Magazine 2019

60 So many of life’s best lessons come to us through our favourite children’s storybooks and movies. Mary Poppins teaches us, “In every job that must be done there is an element of fun.” Through song and dance she tells us that we should always strive for perfection and that you can both work and have fun at the same time and having an imagination is not a bad thing either! I feel that just about sums up what we do at Parklands College. Responses on the learners’ survey, which formed part of the Independent Quality Assurance Agency’s evaluation process this year, indicated that our learners love coming to school, that they are proud of their school and they trust the academic standards. What more can we ask? Happy learners are creative learners, learners who will let their imagination fly and learners who will strive to be the best they can be. We have certainly once again seen evidence of this in 2019. The staff at the Secondary Faculty also fully embrace the concept of lifelong learning and over the past year we have seen many of them qualifying as AppleTeachers and Google Certified Educators. This provides a clear indication of their commitment to the integration of technology into teaching and learning at the College. No wonder we keep receiving accolades from influential educationalists around the world. Mary Burns said, “Definitely one of the most innovative schools I have ever visited.” Mary Burns, from the USA, is an internationally recognised expert in teacher professional development, technology planning, online learning and instructional design, who visited us on behalf of the Gates Foundation last year. Parklands College was highlighted at the Apple Distinguished Schools Innovation Summit in Berlin, Germany as the most innovative school in Africa. Here at home author Helen Brain remarked after a visit to our school to celebrate World Book Day, “What a fantastic school. I was so impressed with their resources and with the competent way the students ran the assembly, and with the staff who were fully engaged in the process. There was a calm, thoughtful and mutually respectful atmosphere. A world-class school.” In this year’s magazine you will read about the Parklands flag flying high nationally and internationally, with our learners and staff continuing to make us proud, but you will also read about what goes on in the day-to- day operations at the school. We learn, we play sport, we participate in cultural activities and explore new adventures in the various clubs and societies. We also reach out to those less fortunate than us, but also to those who want to learn from us. Every Friday we have something to celebrate at our weekly assembly and to report in our weekly blog. #parkiepride is real! Congratulations to every member of the Parklands family on another successful year and thank you to friends and family for your support and belief in us. Thank you the Board of Directors, especially Mrs Roth, for our exceptional school. We go from strength to strength every year, because, like Mary Poppins, we keep an element of fun in every project we undertake and every job we complete. That is what makes this place extra special. Wishing you love and peace over the Festive Season and a prosperous 2020. Sylvia Steyn SECONDARY FACULTY Ancia Vosloo,Associate Head:Academics Sylvia Steyn, Principal Paul Mayers,Associate Head:Technology Integration