Parktown Boys' High School

Parktown Boys' High School
Parktown Boys' High School
Location
	Parktown, Johannesburg; South Africa
Information
Type	public high school
Motto	'Surgite' which is Latin for 'Arise'
Established	1920
Headmaster	Mr T.P Clarke
Grades	8 - 12
Number of students	800 boys
Website	Parktown Boys' High School Official Website

Parktown Boys' High School is a public high school for boys in Parktown, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. The sister school to Parktown Boys is Parktown High School for Girls and is situated in Parkview, Johannesburg.

The Parktown Boys' High School motto is 'Surgite' which is Latin for 'Arise'.

History

Parktown Boys' High School was founded in 1920 when the school was established on a site now occupied by the SABC in Auckland Park. This original building is now a National Monument of South Africa.

In 1923 the school was relocated to Wellington Road, Parktown, which is where the school is currently located. The school consists of an average of 800 learners and approximately 50 academic staff. ^[1]

Parktown Boys' High School is also the first school in South Africa to install an international standard water based Astroturf surface.^{[citation needed]} This surface has already hosted international men's hockey matches, as well as both men's and women's premier hockey league games.

Current Administration

The current headmaster of Parktown Boys' High is Mr T.P Clarke . The deputy headmasters of the school are Mr C. Smith, Mr. A Monk, Mr. B Saunders, Mr. J Scott and Mr. W Swart.

Academics

Parktown Boys' High prides itself on an outstanding academic record. Past matriculants consistently have achieved excellent results over the years.

The academic subjects being offered each year include:

Accountancy,
Additional Mathematics,
Afrikaans,
Art,
Art Design,
Biology,
Business Studies,
Computer Application Technology,
Computer Science,
English,
Geography,
History,
Information Technology,
Life Orientation,
Life Science,
Mathematics,
Mathematical Literacy,
Physical Science,
Visual Art, and
Zulu.

Cultural Activities

Cultural activities refer to all exta-mural activities excluding sporting activities.

Recognised cultural activities offered to the learners at Parktown include:

Brass and Drum Corps,
Chess Club, Choir,
Drama,
First Aid,
Heart of the Lion (the school’s charity programme),
Media Centre,
Oratory (Public Speaking and Debating),
Photography Club,
Stock Exchange Game and
Traditional Dancing.

Recent additions to the cultural side of things include:

The General Knowledge Quiz,
Scrabble and
The Philosophy Society.

Cultural life also extends to visits to art galleries, museums and musical performances.

Sporting Activities

Parktown Boys' High prides itself on a tradition of sporting excellence.

Summer sports offered by the school include:

Cricket,
Rowing,
Waterpolo and
Swimming.

Winter sports offered by the school include:

Athletics,
Cross Country,
Hockey,
Rugby and
Shooting.

Squash and Tennis are offered throughout the year.

Rugby is arguably the most popular sport at the school. Parktown Boys currently fields 18 rugby teams, from an Under 14 to an Under 19 level.

Traditional rugby 'rivals' of the school include:

The first team of rugby have, in addition to their rugby fixtures, participated in the following rugby related activities:

In 2000 Touring Australia and New Zealand,
In 2001 Attendance at the Pretoria Boys' Centenary Festival,
In 2002 Touring the Western Cape and Namibia,
In 2003 Attendance at the Krugersdorp High Centenary Festival,
In 2004 Attendance at the King Edwards Centenary Festival,
In 2005 Touring Argentina and attendance at the St. Johns College Easter Festival,
In 2006 Attendance at the St Johns College Easter Festival, and
In 2007 Touring Dubai and attendance at the St Stithians College Rugby Festival

Druce Hall

Parktown Boys' High School also has a weekly boarding establishment (i.e. from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon), which is known as the Druce Hall.

The Druce Hall was officially opened on 9th of June 1985 and is named after P. M. Druce, the first Headmaster of Parktown Boys’ High School.

The boarding is supervised with a ratio of one master to every thirteen boys. A member of the boarding establishment is allowed the opportunity to experience life to the full at this fine high school.

The current druce hall master is Mr. A Murray.

Old Parktonians

Past maticulants of the school have gone on to be leaders of commerce, renowned academics, Springboks rugby players and other international sportsman.

The following old parktonians have represented the South African Rugby National Team (the Springboks):

Johannes Stephanus Albertus Oelofse (1926 - 1978): Scrumhalf playing 4 tests and scoring 2 tries in 1953 (Also known as Hansie Oelofse),
Alan Menter MD : Came on as a reserve for the Springboks on the tour matches to France in 1968,
Peter Arnold Cronjé : Outside centre playing 7 tests and scoring 3 tries between 1971 and 1974 and
Paul Campbell Robertson Bayvel : Scrumhalf playing 10 tests between 1974 and 1976.

Some of the Old Parktonians who have achieved abroad include:

A Battle of Britain pilot,
A member of the House of Lords and
Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Notes and references

^ Academics Parktown Boys' Webpage

External links

[1] Academics Parktown Boys' Webpage

[1]