CHRISTOPHER ROBIN PRE-PRIMARY

Next week we celebrate a special milestone in the life of Parklands College as we mark the birthday of Christopher Robin Pre-Primary. A school’s birthday is more than simply recognising the year it was founded; it is an opportunity to reflect on the journey we have travelled together, the traditions that shape us, and the people who make our school such a vibrant place to learn and grow. The Secondary Faculty will continue the celebrations later this year when we mark our own birthday, commemorating the opening of our doors on 28 July 1998.

Happy birthday to Christopher Robin Pre-Primary and to all the special people who are part of this wonderful community!

We will be celebrating our 46th birthday on Tuesday, 11 March and on this day in 1980, Lorraine Roth, opened the doors of Christopher Robin Pre-Primary School to the residents of Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard. The quality of education provided brought about a well – patronised and respected establishment, which offered care and early learning to young children, aged from six months to six years.

The reputation and quality of the school continued to grow and numerous requests by parents, for the Pre-Primary to offer formal education began. Encouraged by the staunch support of parents we were prompted to search for land to grow the school’s academic offering. As a result of a thorough research process, the Western Seaboard was identified as a potential major growth area. This was further supported by growth and population statistics from the City of Cape Town’s Planning Department. The construction of Parklands College commenced in 1998 in the new suburb of Parklands and in July of the same year, proudly opened the doors of the new Campus in Raats Drive, to 32 learners.

The College was built in phases, in order to accommodate the growth in learner numbers. The window period provided during the construction phases enabled the College to acquire additional land for sports and future developments. Parklands College currently operates from three sites, on approximately twenty-six and a half hectares of land. The growth of the College and Pre-Primary required careful strategic planning, and a decision to develop a new campus for the existing Secondary Faculty was formalised by the Board in February 2010. Parklands College, at 1 College Avenue, opened its doors in January 2012.

The College continues to grow as a result of the outstanding education and foundation our learners receive in our Pre-Primary and we are proud of what has been made available, in order to enrich their academic, cultural and sporting interests. We look forward to providing many more years of outstanding innovative education, beginning in the early years. The success could not have been achieved without the outstanding support we have received from our parents.

Lorraine Roth

CALENDAR

GENERAL

VACCINATIONS

Immunisation

We encourage parents and guardians to ensure that their child’s vaccinations are up to date. Keeping immunisations current plays an important role in protecting both individual learners and the wider school community from preventable illnesses. Parents are welcome to contact their local clinic or family doctor for guidance or to arrange any necessary vaccinations.

Measles

We have received reports of sporadic measles cases.  Measles is a highly contagious viral infection, and we would like to encourage all parents and guardians to ensure that their child’s immunisations are up to date.

The common signs and symptoms of measles may include cold-like symptoms, fever, a generalised maculo-papular rash (a flat, red area on the skin covered with small confluent bumps), red or watery eyes (conjunctivitis or “pink eye”), a runny nose, and a sore throat.

We kindly ask parents to monitor their children for any of these symptoms and to seek medical advice if any concerns arise. 

SPORT SIGN-UPS

We are encouraged by the positive response to the winter sport sign-ups and are pleased to see so many learners committing to participate in the activities offered by the College. Participation in sport and cultural activities forms an important part of the holistic educational experience at Parklands College. As a reminder, all learners are required to participate in at least one summer and one winter sport or dance activity offered by the College. Exemption from sport will be considered strictly on submission of a formal application accompanied by supporting documentation. All applications must be submitted electronically to the Head of Sport or Principal.

FEEDBACK

ROBOTICS - Hyperion Bots First Tech Challenge (FTC)

The Hyperion Bots First Tech Challenge (FTC) Team will represent South Africa at the World Festival in Houston, Texas

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A ROBOT! 🚀🇿🇦 - We're World Championship Bound!

We are beyond proud to announce that Hyperion Bots #18011 has officially qualified for the FIRST World Championships in Houston, Texas! This past weekend at the South African National Championships at the Amazon Offices in Cape Town  we competed against the Top 23 teams in the country. The Hyperion Bots put in a high-performance show that earned us:

3rd Place Overall and the 2nd Place  Inspire Award

Securing the 2nd Place Inspire Award is a dream come true. It recognizes our technical consistency, our engineering documentation, and our commitment to spreading STEM through our First Like a Girl initiative which encourages girls to follow careers in STEM.

What’s next? From April 29th to May 2nd, we will be representing South Africa on the global stage at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. We are ready to show the world what Parklands College, Cape Town engineering looks like!

To our school Parklands College & Christopher Robin Pre-Primary, our coaches and mentors Cai Bridges Justine De Wet Devendree Ankiah Richard Knaggs, and our incredible sponsors Rockwell Automation and Dragonfly Tri; we wouldn't be packing our bags for the USA without you.

The countdown to Houston starts now!

#FTC   #RoadToHouston  #F IRSTWorldChampionship #STEMSouthAfrica #HyperionBots #WorldBound #EngineeringExcellence FIRST

SA Rugby Awards

Mr Darin Viljoen and Mrs Vosloo had the privilege of attending the SA Rugby Awards last night. It was a splendid evening, made possible through the strong connections and relationships that support our school community. It was particularly lovely to connect with past learners, current parents, and rugby personalities who are connected to our school. It was a memorable occasion, and one of the highlights was the opportunity to strengthen and build relationships that are valuable to the continued growth of the Parklands College community.  Here are a few of our highlight moments captured by Mr Viljoen.

Our Orchestra Ensemble is back and cooler than ever! 

The group has transformed and is gearing up for their official launch. They’re sounding amazing, and we can’t wait for more musicians to join!

If you’re Grade 3 or above and want to be part of something fun, creative, and collaborative, get in touch with Ms Johannes.

Because music is fun on your own… but playing with others takes it to a whole new level!

Dance

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

Dance Enrollment 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!

Eastern European Cultural Tour

Results from the last few House events:

Inter-house Athletics Results Big Brag Bake Off

1. Oxford 1. Harvard 1. Oxford

2. Yale 2. Oxford/Yale 2. Cambridge

3. Cambridge 3. Cambridge 3. Yale

4. Harvard 4. Harvard

Public tertiary institution application dates for the class of 2026

Actuarial Science Career 

We are contacting you on behalf of SANCAS at Sanlam Life Insurance.

We would like to extend an invitation to your high school learners doing Mathematics and Science to an Actuarial Science Information Session. This is a session held annually by the SANCAS team from Sanlam. For teachers registering on behalf of students in their class, we request that you limit the number of students to 5.

*Note that this Information Session invites grade 11 and 12 students who would be interested in the Actuarial career path.

This session aims to inform learners of the broad and fruitful career path of Actuarial Science.

The session will comprise of a variety of speakers from qualified actuaries to university students doing Actuarial Science, with panel discussions where learners can ask any questions about becoming an actuary.

For those attending virtually, a phone or laptop and internet connection will be needed to join.

The date and time of the session are as follows:

•  Date: 26 March 2026

•  Time: 12h00 for 12h30-16h00

Attached is the invitation (Act Sci Info Session 2026) with a link to register and RSVP for the session where learners can indicate if they will be joining us virtually or in person.

Kindly RSVP by 13 March 2026.

Please distribute the invite to all who will benefit from the session.

Sanlam also offers bursaries to learners wanting to pursue Actuarial Science, the bursary applications are still open and close on the 30 June 2026.
For more information, please click on Bursary Application

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Sanlam SANCAS Committee

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. Come 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: Open to all, free of charge, but remember to book your tickets for information sessions on Quicket (available from 18 March 2026, from 09:00)

This is a chance not to be missed!

For more information, contact us:
WhatsApp "Hi" to 061 729 8858
Call us on 021 808 9111
Email info@sun.ac.za

90 Bursaries available in Shoprite's 2026 bursary programme - now open for application

Applications for the Shoprite Group’s 2026 bursary programme are officially open.

Application details and requirements

In order to be eligible, applicants must be South African citizens under 27 years old, and are registered for undergraduate or post-graduate degree study at an accredited university.

Further qualifying criteria is specific to each bursary - for more information or to apply, visit the Shoprite bursary programme page here.

Applications close on 31 May 2026.

Read more: bursary, Shoprite Group, bursary programme, bursary applications, Shoprite Group bursaries programme

https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/90-bursaries-available-in-shoprite-2026-bursary-programme-now-open-for-application-062755a

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.  

Swimming

On Saturday, 28 February 2026, Liyla Godwin (Grade 7) participated at the Swimming South Africa Level 1 Age Group 13-19 Championships in Somerset West.  She received Second Place (silver) for 200  Meter Free, Third Place (bronze) for 100 Meter Free and Third Place (bronze) for 100 Meter Breast. Despite an injury she showed perseverance and managed to achieve her personal best in each event and in addition was placed 8th position in 50 Meter Free, 50 Meter Fly, and 50 Meter Breast. Liyla is committed to delivering her best!

Padel

Competing on the international stage is never a small step, and this past week Finlay Ferguson (Grade 10) took a significant one.

He participated in a FIP Promises tournament in Houston, Texas from 27 February to 1 March. The FIP Promises series is run by the International Padel Federation and represents the highest level of global junior padel competition.

Finlay partnered with a player from Mexico in the U16 age group, and the pair quickly found their rhythm. Their teamwork, composure and attacking intent were evident throughout the tournament, culminating in an emphatic 6–1, 6–2 victory in the final against opponents from the United States and Mexico.

The result not only reflects Finlay’s growing confidence on the international circuit, but also earns him valuable world ranking points. These points are crucial as he works towards qualifying for the continental finals later this year.

To compete and win at this level requires courage, discipline and belief. Finlay has shown all three. We look forward to following his journey as he continues to test himself against the very best junior players in the world.

Cricket

On Saturday 28 February, in a 1st XI cricket match against Fairmont High School, Bryce Gilder’s (Grade 11) mastery with bat and ball made it an historic day for Parklands cricket, as it was the first time that a first team player scored a century and took a ‘fifer’ on the same day, thus making him a most deserving man-of-the match.  Bryce scored 132 (91) and took 5/51 in 9 overs. Well done and congratulations, Bryce!

Winter Sport Sign Up

Learners are required to sign up for one summer and one winter sport code.

Please sign your child up for a Quarter 2 and 3 winter sport if you have not yet done so.

Link: 2026 Q2 and 3 winter sport sign up form 

If your child is unable to take part in College sport due to College dance commitments, College robotics competitions, a medical reason that prevents participation, or participation in non-College sport at Provincial or National level through an accredited sporting body where training clashes with school sport, we kindly ask that you complete the form below and attach the relevant supporting documentation.

Please note that involvement in the school play does not exempt learners from participation in sport. However, consideration has been made with regard to training sessions.

Link: 2026 Excused Learner Form 

Winter Sport Timetable 2026

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

Sport Uniform

Sports Department 

Girls' hockey and netball: Rebecca Walker (rwalker@parklands.co.za)

Chess, cross country, golf 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)

Home and Away...

U19 Girls Waterpolo -  B League Finals

The U19 girls’ water polo team played their season finale at the SACS main pool on Wednesday, 4 March. After winning their semi-final knockout match against Camps Bay, they progressed to the final where they met Fairmont for the third time this season.

Parklands started confidently, racing into an early 2–0 lead. Fairmont responded strongly and edged ahead 3–2 by the end of the first chukka. The second chukka proved challenging for Parklands, who found themselves trailing 2–6 and then 3–7 heading into the final quarter.

What followed was a thrilling finish. The girls showed great determination, narrowing the gap to just one point and piling on the pressure in the closing moments. Despite their relentless effort, the final hooter sounded with the score at 8–7 in Fairmont’s favour.

The team can be immensely proud of their season, which included several strong wins and a number of very close contests. Congratulations to their coach, Mrs Scott, who consistently brings out the best in her players and has guided the team to a memorable season.

Player of the match:  Dominique Yuill

U19A CRICKET

U/19A CRICKET

PARKLANDS COLLEGE 1st XI vs FAIRMONT 1st XI 

SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2026

MATCH REPORT

FAIRMONT won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Batting first, PARKLANDS scored 333/6 in 50 overs. 

Batting second, FAIRMONT scored 153/10 in 50 overs.

PARKLANDS WON BY 180 RUNS

Fielding catches:  Julian Gardiner, Sabelo Ntuli (2), Joshua Neil, Mackenzie Newman, Ethan Randall 

Man of the match:  Bryce Gilder

The Vikings, in a rare away game this season, produced another dominant performance, defeating Fairmont on their home ground by 180 runs.

After being sent in to bat, the Vikings got off to a solid start with a first-wicket partnership of 61 before Ethan Randall was dismissed for 30 (from 36 balls). The victory was well and truly set up with a monstrous 2nd wicket partnership of 132 runs off 110 balls between Joshua Neil and Bryce Gilder, with the score on 193 when Joshua was dismissed for his 68 (off 89 balls). The next batsman in, Liam Russell at #4, provided good support for Bryce to push on past 100 for his 132 (off 91 balls) and this partnership added 75 runs (from 49 balls) to the total.  Julian Gardiner, in at #6 also made a valuable contribution with his 31 off 36 balls, despite the unwanted injury he picked up in some pre-match horseplay that required two fingers to be bandaged before the warm-up session began - ai, boys will be boys!

All told, the batsmen’s contributions and the extras (32) meant that the Vikings posted a total of 333/6 in their 50 overs.

In their innings, Fairmont were not able to gather any real momentum.  Bryce Gilder struck in the first over and followed this up with wickets in the 5th, 7th, and 11th overs to have the hosts at 70/4 by the middle of the 11th over.  Adam Muller took a wicket in the 17th over, putting the hosts under further pressure at 99/5.  The sixth wicket partnership then added 37 runs before Bryce took his fifth wicket (bowling from the opposite end of his earlier spell) and after that the writing was very clearly on the wall for the hosts.  Sabelo Ntuli took a wicket in the 25th over, and Julian Gardiner got a slice of the wicket-taking action with his two wickets in the 27th over, conceding only two runs, thus adding some shine to his season’s bowling stats.  Julian also took a catch, so we may build in some form of activity in future warm-ups that result in Julian’s requiring first aid, as this clearly had a galvanising effect on his performance. Mackenzie dealt the knock-out blow with a delivery that resulted in a caught-behind dismissal to send the last Fairmont player back to the hut, their total of 153 falling 180 runs short of the Viking’s total.

This was another comprehensive victory that once again showed the extent to which this team has matured over the past season.  Thus far in 2026, they have achieved six victories from seven matches, and will surely be looking forward to this Saturday’s match against the Old Boys to show them how far cricket has come at the College.

This quarter our 1st XI cricket team has been in outstanding form, winning six of their seven matches.

Past Learners Cricket Match - 7 March

This Saturday our 1st XI face a special challenge as they take on Past 1st XI cricket learners in a 30-over match at the WC Grace Oval. The match begins at 09:00 and promises to be a great contest between current players and those who previously wore the 1st XI cap.

Spectators are warmly encouraged to come along and support what should be a memorable morning of cricket.

Past Learners participating in the main match are: 1) Kyle Warrender (C) 2) Torden van Rensburg 3) Nicolas Strydom 4) Seth Swart 5) Mujaahid Salie 6) Armandt Swanepoel 7) Nathan Geyer 8) Charles Nelson 9) David Wood 10) Troy Diab 11) Joshua Sowade 12) Aaron Berry

Knights Netball Festival - 7 March

U19 and U16 netball players attending the AJ Sportweek Festival will be participating in the Knights Festival at Bosmansdam School on Saturday 7 March. This will be the first outing for our girls and we wish them all the best as they prepare for the tour and season ahead.

ICT ACCEPTABLEE USE POLICY

Every month we will look at our ICT Acceptable use policy and highlight an area. For February we will look at Social Media:

Navigating the Digital World: A Shared Responsibility

At Parklands College, we pride ourselves on being at the cutting edge of technology. From our Innovation Centre to our dual status as an Apple Distinguished and Google Reference School, our learners are constantly pushing boundaries. However, with great digital power comes the need for great digital responsibility.

Social media is more than just a place for "likes", it’s where our learners build their first professional reputations. We believe that digital citizenship isn’t just a school subject; it’s a partnership. While our educators provide the technical and ethical foundations, our parents provide the real-world wisdom.

The following checklist is intended as a conversation starter. For learners, it’s a guide to navigating these platforms safely and respectfully. For parents, it’s a reminder of the boundaries that protect our community's privacy and your child's future.

📱 Social Media Checklist: A Guide for Learners, A Reminder for Parents

1. The "Public Forever" Rule

• Learners: Before you hit post, ask: "Would I be okay with this appearing on the Innovation Centre's main TV for everyone to see?"

• Parents: Remind your children that "Private" settings are never 100% secure. Screenshots can live forever.

2. The Power of the Disclaimer

• Learners: If your bio mentions you attend Parklands College, you should include a disclaimer: "I attend Parklands College. Everything here, however, is my personal opinion."

• Parents: Help your child understand that even personal accounts reflect back on their school community and their own future professional brand.

3. Respect the Privacy of Others

• Learners: Never post photos or videos of others, especially in school uniform or on campus, without express written permission from all parties and a Director.

• Parents: Reinforce that data privacy is a legal and ethical boundary. Proprietary info about learners or staff is strictly off-limits.

4. Constructive vs. Antagonistic

• Learners: Disagreements happen. Stay polite. If a conversation turns "toxic," step away and ask an educator for advice rather than becoming defensive.

• Parents: Encourage your child to "think before they type" and to represent themselves as a respectful member of our digital community.

5. Protect Your Personal Brand (and IP)

• Learners: Don't use the College logo on personal sites without permission. Keep your home address, phone number, and personal email private to stay safe from identity thieves.

• Parents: Audit your child’s profiles occasionally to ensure they aren't over-sharing personal data that could compromise their safety

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 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

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Please follow us on social media

Parklands College & CRPP on Facebook

Parklands College & CRPP on Twitter

www.instagram.com/parklandscollege/?hl=en

MEMOS FROM OTHER FACULTIES

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

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

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

CONCLUSION

A very happy birthday to Principal Paul, our Senior Preparatory principal,  for Monday, 9 March.  

Wishing you all a happy and restful weekend. 

Ancia Vosloo

Principal: Secondary Faculty

avosloo@parklands.co.za