Excitement is mounting at Germiston High School as everyone starts preparing to celebrate the school’s centenary year in 2017.
The school has numerous activities planned for the year and the community is invited to share in the celebration.
Principal André Beukes said, “This is a great achievement for the school.
“We were the first high school to be built in Germiston and started out with 250 learners on September 10, 1917.
“We have grown a bit since then and are currently teaching 1 142 children.”
Children who attend Germiston High School are also lucky to be able to say they are educated in a Sir Herbert Baker designed building.
British-born Baker was one of the most influential figures in South African architecture.
An entry in the school’s log book by C R Harding, the first headmaster of the school, details the official opening of the school, then called Secondary School Germiston South.
The school was housed temporarily in the building which today is occupied by Germiston South Primary School.
In April the following year the school became known as High School Germiston.
The land where the school stands now was on the Farm Elandsfontein and 24 hectares were donated by the farmer who owned the farm.
A start was made on the building in 1922 and the building was officially opened by the Administrator of the Transvaal on August 1, 1923.
At the beginning of the 1950’s the Transvaal Education Department (TED) decided to separate the boys and girls and in 1951 the girls moved to Lambton (the building now occupied by Laerskool Delville).
But by the early 1960’s the numbers had dropped at both schools due to the opening of Dawnview High and Edenvale High, and the Boys High and the Girls High were amalgamated and the girls rejoined the boys in the lake grounds building after a 13-year separation.
Many highs followed over the following years with the school growing and achieving great things.
An innovation during the 1980’s was the introduction by the TED of a technical field of study at the school.
Huge workshops were built and the first technical learners matriculated in 1989.
Today the school is ably run by Beukes who became the 14th principal of the school in 2003.
Since his appointment he has made a number of significant improvements, for example tables and benches at the tuck shop area for the seniors, benches for all learners throughout the school, the Germiston High School museum, known as the Pam Zeiss Museum, as well as having the quad covered, among other things.
Beukes said that Germiston High School is excited to be able to boast a Nobel Prize for Science winner Prof Sydney Brenner, who matriculated at the age of 16.
“We still have his old school records,” Beukes said.
The school also boasts a number of successful CEOs who came through the ranks and is the second oldest public school in the country to participate in rowing and has produced the most national rowers in the country.
There is also a special memorial plaque listing the names of 34 Germiston High old boys who died in World War Two, in the line of duty.
“Germiston High School has adjusted to many changes throughout the years of its existence and now stands prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century as a school which strives to fulfil its motto ‘Scientia et Humanitas’,” said Beukes.
“We are looking forward to our centenary celebrations and hope everyone will celebrate with us.”
To find out more about the centenary celebrations visit the school’s Facebook page: Germiston High School.
To arrange a visit to the museum (all are welcome, especially past pupils) call the school on 011 827-8860.
Other articles you may be interested in:
Local youngster can continue her studies
Police showcase their jobs to girls
