Hoërskool Sand du Plessis is a
secondary school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...
in
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein, ( ; , "fountain of flowers") also known as Bloem, is one of South Africa's three capital cities and the capital of the Free State (province), Free State province. It serves as the country's judicial capital, along with legisla ...
,
Free State,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
.
This public high school was founded in 1970, when it split off from the lower school. Both boys and girls are taught here.
[“Hoërskool Sand du Plessis, Skool, Agtergrond”]
(in Afrikaans
Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans gra ...
). Retrieved 20 Nov. 2022.
Name and symbolism
Like
Sand du Plessis Theatre which is also located in Bloemfontein, the school is named after Sand du Plessis (1908-1994). He was one of
the former administrators of the
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State ( nl, Oranje Vrijstaat; af, Oranje-Vrystaat;) was an independent Boer sovereign republic under British suzerainty in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, which ceased to exist after it was defeat ...
(known since 1995 simply as “Free State”).
The nickname of this school and its learners (students) is ''Sannies''. An open book appears as the dominant image on the
school badge. The open book symbolizes the faith of the
Afrikaner
Afrikaners () are a South African ethnic group descended from Free Burghers, predominantly Dutch settlers first arriving at the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th and 18th centuries.Entry: Cape Colony. ''Encyclopædia Britannica Volume 4 Part 2: ...
son and daughter. The horn depicted on the badge suggests an Afrikaner identity with a message of "being ready", while the
anvil
An anvil is a metalworking tool consisting of a large block of metal (usually forged or cast steel), with a flattened top surface, upon which another object is struck (or "worked").
Anvils are as massive as practical, because the higher th ...
portrays the shaping power of labour. The motto "I believe" confirms the ideals that are intended to be nurtured by this school.
History
Some significant dates in the school's history are these:
*25 January 1966: The secondary section of the combined higher and lower school Sand du Plessis opens with 60 learners.
*19 January 1967: Mr. Adriaan Reyneke, former deputy director of education, accepts service as head of the combined school.
[Malgas, Heidre.]
“Sannies vier hul 50ste bestaansjaar”
''Bloemfontein Courant'' (23 Jan 2020, in Afrikaans).
*20 January 1970: The official division of the higher and primary school comes into effect with Mr. Reyneke as head of the high school.
*November 1970: A group of 28 learners are the first to take the
matric examination.
*24 July 1973: The school building is occupied and a new era takes effect.
*January 1975: Mr. Jan F. Stemmet, deputy principal, takes over the reins as principal and serves the school until December 1985.
*1986: Mr. G.J.U. Naude, deputy principal, takes over for the whole year as principal.
*January 1987: Mr. Giel de Villiers accepts service as principal. He left the school at the end of 1991.
*October 1991: An oral reunion is presented at the school.
*1992: Mr. A.K. Smith, deputy principal, serves as principal for the whole year.
*January 1993: Mr. Johan C. Lamprecht accepts service as principal. During this year the OVS Directorraids will be won for rugby, choral singing and disk shooting. He completes his service on 31 December 2007.
*January 2008: Mr. Roy J. Doubell starts as head of the school.
*June 2014: Mr. F.G. Fouché is appointed as acting principal.
*February 2015: Mr. Willem du Buisson appointed as principal.
*January 2020: Fiftieth anniversary of school.
Notable alumni
Several notable alumni have attended this school, including these:
*
Franco Smith
Petrus Francois Smith (born 29 July 1972 in Lichtenburg, South Africa) is a former South African international rugby union player. He is now the head coach for Glasgow Warriors.
His regular playing position was fly-half or centre.
Playing c ...
,
rugby
Rugby may refer to:
Sport
* Rugby football in many forms:
** Rugby league: 13 players per side
*** Masters Rugby League
*** Mod league
*** Rugby league nines
*** Rugby league sevens
*** Touch (sport)
*** Wheelchair rugby league
** Rugby union: 1 ...
player.
*
Morné Steyn
Morné Steyn (born 11 July 1984) is a South African rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for the Bulls and played for the South Africa national team, up until his retirement from international test rugby in October 2021.
Steyn has won an ...
, rugby player.
*
Frans Sisita
Frans Leonardo Sisita (born ) is a South African professional rugby union player, currently playing with the . His regular position is flanker.
Career
Youth and Varsity Shield
Sisita represented Bloemfontein-based side at the Under-18 Academy ...
, rugby player.
[Nienaber, Hannes. ]
Free State Choose Schools Teams
, '' Rugby365'' (30 May 2008).
See also
*
References
External links
Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoerskool Sand du Plessis
Schools in the Free State (province)
Afrikaans-language schools