, including The LEAH Foundation, The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, and Rotary Club South Africa.

ENROLMENT FORM LINK: https://forms.gle/GnBJ5vHyHSzqAFxr9

(RSVP by Monday 22 June 2026)

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

Samantha Scott: sjscott@parklands.co.za

Exam Support

In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive world, learners are under immense pressure to achieve top results. With university placements becoming increasingly competitive and success often measured by marks and percentages, many young people place enormous pressure on themselves. Some of this pressure comes from external expectations, while much of it is internal, driven by fear of failure or not feeling “good enough.”

Unfortunately, this often leads learners to focus more on the outcome than the process, causing stress, anxiety, and in many cases, underperformance. As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is to celebrate and praise their effort rather than only the result. Effort builds resilience, perseverance, discipline, and character.

These qualities matter far beyond the academic years. In the long run, a mark on a piece of paper will not define a person’s future nearly as much as their ability to work hard, show grit, and keep going even when things are difficult. These are the qualities that truly shape success in life.

TERTIARY STUDIES

Public tertiary institution application dates for the class of 2026

OnlineCareerGuidance_TertiaryApplicationsClassOf2026.pdf

Thuthuka Bursary

The applications for the Thuthuka bursary for 2027 are open!

The link to access the application portal is www.thuthukabursaryfund.co.za. Applications close on 31 August 2026. Applicants should remember to access the portal using Google Chrome.

The bursary is for BAcc students only.

Prospective students must apply for 3 programmes and residence at Stellenbosch University. How to apply:
https://www.su.ac.za/en/apply/undergrad/apply-0/how-apply

Any queries can be directed to the bursary fund email: tbf@saica.co.za

Amidst exams, deadlines, winter weather, sport, culture, and everything else life throws your way, don't forget to check in with the person you spend every day with: yourself.

How are you really doing?

Are you getting enough rest? Taking breaks? Making time to move, laugh, connect with friends, and do the things that help you recharge?

Looking after your wellbeing isn't a luxury reserved for when life slows down, it's something that matters most when life feels busy. This month is a reminder that health includes more than just the physical. Taking care of your mind, your emotions, and your overall wellbeing is just as important.

Be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to pause. And if someone comes to mind while reading this, check in on them too.

Staying active

Thank you to all our learners who remained committed to training during the exam period. Your discipline, consistency and willingness to keep showing up were commendable.

As we head into the holiday break, we encourage all learners to remain active and maintain their fitness. Consistent training during this period will help ensure a smoother return to the season and allow us to build momentum from where we left off.

We will be hosting holiday training sessions during the break for those who would like to stay sharp and continue developing. Kindly complete the Google Form to register your interest. Training dates and details are included on the form under the poster below.

REGISTRATION FORM: Sport Holiday Training

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.

Provincial / National achievements

Kindly complete this document if your child has achieved provincial or national representation in any sport (College and/or non-College) this year:

Sport Achiever - Provincial / National 2026

We have communicated with parents who have notified us via the External Sport News email address to submit information, but would also love to hear of learners who have achieved in other areas / sport codes.

Sports Department

Girls' hockey and netball: Rebecca Walker (rwalker@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)

Sport Results

It probably happened quietly. You walked past the desk, glanced at the screen, and noticed the familiar ChatGPT interface. A question typed in. An answer flowing out. Maybe you said something. Maybe you let it go. Maybe you’re still not sure what the right response is.

You’re not alone. This is one of the most common conversations we’re having with parents right now, and one of the most genuinely complicated ones. Because the answer isn’t as simple as “stop doing that.”

For the full article: My Child is Using ChatGPT to Do Their Homework. Now What? by KliKD

General

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: 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 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.