From the Office

We have so enjoyed this busy week with activities ranging from the intense first home water polo matches of the season, to a chilled jazz picnic on the Admin lawn to an informative talk about Mathematics anxiety.  And as they say in the classics, that's not all ... Enjoy reading about our exciting week.

Traffic control 

We make another special appeal to everyone to please be considerate when dropping or picking up learners.  

• Do not obstruct the flow of traffic by stopping in the middle of the road.

• Do not park in the traffic circles, making it difficult for others to pass.

• Do not be abusive to our staff when they ask you to move your vehicle.

• Do not allow learner drivers to drive onto the campus.  Kindly swap seats before entering the gate.

We encourage you to make use of the EXIT gate east of the swimming pool.  It takes you out to Dorathea Road from where you have easy access to Wood Drive and Sandown Avenue

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 MOVED LINKS TO CAMP INFORMATION PAGES TO THE OPERATIONAL INFO TAB.

Social Dance Arrangements for tonight

Learners are to be dropped outside the gates and to enter via the pedestrian gate between 18:00 - 19:30.  We reserve the right to search bags being brought onto campus.  The gates will be locked at 19:30.

The gates will open at 22:30 for you to collect your children from the dance which will end at 23:00.  Educators will be on duty for supervision throughout the evening.

Kauai will be open until 22:00 and the matrics will sell cooldrinks.  Kauai only accepts SnapScan and Card payments.

Cashless Campus

We try to avoid handling cash on campus, so kindly request that you download the SnapScan App for your children to use.  It can be used at Kauai and we have a QR code for learners to scan when we sell tickets for events (e.g. the upcoming social), cake sales and charity collections.  Read more here:  https://www.snapscan.co.za/user

Open Day:  15 February

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.

A busy week at the College...

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.

Outing to Maynardville

On Wednesday, the Grade 10s had the pleasure of going to the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre to watch Shakespeare's The Tempest, and it was absolutely amazing. From the moment we entered, the whole venue felt like something out of a magical story: twilight was setting, the fairy lights added to the enchanting atmosphere. It was especially cool to share this experience with learners from other schools. 

I was impressed that, with only a small stage and crew, the production could transport us into another world completely—a world of a betrayed sorcerer, magic, love and revenge. The opening scene set the tone perfectly—darkness, eerie music, and the loud crack of a stick hitting the ground, pulling the audience in immediately. Even though the Shakespearean language confused a lot of us at times, the jokes were universal, making the whole crowd laugh and have fun. The lighting was beautiful and fit every scene so well. Not only that, but looking up from the stage, you could see the trees swaying, hear birds singing, and feel the cold breeze; it was the perfect mix of theatre and nature.

It was such a great experience, especially in the middle of our busy school week. Thank you to the English Department for organising this outing and to all the educators who accompanied us. 

Liat Demissew (Gr10)

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)

FEEDBACK

BITS Rep Training

Robotics in Action! 

In class robotics, learners have been tackling exciting challenges! They’ve been building rotation devices, experimenting with gears, and testing precision by hitting targets with speed and accuracy.  Meanwhile, our FTC team is in their final week of preparation for Nationals, making last-minute adjustments to their code, build, and portfolio.  Stay tuned for all the action!

#RoboticsInAction #FutureEngineers #STEM #RoadToNationals

LEARNER NEWS

Erin Langenhoven

Kauai

For your convenience, the Karri App can be used to place an order at Kauai.  Please see the poster below.

To opt out of receiving notifications, please click on the link and enter your information:  https://forms.gle/atv84QQ8LureNScn9

For information about what is on offer:  PC Menu & Prices_Jan 25.pdf

HOUSES

The House Captains have been working hard on their "House Boards". These boards, which showcase their theme for the year, were completed this week and are available view in the Recreation room.

Congratulations to Oxford, who have won this year's competition. 

From our sports department

Our sports department hosted their sports assembly last Friday, 31 January.  

Here is a selection of the opening address by Mr Hunt:

"Sport is built on rules.  They shape the way we play, ensuring fairness and structure. But over time, these rules change.

In rugby, for example, we’ve seen tweaks to the breakdown laws to improve player safety. Points for a try have gone from 3-points to 4-points in the 1970’s to 5-points in 1990’s to an automatic 7-points for a penalty try as recently as 2017. 

The advancement in technology has brought about changes in rules too. 

In chess, AI-powered engines have not only transformed how players prepare and strategise but have also led to discussions about fair play and cheating detection.  These changes remind us that sport, like life, is never static.  

The question we must ask ourselves is this: how do we use these tools to our advantage?  And that also leads us to a simple acronym that we believe can be your competitive advantage for the year ahead.

That acronym is WIN – What’s Important Now?

Beside these technological tools that can provide an edge, great athletes and great individuals succeed because they focus on the present moment in order to ensure that their vision can be realised. By applying WIN to everything we do, we develop discipline, resilience, and an edge over our competitors.  Every training session, every match, every lesson—ask yourself: What’s Important Now? and act accordingly.

As we enter this year, we challenge each of you to embrace this mindset. Adapt to change. Use technology wisely. Focus on what matters most in the moment.  That is how you gain your competitive advantage. 

So let’s make this a year of excellence, effort, and commitment. 

Let’s WIN in every aspect of our lives."

The sports prefects added to this message with their motto for the year and spoke about: 

GRIT

G for Guarantee. Guarantee is about commitment, showing up, putting in effort, and being a reliable team player. Whether it’s arriving prepared for practice or giving 100% in a game, it’s the promise we make to ourselves and our teammates.

R for Responsibility. In sports, responsibility means owning your role, being accountable, and leading by example. It’s not just about individual performance; it’s about supporting your team, stepping up when needed, and always showing sportsmanship.

I for Involvement. Being involved means more than just playing, it’s about being fully present. It’s the energy we bring to practice, the encouragement we give from the sidelines, and the dedication we show to improving every day.

T for Tenacity. Tenacity is about pushing through challenges, staying focused under pressure, and never giving up. True athletes don’t back down from obstacles, they rise above them. So, as we step onto the field, the court, or the track this year, let’s embody GRIT!

DH

Senior or 1st Team Captains 

Sports Video of the week

See our learners in action...

Feedback

Some highlights from home and away...

1st XI Cricket Summaries

Saturday 1 February: 

Our cricket team played an away match against Pinelands HS who won the toss and chose to bat first.  The first wicket fell to Darshan Kistan’s first delivery in the fourth over.  Back-to-back wickets by Blaine Fisher in the fifth over had the hosts reeling at 3/10.  Two overs later, Blaine took another wicket and then proceeded to take a hat trick in the ninth over with the hosts now on 7/24.  The sequence of the hat-trick was:  Shaheer Salie (bowled) Imraan Razak (bowled), Qaadeer Ganief (LBW).  The eighth wicket partnership of 31 off 39 balls gave Pinelands a glimmer of hope of putting up a respectable total to bowl at, but they managed to post only sixty runs by the time Blaine took his eighth wicket in the 18th over, with the home side all out. It must be said that the hat trick was the cherry on top of a wonderful spell of bowling.

Our boys were understandably chuffed at dismissing Pinelands for such a low total but were quickly brought down to earth early in their innings after finding themselves 3/3 in the 5th over, and then 14/4 in the 9th over.  No significant partnerships were built, but Kyle Warrender, Blaine Fisher, Julian Gardiner and Jayden Lamb provided valuable support to the rock of the innings, Darshan Kistan.  Darshan calmly went about his business, showing great maturity as he carved out an unbeaten innings of 26 off 57 balls that included two fours and two sixes.  The opposition coach & scorer, having seen Darshan in four innings over the past twelve months, remarked on Darshan’s impressive growth as a player, and we would certainly agree with that.

It was a low-scoring, but exciting match and it was good to see the boys back in action and notching up a win to boost their confidence for the busy season ahead.

Thank you to all of the parents who came to support the boys.

Thursday 6 February: 

Our Cricket 1st team played a home match against Cannons Creek. Cannons Creek won the toss and chose to bat first.  The first wicket fell to Blaine Fisher with the very first ball of the match, the second wicket fell two balls later.  Batsmen number 3 and 4 managed to score 6 and 12 runs respectively, thereafter it was hallucination time as we saw seven ducks in a row, with the visitors setting Parklands a target of 27.  Bowlers Blaine Fisher (2 wickets), Kyle Warrender (4 wickets) and Adam Muller (3 wickets) were simply too good, and Connor Russell got in on the wicket-taking action as well.  The bowlers would have been happy as this outing would have served to shine up their bowling stats very nicely.

As the scorecard shows, our opening batsmen Ethan Randall and Darshan Kistan made light work of the total in the short time that they were required to be there.

Thank you to all of the parents who came to support the boys.  The match against Westerford on Saturday 8 February will be a real challenge, but our boys will be keen to make it three wins in a row and they are certainly capable of doing so.  All the best to our team! 

Learner achievements 

Rebekah Esterhuizen

On Friday 6 December, Rebekah Esterhuizen (Gr 9) played in the Ceres Junior Tennis Tournament in both the singles and doubles competition at U16 level.  She and her partner won the doubles finals and Rebekah was runner-up in the singles finals. 

Well done Rebekah!

Corbyn Beekmans

During December 2024, Corbyn Beekmans (Gr 7) was selected by the SM Rhinos team for the Maties Super League (MSL), which took place at the iconic Maties and Markötter cricket fields in January.  In the T20 competition, Corbyn contributed to his team’s success with bat and ball, where his team won three out of four matches and secured a place in the final, to be played in March. While his team did not advance in the T10 competition, Corbyn achieved the fifth-best economy rate among participating bowlers.  Well done Corbyn!

Parklands College Summer Sporting Programme 2025

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

Secondary sports calendar 

Signing up for Dance in 2025

Please complete the Google Form:  Secondary Dance Entry Form 2025

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

Music Department Update: 🎶 A High-Note Week in the Music Department! 🎶

The Music Department has been buzzing with activity! Last Friday, we launched an inspiring two-day Vocal Workshop, where our talented vocalists bonded over new repertoire, shared plenty of laughs, and had the privilege of attending a masterclass with Ms. Amy Campbell from LAMTA. She delivered expert insights on projection, phrasing, and performance, leaving our singers motivated and ready to take the stage!

The weekend continued with a spectacular outing to Artscape on Sunday, where a group of learners witnessed the powerhouse performance of the Ndlovu Youth Choir—a truly unforgettable experience.

On Monday evening, we welcomed music learners, parents, and families for a live performance by the Jason Ward Band. With perfect weather, incredible music, and a fantastic atmosphere, it was an evening to remember. A huge thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the joy of music with us!

🎼 Join Our Ensembles! 🎼
Our ensemble rehearsals have officially begun, and we’re inviting all musicians who play an instrument (excluding rhythm section) to join us! Whether you take lessons at school or not, if you have a passion for music, come rehearse with us on Thursdays during Utility in the Minor Hall. All are welcome!

Stay tuned for more exciting events, performances, and opportunities to connect through music. This is just the beginning! 🎵✨

LEARNER SUPPORT 

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

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

TERTIARY STUDIES 

🎤 Spotlight on Black Excellence
 

This week, our Learner Morning Announcements featured a Spotlight Segment, celebrating incredible Black contributors who have made a lasting impact in music, science, activism, sports, and beyond.

🚶🏾‍♂️ Freedom Walk to Freedom Exhibit – Limited Spots Available!

We’re excited to offer learners the opportunity to visit the Walk to Freedom Exhibit—a powerful, interactive showcase of South Africa’s journey to democracy.

📅 Date: Friday, 28 February
💰 Cost: R60
🚌 Transport: The school bus will depart at 12:45 and return by 15:45.
🔗 Sign up: Spots are limited to 40 learners—secure yours by completing the Google Form!

Google Form Link: https://forms.gle/LtYQzuzE9tuBhiqm8 

🛋️ Couch Conversations – Let’s Talk!
Also happening on Friday, 28 February, our first Couch Conversations of the year! This is your chance to join a thought-provoking discussion on topics that matter. Stay tuned for details!

We’re looking forward to an engaging and inspiring month ahead! Get involved, join the conversations, and make your voice heard. 🎤✨

Your Voice Matters

Being part of the Learner Equity Council (LEC) is not limited to its elected members—we can all be agents of change. Creating an inclusive and thoughtful community is a shared responsibility, and each of us has a role to play.

This is more than just a celebration—it is a call to action. We encourage all learners to participate, share their ideas, and help shape these events. Whether you're an LEC member or simply passionate about making a difference, your voice matters.

We look forward to an impactful month of learning, sharing, and celebrating together. 

🔹 For any questions or to get involved, contact the Learner Equity Council.

CONCLUSION

Some happy faces making my day extra special ...

Thank you for all the birthday wishes and kindness I experienced today.  I am truly blessed.

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards

Sylvia Steyn

ssteyn@parklands.co.za

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