FROM THE OFFICE

Dear Parents and Learners

We had the first of our Awards ceremonies last night - the Sports Awards.  What a lovely event it was.

We now look forward to next week's events.  Please find the links for live streaming, if you are unable to attend in person:

STCL Link

https://youtube.com/live/_-FSIQgeImg?feature=share

Honours & Leadership Awards Link

https://youtube.com/live/VsfZ05SkaPE?feature=share

Valedictory 2024 Link

https://youtube.com/live/ioUTQvDdFYw?feature=share

Call for book donations

It has become tradition to award of Top Achievers in each grade a book prize. 

Thank you to Ms Melissa Lopes for sponsoring books for the Matric Top Achievers. 

Parents who are willing to sponsor a book for and Grade 7 - 11 Top Achievers, to be awarded in January at the Academic Awards,  are invited to email Gillian Oppenshaw goppenshaw@parklands.co.za.  

You may either donate a book or give us permission to bill your account for a book from Exclusive Books.

Please note uniform requirements for 2025

All Grade 7s and all new learners are required to wear the new blazer in 2025.

The check trousers are for exclusive use as part of the Hospitality uniform.

Device requirements for 2025

Please see the information below in order to plan for 2025.

STAFF NEWS

We would like to congratulate the following staff members on their appointments as part of the Senior Management Team at the Secondary Faculty 2025.

ACADEMICS

Academic Links

Note the section at the top dedicated specifically to academic links.  In this section you will find: 

🎓 Spring Quarter Timetables,  🎓Assessment Calendars, the  🎓 Tutorial Schedule 

🎓 Exam Timetables, the  🎓Exam Study Guidelines, the 🎓Exam Study Timetables.

🎓 Report Weightings,  🎓 Promotion Requirements 🎓 Regulation Absenteeism 

Grade 12 National Senior Certificate

Matric 2024 - the final stretch

Monday, 14 October: IEB FS Mathematics in Collab 3, Normal lessons for rest

Tuesday, 15 October: IEB FS English in Collab 3, Normal lessons for rest, STCL Awards & H&L Awards

Wednesday, 16 October: Locking the Legacy, Valedictory, Last day for Gr12, no lessons

Monday, 21 October: NSC Exams commence

Tuesday, 22 October: IEB FS Physics

Thursday, 28 November: NSC Exams conclude

Gr12 NSC Exam Timetable

GET Study Timetables

The school counsellors have kindly prepared proposed study timetables for all our GET learners. We encourage everyone to start early to reduce exam pressure.

Grade 7 Study Timetable Sample

Grade 8 Study Timetable Sample

Grade 9 Study Timetable Sample

Gr7-Gr11 Examinations

The examination timetable has now been finalised: November Examination Timetable.  

Study Guidelines

Grade 11 Study Guidelines

Grade 10 Study Guidelines

Grade 9 Study Guidelines

Grade 8 Study Guidelines

Grade 7 Study Guidelines

Absenteeism during Exams and Assessments

A complete assessment portfolio (SBA - school based assessment), including all November examinations, is required for promotion into the next grade.  

A learner can not be permitted to write the final exam should the SBA component be incomplete.

Should a learner be absent for the final examination without a valid reason, the learner will not be promoted to the next grade.   A valid reason in this context includes the following:

a) illness , supported by a valid medical certificate, issued by a registered medical practitioner;

b) humanitarian reasons, which includes the death of an immediate family member, supported by a death certificate;

c) the learner appearing in a court hearing, which must be supported by written evidence; or

d) any other reason as may be accepted as valid by the Head of the assessment body.

• Note that extended holiday breaks and travel does not constitute a valid reason.

From the English Department

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.”

This quarter’s book lineup is a rollercoaster ride – packed with mysteries, romances, and everything in between! With the cold weather upon us, there is no better excuse to curl up with a hot beverage and a good book.

Your bookworm-in-training should have devoured two personal picks by now, with another two to go, in order to submit enough book reports for the year. We're crossing our fingers these recommendations spark some curiosity to explore beyond your comfort zone.

Get cozy and dive in! Happy Reading!

Digital bookshelf LINK

Ed-Admin Multi-Portal Installation

YOU WILL NEED THIS APP IN ORDER TO ACCESS REPORTS IN THE FUTURE.

We are pleased to inform you that the new Ed-admin Multi Portal App (Ed-admin MP) is now available on the Google and Apple App stores. The features include access to your child’s reports, calendar activities and daily attendance records to mention a few.

To install the App please follow the below instructions:

1.) Download the Ed-Admin Multi Portal App by using the relevant link below:

●  Apple App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ed-admin-multi-portal/id6469108569

OR
●  Google Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edana.edadmin&hl=en&gl= US

2.) Enter 230034 (Parklands College Code) and your email address to log in. For your convenience, please refer to the image below:
 

3.) The next step will require you to enter the login code sent to you via email. For your convenience, please refer to the image below:

Please ensure that you keep this App updated otherwise you will be logged out and will have to repeat the above process to regain access.

LEARNER NEWS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Ethan Fairbanks

Ethan and his dads competed in the Dragonfly "I love Boobies Duathlon" and Trail Run in Elgin over the weekend.

The event was in aid of fund raising for the I love Boobies charity which takes life saving breast screening to women in under serviced communities. 

https://www.iloveboobies.co.za/?srsltid=AfmBOor_IQg3zcq6TvLS3W4U0KJxVI5-DujTZGtxBtX65rR7W0reATCv

He also helped with the set up and administration of the Bike to Blossoms Cycle Race on Friday and Saturday. 

He was commended by Gerald de Kock, the MC for the events, for his hard work behind the scenes and his determination in overtaking the runner ahead of him to finish in first position.

Well done, Ethan.  You make us proud.

Hyperion Bots

Who we are ...

Hyperion Bots was Parklands College’s FIRST Lego League & FIRST Tech Challenge Team from 2016 to 2020, but it fell apart once Covid hit. Since then our team has been pretty quiet, but we are back! 

Our team currently consists of:

Yemira Mamdoo: Team Captain

Connor Niske: Team Co-Captain

Liya De Allende: Head of Marketing and Safety

Joshua Jackson-Smith: Head of Engineering

Position Needed: Head of Programming (Java)

Contact any of the people you see here, or email us at hyperionbots@parklands.co.za

Tristan Daries: Engineering 

Shakti Manga: Programming 

Mkhuseli Mngese: Programming 

Elihle Hadebe: Marketing 

What we've been doing ...

Together we have been working tirelessly over the past holiday to resurrect our legacy. During the holidays, instead of relaxing at home, we were at school setting up for this year's season. The first three days consisted of trying to build our arena, in which we met many challenges. The next two weeks we spent attending workshops and building our robot, which we named Dougie C (the C stands for Callum, in pre-emptive memory for our tech prefect Callum McKechnie). We have had to completely rebuild Dougie C from the ground up, and are still continuously learning. 

We have also been contacting various businesses in regards to sponsorships, as we have to make money for parts and travel if we wish to go to finals in Texas next year. If you or your parents know anyone who might be interested in sponsoring us, please contact us at hyperionbots@parklands.co.za.

Joshua Jackson-Smith (Grade 11)

COMING UP

Message from the Secondary Head of Sport

This week, we celebrated the achievements of our young and aspiring athletes at our 2nd annual Sport Awards evening. It was a memorable occasion where our learners were honoured  for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to both their chosen sports and our school’s sport programme. Congratulations once again to all the award recipients, we are incredibly proud of your accomplishments but this is not the time to rest. Now is the moment to start preparing for greater success in the months ahead.

We were privileged to have Erin Christie, the South African Women’s Hockey Captain, as our guest speaker. She not only shared her incredible experiences from the Paris Olympics but also offered invaluable advice to our learners on what it takes to become a professional athlete and maintain excellence over time.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making the evening such a special and unforgettable event.

Looking Ahead

This afternoon, our girls' water polo teams will host Fairmont High School, while our boys' teams will travel to Fairmont for their matches. Our U19A cricket team is gearing up for an exciting start to their Western Province U19, T20 campaign, facing Durbanville High next Thursday. On the same day, most of our softball teams will be in action with both home and away games, adding to an already packed schedule. To top it off, we will also be hosting the highly anticipated individual swimming gala.

We encourage all parents, alumni, and supporters to come out and cheer for our teams as they compete in what promises to be a thrilling week of sport!

Gary Kirsten T20 Tournament

In a great start to the new quarter, our U/19A cricket team took part in the Gary Kirsten T20 Challenge tournament last Saturday. Following the recent cold and wet winter it was wonderful to enjoy a day in the sunshine in thirty degrees-plus heat and watch some cricket at our beautiful campus.  

Our first match was against Pinelands High School.  The flip of the coin went our way,  and choosing to bowl first we were able to restrict the eventual tournament winners to a score of 143/4 in the allotted overs.  The pick of the bowlers was Aaron Berry who conceded only 14 runs in his four overs, taking the vital wicket of the Pinelands opening batsman along the way.  Our boys were not able to keep up with the required run rate, falling short with a score of 98/7 in the allotted overs.  The top score was a not-out 56 (from 53 balls) by Kyle Warrender, and the only other double figures were contributed by Joshua Neil, who scored 15 from 24 balls. With Parklands having scored 98/7, Pinelands won the match by 45 runs.

In the afternoon we played against Edgemead High School.  Edgemead won the toss and chose to bowl first. Our boys got off to a good start, the second-wicket partnership of Ethan Randall and Kyle Warrender produced 29 runs and this was followed up by a great third-wicket partnership of 73 from 39 balls between Aaron Berry and Kyle Warrender.  Aaron looked in fine form and his score of 46 from 22 balls included three sixes and five fours, which was very entertaining to watch.  There was good support from the middle order and the team managed to post a respectable total of 159/7 for the visitors to chase a target of 160 for a win.  Edgemead were able to reach the total halfway through the 19th over, by way of a six from their champion batsman Abdullah Muhammad, who entertained everyone with his unbeaten knock of 67 off 35 balls.  In the end, Edgemead were deserved winners with their score of 163/5.  Kyle Warrender’s tidy bowling saw three players unable to protect their stumps, with his four overs conceding just 20 runs with an economy rate of 5.0 and an average of 6.67.  

 All in all, the day's cricket gave our boys the opportunity to run off the rust and get plenty of practice in all departments.   The tournament was won by Pinelands.  Kyle Warrender provided some cheer with his being awarded the prize for the most runs scored in the tournament (86), the next best score being 67 by Edgemead’s Abdullah Muhammad.

Match Report by Craig Fortuin (Team Manager)

Learner Achievements

Jemma Stearns

Waterpolo

Jemma Stearns has been selected for the Western Province U/19 B Water Polo team, with the Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) scheduled to take place in East London this December. Remarkably, this marks Jemma's third consecutive year representing Western Province, a testament to her skill, hard work, and dedication. Her capping ceremony will be held on Tuesday, 15 October, and we wish her all the best for that special evening and for the upcoming IPTs.

Jemma, you have truly blazed a trail for us at Parklands College in the world of water polo. Thank you for proudly representing the College and establishing our name within the water polo community. Best of luck!

Learner Achievements

Morgan Smith

Show Jumping

Morgan Smith competed in the Western Cape show jumping competition this weekend and emerged as the winner of the 1m class. She is officially the Western Cape 1m class Youth Champion.  Awesome Morgan. Well done Champion!

MUSIC

LEARNER SUPPORT 

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

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

Psychometric Assessments 

The learner support department offers psychometric assessments at the school for subject choice and career counselling. This process includes an initial interview with the learner, aptitude, personality and interest assessments, as well as a feedback session with an assessment report that is a useful guidance tool for informed decision making and clarity in one’s career or subject choice process. The assessments are done at school and during school time. 

Please contact Samantha Scott sjscott@parklands.co.za for more information or to make a booking. There are limited assessment slots each quarter so please enquire early in 2025 to avoid disappointment. (Please note assessments are a billable service). The assessment slots for Quarter 4 are fully booked.

Rotary Youth Exchange

TERTIARY STUDIES

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...

CONCLUSION

Enjoy the weekend.

Kind regards

Sylvia Steyn

ssteyn@parklands.co.za

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Blogs from other faculties:

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

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

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