Potchefstroom Gimnasium Explained

Potchefstroom Gimnasium
City:	Potchefstroom
Province:	North West
Country:	South Africa
Coordinates:	-26.6865°N 28.0974°W
District:	District 9
Religion:	Christianity
Principal:	Van der Merwe, FW ^[1]
Staff:	100 full-time
Gender:	Boys & Girls
Lower Age:	13
Upper Age:	18
Type:	Public & Boarding
Grades:	812
Language:	Afrikaans
Campus:	Urban Campus
Campus Type:	Suburban
Motto:	Fac et Spera (Latin: "Work and hope")
Accreditation:	North West Department of Education
Rival:	Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom
Nickname:	Gimmies
School Colours:	Blue White
Newspaper:	SASIMA
Schedule:	07:30 – 14:00
Students:	1,056 pupils
Homepage:	^[2]

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

Beginnings

It was founded in 1907,^[3] by the Theological Centre of the Reformed Church of South Africa.^[4] Dutch was the language of teaching.^[5] The founders committee existed of Kamp, J., Duvenage, A.P.C, Lion Cachet, J., Postma, F. and du Toit, J.D.^[6] The school started in the Theological Centre's Library.^[7] The first Head Master was Coetsee, J.A.A. He was head master until 1938.^[8]

Head Masters

Head masters to follow: Kruger, W.deK. (1938–1965), Combrink, A.J. (1965–1974), Kruger, A.B.J. (1974–1979), Dreyer, L.A. (1979–1982), Grobler, A.N. (1982–1985), Janson, C.A. (1986–1999) and Breed, J. (2000–2008). Oosthuizen, R.A. (2009–2021). Van der Merwe, FW is the current head master since February 2022.^[9]

Changes through the years

• The first hostel was built in 1907.^[10]
• The school was first known as “Voorbereidende Skool”.(Translated: preparatory school) On 13 November 1914 it changed its name too Potchefstroom Gimnasium.^[11]
• The school became a government school in 1915 and was not ruled by the church any more.^[12]
• In 1916 it changed the language medium to Afrikaans.^[13]
• From 1917 to 1920 J Chris Coetzee taught at the school. He later became rector of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education.
• In May 1947 it moved to its own building.^[14]

Motto and crest

The motto is “Fac et Spera”, which is Latin for “Work and Hope”. This was taken out of the Dutch States Bible.^[15] The crest existed out of an anchor (a symbol of hope). The other two instruments are a pick and a shovel (symbols of work)^[16]

Hostels

The school has two hostels:

• Boys- Brandwag^[17]
• Girls- Cachet^[18]

Alumni

• Tjaart Marais (born 1961)- Rugby Fly-half for Western Transvaal and scored 703 Currie Cup points in his career.^[19]
• Henriette Grové (1922–2009)– Writer^[20]
• Greta Jones (1965–1992)- Singer^[21]
• Theuns Eloff (born 1955) ^[22] – Ex- vice Chancellor of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education^[23] and Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation.
• Theo Jansen van Rensburg (born 1967)^[24] - springbok rugby player (full-back)^[25]
• Jan Brand van Rooyen de Wet (born 1950) –Singer^[26]
• Ockert Potgieter (1965–2021) – South African Missionary in the Ukraine.^[27] and movie director^[28]

International connection

Since 2005 the school has a long-term agreement with a Swedish school, Växjö Fria Gimnasium.^[29] 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.^[30]

Performances

• Academic- The best school in the North West Province in 2018.^[31]
• Best academic school in the country in 2017.^[32]
• The school was the overall Provincial winner of athletics in 2018.^[33]
• In 1967 se schools rugby team was the best in the country.^[34]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Skoolhoof (Translated: Head Master. 29 June 2018.
2. Web site: Welkom by Potchefstroom Gimnasium. www.gimmies.co.za.
3. Web site: Potchefstroom Gimnasium. Rugby365. 25 May 2005. 29 June 2018.
4. Magazine:Koersjournal title:De Voorbereidende School te Potchefstroom. (Translated: preparatory school), author:Coetsee, J.C
5. Web site: Vyfhonderd jaar Suid Afrikaanse geskiedenis, page 407 (Translated Five hundred years of South African History). Muller CFJ. 1980.
6. Web site: Potchefstroom Gimnasium. 29 June 2018.
7. Book: Fac et Spera 1907–1957, page 26, author:Coetsee, J.J.A
8. 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.
9. Web site: Die geskiedenis van Potchefstroom Gimnasium (translated: The history of Potchefstroom Gimnasium). December 1987. de Bruyn, P.P. Potchefstroom University for Higher Christian Education. 28 June 2018.
10. Book: Fac et Spera 1907–1957, page 22, author:Coetsee, J.J.A
11. Book: De noodzakelijkheid van een Gereformeerd Gymnasium. (Translated: the necessity of a reformed School), author: Postma, D., page 5
12. Book: Die Voorbereidende Skool te Potchefstroom page 134 (Translated: the preparatory school in Potchefstroom, Coetzee, J.C.
13. Book: Die oudste Afrikaanse hoërskool in die wêreld page 7(Translated: oldest Afrikaans school in the world), Author:JV Coetzee 1967
14. Newspaper Potchefstroom Gimnasium, published in: “Die Westelike Stem” (Translated the Western voice) page 10- 11
15. Book: "Ons bring hulde: Totius en die Hoërskool Gimnasium"page 6 (Translated: we honour Totius) author: VE d'Assonville, V.E.
16. Book: "Gimnasium “page 4, author:Henning, P.J.P
17. Web site: Brandwag. 29 June 2018.
18. Web site: Cachet. 29 June 2018.
19. Web site: 2001 Currie Cup preview. IOL. dal Carme, L.. 29 June 2001. 29 June 2018.
20. Web site: Linda Joubert. 29 June 2018.
21. Web site: Greta Jones]. 29 June 2018.
22. Web site: Theuns Eloff: Baanbreker en touleier (Translated: Great leader). 29 June 2018.
23. Web site: Theuns Eloff. huffington post. 29 June 2018.
24. Web site: Potchefstroom Gimnasium. 29 June 2018.
25. Web site: Theo van Rensburg. 28 June 2018.
26. Web site: Brand van Rooyen de Wet. 29 June 2018.
27. Web site: One church Many locations. Discover life magazine. December 2010. 29 June 2018.
28. Web site: Ockert Potgieter. IMDb. 29 June 2018.
29. Web site: Växjö Fria Gimnasium. 29 June 2018.
30. Web site: Växjö Fria Gymnasium – Den bästa skolan för dig (Translated: Växjö Fria Gymnasium, is the best school for you). Enterprise Magazine. 29 June 2018.
31. Web site: Gimmies nommer een in provinsie (Translated=Gimnasium first in the province). Potchefstroom Herold Newspaper. 5 January 2018. 29 June 2018.
32. Web site: Potch Gimnasium beste in sy soort (Translated: The school are the best in it classification). 21 April 2018 . Beeld Newspaper. 29 June 2018.
33. Web site: Gimnasium. Potchefstroom Internet TV. 18 February 2018. 29 June 2018.
34. Web site: Tradisionele rugby skole verdwyn in ou Transvaal (Traditional schools disappear in the Province). Schoolboy rugby. 19 April 2013. van Tonder, J.. 29 June 2018.