Pre-Primary Weekly Memo
24 January 2025
Dear Parents,
We're thrilled to kick off the year in preschool and look forward to navigating these first steps together as partners in your little ones' journey of learning and growth. Starting school is a monumental step—one filled with anticipation and, sometimes, a touch of anxiety. But fear not! We’re here to support you and your child every step of the way.
Thank you to most parents who completed the forms below, ensuring a smooth and efficient start to the year. For the few outstanding forms, we kindly request parents to click and complete the forms.
PARENT CONTACT DETAILS, ALLERGY AND AFTERCARE FORM
Kindly follow the link below to complete the form, which you are welcome to obtain from your class teacher should you wish to use this information to contact parents for birthday parties.
Parent Contact Details, Aftercare and Allergy Consent Form
SHOWS
We enrich our curriculum with carefully selected, tailor-made shows that reinforce learning interactively and enjoyably. If you have not yet done so, please take a moment to complete the consent forms for your child.
SUMMER QUARTER EXTRA MURAL SIGN-UP
Extra murals have been finalised and will commence on Monday, 27 January.
PRE-PRIMARY PARENT AND LEARNER INFORMATION DIRECTORY
Please follow the link to our Parent and Learner Information Directory.
Health
Registered Nurse: Amy Dolley
Library Adventure
Welcome to another year of book adventures! In this slot, we feature books from our teachers’ favourites, as well as news from our publishers on new publications. The aim is to inspire and empower you for one of the most important times in your day when little ones go to bed and you can enjoy a story together. Never underestimate the power of those precious moments, and the long-term benefits of security, empathy and language development that reading and discussing with your child impart.
Our first book of the year is a delightful romp by one of our favourite authors, Julia Donaldson, with brilliant illustrations by Lydia Monks. Join the tooth fairy on a surprising visit to the forest when she gets assigned to the animals! She also encounters a hungry crocodile who decides that she is just the tasty snack he craves, and the tooth fairy has to make a daring escape, with a little help from the young animals. If there is a wobbly tooth in your house, this one is a winner!
Elise Crouse - Librarian
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
Important Dates - Summer Quarter 2025
25 January: Ballet Basics fitting at Secondary Campus 09:00 - 11:00
(Ballet Basics will be at Sandown 7B for dance uniform fittings for all our dancers from Pre-Primary to Grade 12.)
Pin drop below.
27 January: Extra murals commence
31 January: Grade R Cake Sale
5 February: World Read Aloud Day - donate a book
6 February: Happy Birthday Chloe Mathee
7 February: CRPP group photograph
10 February: Teddy Bear’s Day (picnic lunch & bring a teddy bear to school)
14 February: Friendship Dress-Up Day @R20- donating to Casual Day (People with Disabilities - Friends
Daycare Centre)
Manner for Minors: Friendship Show (Grade 000 - R)
14 February: Happy Birthday Ingrid Lubbe
15 February: Open Day
21 February: Grade 00 Cake Sale
28 February: Making Fruit Kebabs (All grades)
1 March: Happy Birthday Nadine Fourie
2 March: Happy Birthday Vuyo Raqa
9 March: Happy Birthday Abigail De Witt
11 March: Happy Birthday Christopher Robin Pre-Primary 45 years
Jig Saw Children’s Theatre: Seasons and Colours Show (ALL)
14 March: Grade 000 and Crackerjacks Cake Sale
15 March: Happy Birthday Riëtte Pieterse
24-27 March: Grade 0000 - 00 Feedback meetings & Grade R Report meetings
21 March: Public Holiday - Human Rights Day
28 March: Last day of the quarter (school closes at 13:00)
Theme Discussions
We are passionate about a creative, rich, authentic, and layered approach to learning for our little ones. Theme-related learning allows for the child to learn about their world and the world around them. Below is an overview of our Summer Quarter weekly theme discussions and learning focus, as well as an overview of the 2025 themes.
Please click on the link below for details on our summer quarter theme discussions in each grade:
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...
Looking ahead
Extra murals:
We’re excited for the start of the compulsory Grade R programme, along with the selected extra-mural activities for Grade 000 to Grade R, which will commence next week. The first week serves as a trial period, so it’s absolutely fine if your little one doesn’t yet have the full kit or isn’t dressed in full uniform. However, we kindly ask that you send along as many of the required items as possible—such as the lycra swimming cap, goggles, towel, or tennis racket if they are continuing with the sport. This will help them fully engage and get comfortable with the activities.
For the Grade R classes swimming at 08:00, please send your child to school dressed in their swimming attire. A gentle reminder to pack their normal clothes for them to change into afterwards.
Monthly Cake Sale
Each grade has the opportunity to contribute to their grade cake sale, and there is much excitement as the children eagerly look forward to their little monthly treat.
We request that items such as cupcakes, popcorn, crisps, muffins, etc. be sent to the class on their allocated cake sale date. We also recommend that your child spend no more than R2 at the cake sale to save some appetite for lunch! You are welcome to send the term’s money in advance (i.e. 3 x R2 coins, with a total of R24 for the year per child) or send in the R2 on cake sale days in a sealed envelope/packet. Please ensure that items donated for cake sales do not contain nuts and that no sweets are sent in. We love healthy goodies, especially popcorn!
Summer Quarter
31 January: Grade R Cake Sale
21 February: Grade 00 Cake Sale
14 March: Grade 000 and Crackerjacks Cake Sale
Parents who want to assist with their child's class/grade cake sale are welcome to notify their child’s teacher. Please arrive no earlier than 09h45 to help set up the items.
Safety and Gate Times
In our ongoing commitment to prioritising the safety and well-being of our little ones, the school gate access times are as follows:
Morning drop-off: Gates open from 7:30 to 8:30.
Half-day collection: Gates open from 12:45 to 14:00, as aftercare begins promptly at 14:00.
Aftercare collection: Gates open from 16:00 to 17:00.
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 (12:45–14:00) more convenient, Grade 000 and 00 children will be waiting in the foyer for quick and easy collection.
Please note that from 14:00 onwards, all children will join aftercare groups, and accounts will be billed the ad hoc aftercare fee for any additional care provided.
Aftercare Lockers:
Each child attending aftercare from Grade 000 to Grade R has a designated, labelled locker space for their bags in the passageway closest to reception. This ensures the safekeeping of their belongings and makes it easier for parents during afternoon collection.
Have a lovely 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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