The High School for Girls, Potchefstroom celebrated its 118th Anniversary on Tuesday, 7 March 2023. The school held a special and commemorative Assembly to celebrate this impressive milestone on Wednesday, 8 March 2023.
For over a century The High School for Girls, Potchefstroom has been dedicated to the development of girls. At our school we believe in girls and women; in their potential and their power! Moreover, we pride ourselves in having a certain “ethos” which is so distinguishable, we feel it sets us apart from others.
We may be considered a small school – in itself relative when one considers that the school was originally built to accommodate 300 learners, and we currently have a school compliment of 555 learners. Yet, we have managed to retain smaller class sizes to ensure that everyone counts. We go a very long way to integrate the pillars of Academics, Sport, Culture and Service.
For 118 years, The High school for Girls has endeavored to uphold, as its mantra, the motto: hard work brings true joy! Scaffolded by this mantra, it is an institution dedicated to the development of female scholars into accomplished, independent, self-confident and value-driven young women, who when they leave this school are ready to lead and contribute to society.
The origins of GHS
In 1905 the old Dutch Central School separated into two high schools. The Girls High Secondary School opened its doors on 24 January 1905 with 52 learners, including some primary school boys! Miss Burton was the first Headmistress and the school was situated in a small building near the Magistrate’s Court.
Some nine years later, on 24 November 1914, the Resident Magistrate officially opened the school we know today, but the foundation stone for the building was laid on the 7 March of that year, and since 1946, the school has celebrated its birthday on 7 March. Only in April 1924 did the primary section of the school move across to what we know today as Central Primary School.
Girls High initially had one hostel to start with, and in 1906 there were 16 boarders enrolled in the boarding house, which stood where East House is now. School House, which was then called Rosenhof, was opened in 1920. North house was built on the site of the old Police Barracks and was opened on 22 June 1938. Three cottages in Kruger Street, opposite the school were used as hostels until the newest and biggest hostel, East House, was opened in 1965.
The House system (Adventure, Discovery and Quest) was introduced in 1925. And our School Song was presented to the school in 1927 (yes, our school song is 96 years old!!), by the Headmistress at the time, Miss Hambloch at Prize Giving and sung for the first time by the choir on 7 April 1928. The school song continues to be sung at the end of Formal Assemblies, and at our annual Prize Giving.
Significantly, the summer panama hat was replaced with the basher in 1970.
A Girls High girl will always be discernible by her charm and unparalleled respect. Her fierce independence will be evident, but so too her big heart. Conspicuously, a Girls High girl values empathy amongst many other special qualities. She is wise beyond her years and shows an insight, which baffles many. We have seen new girls walk onto our grounds for the first time as nervous little sand crystals, but ultimately transform into truly astonishing confident pearls. This “school of happy mem’ries” is not just brick and mortar; it is a strongly bonded sisterhood, which offers its daughters both roots and wings.
