Quarter 4 Newsletter DECEMBER 2019

8 our planet’s state and it was inspiring to watch them fight for what they believe in. They are all capable of making a positive change in our world today and in the future! Holi Festival, Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah and the Chinese New Year are just some of the fabulous festivals that our Grade Five learners got to learn about during their English lessons. They thoroughly enjoyed learning how different cultures go about celebrating their special days. As the Grade Fives became more conscious and aware of their environment, they began to understand how much of a responsibility we all have in being agents of change. The debating sessions got heated in the English classroom as the learners debated various points of view on mining and the environment. Through their writing, they embarked on a journey of self- reflection where one of the activities was to write a letter of apology to Earth. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch the Grade Fives grow into more conscious, curious and empathetic beings. Piesangs, lemoene, appels, druiwe, tamaties, mielies, spinasie!!! We have entered an exciting, colourful world in the Afrikaans classroom. The Grade Fives have learnt that looking after our bodies and mental health is just as important as protecting our planet. Once we left the healthy side of life behind, we had the opportunity to explore a variety of wonderful festivals celebrated all over the world. The learners created lovely posters and excellent presentations! Miss Bodenstein is extremely proud of the learners’ enthusiasm and effort, during Afrikaans, throughout the year! This has been an exciting quarter for Social Sciences. Almost perfectly aligned with the Boks bringing home the trophy, we have learnt about heritage and what it means to be a South African. Here learners were asked to unpack their personal heritage and to see where they fit into a broader collective. We then shifted our focus to mining and its effects on the environment, which led to a greater understanding of how the small choices we make fit into much larger issues like climate change and environmental destruction. The Grade Five learners ended the quarter on a high note with a visit to the Secondary Faculty. From running around on the impressive sports fields, making their own delicious hamburgers, playing actor and actress, recording a dinosaur chase in the recording studio, to creating their very own dinosaur animation: it was a marvellous experience and the Grade Five learners cannot wait to be part of the High School! But first…one more year of Senior Preparatory! Well done on a fantastic year, Grade Fives! We are looking forward to watching you shine in Grade Six! We shall cherish each memory, stored in our hearts, forever! A GRADE SIX LEARNING ADVENTURE… I asked some of my Grade Six learners if they could sum up their year in one word, what it would be. Adventurous, enticing, interesting, inspiring, superb and comradery were but a few words used. Judging from their description, their Grade 6 year was a blast. And I have to agree! The year was a busy one for them all and they have been challenged every step of the way. Some of the major highlights of Quarter Four were the Grade Six Farewell, the Parklands Orientation at Sandown and the very last of their tests. But the major highlight was the Awards Morning, showcasing the exceptional talent we have at Parklands Senior Preparatory. The Wild, Wild West theme of the Grade Six Farewell ensured a fun-filled evening and the learners danced well into the night. It was marvellous to see everyone joining in and having such an enjoyable time together. Our Grade Six learners of 2019 have certainly been a wonderful group and have supported each other through thick and thin. The dresses and suits showed us just how well groomed our learners are and what pride they take in themselves. The very next day, learners were invited to the High School for an orientation and games with the Matrics of 2020. Learners were accompanied by their parents and were shown around the Campus. Our High School deserves to be applauded for the exceptional presentation to our Grade Six learners. It is safe to say that our fledglings are going to be in good hands, and our parents have the assurance that a very high standard in academics, culture and sport will be maintained. Mrs Steyn and her staff were very welcoming and insightful and reassured our parent body. We are very lucky to have this level of support from our High School. In mid November, our learners embarked on their last Assessment Week. It was impressive to see how well they all fared and a delight to see the hard work pay off. I know our learners will be ready and well prepared for their High School tests. Finally, it is with great pride that we as Grade Six staff send our learners off into the wilds and wonders of High School, to begin their next chapter. May there be more ups than downs, more smiles than frowns and may the only tears that flow, be tears of joy. The Grade Sixes of 2019 have found a firm place in our hearts. Be wonderful always, Grade Six. A LIBRARY ADVENTURE… Libraries hold the wisdom of the world and the stories of the ages - available to everyone, free of charge. - Linda Sue Park Stories have always been an integral part of our identity and how we interact with each other. Wherever families gathered through the ages, stories were told: to teach, to share, to instil cultural and moral values, and of course, to entertain. From time to time a story comes along that has such an enduring, enriching quality that you just couldn’t miss out on it. And so, every year during the fourth quarter, the Junior Preparatory classes revisit the Classics, old and modern, introducing children to some of the best stories ever written. Children learn that a classic story is not necessarily old and dusty, but rather excellent, enduring and memorable – a book that you want to read again and again. Each class teacher shared a classic story with their classes, and in the library we explored all the treasures to be found in Narnia, specifically The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. This book has all the elements to satisfy readers of all tastes and ages: a classic portal story, it combines fantasy with adventure and action, while portraying a foundation of enduring moral values. Set in the time of the Second World War, the learners were mesmerised by the idea of children being transported to the country to avoid air raids, and becoming part of a new temporary family. In the Senior Preparatory Library, the lessons have been most entertaining while the focus was on imparting some vital skills. The Grade 4s were blown away by the excitement to be found in the wonderful book titled iExplore Bugs, which brings bugs to life in Augmented Reality. There are wonderful facts they have learnt along the way and a great sense of reading fun! The Grade 5 classes successfully completed a series of Keynote Masterclasses. They worked through a self-paced slide deck that showcases the superb text editing aspects of Keynote. There was much discovery and excitement as the learners shared their finds with each other. Once completed, each learner created a most impressive unique name and logo for the iPad lock screen to help teachers identify iPad owners. The Grade 6s have been learning how to make use of Google Calendar: how to change calendar views, have different colours for great organisation and how to create a good calendar entry. These skills will certainly be of benefit when they enter the Secondary Faculty next year.