From the Office

Congratulations to our Directors

Above: Richard Knaggs (Director), Lorraine and Werner Roth (Founders) and Michael Paul Roth

HAPPY 45th BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

This week, marked a special milestone as the Pre-Primary celebrated its 45th birthday. The children enjoyed a cheerful sing-along show, followed by the excitement of cutting the birthday cake and sharing a sweet treat. It was a lovely way to celebrate the school’s journey and create happy memories together.

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 28 February with information regarding the security of electronic devices (iPads and Laptops.)  

Celebrating in the Secondary Faculty

Our learners remembered their pre-primary days by playing games on Founders Day ...

Never let go of your inner child ...

FEEDBACK

Learner Achievements

ACADEMICS

Academic Links

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

🎓 Summer Quarter Timetables,  🎓Assessment Calendars, the  🎓 Tutorial Schedule, the  🎓 Subject Change Deadlines, the   🎓Promotion Requirements and   🎓 Absence during Assessments or Exams and 🎓 Exam Dates

Final week of the Summer Quarter

It is imperative that learners attend school until the last day of the quarter.  Due to the number of public holidays and the mid-term break next quarter, we have limited time to finish the syllabus before the mid-year examinations and learners cannot afford to miss lessons. 

Special arrangements have been made with learners leaving on sports tour.

The Maths Department celebrated PI day today ...

Pi Dress Up Winners

SA Maths Olympiad

An impressive 73 participants took part in the Mathematics Olympiad yesterday, with 38 learners making it through to round 2! We are extremely proud of our learners' commitment and willingness to participate. 

Grade 9 Afrikaans

Additional support in 2025: Mathematics

Learners from Grade 7 – 12 have the opportunity to receive additional support in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy on campus, should they feel the need for one-on-one or small group support.  Our Mathematics Department will continue to offer tutorials as per the tutorial schedule and these tutorials are covered by the tuition fees.

Mrs Priscilla Brijlal is an educator with over 40 years experience in teaching Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy at various schools.  Her patient and caring nature, her commitment to her calling and her willingness to go above and beyond what is expected, especially with struggling learners, make her a very valuable Independent Contractor to support our team.

Support sessions will work as follows:

1. Remedial/extra sessions may be scheduled before school or during the utility session.  Evidence shows that morning sessions are more conducive for such sessions.

2. Learners who fall behind may be withdrawn from some Mathematics sessions during the academic day to assist them with catching up.

3. Individual sessions cost R250.

Should you be interested in signing up for this or need more information, kindly mail  secondary@parklands.co.za

Additional support in 2025: English for Second Language Speakers

Mrs Angel will be assisting Foreign Language learners who need extension classes in English as an Independent Contractor. She is well-known to many of our existing learners who got to know her as a member of the Preparatory Faculty. She is knowledgeable about teaching the foundation of language acquisition, she is kind and she is patient.

Remedial/extra sessions will be scheduled during the utility slot on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or in the mornings before school and will cost R250 per session.

Kindly mail secondary@parklands.co.za if you would like to sign up for lessons.

Hospitality Department

The Grade 11 Hospitality Studies learners showcased their culinary talents at a successful restaurant evening, where they prepared, plated, and served a delicious three-course meal. As part of the practical component of the subject, learners gained hands-on experience in a real dining setup, impressing guests with their skills and creativity. The menu featured a rich and creamy Samp and Mushroom Risotto as the starter, leading to a beautifully crafted main course and ending on a sweet note with a true South African favorite—Malva Pudding served with Koeksister Ice Cream. The evening was a testament to their dedication and passion for hospitality and we look forward to many more events from this talented group of learners!

ROBOTICS

Robotics in Action: A Big Thank You! 

A huge thank you to Mr Mamdoo for giving up his Saturday to run a fantastic workshop on circuits for our WRO robotics teams! ️ His expertise and dedication are helping our learners develop essential skills for their robotics journey. We appreciate the support in growing the next generation of innovators!

#WRO #RoboticsInAction #ThankYou #STEM

LEARNER AFFAIRS

Grade 7 Leadership

Congratulations to the elected leaders.

CAMP VIDEOS

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Digital Bookshelf

A Call for Prize Donations

The English Department has launched its first internal Creative Writing Competition and Book Bingo Competition.  We are looking for book vouchers to be donated for the top 3 winners for both FET and GET, as well as 3 additional prizes for the Annual Book Bingo. If you would like some more information about the competitions, please click HERE. 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact Mrs J Biermann (jbiermann@parklands.co.za)

From our sports department

"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." - Zig Ziglar.

Zig Ziglar’s quote reminds us that success in sports isn’t just about talent but about attitude. A strong work ethic, resilience and a willingness to learn matter more than natural ability. In training, effort and coachability lead to improvement.  If you don’t make the A team, your response defines your future - stay committed, work hard and prove yourself.  Talent may give you a head start, but dedication and perseverance determine how far you go.  A positive attitude, not just ability, ultimately decides your success.

Winter Sports Training

We officially started our winter training this week and we are encouraged by the turnout for the various sports. This week and next will be a time for coaches and manages to assess player abilities by hosting trials training, with different level teams being determined towards the end of the Quarter. 

Practice / Match playing kit

Please view the tab below to see the appropriate playing uniform for matches.  Learners must also wear the correct practice kit, except where practices happen on consecutive days. In these circumstances, a learner may wear their PE top on the second day (U19 Girls soccer is an example).

Winter Junior Cricket Training

On Wednesday 5 March, an email to all U13 parents regarding a winter cricket programme to be held on Thursday afternoons.  This programme aims to enable Mr Gilder to develop the skills of our junior cricketers and align them with our broader Parklands College cricket vision.  Please contact Mr Gilder (ggilder@parklands.co.za) as learners must sign up to attend.

External Sports Achievements / News

To ensure we stay informed and up to date on our learners' incredible achievements in activities outside of school, please email the relevant information along with high-quality photos to External Sports News.  In future weekly blogs, this email link will be found at the bottom of the Sports Section.

Garden Route Sports Tour

A group of our senior netball players and boys’ and girls’ hockey teams will tour the Garden Route from 24 March to 1 April and participate in the Point High School Sports Festival.

DH

Parklands Cricket Team is off to Sri Lanka 

On Thursday, 13 March, the cricket players touring Sri Lanka received their playing kit during an evening ceremony at the Pavilion. We wish the players, Coach Gilder, and Manager Mr Fortuin a safe and successful trip. 

The Sri Lanka tour runs from 21 March to 2 April, and we look forward to following their progress and hearing about their experiences upon their return.

Get all the updates on instagram by following : parklands_college_vikings 

Official photos of last night's kit presentation will be made available to parents.

Back (L-R): Coach Gary Gilder, Kishan Kistan, Mackenzie Newman, Leslie van Eck, Darshan Kistan, Kyle Warrender, Julian Gardiner,

Connor Russell, Manager Craig Fortuin.

Front (L-R): Ethan Randall, Nicholas Strydom, Liam Russell, Akshar Chandarman, Blaine Fisher, Chaihin Naidoo.

West Coast Festival

Sports video of the week

Learner achievements 

Karate

Cape Town Cycle Tour

Congratulations to Alistair Hill, Levi Scott Hayward and Morgan Smith for completing the gruelling 109 km Cape Town Cycle Tour last Sunday.

Alistair Hill and Levi Scott Hayward

WP High School Athletics

Steffan Hillebrand has been selected for the Western Province High School's Athletics team after placing 3rd in the Zonal Athletics Competition.  He ran a personal best time, dipping under 9 minutes for the 3000m event.  He will be competing in the Western Cape Athletics Championship on 14-15 March at the Green Point Athletics Stadium.

WP Baseball

1st XI cricket report

U/19A CRICKET

CURRO DURBANVILLE 1st XI vs PARKLANDS COLLEGE 1st XI

SATURDAY 8 MARCH 2025

MATCH REPORT

Parklands won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Batting first, CURRO DURBANVILLE scored 280/9 in 50 overs. 

Batting second, PARKLANDS scored 195/10 in 41 overs.

CURRO DURBANVILLE WON BY 85 RUNS

Fielding catches:  Kyle Warrender (2), Julian Gardiner, Blaine Fisher 

Man of the match:  Kyle Warrender

Parklands won the toss and chose to bowl first.  The hosts lost a wicket in the first over, but nevertheless made a quickfire start to their innings, taking their total to 71 in the 8th over before losing their second wicket. Another wicket fell in the 9th over, followed by another in the 10th to have them on the ropes at 75/4.  However, a solid 5th wicket partnership took their score up to 222 by the 42nd over.  Four more wickets fell in the last 8 overs but they managed to put up a respectable total of 280/9 in their 50 overs.

The Vikings had a less-than-ideal start to their innings, with Darshan Kistan bowled facing his first ball of the day in the second over.  Once again it was the Viking captain, Kyle Warrender who came in and set out the stall to ensure that there was 112 on the board before the second wicket fell, with Ethan Randall departing for 42 in the 21st over.  The middle order struggled to get going and, frankly, it was a succession of fairly soft dismissals as the lads simply did not put enough power into their shots to dish up some easy catches for the hosts to be firmly in the driving seat by the 37th over. 

By now the Vikings score was 179/8 and the tail-enders were feeling the pressure of the rapidly mounting required run rate.  The 9th wicket fell in the 38th over and the hosts dealt the knock-out blow with the wicket of Adam Muller in the 41st over, leaving Mackenzie Newman on 11 off 25 not out, and surely wondering how much he might have gone on to make if there had been more batsmen to partner him in the innings.

Although the boys lost today’s match, they can be proud of what they have achieved in the 2024/25 season.  They won 7 out of 13 matches (win ratio 54%), with the 2025 leg of the season yielding 5 out of 7 wins (71%), showing the tremendous progress that the team has made over the past few months.

Thank you to coach Gary Gilder for the incredible work that he has done to teach, coach and mentor the boys.  Of course, a very big thank you goes to all of the parents who came to support the boys throughout the season.

The top three batsmen and bowlers in the 2024/25 season are as follows:

Highlights of the season included:

• Victory by 1 run over Milnerton (at Milnerton) in the day-night T20 match

• Blaine Fisher’s 8-wicket haul and hat-trick against Pinelands (away)

• Darshan Kistan’s 115 against Parow at the WG Grace oval (home)

• Kyle Warrender’s sensational 404 not out against Parow (home)

CF

Parklands College winter sporting programme 2025

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

Secondary sports calendar 

Debating

Well done to our debating team for winning their debate against Elkahana House this week.

Please click on the link:  https://sites.google.com/parklands.co.za/parklandscollegedance/home

SERVICE 

LEARNER SUPPORT 

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

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

TERTIARY STUDIES 

Open Days and Applications Dates 2025 for Universities and Colleges 

STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING WINTER WEEK... 

Stellenbosch University is excited to be hosting its annual Engineering Winterweek in-person again from 29th June to 4th July 2025. We invite your grade 11 and 12 learners to an unforgettable week’s experience of all things engineering. 

The Engineering Winterweek will consist of visits to leading engineering companies, mini lectures, tours of the faculty and campus, as well as an exciting group project to give prospective students the perfect opportunity to collaborate with their future colleagues. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover whether engineering is their passion.  

It would be appreciated if you could share the attached poster and video with your grade 11 and 12s who are taking Physical Sciences. The cost is R4300. Applications will be open from

17th March on https://www.eng.sun.ac.za/winterweek/, and will close on April 30th.  

For more information or enquiries: 

please contact the Engineering Winterweek director at 

• winterweek@sun.ac.za,  

• visit our website https://www.eng.sun.ac.za/winterweek/ 

• follow us on our Instagram @suwinterweek.
  
  

Engineering winter week 2025 video 1.mp4

MARCH: Human Rights Awareness Month. 

In South Africa and across the world, Human Rights Awareness Month is a time to reflect on the fundamental freedoms and dignity that every person deserves. It serves as a reminder of the struggles people have faced throughout history in the fight against oppression, inequality, and discrimination. 

In South Africa, we celebrate this month to acknowledge the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals, ensuring that no one is denied their freedom, safety, or identity. It is a time to educate ourselves and others about the value of human rights and to recognise that these rights must be upheld in our daily lives, schools, communities, and beyond. On the 20th of March, we will be having our annual Freedom Bell Ceremony, where we commemorate the rights that we have and to become conscious of those who still have to fight for their rights. 

Be Part of the Freedom Bell Ceremony! 🔔✨

Join us in honoring Human Rights Day at our Freedom Bell Ceremony—a powerful moment of reflection, unity, and action. This is your chance to make your pledge, amplify your voice, and stand for what matters.

Ready to be involved? Sign up now by completing the Google Form: https://forms.gle/Rji5LKWVnfCAe16W6 

CONCLUSION

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.

Air pods

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

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards

Sylvia Steyn

ssteyn@parklands.co.za

Please follow us on social media

Parklands College & CRPP on Facebook

Parklands College & CRPP on Twitter

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

Blogs from other faculties:

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

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

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