Potchefstroom High School for Boys
Potchefstroom High School for Boys | |
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Location | |
Potchefstroom North-West 2531 South Africa | |
Information | |
Type | British public school |
Motto | Crest |
Established | 1905 |
Head of school | J. Van Vuuren |
Staff | 36 (excluding faculty) |
Grades | 8-12 |
Gender | male |
Number of students | 500 |
Color(s) | Gold, Blue |
Hostels | Barnard, Buxton, Granton, Milton |
Sports | Rugby, Cricket, Hockey |
Publications | The Mooi |
Website | Link |
Potchefstroom High School for Boys is a high school situated in Potchefstroom, South Africa. It is one of the oldest schools in South Africa.[1]
Historical perspective
School history
With the Transvaal under British control, Lord Milner, the Colonial Secretary at the time created educational facilities (known as the Milner Schools) for English-speaking pupils. The site for the school had been an infamous concentration camp during the 2nd South African War. The first school on the land was for the children interned in the camp. On 31 January 1905, accompanied by the band of the Border Regiment, Sir Richard Solomon, Lt-Governor of Transvaal opened Potchefstroom College upon instruction from the then Education Department, the school was renamed Potchefstroom High School for Boys. "College" is a boarding school based on the English boarding schools system.[2] Founded by C.D. Hope (who was also the first principal of Pretoria Boys High School as well as Jeppe High School for Boys), the original structure had been built long before and had to close during the Anglo-Boer war. The school-building itself was designed in Cape Dutch architecture design as was prominent in style during those times which has since been declared a local heritage site. There are 3 boarding houses: Granton (Oxford Blue) (1909), Milton (Cambridge Blue) (1910) and Buxton (British Racing Green), which was constructed much later. The fourth house, Barnard (Royal Red) is the 'Day-Boy' house. These later buildings did not follow the traditional Cape Dutch styles and were built more suited to the period they were built in. The school's motto, Iustorum Semita Lux Splendens (Latin), was adapted by the founder C.D. Hope, from Proverbs 4:18, and means "The path of righteousness (alternately: the just) is (as) a shining light."
During the 1905 hunting season, just before the first Springbok team went on their rugby tour, the headmaster C.D. Hope was given the horns of a springbok by his brother-in-law. These horns, mounted, are in the school’s museum and a springbok head forms part of the school’s badge.
Past Headmasters
- 1905–1926: C. D. Hope
- 1927–1940: F. G. Tyers
- 1941–1955: A. D. MacDonald
- 1956–1975: W. J. B MacFarlane
- 1976–1988: H. D. Ackermann
- 1988–1994: T. J. Blake
- 1994–2009: M. C. Cartwright
- 2009 – Present: J. Van Vuuren
Schooling
Sports
The school has a reputation for being very sports-orientated as every student is required to participate in at least one sport during each sport's season. Since the schools inception "Boys High" has produced many internationally recognized sportsmen. A wide variety of sports are offered at the school of which the more popular ones include: rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis and swimming. Beyond this, each student is then required to do athletics at inter-house level.
Apart from the local schools Potchefstroom Boys' traditional sporting rivals include Pretoria Boys’ High, King Edwards, Jeppe Boys, Parktown Boys and St Stithians each year.
Cultural
The school's cultural activities are run with the school's teaching staff in collaboration with the students, activities such as plays and public speaking occur regularly.
Alumni
Old Boys Society
The school's alumni is formed of old school members who join the school's Old Boys Society.[3] This is often referred to as Old Mooi because of the schools close proximity to the Mooi River which bisects the town of Potchefstroom. Among other tasks, the society is responsible for the over-seeing of the school and helps with the SGB (Student Governing Body). The society is also responsible for meetings and student reunions.
Notable alumni
- Paul Sinton-Hewitt CBE, Parkrun founder
- Keagan Dolly, South African International Footballer
- Bhongolwethu Jayiya, Kaizer Chiefs footballer
- Herman Charles Bosman, Author
- Hezekiél Sepeng, Atlanta Olympic silver medalist
- Wilf Rosenberg Springbok Rugby Players
- Ian Grant, Transvaal & Natal rugby player
- Matt Proudfoot, Scottish Rugby International and Springbok Rugby assistant coach
- Edgar Marutlulle, Southern Kings and South Africa 'A' national rugby union team
- Warren Carne, Zimbabwe cyclist
- Sean Santana, South African Commonwealth boxer
- Sifiso Nhlapo, Beijing Olympic BMX cyclist
- William Diering, Beijing Olympic swimmer
- Macfarlane Moleli, ENCA News Anchor[4]
- Edward Baker-Duly, West End & Downton Abbey actor
- Douglas Gibson, Democratic Alliance former chief whip and South African Ambassador to Thailand
- Vivian Neser, South Africa & Oxford University cricketer [5]
- Gary Outram, Vusumuzi Mazibuko, Johannes Diseko, Keith Storey: First Class Cricket[6]
- Gavin Bradley, South African Indoor Cricketer
- Nick Rhodes, Transvaal cricketer
- Gary Watson, Transvaal and 1970 South African Cricketer of the year
- Eddie Leie, South African T20I Cricketer
- Gavin Ewing, Zimbabwe cricketer
- Kevin Smith: Springbok Hockey players
- Alex Jay, Highveld Stereo / Radio 5 Host[7]
- Nathan Kirsh, Philanthropist and Forbes Billionaire
- Robby De Sa, musician
- Edward McGill Alexander, Brigadier General SANDF (Rtd)
- Marc Ford author of 'The Dangers of Dying'
References
- ↑ "Top schools of South Africa". Archived from the original on 14 January 2007.
- ↑ "Boarding".
- ↑ Potchefstroom College Old Boys Society
- ↑ "Macfarlane Moleli". Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- ↑ Vivian Neser
- ↑ Richard Stroh
- ↑ "Alex Jay - TVSA". tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 14 November 2014.