Alexandra High School
| Alexandra High School | |
|---|---|
| Alexandra High School Badge | |
| Location | |
 | |
| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public, Coed |
| Motto | Summa Diligentia Laboro |
| Established | 1960 |
| Locale | Urban |
| Headmaster | Mr A Graaf |
| Exam board | KZN |
| Grades | 8 - 12 |
| Number of students | 1000 girls and boys |
| Color(s) | Maroon and blue |
| Fees | R 15 600 p.a. (boarding) R 6 600 p.a. (tuition) |
| Website | www.alexhigh.org.za |
Alexandra High School is a public high school in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
History
The school is named after Queen Alexandra Caroline, Queen Consort of England, and first opened on 23 February 1960. Though it was initially a whites-only, all-boys school, the first non-white pupil was admitted in June 1991. Alexandra High School became co-educational at the beginning of 1992. The school colours are maroon and blue.
The School Badge, Houses and Motto
Mr Udal, the first headmaster, designed the school emblem himself, from the royal coat of arms of Queen Alexandra. Mr Udal took the Maltese Cross to incorporate in the badge. Mr Lee Boyd, M.E.C. for Education in the N.P.A at the time of the school’s inception and ex-mayor of Durban was a Knight of da Game in the Roman Catholic Church. The cross was given the Boyd’s House as their symbol.
Then Mr Downs, Mayor of Pietermaritzburg, was approached for permission to use part of the city’s coat of arms – hence the Elephant – emblem of Downs House. Mr Allison, three times mayor, M.P.C. and freeman of this city, a neighbour of the school who took a great interest in Alex, had Allison's House named after him, and the Stars from the City’s Coat of Arms formed the symbol of this house.
Shepstone House was named after the Administrator of Natal at the time of the purchase of land for the school, and as he had attended Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, the crown was to be Shepstone’s symbol.
Succeeding Mr Shepstone as Administrator, was Mr Trollip, who also took a keen interest in the school. He was approached for permission to use part of the Natal badge – hence the Wildebeest (provided they faced the correct way and had white manes and tails!). These wildebeest are the symbol of Trollips House.
For the motto, Mr Udal’s own signet ring bore the words, Tant Que je Puis – archaic French, meaning “I do my best”. Mr Lamond of Maritzburg College translated this into the Latin, Summa diligentia laboro. Then Mr Udal and his wife chose the distinctive colours of sky blue and maroon, and with the help of a local outfitter, devised a full range of blazers, badges, colours, rugby jerseys and all the other needs of a school.
The Mural on the School Hall
The plaque was designed and built by the late Miss Syliva Baxter. It took her months of hard work, with sometimes a stretch of 48 hours’ work on moulding, colouring and baking the clay.
It was fired in forty six pieces of ceramic clay, measuring 4 meters by 2 metres and its mass is over a ton. Metallic oxides were used to give it its beautiful colouring.
The Plaque is a symbolic representation of the Holy Trinity. The lips represent the word of God, "let there be light" as shown on the open page of the book. The eye is the all-seeing eye of God, stressed further by the four cardinal points of the compass, with the eye as the hub. The bird, a stylised dove, represents the Spirit. The scale pans and feather are there as a reminder that conscience should weigh as light as a feather.
The torch signifies the light of learning. The "clouds" indicate the formlessness of the earth before the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Dry land (Africa) and the waters can be distinguished; so, too, can night (stars) and day. The firmament the waters is there also.
The plaque was unveiled by the late Senator A E Trollip, then Administrator of Natal, when the School was officially opened on the 25 September 1964.
Uniform
Both genders have two uniforms: winter and summer, also known as "Number one" and "Number two" uniforms respectively. The boy's winter uniform consists of a maroon blazer, a white button up shirt (long sleeved or short sleeved), a maroon and powder blue tie and long grey pants. The shoes are shiny brown leather, and the socks are dark grey.
The boy's summer uniform consists of a khaki safari suit, with long khaki socks and the same shiny brown leather shoes. Girls wear nearly identical uniforms in winter and summer. The uniform consists of a blue skirt, white button up shirt and the same maroon blazer. The same maroon and blue tie is worn. Winter uniforms differ from summer uniforms in that a blazer is compulsory.
Pupils in grade 12 - 'matrics' - are entitled to wear a completely powder blue tie as part of the winter uniform, and the boys may wear a differently cut khaki shirt as part of the summer uniform.
Awards
Special ties are awarded for academic, sporting, leadership and cultural achievements. Dark blue blazers are also awarded for even greater achievements. "Braid" - a type of striped trim - may be added to the edge of the blazer as another mark of distinction.
Sports
Alex learners are well-served by extensive grounds and sports facilities and a staff with both the enthusiasm and ability to offer a wide-ranging programme for both boys and girls.
Learners are encouraged to involve themselves in at least one sports code in each quarter and there is a variety from which to choose.
In the summer terms, cricket, basketball for boys and swimming predominate although swimming gives water to water polo in the fourth term. Both squash and tennis are also on offer in these terms, both being year-round activities. Alex pioneered basketball in schools in Natal and remains one of the strongest basketball-playing schools in the country. For the very keen athlete, some athletics is also available in the first quarter. Indoor hockey is also a growing sport providing competition during the quarters when field hockey is not played.
During the second quarter, both boys and girls play hockey while this is also the rugby term. Other learners, boys and girls, do cross-country running, a sport in which the school is very strong. Tennis and squash teams play matches at this time and the girls may choose to do netball.
After July, the oval ball gives way to the round one and the school is engaged in regular soccer fixtures at all age-groups. At the same time, this is the athletics season during which the inter-house meetings and meetings involving other schools take place. The girls have their basketball season at this time of the year.
Most of the sport is competitive in the sense that representative teams are picked and, unfortunately, it is not always possible to cater for those who wish to play for purely recreational reasons. Our opponents include the top sporting schools in the province as well as many of the similar co-educational schools.
We also take pride in the achievements of our learners in their chosen sports which may not feature in the school’s programme. From time to time, Alex teams have competed in cycling events, bi-and tri-athlon, polo-cross, for example.
Culture and Other Activities
Since the policy of the school is to provide a wide variety of activities in order to cater for the broad spectrum of interests among our learners, an interesting range of cultural activities also feature in the school’s corporate life.
Many learners derive great pleasure from being involved in the excellent services of the catering club which flourished even before girls entered the school. Among the various functions for which the Club caters is the annual Supper Theatre which is one of the ways in which our learners can become involved if they are interested in the performing arts. Another is through membership of the flourishing Choir.
The school has both senior and junior debating teams which compete against other schools and those with additional interest in public-speaking may join the Speakers’ Club. From time to time, learners represent the school in speaking competitions, notably the annual Jan Hofmeyer and Alan Paton contests. Those with the necessary interest and ability represent the school in Chess and Mlabalaba.
Learners may join the Computer Club or assist in the Media Centre in a variety of ways. In addition to the expected assistance with regard to the issuing of books, the school’s video equipment is operated by learners who, among other projects, produce an annual review of activities. Learners’ interests in wildlife and conservation, pottery, woodwork and photography are also catered for.
The service of the First Aid Unit, which comprises boys and girls in the school, is invaluable, especially during rugby season when it does duty for all home matches. The leaders in this unit are highly qualified and very committed to this field of service.
In addition to all these activities, opportunities abound for learners to participate in events and contests which have a more direct bearing on the academic curriculum. An Alex team has fared extremely well in regional and national bridge-building competitions, while other learners write the various subject Olympiads. Each year, a significant number joins the Junior Achiever programme which is aimed at developing young peoples’ entrepreneurial skills. Others represent the school on the Junior City Council.
Each year, numerous learners, mostly in Grade 11, are given the opportunity to attend leadership courses or other seminars which focus on the development of leadership, self-knowledge and inter-personal relations.
Through the activities to School Council, on which learners representing each grade are elected, we hope to develop debating, thinking and decision-making skills and give the learner body a hand in determining directions for the school.
External links
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