Pre-Primary Weekly Memo
24 July 2026

Dear Parents

Welcome Back to Quarter 3!

It was wonderful to welcome all our children back to school this week after the break. We were also delighted to welcome several new children and their families to our Pre-Primary Faculty.

The classrooms were soon buzzing with excitement as the children reconnected with their friends and teachers. Engaging activities, happy conversations and cheerful singing filled the classrooms and passages, bringing our school back to life.

It has been such a joy to have our children back, and we look forward to a happy and exciting quarter ahead!

"Why?" - The Question Preschoolers Love Most

“Why is the moon following us?”
“Why do birds fly?”
“Why do I have to sleep?”

And sometimes… the very same question asked five minutes later!

If you have a preschooler at home, repeated questions are probably a familiar part of your day. While it may occasionally feel tiring for adults, this stage is actually a very important part of early childhood development.

Young children are naturally curious about the world around them. Their minds are constantly trying to make sense of new experiences, ideas, and information. Asking questions — especially the same question repeatedly — is one of the ways they learn best.

Often, children are not simply looking for an answer. Repeated questioning may mean they are:

trying to understand something more clearly,
checking that information stays consistent,
practising language and conversation,
seeking reassurance, or
simply enjoying the interaction with a trusted adult.

For preschoolers, repetition brings comfort and familiarity. Each repeated conversation helps strengthen understanding, memory, communication, and confidence.

You may also notice that your child sometimes asks a question they already know the answer to. This is very common! In many cases, children enjoy the connection that comes with the conversation itself. A simple question can really mean:
“Talk with me.”
“Listen to me.”
“I enjoy spending time with you.”

Repeated questions also help children to:

expand their vocabulary,
develop thinking and reasoning skills,
improve communication,
learn how conversations work, and
build confidence in expressing themselves.

As adults, our responses can encourage children to stay curious and engaged. Here are a few helpful ways to respond:

Encourage thinking
“What do you think?”
This allows children to explore their own ideas and build confidence.

Extend the conversation
“Yes, we can see the moon during the day sometimes too!”
Adding small pieces of information keeps learning interesting.

Keep it playful
“You ask wonderful questions!”
A positive response helps children feel safe and confident to keep learning.

Be patient with repetition
Even when the same question appears many times, remember that curiosity is a sign of healthy growth and development.

Childhood is filled with wonder, and questions are one of the ways young children discover the world around them. Every “why?” opens the door to conversation, learning, and connection.

A curious child is a child who is learning.

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”

― Albert Einstein

A Few Helpful Reminders

Breakfast – At Home
A nutritious breakfast gives children the energy they need to learn, play, and participate fully in their day. Please ensure your child enjoys a healthy breakfast before arriving at school each morning.

Snacks and Lunch – Provided at School
A balanced mid-morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack are provided daily. Should you wish to send an additional snack, please ensure it is healthy, clearly labelled, and nut-free.

Nut-Free Environment
Please do not send any foods containing nuts or nut products, as we have children with severe nut allergies.

Wet Wipes and Tissues
Please send one box of tissues and one packet of wet wipes at the beginning of each quarter.

Sunblock and Hats
Please apply sunblock before school each morning. We will reapply sunblock during the day using the bottle supplied by each family. A clearly labelled hat should remain in your child's school bag for daily outdoor play.

Immunisations
If your child's immunisations have recently been updated, please send a copy of their Road-to-Health card for our records.

Shoes
Please ensure your child wears well-fitting, closed shoes that support safe movement during indoor and outdoor play.

Labelling Belongings
Please label all clothing, lunch containers, water bottles, hats, and other personal belongings with your child's name and surname to help us return misplaced items quickly.

Parent and Learner Directory

Please read through the Parent and Learner Directory, which includes important information about Parklands College and the Pre-Primary learners.

Pre-Primary Parent and Learner Directory

A Library Adventure

We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.

Nelson Mandela

A great favourite in our library is this gentle book about growing up and being a great leader. Following the lives of eight children who became famous leaders, young children are introduced to important issues and the people who made a difference. One of these children is Nelson Mandela, who was the first person in his family to go to school. He had to wear a pair of trousers that belonged to his father and were much too big for him, as he had no suitable clothes for school.

What all these children had in common, however, is that they were not focused on bettering themselves only, but they dreamed of improving inequality and fairness for everyone in the world.

As we celebrated Mandela Day this past week, we were reminded that small acts of kindness can indeed make the world a better place.

Birthday Book Donation

A big thank you to Amirah for generously donating the beautiful storybook, Wanda, to our school library in celebration of her birthday.

Wanda is a heartwarming story about kindness, friendship, and embracing what makes each of us unique. It reminds young readers of the importance of compassion and accepting others just as they are.

Thank you, Amirah, for this wonderful gift. We know it will be enjoyed by many children for years to come. Happy Birthday, and thank you for helping our library grow! 💛

A big thank you to Elle for generously donating the beautiful storybook, Dilbert Dragon and the Magic Garden, to our school library in celebration of her birthday.

This delightful story takes young readers on a magical adventure filled with imagination, discovery and wonder. It is sure to capture the hearts of our children and inspire a love of reading.

Thank you, Elle, for this wonderful gift. We know it will be enjoyed by many children for years to come. Happy Birthday, and thank you for helping our library grow! 💛

Vaccinations

NASA Astronaut to Visit Parklands College

Parklands College is excited to welcome former NASA astronaut, educator, and STEAM advocate Dorothy "Dottie" Metcalf-Lindenburger as part of Space Tour 2026, a nationwide initiative presented in partnership with Living Maths. Running from 22 July to 4 August 2026, the tour will visit Cape Town, Gauteng, Durban, and selected remote communities, inspiring learners, educators, and families through the wonders of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

As part of the Cape Town programme, Dottie will present a special public evening at Parklands College on Monday, 3 August 2026, from 18:00 to 20:30. This is a rare opportunity to hear first-hand about life as a NASA astronaut, the challenges of space exploration, and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for future generations.

Dottie flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on the historic STS-131 mission to the International Space Station in 2010, serving as Mission Specialist and robotic arm operator. During the mission, the crew delivered more than 27,000 pounds of equipment to the ISS while travelling 6.2 million miles over 238 Earth orbits. She was also part of the first mission in history during which four women were simultaneously in space.

Before becoming an astronaut, Dottie was an earth science and astronomy teacher and was selected by NASA through the Educator Astronaut Program in 2004. She later commanded the NEEMO 16 underwater exploration mission and continues to inspire young people around the world through her work as a global STEAM education advocate.

Speaking about the tour, Steve Sherman, Chief Imagination Officer of Living Maths, shared: "When young people in South Africa meet someone who has travelled beyond Earth, it changes the way they think about their futures. Curiosity and talent are universal; opportunity is not. This tour is designed to help bridge that gap."

Dottie echoed this vision, saying: "Science and exploration thrive when young people are encouraged to ask questions, solve problems, and imagine boldly. I'm honoured to share experiences from space exploration, teamwork, and discovery with audiences across South Africa."

We look forward to welcoming Dottie to Parklands College for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of inspiration, discovery, and possibility.

Tickets: Book here on Quicket

A Peek Into Our Week

Crackerjacks

It has been so lovely to welcome the Crackerjacks back after the winter holidays. Seeing the joy on their faces as they reunited with their friends has been truly heartwarming. Their smiles, laughter, and excitement have filled our classrooms with happiness once again, and we are looking forward to a wonderful quarter of learning, growth, and fun together.

This week we have been learning about our Golden Rules and the importance of being kind, respectful, and caring toward others. This theme has also provided a wonderful opportunity to explore our feelings and to recognise and understand the feelings of those around us. By encouraging children to identify and express their emotions in healthy ways, while developing empathy for others, we are laying the foundation for strong emotional intelligence. These skills help children build positive relationships, navigate challenges with confidence, and develop resilience that will support them throughout their lives. Songs such as Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink and I Love You, You Love Me have been filling our classrooms, reinforcing these messages of friendship, kindness, and belonging joyfully and engagingly.

Grade 000

It has been wonderful welcoming all our little friends back after the winter holidays! Our children settled back into their classroom routines so beautifully, and it has been lovely to see their smiling faces and excitement to be back with their friends.

During morning ring, the Tigger Class enjoyed a fun matching game that encouraged observation, concentration, and early thinking skills.

To celebrate Mandela Day, which took place over the weekend, both the Tigger and Piglet classes designed their very own Mandela shirts. The children loved getting creative while learning about kindness, helping others, and making a positive difference in our communities.

We are looking forward to another exciting term filled with learning, laughter, and lots of fun.

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Grade 00

What a wonderful start to the quarter! It has been so lovely welcoming all our learners back into the classroom. There were lots of smiles, happy reunions and excited chatter as friends caught up after the break. A very special welcome to all our new learners. We are so excited to have you join our Gr 00 family, and we can't wait to make many happy memories together.

This week was all about settling in, getting comfortable with our classroom routines and easing back into learning. We took things nice and slow to help everyone feel happy, confident and ready for the exciting weeks ahead.

We also began exploring the fascinating topic of Seasons! The children enjoyed their first introduction to this theme and their curiosity and enthusiasm have been wonderful to see. There is so much more to discover, and we'll continue our seasonal adventures next week.

We are looking forward to another week filled with fun, learning, laughter and lots of exciting discoveries. Here's to a fantastic term ahead! 🌈

Grade R Parklands Playground
Our Grade R children enjoyed a wonderful morning of connection, creativity, problem-solving and collaboration at Parklands Playground.

The children built rockets in the Makerspace, created marble runs, completed unplugged coding missions and used Soft Bricks and Six Bricks to design their own aliens.

The focus of the morning was not only on the final product, but on the process of innovation. The children were encouraged to explore, think creatively, take on challenges and work together to find solutions. They had opportunities to make mistakes, learn from them, adjust their ideas and try again.

It was a fun and engaging morning filled with imagination, teamwork and discovery.

A heartfelt thank you to all our special visitors for spending the morning with our Grade R children and joining in the activities.

2026 Information

2026 Dates

Summer Quarter: 20 Jan - 26 March

Autumn Quarter: 8 April - 24 June

Winter Quarter: 22 July - 23 Sept

Spring Quarter: 14 Oct - 4 Dec

2027 Dates

Provisional 2027 Quarter Dates

Summer - 19 Jan - 18 March

Autumn - 7 April - 23 June

Winter - 21 July - 22 Sept

Spring - 6 Oct - 3 Dec

Winter Quarter Information

Winter Quarter Important Dates

WINTER QUARTER:

27 July: Extra murals commence

29 July Reptile Show - Grade 0000 and Grade 000

30 July Reptile Show - Grade 00
30 July 11:00 - 11:30 - Christopher Robin’s, Edward Bear’s and Rabbit’s Golf Lesson

11:30 - 12:00 - Honey Bee’s and Pooh Bear’s Golf Lesson

31 July Reptile Show - Grade R (Edward Bear's and Rabbit's)

Reptile Show - Grade R (Christopher Robin's, Kanga's and Owl's)

2 August: Happy Birthday Jo Ismail

5 August: Aquarium Puppet Show (Grade 0000)

6 August: Aquarium Puppet Show (Grade 000)

Aquarium Puppet Show (Grade 00)

7 August: Cake Sale: Grade R (Kanga’s, Edward Bear’s and Christopher Robin’s)

8 August Happy Birthday Asange Gqibane

9 August: Public Holiday: National Women’s Day

10 August: Public Holiday: National Women’s Day observed

13 August Happy Birthday Shannon Marx

Happy Birthday Masanda

14 August: Happy Birthday Mavis Ngcwama

16 August: Happy Birthday Busi Mdunyelwa

28 August: Cake Sale: Grade 00 and Grade R (Rabbit’s)

1 September: SPCA Dress-up Day @R20 donation in celebration of Spring Day

3 September: Grade R Graduation Photographs

3 September: Robbie Robot (Grade 000)

09:00 - 09:30 - 3 - 4 years Tigger's House

09:45 - 10:15 - 3 - 4 years Piglet's House

4 September: Museum of Illusions (All Grade R classes)

08:00 Depart from Christopher RobinPre-Primary

11:00 Return from Museum of Illusions

7 September: Special Person’s Day Grade 000 11:00-12:00 (Tea and Coffee for Adults in Foyer)

8 September: Special Person’s Day Grade 00 11:00-12:00 (Tea and Coffee for Adults in Foyer)

9 September: Special Person’s Day Crackerjacks 10:30 - 11:30 (Tea and Coffee for Adults in Foyer)

10 September: Special Person’s Day Grade R 11:00-12:00 (Tea and Coffee for Adults in Foyer)

9 September: Happy Birthday Kim Truebody

11 September: Cake Sale: Grade 000, Crackerjacks and Grade R (Owl’s)

12 September: Open Day

13 September: Happy Birthday Ntombi Ntlabe

15 September: Happy birthday Zodwa Ntombizodwa

14 September: Reports sent to parents

15 - 22 Sept: Report Feedback Meetings Grade 0000 - R

18 September Class Photographs (All Grades)

19 September Happy Birthday Amy Dean

21 September Concert Photographs (Grade R)

22 September Concert Photographs (Grade 000 and 00)

22 September: Happy Birthday Lungi Voxeka

23 September: Last day of the quarter
Heritage Dress Up Day All Grades (Boerewors rolls for lunch)

24 September: Public Holiday: Heritage Day

Winter Quarter Theme Discussions

Please view below for details on our winter quarter theme discussions in each grade:

Grade R Theme Boards Quarter 3 .pdf

Crackerjacks Theme Boards.pdf

Grade 00 Theme Boards.pdf

Grade 000Theme Boards.pdf

Reptile Show (All grades)

The learners will have the opportunity to view various snakes like: Brown House Snake, Milk Snake/King Snake, Boa Constrictor, Reticulated Python, as well as a Gecko, Tortoise and a Rock Monitor‎.

Each learner will also get a free ticket to visit any of the 2 reptile parks that Reptile World runs in the Western Cape.

29 July Grade 0000 and Grade 000

30 July Grade 00

31 July Grade R

The amount of R60 will be billed to your account.

Cake Sales – A Monthly Treat!

Each grade has the opportunity to contribute to a cake sale, and the children eagerly look forward to their special treat. We ask that cupcakes, popcorn, crisps, muffins, etc., be sent to the class on the allocated cake sale date. Please ensure all items are nut-free and do not include sweets.

To keep appetites in check, we recommend that children spend no more than R2 at the cake sale. You may send R2 on the day in a sealed envelope/packet or prepay for the quarter (R6 per term, R24 for the year).

🍰 Upcoming Cake Sale Date 🍰

📅 7 August: Grade R (Kanga’s, Edward Bear’s and Christopher Robin’s)
📅 28 August: Grade 00 and Grade R (Rabbits)
📅 11 September: Grade 000 and Crackerjacks and Grade R (Owl’s)

We appreciate your support in making our Cake Sale a success! If you would like to contribute by sending in baked/bought goods or snacks, please complete this form.

Cake Sale Contributions

We have space for 8 parents to help sell treats on the day. If you would like to volunteer, please complete the form below.

Cake Sale Parent Volunteer Sign Up

Thank you for your support!

Special Person's Day

We warmly invite one special person to join your little one for a memorable morning in their classroom, filled with fun, laughter and precious shared moments.

This is a wonderful opportunity to step into your child's world, take part in classroom activities, and create special memories together. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or another cherished family member, we look forward to welcoming you for this morning.

Winter Quarter Extra Mural Information

Extra Murals commence on Monday, 27 July.

Physical Education and Ball Skills Offering

As part of our pre-primary programme, physical dducation will take place from Grade 000. In Grade 00 and Grade R, ball skills forms part of the extra offering, and all children in these grades will attend during their allocated time.

The sessions will take place as follows:

Grades 000: Monday
Grades 00: Friday

Grade R:
Tuesday: Owls, Rabbits, Edward Bears and Christopher Robin
Thursday: Kangas

We look forward to seeing the children develop their movement, coordination, teamwork and ball skills through these fun and active sessions.

Grade R Graduation

Heads Up: Graduation Photographs - Thursday, 3 September

The very special Grade R Graduation photographs will be taken on Thursday, 3 September during the morning. A treasured keepsafe for many years to come!

On the morning of Thursday, 3 September, please send your little one to school dressed in the following:

Boys:

• Grey school shorts

• Grey long school socks folded over (Only available to purchase in-store from the School &
Leisure Uniform Shop, or Online) (Link)

• Black school shoes

• White short-sleeved school shirt with button-up collar

• School tie. (Only available to purchase in-store from the School &
Leisure Uniform Shop, or Online) (Link)

• A graduation cape will be supplied for the photographs

• No blazers are required for the photographs or graduation ceremony

Boys’ grey school shorts and white button-up short-sleeve shirts and black shoes, can be purchased at Woolworths, Edgars, Ackermans, Jet or PEP. Kindly label all clothing items.

Girls:

• Pink full-length ballet tights (available from Belinda at Ballet Basics 021 558 9897 / 074 114 6661 or Dance Euphoria 021 557 6887)

• White or light coloured underwear (with no pictures)

• Ballet shoes for those that have. (The school will supply the girls with ballet shoes if they do not have a pair).

• A graduation cape and dress will be supplied for the photographs.

Please tie your daughter’s hair into a neat pony, should it be long enough. Please ensure that every item is clearly marked with your child’s name and that a change of clothes is sent for the remainder of the day after the photographs.

UNIFORM SUPPLIER: SCHOOL & LEISURE, N1 CITY

The friendly staff at School & Leisure are waiting to serve you!

Address: SCHOOL & LEISURE

N1 City Mall, Shop 84B

Louwtjie Rothman Street, Goodwood

Trading Hours:

Monday – Friday: 08:30 – 18:00

Saturday: 08:30 – 16:00

Sunday: 09:00 – 13:00

Contact No.: Tel 021 205 1951

Email: goodwood@schoolandleisure.co.za

Website: www.schoolandleisure.co.za

Store Manager: Ashley Schwartz

You may order online by visiting the website.

Parent Business Directory

College parents are able to list their businesses in our Parent Business Directory for free – www.parklands.co.za/parent-business-directory/.

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...

Staffing

We are delighted to welcome Micaela Scritten to the Christopher Robin Pre-Primary family as our new School Nurse.

Micaela is a Registered Professional Nurse and Midwife with valuable experience in caring for infants and young children. Her warm, nurturing nature, combined with her clinical expertise and genuine commitment to children's health and wellbeing, makes her a wonderful addition to our school community.

We are excited to have Micaela as part of our team and look forward to the care, support and reassurance she will bring to our learners, staff and families. We wish her every happiness and success as she begins this new chapter with us.

Conclusion: Mandela Day

To honour Mandela Day, we collected shoes for those in need and donated them to the Grace Foundation.

A heartfelt thank you to all our parents for the wonderful donations and generous support. Together, we collected an incredible 255 pairs of shoes!

Every pair will help make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. Through small acts of kindness, we can create a lasting impact.

Enjoy the weekend!

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Pre-Primary Weekly Memo24 July 2026