Secondary Faculty Weekly Memo

2 August 2024

FROM THE OFFICE

Dear Parents and Learners


Last week ended with three fabulous final performances of The Wizard of Oz.  We are pleased that over 2500 people got to see and appreciate the efforts of our cast and crew.  Special congratulations and thanks to Ms Cathy Dodders for producing and directing the show and to everyone else who worked hard behind the scenes.  It takes a lot of effort to make something seem effortless.

Ms Dodders

Director & Producer

Ms Mizrachi

Stage Manager and Chief Production Assistant

We received many complimentary emails and notes of congratulations, but I would like to share the one below:


Please accept my heartfelt appreciation for the invitation to the production that was showcased at your school on Friday evening.

 

Your team's ability to craft an immersive fantasy experience, complete with stunning special effects and compelling performances, clearly left a lasting impression on me. I have to acknowledge the exceptional direction of Ms. Catherine Dodders (très beau - beautifully articulated), that highlights the talent behind the scenes that brings such magic to life. The fantasy and magic conjured by the production team truly captivated me. Well done!!

 

Thank you for the amazing opportunities that you are creating for our children – I do believe that the lasting impressions of the artistry behind the scenes will be carried with them forever.  

 

Well-wishes for future productions and for the remainder of the academic year.

 

Kind regards

 

BERTRAM LORISTON

Deputy Director-General

Curriculum and Assessment Management 

Western Cape Education Department

Thank you

A very big thank you to our Oz Social Media Prize Sponsors:


McDonald's Parklands and N1 City (The Wood Family), Doodles (The Schenk Family) together with Siba Restaurant (The Mtongana Family).


The prize winners enjoyed the show and their special meals!

Friendly request

We remind parents of the exit gate east of the WG Grace pavilion and ask you to be considerate when picking up your children in the afternoons.  Please do not park in the roundabout or anywhere that will affect the flow of traffic.   

Please treat our security guards with respect when they ask you to move your vehicle.  They are following instructions to assist with traffic flow and do not deserve the abusive responses they unfortunately often get.

Matrics parking on campus


Every year we receive requests from learners driving themselves to school, to park their vehicles on the school grounds.  


We do not allow this for the following very important and well-considered reasons:



There are parking embayments in College Avenue where learners can park their vehicles and when that is full, there is ample parking space available at Checkers.  The parking area on the East side of the gate is also available for parking.  This can be accessed from Sandown Road.  There are also plenty of parking embayments in Dorothea Road next to the Astro turf, as well as North of the playing fields (Sagewood side).  Matrics can make arrangements at the IT desk to use the pedestrian entrance across from Sagewood to enter campus.

FEEDBACK

Robotics

On Saturday, 27 July, two Parklands College teams participated in the WRO Western Cape regional competition RoboSport category at Christel House. After a fun and eventful day, both teams advanced to the nationals. One of our teams, 'The Real Civil Engineers', consisting of Nkosinathi Nxumalo and Daniel Maidment, secured third place and won a bronze medal. Our second team, 'Super Robot Builders', consisting of Hugo Bazin and Enoch Onyems came in fourth. We look forward to attending the national competition with both our teams in Johannesburg on 13 September 2024.

Esports  


First team counter strike:


The first team for counter strike has had a flawless run this year, narrowly losing to rondebosch boys high school at the end of quarter 2. The learners have been working closely with Coach Graedon Hawtrhrone (Parklands Alumni 2022) to remedy their errors and strategies and are going strength to strength in the Quarter 3 Telkom HSEL Round Robin phase. 


Pictured from left to right back row: Michael Paul Roth (Head of Esports), Denis Ivanov, Tate Bishop, Graedon Hawthorne (Coach).

Front row: Logan Eskelson, Akshar Chandarman (Captain), Aeron Gore

Congratulations to the Second Team for Their Outstanding Performance!


We are thrilled to announce the remarkable victory of our second team in Counter-Strike against Hoërskool Oos-Moot. The team showcased exceptional skill and teamwork, securing a dominant win with a score of 13-1. I would also like to congratulate Leslie van Eck on his outstanding performance. Adam Muller, Leslie van Eck, Kevin Smal, Trey Pitro, Liam Kriel have put in a tremendous amount of work with their Coach Robert Jennens (Parklands Alumni 2022). This is the teams first win  Quarter 3 Telkom HSEL Round Robin phase and sets them up well for their next match against Rondebosch Boys High School next week. 


Pictured from left to right back row: Michael Paul Roth (Head of Esports)

Middle row: Liam Kriel, Leslie van Eck, Robert Jennens (Coach), 

Front row: Trey Pitro, Adam Muller (Captain), Kevin Smal (Video Call) 

ACADEMICS


Academic Links


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

🎓 Winter Quarter Timetables,  🎓Assessment Calendars, the  🎓 Tutorial Schedule, the  🎓 Grade 12 Prelim Exam Timetable, the  🎓Grade 12 Prelim Study Guidelines and the  🎓Grade 12 NSC Timetable.

Academic Achievers Tours


Academic Achievers from all over South Africa are invited to join Travel and Sport for an Academic Tour to one of the following destinations: Dubai, Ireland & England, and the USA.  Learners interested can collect an invitational envelope with more information from Reception on Monday. The full brochures with more details can be found on the links below.

AA_Dubai-Brochure-2025_Digital.pdf

Dubai

AA_USA-Brochure-2025_Digital.pdf

USA East Coast

AA_UKIreland-Brochure-2025_Digital.pdf

Ireland and England

International Mathematics Competition 

Jennifer Zhou in India as part of the InIMC Team

Computer Olympiad

Our FET IT learners participated in the first round of the National Programming Olympiad on Thursday and Friday this week. Learners were eager to test their problem-solving capabilities on these challenges which provided a unique opportunity for them to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, pushing the boundaries of their understanding and fostering a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of programming. The excitement was palpable as they navigated through complex algorithms and coding tasks, deriving immense satisfaction from each successfully solved problem. The participants will learn in 10 days whether they have advanced to the second round, scheduled for 28 August. Those who excel at round two will then proceed to the third round, which will take place at an external venue, yet to be confirmed, from 4-8 October 2024. 

Tour de Maths

We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievements of our Grade 8 and 9 learners who competed in Leg 4 of the Tour de Maths last night at Rondebosch. Our learners showcased their exceptional mathematical talents, and we are proud to announce the following results:

Parklands College currently holds 3rd place overall, just 75 points behind Bishops, with Rondebosch still in the lead. Notably, Aden van Rhyn is leading the individual scores, and Gerhard Vosloo is in 3rd position.

We look forward to the final leg of the competition for 2024, which will take place on 5 September at Bishops.  Well done to all our learners for their hard work and dedication. Your achievements make us incredibly proud!

Grade 7 Matific Olympiad


The Matific Maths Olympiad is a 5-day fun-filled online mathematics competition for primary school learners (age 4-12 years). Millions of students from over 20 countries participate in The Matific Olympiad every year. The aim of the Olympiad is to create a love of maths, reduce maths anxiety and develop learners’ confidence through the fun and interactive games on the platform.  We are extremely proud of the long hours our Grade 7s have put into the Matific Olympiad this week with some learners spending over 17 hours on the platform to reach Ruby status – the highest level in the competition. We look forward to awarding many certificates next week as we know our learners have given it their all. The competition ends this afternoon.

From the Drama Department

The FET Drama learners, accompanied by Ms. Dodders and Miss Mizrachi, recently attended a performance of "The Ugly Noo Noo" by South African theatre veteran Andrew Buckland at The Baxter Theatre. After the show, Mr. Buckland engaged in a post-performance discussion. Our learners had the privilege of listening to students from the UCT School of Drama ask insightful questions and hear Mr. Buckland’s responses about his work and career. He also shared valuable advice with the young, aspiring performers, emphasizing the importance of hard work and lifelong dedication to actor training. This experience was both wonderful and highly inspiring for our learners.

Grade 9 Drama Outing

The Grade 9 Drama learners were given the opportunity to watch The Ugly Noo Noo by Andrew Buckland at the Baxter Theatre.

"It was a great opportunity to watch a professional performance at the Baxter Theatre. I found the show very unique because there was only one actor, no props, or any electronic sounds, and even without these effects, it was still an entertaining show.  The actor, Andrew Buckland, who also wrote the show, is an amazing performer.  He used his voice to create all the sound effects and demonstrated great miming skills.  It was also a learning experience because Andrew shared a few interesting facts at the start of the show and helped us to see that so much can be done with just the human body. I thought that the lighting was extremely clever, as they used lighting effects to create different settings. After the show, we got to take a photo with Andrew Buckland. It was a wonderful experience."   - Madison Coleman (Grade 9)

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

Q3 EHL Digital Book Shelf 2024

From the Design Department

A Creative Journey: Grade 12 Design Learners' Outing to Montebello Design Centre and the Watershed at the V&A Waterfront.

In the heart of Cape Town, the Montebello Design Centre stands as a beacon for creativity and innovation. It recently became the destination for an inspiring outing by a group of budding design learners. This visit offered them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of design, arts, and craftsmanship. The Grade 12s have received the final practical exam paper from the WCED and have a choice between two themes, Design for a literacy campaign or Designing for a community market.

Montebello Design Centre is renowned for its vibrant community of artists, designers, and craftsmen. The center, nestled in the serene surroundings of Newlands, provides a nurturing environment for creative expression and innovation. With its rich history and eclectic mix of studios, galleries, and shops, Montebello serves as an ideal platform for aspiring designers to explore diverse creative practices.

Another key aspect of the outing was the emphasis on collaboration in the creative process. We also made a turn at the Design hub of Cape Town, the Watershed at the V&A Waterfront. This collaborative environment not only fostered a sense of community but also highlighted the importance of teamwork and communication in design.

As the day drew to a close, the learners gathered to reflect on their experiences. Many expressed how the outing had deepened their appreciation for the arts and inspired them to pursue their creative passions with renewed vigour. The exposure to a variety of art forms and the opportunity to interact with established designers were invaluable in shaping their understanding of the design world.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Grade 12 Visual Arts and Design Exhibition on Friday, 11 October. 

Grade 12 Design

LEARNER NEWS

Class and BITS Rep training

Thank you to the prefects for preparing our next set of learner leaders for the second semester.  Congratulations to everyone elected.

SPORT

external_sports_news@parklands.co.za


Head of Sport: tpillay@parklands.co.za

Rugby and Girls Soccer Coordinator: dviljoen@parklands.co.za

Chess, Boys Soccer & Cross Country Coordinator: mviljoen@parklands.co.za

Netball and Hockey Coordinator: sbloem@parklands.co.za

From the Secondary Head of Sport

The effects of a wet two and half weeks have caught up with many learners who are struggling with the flu or related illnesses.  This has resulted in some matches being cancelled by both us and our opposition.  I hope that our learners recover quickly to ensure that we can finish the season on a high.  This week our 1st Soccer lost to Elkanah 3-1 in a fiercely competitive match.  Our Netball girls travelled to De Kuilen yesterday.  It was a tough afternoon for our girls but our U19A team won 20 - 19 in a very close encounter.  Our Hockey girls played Tableview home and away.  Although our U19A team lost, we are slowly catching up to our neighbours.

Weekly Sport Video

Sports Week 3.mp4

Looking Ahead

This Saturday, our Hockey boys will face Jan Van Riebeeck, while our Rugby boys travel to Kraaifontein High. With a packed schedule next week, our Netball teams will be hosting CBC St John's on Monday and The Settlers High on Wednesday.

Our Soccer teams will be playing both home and away matches. The highlight is our 1st Girls' team facing Fairmont High(away). Additionally, our Rugby team will compete against Elsies River High on Thursday.

Please come out and support our learners as they compete in and around the city getting ready for Derby Day. Your encouragement means a lot to them.

Physical Education

This quarter, we continued to focus on our winter sports programs. The learners enjoy exploring sporting codes that are new to them, and we use our PE lessons to introduce these new experiences in a fun and engaging environment. By broadening their exposure to different sports, we aim to foster a love for physical activity and help them develop a diverse set of skills.

Cross Country:  Northern Zonal Team


On Wednesday both boys ran at the Northern Zone Championships at Brackenfell High School:


Steffan Hillebrand (Under 15) placed 4th

Luke Cloete (Under 14) placed 17th

Congratulations to Luke and Steffan who have been selected to represent the Northern Zonal Cross Country team.  They will be competing next week at the Western Province championships.  

LEARNER ACHIEVEMENTS





Jake Hutton:  Lifesaving

Jake was Nominated for the Junior Athlete of the year award for Lifesaving South Africa.   This is an amazing achievement to be nominated for this prestigious award.



Wishing you everything of the best, Jake.  Keep it up!

Karate

Congratulations to Luke Le Grange for achieving and receiving his black belt in karate and making the Western Province Team:


They will compete from 9-11 August at SA Champs in Bloemfontein.


Here he is with his brother Levi (Grade 6, Parklands Senior Preparatory) who also attained black belt and Western Province and will also be competing at SA Champs in Bloemfontein.


Our very best wishes accompany them.


Weekly Sport Results

Weekly Sport Programme

Sport Uniform

DRAMA

Western Cape Virtual Eisteddfod

The Dramatic Arts learners participated in the Western Cape Virtual Eisteddfod. We are extremely proud of them for representing the college and showcasing their incredible skills and hard work. Congratulations to the following learners on their outstanding achievements:

Thomas Janisch - Cum Laude (Monologue & Poetry), Uminathi May - Cum Laude (Monologue), Alexandra Bester - Cum Laude (Monologue) & Gold (Scene & Ensemble Piece), Taya Pather - Cum Laude (Monologue), Gold (Ensemble Piece) & Silver (Scene), Morgan Santo - Cum Laude (Monologue), Gold (Ensemble Piece) & Silver (Scene), Liat Demissew - Cum Laude (Monologue), Lesa Pokwana - Cum Laude (Monologue), Jorja Hoppé - Cum Laude (Poetry), Joel Apalata - Gold (Monologue), Jean-Michelle De Blanche - Gold (Monologue), Ayabulela Momoti - Gold (Monologue), Joshua Carrington - Gold (Scene & Ensemble Piece) & Silver (Monologue), Dean de Jongh - Gold (Scene & Ensemble Piece) & Silver (Monologue), Talia Folb  - Gold (Scene & Monologue), Haydn Hermanus  - Gold (Ensemble Piece) & Silver (Monologue), Bonke Mayiya - Gold (Ensemble Piece & Monologue), Mutshidzi Mudau - Gold (Ensemble Piece & Monologue), Brandon Strydom - Gold (Monologue, Ensemble Piece & Scene), Trinity Vos - Gold (Ensemble Piece) & Bronze (Monologue), Madison Coleman - - Gold (Poetry) & Silver (Monologue), Joshua Crosson - Gold (Monologue), Logan De Araujo - Gold (Monologue), Amelia Huang - Gold (Monologue), Jenna Scholtz - Gold (Monologue), Alecea Vieira - Gold (Monologue), Zelda Deiner - Gold (Poetry), Tameryn Edmondson - Silver (Monologue), Liya De Allende - Silver (Scene), Alutha Ngquba - Silver (Scene), Caterina Frazzitta - Silver (Poetry), Ella Frielinghaus - Silver (Monologue), Sesona Mbovane - Silver (Monologue), Leslie Van Eck - Silver (Monologue), Eva Sutherland - Silver (Poetry), Daniel Maclagan - Bronze (Monologue) & Jason Bannon - Merit (Monologue)

Debating

Trophy winners!

Seniors in the Finals

The National Debating League has come to a close, and we can finally celebrate all the incredible hard work and dedication of our students. This journey began on January 30 at the Orientation Event at Parklands College. Since then, our teams have passionately argued, expertly rebutted, skillfully replied, and formed meaningful connections with many different people. The results truly speak for themselves.


Out of 96 teams, 482 speakers, and 45 schools, we are immensely proud of the following achievements:


GRADE 7 TEAM

Overall Division Rank: 8th 

 

Speaker Rankings:  

- Minentle Madikane - Rank 17  

- Jimmy Kieu - Rank 22  

- Isabella Ankiah - Rank 47  


GRADE 8-9 TEAM 

Overall Division Rank: 2nd - Bringing home the Silver Trophy!  


Speaker Rankings:  

- Kaylee Mestre - Rank 5  

- Liat Demissew - Rank 18  

- Aden van Rhyn - Rank 38  


GRADE 10+ TEAM  

Overall Division Rank: 8th 

 

Speaker Rankings:  

- Imrah Salie - Rank 13  

- Callum Mckechnie - Rank 25  

- Aisha Salie - Rank 34  

- Mbali Nhuku - Rank 35  


Rotary Debating:  

Our Junior Team remains undefeated this year and has advanced to the Quarter Finals next Monday. We are cheering them on and hope they continue this amazing run all the way to the end!


Our Senior Team, having qualified for Octofinals, unfortunately, faced a tough loss on Monday. Nonetheless, they put up an incredible fight and delivered their finest performance yet.


We couldn't be prouder of all our teams. Congratulations to each and every one of you! Your hard work, resilience, and dedication are truly inspiring.

MUSIC

This week has been filled with numerous rehearsals as we prepare our ensembles for upcoming performances.  Today, we delighted the residents of Vue du Cap Retirement Home with an uplifting musical performance. On Monday, 5 August, several of our musicians will participate in the Youth Bridges Orchestral concert at the Senior Preparatory Campus. This event is a fundraiser for an under-resourced music education program, and tickets are available through Webtickets, concert starts at 19:00-20:15. We encourage you to support this important cause and enjoy an evening of inspiring music.

Want to learn an instrument? Let's Go!!!!!

Should you be interested in starting an instrument. Please have this form completed: https://forms.gle/MMYD7bH2Ak2iVXgL7

Music Department Educator Contact Details

EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

We hosted our Learner Equity Training Session of our Second Semester Council.  Hosted by Murendeni Tsanwani and Daniel Roux together with Mr Bates and Mrs Matsimela, the group had a a terrific afternoon. Many thought provoking discussions and insights were shared.

We congratulate our new Learner Equity Council for the 2nd Semester and wish them well with their service.

Grade 7: Akhanya Ngqongwa and Nokhukhanya Khumalo; Grade 8: Wanganae Masindi and Emma Fourie; Grade 9: Aphelele Momoti; Grade 10: Fabianna Vermeulen and Naeha Naidu, Grade 11: Brandon Strydom, Mutshidzi Mudau, Alexandra Bester, Khanya Gomba and Trent McCulloch.




Today we collaborated with the Service Portfolio and hosted our Women's Day and August Awareness Month Assembly. 

We are thankful for our speaker, Ms Crystal Donna Roberts from Arendsvlei fame who delivered a truly impactful address to our learners today.

On Wednesday, August 7, in collaboration with the UNITY CLUB, we will be hosting the team from GRIT: Gender Rights in Tech. This innovative company has developed three tech-based solutions: a mobile application featuring Zuzi, the AI chatbot; a WhatsApp helpline that facilitates reporting, provides guidance, and connects survivors to legal professionals; and in-person court support and access to post-violence care. We look forward to learning more about this groundbreaking work and the inspiring women behind it as we head into our Women's Day weekend.

LEARNER SUPPORT 


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

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


Psychometric Assessments - currently a waiting list available


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 to avoid disappointment. (Please note assessments are a billable service). The assessment slots for Quarter 3 and 4 are fully booked


If you are interested please let us know and we will put you on the waiting list should an assessment slot become available. 


TERTIARY STUDIES


STELLENBOSCH SPORTS BURSARIES


Maties Sport Performance Bursary Applications are now open

If you would like to apply, be sure to read the below criteria and guidelines on our website regarding our sport bursaries for 2025.

Apply here >> https://sport.sun.ac.za/bursary-applications/

For more details and enquiries, contact the Maties Sport office.

#matiessport #whoyoubecome



CRIMSON EDUCATION

Join us for the webinar:


Former Admissions Officer Tour - Cape Town 2024

Friday 30 August 2024 17:00 - 19:00 (SAST/CAT)

Click HERE to register for the event



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

Happy smiles when past learners return to see the show ...