From the Office

Dear Parents and Learners

We packed a lot into a short week!  What a wonderful start to the Winter Sport Season we had on Saturday when we hosted Rondebosch and Edgemead for rugby and hockey matches!  Despite the weather, everyone enjoyed the display of healthy sportsmanship and the obvious pure enjoyment of spectators and players alike. We hosted a Rotary Debate on Monday and had great fun at House Plays on Wednesday.  Now we look forward to a lovely long weekend.

To our Christian Families

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.)  

ACADEMICS

Academic Links

Note the section at the top dedicated specifically to academic links.  Click on the links below to find: 

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

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT MID-YEAR EXAMINATIONS

Please note that question papers will be written until the very last day of the quarter, Wednesday, 25 June.  Reports will be issued in the third quarter.  Learners who miss question papers for legitimate reasons will have to write on the first day back, 22 July 2025.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT GR12 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS

Please note that question papers will be written until the very last day of the quarter, Tuesday, 23 September.  Learners who are absent for exams will need to submit a doctor's certificate.  Reports will be issued in the next quarter.  

Academic Dates

Please find important academic links to kickstart the academic term planning.

Tutorial Schedule

2025 Autumn Tutorial Schedule

Assessment Calendars

Gr7 Assessment Calendar

Gr8 Assessment Calendar

Gr9 Assessment Calendar

Gr10 Assessment Calendar

Gr11 Assessment Calendar

Gr12 Assessment Calendar

June Examinations

June Examination Timetable

The June Exam Timetable has now been finalised:  JUNE EXAM TT 2025 

June Examination Study Guidelines:

June Grade 12 Study Guidelines,      

June Grade 11 Study Guidelines,       

June Grade 10 Study Guidelines,     

June Grade 9 Study Guidelines, 

June Grade 8 Study Guidelines,    

June Grade 7 Study Guidelines 

Proposed Study Timetables

Our counselling department has thoughtfully prepared proposed study timetables to support our GET learners:

Grade 7 Study Timetable

Grade 8 Study Timetable

Grade 9 Study Timetable

From the English Department

This quarter's digital bookshelf is for true readers, as there is not much time for this leisure in between studying for our mid-year exams coming up. That being said, these suggestions will be sure to immerse you in worlds very different from our own, whether you're choosing from the genres of fiction, fantasy, historical or autobiographical. Delving into a bit of fantasy in order to face reality has proven to be very beneficial for the human (and teenage) brain. 

Happy reading! 

NBTs (National Benchmark Tests) for Grade 12

The NBTs (National Benchmark Tests) are standardised tests written by applicants for SA universities to test academic readiness.  Depending on the institution candidates apply to, they might be required to write these tests as part of the application process.  One test set is written and the results are shared with all the universities. Candidates can also opt to write a second opportunity if they feel they want to improve their results after the first set of tests.

Grade 12 learners are responsible to register for these tests and choose the dates to write them. They are not administered by the school. There are two components to the test, a Maths and a Literacy component.  Below is the link to the website where you will find all the information:  https://www.nbt.ac.za/

NBT Training for Grade 12

There are numerous institutions who offer workshops to help prepare for the NBTs.  Parklands College offers our own preparation sessions for the Maths component during the June exam period.  The dates are on our exam timetable and learners can register via our Maths department. A registration form will be shared after the mid-term break.  We recommend that learners write the NBT shortly after these workshops. This will ensure sufficient content is covered and at the same time it allows time for learners who want to make use of the second opportunity to improve results.

THE CLASSROOMS ARE BUSY...

Food Technology

On Tuesday, all three of the Grade 9 Food Technology classes had the opportunity to do a site visit at our local McDonalds. This formed part of their research for this quarter's project on creating a 'Healthy option' meal deal. They got a very indepth talk from the manager, Mr Wayne Katz, who enlightened us all on all the ins and outs of the fast food business. We were taken into the dry storeroom, cold store and freezer! We were also shown the operational side of the kitchens which was fascinating!

They all left with a great deal more knowledge and a delicious McFlurry. It was a very successful outing!

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.

ROBOTICS

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Chairpersons

LOOKING AHEAD:  WBD

World Book Day (Shakespeare’s Birthday) is upon us next week already - Wednesday 23 April. There’s no better excuse to get dressed up and win some prizes for ‘Best Dressed’ according to your grade's theme. This is not a civvies day; it is a day celebrating some of the greatest characters to have ever graced our pages. 

Your teachers are also getting involved, so don’t let them upstage you with a better outfit. 

HERE are your grade categories - start planning! Please make sure your outfit is school & weather appropriate… 

“May the odds be ever in your favour”

Grade 7 - Marvel & DC comics / Alice in Wonderland

Grade 8 - Harry Potter / Inside Out

Grade 9 - The Adams Family / Percy Jackson

Grade 10 - The Hobbit / Romeo & Juliet / Hunger Games

Grade 11 - Nursery Rhymes / Dr Seuss / Wizard of Oz

Grade 12 - Life of Pi / Mr. Men and Little Miss Series / Great Gatsby

HOUSES

House Play Results

The Inter-house College plays showcased a remarkable display of talent, creativity, and teamwork. Each House, with its unique blend of performers, backstage crew, and directors, brought to life various stories that captivated the audience from beginning to end. 

The plays, each interpreted with fresh perspectives that breathed new life into well-known scripts. Not only did the learners deliver powerful performances, but the sets, costumes, and lighting were also meticulously designed, adding depth and realism to the stories being told on stage. The commitment and passion of everyone involved created an immersive experience for the audience.

Final Results:

1. Yale 

2. Oxford 

3. Cambridge 

4. Harvard

Awards:

Best use of Technology - Yale

Best Backstage Crew - Harvard

Best Script - Yale 

Best Supporting Actor - Mervyn Rukonhi (Cambridge)

Best Supporting Actress - Pearl Mabula (Yale)

Best Actor - Tyler Fredericks (Oxford)

Best Actress - Logan De Araujo (Cambridge)

Best Director - Oxford

Best Costume & Set - Cambridge 

Best Poster & Ticket Design - Cambridge

Best Duet - Dharshana Raja and Emily Hoffman (Harvard)

"Sport and Culture Award": Rugby Tackle and Lip Sync - Jarryd Hunt (Cambridge)

Best One Liner - Bontle Moeketse (Yale) 

LEARNER AFFAIRS

Random drug screening and vape testing

As included in our Substance Abuse Policy in the Parent and Learner Directory, we make use of professional services to conduct random screening for substance abuse from time to time.

The idea is not to vilify those learners who do not get a clean report after such screening, but to rather help the learner cease his/her use of the prohibited substance and at the same time deter our learners from submitting to peer pressure to experiment by citing the random screening as their reason.

We make use of SA MOBILE DRUG TESTING:  https://samobiledrugtesting.co.za/

Should you have any queries or concerns, kindly contact pvardan@parklands.co.za You may also contact Mr Vardan if you want to request a screening for your child.

From our sports department

WINTER SPORT

Our winter sport programme started on Monday, 14 April for all age groups and teams. Our sports co-ordinators are making every effort to reschedule matches and ensure that our learners still get to play, despite interruptions to our Friday, Saturday and Monday fixtures over the coming weeks. We really appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate a disrupted start to the season. Fixtures will be confirmed via Google Calendar and EdAdmin. 

CORRECT PRACTICE / MATCH ATTIRE

Players must wear the correct uniform to practices and matches. Where necessary, we have addressed issues by speaking to players directly and have informed all learners through a notice in the Learner Daily Notes.
Please assist us by ensuring that your child has the correct sports kit for their code. A reminder that non-school items are not permitted at practices or matches. Thank you for your support.

Please remember to subscribe to the Secondary sports calendar for upcoming fixtures.

DH

Feedback - Tours

Sri Lanka Tour Highlights

In March, Mr Gilder (coach) and Mr Fortuin (manager) accompanied thirteen U19 cricketers on a wonderful two-week tour of Sri Lanka.  The team played five matches and spent a lot of time sightseeing.  It was a fortnight filled with fun, adventures and memories!

Here are some of the highlights of the tour.

Places we stayed at

Places of interest that we visited

Cricket

All of the matches were played at impressive, well-maintained cricket grounds.  The team won 2 out of 5 scheduled matches.  Cricket in Sri Lanka is incredibly well-organised.  Parents of our players were able to enjoy minute-by-minute match updates on the Sri Lanka Cricket Scorers website. The team’s best performance was the last match, against Karandeniya Central College which Parklands won by 39 runs.  At the end of the tour, captain Kyle Warrender won the awards for best batsman and best bowler.

The camaraderie

Smartly dressed in tour kit on departure from Cape Town and on arrival at every match, the team represented the College well.  You can only imagine the pranks, banter, adventures and fun that could be had when you put two ‘old ballies’ on a bus with thirteen energetic (most of the time!) young guys.  There was the morning race to the bus to avoid the two-dollar fine for being late, music, interesting moments in the traffic and of course, the ‘day our bus got stuck in the jungle’ as we took a wrong turn and went down a country lane that got narrower and narrower as we got more and more lost.  Just for the record - we did ask for directions! 

The ‘tunnel’ to show some chaps the errors of their ways

In the final analysis, the tour was a great success.  The boys learned some valuable lessons in cricket, enjoyed many new experiences and appreciated what will surely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience with their friends.

Senior or 1st Team Captains

Sports videos of the week

SRI LANKA CRICKET TOUR

GARDEN ROUTE SPORTS TOUR - NETBALL, GIRLS' HOCKEY and BOYS' HOCKEY

GARDEN ROUTE SPORTS TOUR VIDEO

NETBALL

GIRLS' HOCKEY

BOYS' HOCKEY

Learner achievements 

CHESS

Karena Li

Karen Li recently participated in the Cape Town Metro Chess Championships.  She qualified as one of the top 25 chess players in the U13 age group to represent the Western Cape in the 2025 WCSC PS Individual Provincial Championship. Well done Karena and we wish you every success in your tournament from 17 - 18 May at Somerset High School in Worcester.

NETBALL

Holly Hickman

In an exciting display of skill and determination Western Cape Coastal U15B clinched a well deserved un-defeated 1st place victory in the recent Interprovincial Tournament held at the Montague arena. The tournament brought together top teams from across the country vying for the prestigious title. Well done Holly.

Jordan Black

Western Cape Coastal U19B final match was nothing short of exhilarating, narrowly missing out on a medal but securing 4th place. Well done Jordan. 

CRICKET 

Blaine Fisher

Over 400 young cricketers, from U11 to U18, took part in the Maties Super League (MSL), representing six franchise teams. Blaine Fisher was drafted in December to the U16 Buccaneers Raiders, competing in both T10 and T20 formats.

He captained the T10 side to the playoffs in March, finishing third in their group. In the T20 tournament, Blaine was named Man of the Match in two of four games, helping his team top the log and win the U16 Group 1 title.

Blaine was also awarded the MSL U16 Best Bowler trophy and finished second on the MVP log out of 85 players.

This strong showing reflects the depth of talent in the region. Well done Blaine!

Parklands College winter sporting programme 2025

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

Secondary sports calendar 

DEBATING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING

Entry form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGzko6jugp5bhZoMUMCm23c3yHiOyr_kjmdLhg3vAtzIclDQ/viewform?usp=header

Submissions:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczRONrpx7mHfet6ZOU5gAkSAPUJY9TcPklRqKGYJHetC8yzA/viewform?usp=header

Debating

We hosted the Rotary Debate for a number of schools on Monday night.  Well done to Joshua da Silva and Caitlin Smith for winning "Best Speaker" for the Senior and Junior Debates respectively.

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

We encourage all learners to participate in this incredible opportunity! This is a LIVE eisteddfod adjudication that will take place at Parklands College, Minor Hall on 22 August between 13:00-19:00.

Parents and Family are welcome to attend. Please discuss your entry with your music educator to find the best category and complete this

 Google Form Link by 23 May: https://forms.gle/J5fTycbMeX9mxEzs7 

🎹 A PIANO MASTERCLASS EXPERIENCE WITH THE EXCEPTIONAL PROF. NINA SCHUMANN

Parklands College proudly presents an exciting opportunity to learn from one of South Africa’s most celebrated pianists and educators. Join us for a 2-day piano masterclass led by the extraordinary Professor Nina Schumann, renowned for her virtuosic artistry and dynamic teaching.

🎼 WHAT TO EXPECT:
From interactive workshops to live performances and personalised coaching, this experience promises to challenge, inspire, and transform pianists at all levels. Whether you're a performer or a passionate observer, prepare to be immersed in the world of expressive, technical, and refined piano playing.

Application Link: https://forms.gle/1dWhP99Hoqr36BuJ7 

LEARNER SUPPORT 

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

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

TERTIARY STUDIES 

Open Days and Application Dates 2025 for Universities and Colleges 

Stellenbosch University BEng Chemical Engineering Webinar

The Department of Chemical Engineering at SU is hosting a webinar on Thursday, 15 May, from 19:00 to 20:00. We invite all prospective students and their parents/guardians to join us online to discover more about our BEng Chemical Engineering programme and the diverse career paths it offers. An electronic invitation is attached to this email – please feel free to share it on your school platforms.

To register for the webinar, click here:
Webinar Registration Link

We are also pleased to announce that applications for 2026 are now open and will close on 31 July 2025. We encourage interested Grade 12 learners to apply.
Access the application portal here. Attached you’ll find a detailed breakdown of admission requirements and selection criteria – feel free to distribute this to learners, parents, and teachers.

To explore more about our department, visit our website and follow us on social media:

• Website: https://chemeng.sun.ac.za/

• Facebook: SUChemEng

• Instagram: chem_eng_sun

• TikTok: chemengsu

Want a glimpse of what it’s like to study Chemical Engineering at SU?
Click here for a sneak peek!

If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at undergradchem@sun.ac.za.

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.

Enjoy a great weekend.

Kind regards

Sylvia Steyn

ssteyn@parklands.co.za

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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