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Potchefstroom High School for Boys

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Potchefstroom High School for Boys
Potchefstroom High School for Boys crest
Address
45 Beyers Naude Ave

Potchefstroom
,
North West
2531

South Africa
Information
TypeAll-boys public school
MottoIustorum Semita Lux Splendens
(The path of the just is a shining light)
Religious affiliation(s)Christianity
Established1905; 119 years ago (1905)
FounderThe Rt Hon Lord Milner
Sister schoolPotchefstroom High School for Girls
HeadmasterL. Van der Merwe
Staff36 (excluding faculty)
Grades8–12
GenderMale
Age14 to 18
Number of students500 boys
LanguageEnglish
Schedule07:30 - 14:00
Houses
  • Barnard
  • Buxton
  • Granton
  • Milton
Colour(s)  Blue
  Gold
  White
AlumniOld Boys, Old Mooi
SportsRugby, cricket, hockey
PublicationsThe Mooi
Websitewww.potchboyshigh.co.za

Potchefstroom High School for Boys is a public English medium high school for boys situated in Potchefstroom in the North West province of South Africa. It is one of the oldest schools in South Africa.[1]

Historical perspective

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School history

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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 Second 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

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  • 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
  • 2009–2022: J. Van Vuuren
  • 2022– present: L. Van Der Merwe

Schooling

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Academics

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Sports

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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 school's 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.[citation needed]

Cultural

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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

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Old Boys Society

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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 overseeing the school and helps with the Student Governing Body. The society is also responsible for meetings and student reunions.

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Top schools of South Africa". Archived from the original on 14 January 2007.
  2. ^ "Boarding".
  3. ^ Potchefstroom College Old Boys Society
  4. ^ Richard Stroh
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