Dear Parents

As we prepare to bid farewell to the Grade R class of 2024, we are proud and joyful for the incredible journey our little ones have undertaken this year. Watching them grow into confident, curious, and independent learners has been a truly rewarding experience for us all.

Your unwavering support and dedication as parents and guardians have been instrumental in shaping this transformative year for your children. Together, we have laid the foundation for their next exciting chapter in Grade 1 and beyond. The values, friendships, and skills nurtured in this early stage will undoubtedly accompany them as they continue to flourish. 

Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s first steps into formal education. It has been a privilege to partner with you in fostering a loving and enriching environment. We eagerly await seeing the Class of 2024 in their smart new uniforms next year, ready to embrace new opportunities and challenges.

Wishing each one of them all the best in this exciting next phase of their journey! 

Pre-Primary Principal's Address

Good morning and welcome to everyone here today—a special welcome to the management team, principals, associate principals and Executive Prefects of 2025. 

A warm welcome to our parents, special guests, and families. We are so pleased to have you here to celebrate this very special occasion with us.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to the incredible team who made today possible: our dedicated teachers and classroom assistants for their unwavering commitment to the children, Mrs Elise Crouse for her expertise and guidance at the piano, Ms. Cassandra Mönnig for nurturing the children’s musical talents, and our technical support team for ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Your contributions make events like these truly special, and we deeply appreciate all that you do.

I think you’ll all agree with me when I say that the children have already made us incredibly proud this morning. Their beautiful recorder performance and heartfelt rendition of the Xhosa song were moving. What a wonderful reminder of the talent, dedication, and joy that each child brings to our school.

As I stand here, I’m reminded of a thought-provoking message I recently came across. It begins by asking a series of questions about the most celebrated people in the world—wealthiest individuals, Nobel laureates, award winners—and then gently points out how few of us can actually recall these names.

The message goes on to remind us of what truly matters: the people who leave a lasting impact on our lives are not necessarily the ones with the most credentials, awards, or fame.

Instead, they are the ones who cared, the ones who taught us something worthwhile, and the ones who made us feel special.

Today, as we celebrate this milestone in the lives of our Grade R learners, I want to take a moment to recognise not just their achievements but the incredible people who have shaped them—parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends. Your love, support, and guidance have made all the difference.

For our young graduates, this day is a reminder that their journey is just beginning. It is not the accolades or certificates they will receive that will define their success. It is the relationships they build, the kindness they show, and the lessons they carry forward that will truly matter.

To our parents and guardians, thank you for trusting us to be a part of your children’s journey. We hope that, as they step into the next chapter of their schooling, they will continue to be curious, compassionate, and confident individuals.

Let us celebrate not only what they have achieved today but also the bright and meaningful futures that lie ahead.

Founder and Managing Director's Address 

Good morning and welcome to our 44th Graduation Ceremony.

This morning, we honour our Graduates and bid them a fond farewell as they progress to BIG school and the excitement of Grade 1.

We look forward to observing our futurepreners as they move through the College over the next 12 years and hopefully matriculate with us in 2036.

Our Pre-Primary has challenged, inspired and instilled in each one, a sense of wonder in the world in which they live. They are ready and well-prepared for their entry into formal education. It is with confidence that we hand them over to Mrs. Lamb and her team of specialists.

Robert Fulghum wrote the following, which aptly describes how we should live our lives and as parents, you may still recall some of these valuable lessons from your days in Pre-School. Wisdom was not at the top of the Graduate Mountain, but there in the sandbox where we learned…

to share everything.
to play fair and not hit people,
to not take things that weren’t ours and we said sorry when we hurt somebody.
to wash our hands before we ate.
to flush
and remembered warm cookies and cold milk were good for us.
to live a balanced life.
We learned some, thought some, drew and painted and sang, danced and played and worked some, every day.
We remembered that when we went out into the world, we needed to watch for traffic, held hands and stuck together.
To be aware of wonder.
Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots went down and the plant grew up and nobody really knew how or why, but we were all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup – they all die. So do we.
And remember the book about Dick and Jane, and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: LOOK.
Everything we needed to know was in there somewhere.

The Golden Rules,

• treat others as we would want to be treated,

• remember, love and basic sanitation,

• Ecology and politics,

• and sane living.

Think of what a better world it would be if we all – the whole world – had cookies and milk at about 3 o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap.

Or if we had a basic policy in our nations and always put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own mess. And it is still true; no matter how old we are, when we go out into the world, it is better to hold hands and stick together.

The importance of sharing true values such as these with our children ensures that we continue raising responsible, independent, thoughtful and kind young people.

Our love and best wishes accompany each and every graduate. We are hopeful they will continue to hold hands and stick together on the exciting journey that awaits them.

Riëtte, we thank you and each member of your team for making our Pre-Primary the wonderful place that it is, and for contributing towards the outstanding teaching and learning that takes place each day.

On behalf of the family of the College, our Chair, Board, Principals and educators –

May the holiday season bring you its treasures in abundance, lasting friendships, family joys, health and prosperity, and finally, our sincere appreciation to our Pre-Primary parent body, for entrusting us with your child’s future. Remember, it is a journey we can all share.

Thank you.

Graduation Photographs 

For our Grade R families, individual graduation photographs have already been printed and are included in a special keepsake folder alongside the graduation certificate, which was handed out following the ceremony on Friday, 22 November.

This is the final call to order additional graduation photographs! A group photograph and extra individual photographs are available at R60 each. Orders must be placed by Monday, 27 November, as we will be sending them to the printers immediately thereafter to ensure they are ready for distribution before the school closes.

To place your order, please email Liezl Stander at lstander@parklands.co.za. Kindly note that all orders will be billed to your account.

Peter's Adventures Concert Photographs 

Parents are welcome to order concert photographs by emailing Liezl Stander at lstander@parklands.co.za; R60 per photo will be billed to their account. The cut-off date for concert photo orders is Wednesday, 27 November.

Safety and Gate Times

In our ongoing commitment to prioritising the safety and well-being of our little ones, we have made adjustments to the school gate access times. These changes are effective immediately and are as follows:

• Morning drop-off: Gates open from 7h30 to 8h30.

• Half-day collection: Gates open from 12h45 to 14h00, as aftercare begins promptly at 14h00.

• Aftercare collection: Gates open from 16h00 to 17h00.

We understand that routine changes can be challenging, and we deeply appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we strive to create a secure environment for all. 

To help make the half-day collection time slot (12h45–14h00) more convenient, Grade 000 and 00 children will be waiting in the foyer for quick and easy collection. 

Please note that from 14h00 onwards, all children will join the aftercare groups, and accounts will be billed the ad hoc aftercare fee for any additional care provided. 

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for every child in our care. Should you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out—we are here to listen and assist.

Spring Quarter Outreach 

Health

Registered Nurse: Amy Dolley

Important Dates - Spring Quarter

25 November: Class lists released (Grade 0000 - R 2025) 

29 November: Bop Boppers (All grades) 

29 November: Grade 000 and Crackerjacks Cake Sale 

29 November: Reports sent to parents 

2 December:  Splash and Class Parties 

4 December:  Last day of the quarter - School closes at 11:00 

Class Lists For 2025 (Grade 0000 - R 2025) 

Class Placements (please refer to our Parent and Learner Directory)

Our primary goal is to create a balanced environment where each little one can thrive. To do this, we carefully consider every child’s class placement. Our team of teachers and management thoughtfully consider each child’s unique emotional, social, and academic needs, as well as the social dynamics among the children, to ensure that each learner is placed in the best possible setting for the year ahead. 

While we understand that some parents may have preferences, we hope you’ll trust in our teachers' expertise and our commitment to placing each child where they can flourish. This process is a substantial undertaking, with many hours of collaboration and consideration going into each decision. We are dedicated to making choices that will allow every child to feel supported and thrive within their classroom community.

Bob Boppers: Friday, 29 November (All)

Bella and Banjo, The Bop Boppers are a colourful and cheeky brother and sister Alien duo, who have come to visit Planet Earth for the very first time. This show is all about having fun and getting involved with plenty of singing and dancing to end the year on a high note. The amount of R25.00 will be billed to your account.

Final Cake Sale for the Year

As we approach the end of the year, we are excited to host our final cake sale for 2024! These sales are always a highlight, with children eagerly looking forward to enjoying a little treat. 

We kindly ask families to contribute items such as popcorn, crisps, muffins, or cupcakes for their class’s cake sale date. To promote a healthy balance, we encourage healthier options wherever possible. Please also ensure that all items donated do not contain nuts. If you are purchasing pre-packaged goods, we ask that you check the sell-by date before sending them to school. 

Children are welcome to bring R2 to participate in the cake sale. Please send this in a sealed envelope or packet. 

Parents wanting to assist with their class/grade cake sale are welcome to notify their child’s teacher. Kindly arrive no earlier than 09h45 to help with setting up the items. 

2025

2025 Dates 

Please note that there has been a slight change to the 2025 dates indicated in blue below:

Provisional dates for 2025
Summer Quarter: 20 January – 28 March
Autumn Quarter: 08 April- 25 June
*Mid-term break: 29 April – 2 May
Winter Quarter: 22 July – 23 Sept
Spring Quarter: 14 October – 05 December

2025 Grade R Information (Current Pooh Bear's and Roo's House) 

The Grade R stationery kit for 2025 as detailed below is payable via Credit Card, Direct Deposit or EFT to Waltons, before Friday, 13 December 2024.  The kit will be used daily to promote handwriting, literacy and numeracy in an informal and fun manner within the classroom. The paid stationery will be delivered to the school and issued to your child’s class teacher before the Summer Quarter 2025. 

Grade R Stationery Requirements 

Please note that the complete Waltons kit is available at a discounted price. However, if any items are substituted or removed, the discount will no longer apply.

2025 Grade 1 Information 

Dear Parents

The Junior Preparatory Faculty cannot wait to welcome your little one to Grade 1 in 2025. I look forward to getting to know them and will soon visit their class to read a story and introduce myself.

Although the children will have a "pop in" during the school day to meet their teacher on 27 November, there will be a special Orientation for them to spend some time with their teachers on Wednesday 15 January from 13:00 - 14:00.  Parents are welcome to stay and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee in the foyer with me, Chantel Lamb and Emma Oxley Simpson, our Junior Preparatory Associate Principal.

Please refer to the Welcome Letter, Frequently Asked Questions and Uniform and Sports requirements as well as the Device and Stationery Requirements.  Every Grade One learner and all new learners joining the College are required to wear the striped blazer.

The Parent Information Meeting is on Thursday, 16 January 2025, from 15:00 - 16:00. This is an opportunity for parents/caregivers to meet their child’s class teacher and find out more about the daily activities in Grade One.

School starts on Monday 20 January 2025 and for the first week, the Grade 1 day will end at 12:00 to ensure an easier transition. From the following week, school ends every day at 14:00, and you may collect your children from their classrooms or their teachers will take them to aftercare.

Sport will start on Monday 27 January and is during the school day on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 13:00 and 14:00. On these days the learners may come to school dressed in their P.E Kit.

Our Grade 1-3 learners have a choice between Afrikaans First Additional Language (FAL) and isiXhosa First Additional Language (FAL). Please click on the link to complete the form: First Additional Language 2025

The information included in the documents below should provide a good overview and answer most questions. However, you are more than welcome to contact me should you have any further questions.

I look forward to meeting you at the Grade R Graduation and at the Grade 1 Orientation on 15  January 2025.

Chantel Lamb

Junior Preparatory Principal

Welcome Letter 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Grade 1 - 6 Device Requirements 

Uniform and Sport Attire 

Please note that stationery must be labelled and sent to school on the first day of the year. Books DO NOT need to be covered as the covers are created in class with the children and the teachers will cover the books with the slip on plastic covers. 

Grade 1 Waltons 

Waltons Stationery Letter 

MUSIC LESSONS FOR GRADE 1 NEXT YEAR

We invite parents of all current individual music learners as well as those wishing to commence individual lessons in 2025 to please complete the following enrolment form: JP Individual Music

We require a new form to be completed annually. A form for Ensembles, including Marimba, Choir, and Orchestra, will be shared at the start of 2025.

We will endeavour to ensure that your child is placed with the same teacher as in 2024, but we can only finalise a time slot at the start of 2025.

SPORT AND CO-CURRICULAR

We invite all our Preparatory and Pre-Primary parents to attend the Sports Meeting on Thursday, 28 November, in the Senior Preparatory Hall. We look forward to seeing you there and engaging with you directly about our sports programme!

Enjoy the weekend. 

Riëtte Pieterse
Principal: Christopher Robin Pre-Primary
E-mail: rpieterse@parklands.co.za
Tel: 0861 EDUCATE

LINKS TO THE BLOGS FROM THE PREPARATORY AND SECONDARY FACULTY

JP: https://jpblog.parklands.co.za

SP: https://spblog.parklands.co.za

Sec: https://secblog.parklands.co.za

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