FROM THE OFFICE

Dear Parents and Learners

Parents must please note that we have a full academic programme until the examinations start.  Do not believe  rumours that "nothing happens in class" and "no one is coming to school".  It is not true.  Our educators have prepared lessons and learners are expected to be present in every class.

Prefect camp

The newly elected prefects for 2025 spent the past weekend at High Africa Campsite, planning for the year ahead.  They are very excited to share their ideas with the rest of the school.

Call for book donations

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

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.

Appeal for consideration at drop-off and collection times

Please follow the rules of the road and do not enter the roundabouts from the wrong side.

Please do not block the traffic by stopping at the entrance of the gate.

Please do not park anywhere that can interfere with the flow of traffic.

Permission for learners to leave school early

We are concerned about our learners' safety and take our responsibility to look after them seriously.

When a learner has a legitimate reason for leaving school early, reception has to be notified by the parent.  The parent or person collecting the learner must come to reception to sign the learner out.  If external transport is arranged, e.g. UBER, parents must inform reception that they have granted permission for the learner to be picked up.

Kindly avoid making appointments during school hours.  The academic day ends at 14:30, including on a Friday, unless otherwise announced.

Mandarin Chinese in 2025

The Chinese government in collaboration with UCT contacted us with an opportunity for learners to learn Mandarin Chinese as a co-curricular activity.  Depending on the interest, we will offer two classes - one for beginners and one for those with basic knowledge of the language.  It will take place once a week during one of the utility sessions.

The cost will be R1000 per quarter.  Please mail ssteyn@parklands.co.za by 1 November if your child would like to join the class and indicate the level of Mandarin Chinese knowledge.  

No assembly on Friday, 1 November

The FET learners will be writing examinations and the GET learners will be dismissed at 13:15 on Friday, 1 November.

Happy Diwali on Thursday, 31 October

We wish all our Hindu staff, parents and learners a blessed Diwali.

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 

Textbooks and stationery for 2025

Kindly read the letter with all the information about placing orders.

Textbooks for 2025

Stationery for 2025

Device requirements for 2025

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

Grade 12 National Senior Certificate (NSC)

The Class of 2024 began their NSC examinations this week, and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and hard work throughout the year. They have shown remarkable perseverance, and we are confident they will excel in this important milestone. Well done Class of 2024 on your outstanding effort, reflecting the spirit of excellence that defines our school. Best of luck for the rest of the examination period!

Grade 12 National Senior Certificate

Gr12 NSC Timetable

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.

Do you need a dimmer installed in your lounge?

Our Grade 7s have been learning about potentiometers in technology this week. A potentiometer is a variable resister. They successfully managed to change the brightness on an LED by wiring up their circuit to a potentiometer. Next week they will be learning how to wire up the potentiometer to an Arduino and adding a push button to turn on an LED for a variable number of seconds.  These are our future engineers in the making!

Digital Electronics Matric PAT - an Inverter

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.

Message from the Secondary Head of Sport

What an incredible week of sport, blessed with great weather and fantastic performances from our learners. With matches held both at home and across the city, it has been a busy and exciting time for everyone involved. As we approach the final stretch of the season, I want to remind all parents and learners to continue honouring their commitments to their teammates until the season concludes.

On Saturday, our U19A Cricket team played an outstanding match against Pinelands High School, securing a well-deserved win. The standout performance came from Kyle Warrender, who delivered a remarkable bowling display, taking 6 wickets, including a phenomenal hat-trick. A truly unforgettable achievement!

Our water polo teams also continue to excel in the pool, showing impressive teamwork and results across the board. It's been wonderful to see the dedication and passion from all our teams.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and I encourage everyone to stay committed as we finish the season strong.

Weekly Sport Video

Physical Education

Softball, water polo and tennis play vital roles as summer sporting codes, promoting physical fitness, teamwork, and mental resilience. Softball fosters camaraderie and strategic thinking, as players must work together to outsmart their opponents. Water polo combines endurance with tactical skills, encouraging swimmers to build strength while developing quick decision-making in a dynamic environment. Meanwhile, tennis offers an excellent mix of individual challenge and social interaction, enhancing coordination and agility. All three sporting codes not only provide a fun way to stay active during the warmer PE sessions of this quarter but also contribute to the overall well-being of the learners, making them essential elements of summer recreation.

Looking Ahead

Next week sees another full week of sport for both junior and senior teams.  All our cricket teams are in action this weekend with the first match next week taking place on Monday.  We then play our last matches next week Saturday.  Our Softball teams play at home and away on Thursday and our swimmers compete in their final gala at Reddam House Durbanville.

Learner Achievements

Kyle Warrender

Cricket

On Saturday morning, our First Team played a home match against Pinelands High School, who were the winners of the Gary Kirsten T20 Challenge earlier this month.  Parklands won the toss and chose to bowl first.  Two wickets fell within the first four overs to give Parklands a great start to the match.  Tidy work by our bowlers and fielders restricted the visitors to 112 (all out), with a memorable spell by captain Kyle Warrender who took six wickets in seven-and-a-half overs, which included dismissing the last three batsmen for a hat-trick, the sequence of the hat-trick being:  Imraan Razak (bowled), Ethan Whittaker (caught - Liam Russell), Daniel Berry (LBW).  

Since Pinelands were dismissed within 32 overs, Parklands were sent in to bat an hour before the lunch break.  Although opener Liam Russell was dismissed in the second over, Ethan Randall and Kyle Warrender were able to set a good platform with a 28-run partnership (of 25 balls) for the second wicket, and this was followed up with a 48-run partnership (off 48 balls) for the third wicket.  Before the lunch break, Parklands had 43 runs on the board with just three wickets down, thus needing 70 runs for the win with 7 wickets in hand as the batsmen resumed the innings after lunch.  Five wickets fell between the 19th and 23rd overs, in a sudden middle order collapse.  By the time Aaron Peet came in at #11, the score was 102, with 11 runs still required to win the match.  The next five overs provided a nail-biting end to the tightly contested match, with Pinelands hunting that one last wicket with Darshan Kistan and Aaron Peet carrying the weight of expectation on their shoulders to get across the line for a long-awaited victory. Knowing that Darshan would be the danger man, Pinelands tried to keep him off strike but Aaron Peet proved himself up to the task and contributed six runs off seven deliveries faced, which included a stylish boundary to get the final four runs required and reach the target of 113 for a thrilling, famous victory.

Although the boys almost allowed a near-certain opportunity for a win slip away, they finally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat much to the relief and joy of the team and supporters. Kyle Warrender’s ‘fifer’ has earned him a rare place on the Sporting Honours board in the Pavillion, and for this performance he was named as man-of-the-match.

Learner Achievements

Hannah Burke, Joshua Kalapac, Puneet Nagendrakumar, Erin Langenhoven

Swimming

The following learners took part in the 43rd Frede Barnard Invitational Gala 2024 as part of the Streamline Aquatics team:

Hannah Burke: 17 events: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 4 bronze

Joshua Kalapac: 9 events: 4 Bronze  

Puneet Nagendrakumar: 17 events: 3 Golds, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze

Erin Langenhoven:18 events: 5 Golds, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze

These athletes took part in a 4-day gala, they set their goals and expectations for themselves and as a team for relays.  Well done Hannah, Erin, Punnet and Joshua. 

Learner Achievements

Shihan Huang

Swimming

After a long seven-month recovery from ankle surgery, Shihan is finally back in the water, ready to compete.  Shihan participated in the 43rd Freda Barnard Invitational Gala held from October 17–20, 2024, in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape where she medaled in 13 of the fourteen events:

Gold: 100 free, 50 fly, 100 fly, 50 free, girls 200 free relay. 

Silver: 100back, 200 IM, 200 free, 50 back, mixed 200 medley relay, girls 200 medley relay, mixed 200 free relay 

Bronze: 200 back, 

Shihan has now qualified for the South Africa Junior Championships 2025 which will take place in Durban.   Well Shihan.  We are so happy to see you back in the pool.  Congratulations on your achievements.

Weekly Sport Results

DRAMA

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). 

Stellenbosch University visit to the Grade 11s 

On Tuesday morning, the Grade 11s had a visit from Joshua Davidson, a Stellenbosch University recruitment representative. It was a very informative session about the University, the selection process, the application process as well as how important the Grade 11 results are for your application to Stellenbosch University. They each received a 2025 Prospectus to assist them with their research and information gathering process. He also wished them all the best and good luck with their Grade 11 finals. 

TERTIARY STUDIES

Exciting News: The Western Cape Issue of SA Career Guide is Now Live!

Discover your future with the latest issue of SA Career Guide! Packed with valuable insights, expert advice, and career opportunities tailored for you, this digital magazine is your free resource for making informed decisions about your next steps. Don’t miss out—open it today and start planning your path to success!

Open Magazine: https://www.sacareerguide.co.za/archive/2024/wc/index.html

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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