Potchefstroom Gimnasium

Potchefstroom Gimnasium
Pupils and staff of the preparatory school (later Potchefstroom Gimnasium) in front of the school
Location
Potchefstroom , North West South Africa
Coordinates	26°41′11″S28°05′51″E / 26.6865°S 28.0974°E / -26.6865; 28.0974
Information
Type	Public & Boarding
Motto	Fac et Spera (Latin: "Work and hope")
Religious affiliation	Christianity
Founded	1907;119 years ago (1907)
School district	District 9
Principal	F.W. Van der Merwe
Staff	100 full-time
Grades	8–12
Gender	Boys & Girls
Age	13to 18
Number of students	1,056 pupils
Language	Afrikaans
Schedule	07:30 – 14:00
Campus	Urban Campus
Campus type	Suburban
Colours	Blue   White
Nickname	Gimmies
Rival	Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom
Accreditation	North West Department of Education
Newspaper	SASIMA
Website	www.gimmies.co.za

Potchefstroom Gimnasium, colloquially known as Potch Gim, is a public Afrikaans medium co-educational high School in Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa.

History

The “Voorbereidende Skool” (English: preparatory school) was founded in 1907 as a Dutch language school by the Theological Centre of the Reformed Church of South Africa. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} The founders committee existed of Kamp, J., Duvenage, A.P.C, Lion Cachet, J., Postma, F. and du Toit, J.D. ^[5] The school's first hostel was built in 1907, and classes were initially held in the Theological Centre's Library. ^{[6] [7]}

On 13 November 1914, the school was renamed the Potchefstroom Gimnasium and became a government school the following year. ^{[3] [8]} In 1916 the school began teaching in Afrikaans. ^[9]

In May 1947, the school was relocated to its own building. ^[10]

Present

The school has two hostels Brandwag for boys and Cachet for girls. ^{[11] [12]}

Motto and crest

The school's mottos is “Fac et Spera” (Latin : Work and Hope), a quotation from the Statenvertaling. ^[13] The motto is “Fac et Spera”, which is Latin for “Work and Hope”. The school's crest consists of an anchor, symbolising hope, and a pick and shovel, symbolising work. ^[14]

Performance

In 2017 and 2018, the school had the best academic performance in the North West province. ^{[15] [16]}

In 2018, the school was the North West provincial winner for athletics. ^[17]

International connection

Since 2005 the school has a long-term agreement with Växjö Fria Gimnasium  [ se ], an upper secondary school in Växjö, Sweden. ^[18] Each year, eight students are selected who together with students from the Swedish school form a working group focusing on development work in schools in South Africa's townships. They organize different fundraising projects and help in practical construction and repair of Schools. ^[19]

Notable former pupils

• Tjaart Marais (born 1961)- Rugby Fly-half for Western Transvaal and scored 703 Currie Cup points in his career. ^[20]
• Henriette Grové (1922–2009)– Writer ^[21]
• Greta Jones (1965–1992)- Singer ^{[22] [ circular reference ]}
• Theuns Eloff (born 1955) ^[23] – Ex- vice Chancellor of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education ^[24] and executive director of the FW de Klerk Foundation.
• Theo Jansen van Rensburg (born 1967) ^[25] - springbok rugby player (full-back) ^[26]
• Jan Brand van Rooyen de Wet (born 1950) –Singer ^[27]
• Ockert Potgieter (1965–2021) – South African Missionary in Ukraine. ^[28] and movie director ^[29]
• TB Truter (born 1997) - Chief editor at "Stywe Lyne" a fishing and tackle magazine

Notable former teachers

• Johannes Christiaan Coetzee – taught at the school from 1917–1920

Headmasters

• J.A.A. Coetsee (1907–1938) ^[30]
• W.deK. Kruger (1938–1965)
• A.J. Combrink (1965–1974)
• A.B.J. Kruger (1974–1979)
• L.A. Dreyer (1979–1982)
• A.N. Grobler (1982–1985)
• C.A. Janson(1986–1999)
• J. Breed (2000–2008)
• R.A. Oosthuizen (2009–2021).
• F.W. Van der Merwe (2022–present) ^{[31] [32]}

References

1. "Potchefstroom Gimnasium". Rugby365. 25 May 2005. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
2. Magazine:Koersjournal title:De Voorbereidende School te Potchefstroom. (Translated: preparatory school), author:Coetsee, J.C
3. Book: De noodzakelijkheid van een Gereformeerd Gymnasium. (Translated: the necessity of a reformed School), author: Postma, D., page 5
4. Muller CFJ (1980). "Vyfhonderd jaar Suid Afrikaanse geskiedenis, page 407 (Translated Five hundred years of South African History)".
5. "Potchefstroom Gimnasium" . Retrieved 29 June 2018.
6. Book: Fac et Spera 1907–1957, page 22, author:Coetsee, J.J.A
7. Book: Fac et Spera 1907–1957, page 26, author:Coetsee, J.J.A
8. Book: Die Voorbereidende Skool te Potchefstroom page 134 (Translated: the preparatory school in Potchefstroom, Coetzee, J.C.
9. Book: Die oudste Afrikaanse hoërskool in die wêreld page 7(Translated: oldest Afrikaans school in the world), Author:JV Coetzee 1967
10. Newspaper Potchefstroom Gimnasium, published in: “Die Westelike Stem” (Translated the Western voice) page 10- 11
11. "Brandwag" . Retrieved 29 June 2018.
12. "Cachet" . Retrieved 29 June 2018.
13. Book: "Ons bring hulde: Totius en die Hoërskool Gimnasium"page 6 (Translated: we honour Totius) author: VE d'Assonville, V.E.
14. Book: "Gimnasium “page 4, author:Henning, P.J.P
15. "Gimmies nommer een in provinsie (Translated=Gimnasium first in the province)". Potchefstroom Herold Newspaper. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
16. "Potch Gimnasium beste in sy soort (Translated: The school are the best in it classification)". Beeld Newspaper. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
17. "Gimnasium". Potchefstroom Internet TV. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
18. "Växjö Fria Gimnasium" . Retrieved 29 June 2018.
19. "Växjö Fria Gymnasium – Den bästa skolan för dig (Translated: Växjö Fria Gymnasium, is the best school for you)". Enterprise Magazine. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
20. dal Carme, L. (29 June 2001). "2001 Currie Cup preview". IOL. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
21. "Linda Joubert" . Retrieved 29 June 2018.
22. Greta Jones, Retrieved 29 June 2018
23. "Theuns Eloff: Baanbreker en touleier (Translated: Great leader)" . Retrieved 29 June 2018.
24. "Theuns Eloff". huffington post. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
25. "Potchefstroom Gimnasium" . Retrieved 29 June 2018.
26. "Theo van Rensburg" . Retrieved 28 June 2018.
27. "Brand van Rooyen de Wet" . Retrieved 29 June 2018.
28. "One church Many locations". Discover life magazine. December 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
29. "Ockert Potgieter". IMDb . Retrieved 29 June 2018.
30. Book:Die Gereformeerde beginsel en die onderwys in die Transvaal (Translated:the reformed principals and education in the province), 1859–1937, author=Coetzee, J.C.
31. de Bruyn, P.P (December 1987). "Die geskiedenis van Potchefstroom Gimnasium (translated: The history of Potchefstroom Gimnasium)" (PDF). Potchefstroom University for Higher Christian Education. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
32. "Skoolhoof (Translated: Head Master" . Retrieved 29 June 2018.