Hoërskool Menlopark

Die Hoërskool Menlopark
[2]
Menlopark school crest Excelsa petamus (Latin: "We strive for the highest values")
Location
Menlo Park Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Coordinates	25°45′53″S 28°15′30″E / 25.7646°S 28.2583°E / -25.7646; 28.2583Coordinates: 25°45′53″S 28°15′30″E / 25.7646°S 28.2583°E / -25.7646; 28.2583
Information
Founded	1963
School district	District 4
Authority	Gauteng Department of Education
Headmaster	Dr Carel Van Der Merwe
Staff	approx. 50 full-time
Gender	Mixed School
Enrolment	1,300 pupils
Language	Afrikaans
School Colour(s)	Blue, White and Red
Slogan	Excelsa Petamus
Song	Hou Hoog Die Vaandel Wit en Blou
Fight song	Ons Skool Sal Saamstaan
Nickname	Menlo
Newspaper	The quarterly Die Eggo, the weekly Menlo-Insig
Yearbook	Die Eggo
Website	www.menlopark.co.za

Die Hoërskool Menlopark (Menlo Park High School) is a public Afrikaans medium co-educational high school located in Menlo Park, Pretoria, in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Learners call themselves Parkies. Menlopark is one of the most prestigious schools in South Africa.

History

The school was established in 1963, starting with 12 class rooms and 372 learners in grades 8, 9 and 10 (then called Standards 6, 7 and 8).^[1]

Menlopark today

Menlopark has four values which every Parkie knows by heart and strives for in their every day life: Integrity, diligence, respect and loyalty.

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is called the "Parkieraad" which consists out of two learners (boy and girl) from every class. The current council consists out of approximately 100 learners (50 boys and 50 girls).

Menlopark participates in a variety of sports:

• Athletics§
• Rugby (Current FNB Classic Clashes champions)
• Hockey (Current City Cup and Noordvaal champions. Won the Noordvaal Tournament for the second year in a row - the first school ever to achieve this)
• Cricket (Winners of the National Standard Bank Pro20 Schools Challenge 2010)
• Netball (Current National Wildeklawer and Schools Coke Tournament champions)
• Tennis
• Squash
• Chess (Menlopark's girls' team is the current South African champions for the second year in a row)
• Horseback riding (Won the Gauteng Schools Championships for the third year in a row)
• Mountain Biking
• Golf
• Swimming‡
• Waterpolo
• Underwater hockey
• Cross country

Menlopark has achieved many outstanding achievements throughout its existence and is considered as one of the top schools in South Africa.

§Menlopark is the current title holder of the Jacaranda Prestige Inter High Athletics Competition (A-league) champions and has won this title for the tenth consequetive year now. The girls' competition was won by the Menlopark girls 16 out of 16 times.

‡Menlopark is the current title holder of the Swimming Inter High Competition (A-league) champions for the third consequetive year. Menlopark's swimming academy is part of Olympic gold medalist, Ryk Neethling's Players Academy. The school owns a 50m (Olympic size) heated swimming pool (one of only two schools in South Africa) on campus.

Menlopark has its own soccer league called the Menlo Soccer League (MSL) where any students of any age group in the school can apply to play in this league and compile their own teams. This was a student initiative that was established in 2006. (Logo: [3])

Other activities that Menlopark offers are:

• Music (variety of instruments like: violin, cello, flute, piano, keyboard, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, saxophone, clarinet)
• Choir‡
• Orchestra
• Flute Choir (Winners of the Pretoria Eisteddfod)
• Orators
• Debate
• Drama (acting)
• Voortrekkers
• School newspaper (called "Die Eggo")

‡The Menlo-choir is currently the best mixed school choir in South Africa after winning the National ATKV Applous Choir Competition in July 2011 and achieving a Cum Laude award (90%+). They are also known as the "Van Papendorp-Engeltjies" (Van Papendorp Angels in English) which comes from their director, Jeanmari van Papendorp's surname. The choir is one of Menlopark's biggest prides. The choir consists out of approximately 110 members and has participated on provincial, national, as well as international levels. Their piano accompanist is Philip Loots. The choir has undertaken several national and international tours and visited many countries, including Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Turkey, Austria and Egypt.

Menlopark has its own acting theatre on campus, called "Die Blou Teater" (The Blue Theatre in English), where several productions are performed by students in which they can improve and embrace their acting skills.

Notable alumni

In order of final year at Menlopark (date in brackets)

• Jana Cilliers (1965), Actress
• Laurie Dippenaar (1966), Founder FirstRand Group^[2]
• Claudie van Onselen (née van Straten)(1970?)^[1] Springbok Athlete
• Koos Kombuis (1972), Afrikaans writer, singer and songwriter (born André le Roux du Toit) ^[3]
• Marianne van Wyk (1974), Springbok Squash Player
• Calie Pistorius (1975), Vice Chancellor University of Hull, United Kingdom
• Stefan Swanepoel (1975), The New York Times Bestselling Author
• Reggie Holmes (1976), Springbok Squash Player
• Johan Marais (1976), Springbok Rugby Player
• Heinrich Regenass (1976), Forensic Auditor and Tax Expert ^[4]
• Marita van der Vyfer (1976), Author
• Dawid Bosch (1977), Author of text books on labour law, and former chief technical advisor of an International Labour Organisation
• Henning Gericke (1977), Springbok Athlete ^[1]
• Anneli van Rooyen (1978), Afrikaans Musician and Singer
• Johan Scholtz (1980), banking lawyer^[5]
• Rudolph Straeuli (1981), Former Springbok Rugby Coach and Lions Player
• Edward Webb (1984), Expert on applied animal physiology and meat science, and head of department of animal and wildlife sciences, University of Pretoria^[6]
• Jacques Olivier (1985), Springbok Rugby Player
• Pieter Murray (1999), Trail Runner
• Amalia Uys (2002), Actress
• Adriaan van der Dussen (2003), Journalist
• Gideon Louw (2005), South African Swimmer in the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2010 Commonwealth Games
• Henk Kraaij (2005), South African Pilot
• Willemien Heyns (2005), Singer and songwriter, member of the musical group, Aanklank (formed in 2006)
• Eugenie Wicksell (2007), Springbok Athlete
• Adam Heyns (2007), Actor and Comedian
• Carlien Scholtz (2008), Springbok Dancer
• Nadine Moore (2008), Radio newsreporter
• Kobus Moolman (2009), Springbok Hurdles Runner (110m)
• Sarina Johnson (2009), Radio Presenter and MC
• Rikenette Steenkamp (2010), Springbok Hurdles Runner (100m). (Held 3 South African titles (at the age of 17) in her final year: SA Women's Schools champion, SA Junior Women's champion, SA Senior Women's champion)
• Stefan Vermaak (2010), Actor
• Willem de Beer (2010), Internationally acclaimed pianist
• Sonja Scholtz (2011), Springbok Chess Player
• Pieter N. Scribante (2011), Springbok Ju-Jitsu (World Champion U/16)
• Charné van Biljon (2011), Springbok Hockey Player (U/17), Member of the Junior City Council of Pretoria (2009-2011)
• Regardt Verster (2011), South African Cricketer (U/19)
• Inge Viljoen (2011), Springbok Heptathlon Athlete
• Lenke van Aarde (2012), Springbok Chess Player

List of head boys

• Schabort Froneman (2005)
• Tertius Pelser (2006)
• Louis van Papendorp (2007)
• Johann van Wyk (2008)
• Armand Fourie (2009)
• Stefan Vermaak (2010)
• Pieter N. Scribante (2011)
• Riaan Pont (2012)

List of head girls

• Carike Camphor (2005)
• Marlie Kock (2006)
• Rose Griessel (2007)
• Hester Barnard (2008)
• Anika Viljoen (2009)
• Renée Barnard (2010)
• Charné van Biljon (2011)
• Lara Matzner (2012)

List of Parkieraad chairpersons

• Willemien Heyns (2005)
• Bremer Pauw (2006)
• Adam Heyns (2007)
• Ulrich Ohlhoff (2008)
• Armand Basson (2009)
• Gunther Matzner (2010)
• Magrietjie Pelser (2011)
• Dewald Vlok (2012)

Menlo Alumni Association

The association, known as Menlo Alumni, was founded in 2006.

School anthem & fight song

The school song was written in 1965 by Mr J J Botha (lyrics) and Mr O A Van der Stoep (music).^[1] The lyrics (in Afrikaans):

Hou hoog die vaandel wit en blou

Ons simbool van trots en trou

Ja, ons hart,

en ons hand -

Aan ons skool is dit verpand.

Hier sal ons streef en werk en bou,

Waai ons vlag hoog, wit en blou!

En al wat ons skool sal vra,

Is om trots sy naam te dra,

Excelsa Petamus! Excelsa Petamus! Excelsa Petamus!

Streef die hoogste na.

As Hugenote kinders trou,

Sal ons hul geloftes hou;

Eer betoon,

Sonder loon,

Diensbereid en plig getrou;

Ons werk en spel getrou volbring;

Om Sy naam die lof te sing

en wat Sy gebod ons vra,

Streef ons in ons harte na.

Excelsa Petamus! Excelsa Petamus! Excelsa Petamus!

Streef die hoogste na.

The school's fight song is called "Ons Skool Sal Saamstaan". The tune is based on the Welsh National Anthem (Land of My Fathers). The lyrics (in Afrikaans):

Ons skool sal saamstaan

gekleed in wit en blou.

Ons bou saam en werk saam

in trots en in trou.

In wen of verloor

dra die Parkies hul spoor

en streef ons die hoogste na.

Menlo, ons sal jou altyd onthou.

Die tyd gaan verby,

in ons harte sal jy bly;

'n Anker vir jou en vir my.

Coat of arms

Menlopark's school crest was designed by South African artist and legend, Bettie Cilliers-Barnard, who was a big fan of Menlopark. Her daughter, actress Jana Cilliers, was also a learner at Menlopark.

The meaning of the crest:

• The crest is designed in the shape of a circle - it symbolises the school's unity and strive for perfection.
• The most noticeable symbol in the middle of the circled crest is a cross which resembles their love for God and His love for them. Perfection in the Christian religion is the highest value Parkies strive for.
• Historically, the cross is the symbolic sign of the Huguenot ancestors.
• The four crossends each diverses into two and on the end appears eight small spheres which resemble the eight beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-10) heraldic embodied. Historically, it symbolises the eight anchors of the Huguenots and their strives.
• The ends of the cross is binded with each other in such a way that the four heart shaped quarters are formed. The hearts symbolise love and specifically how it is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13-7.

Motto and credo

Menlopark's motto is Excelsa Petamus which is Latin for "We strive for the highest values".

The school's credo is Absolut Menlo which takes every aspect of Menlopark into consideration and describes the school as a whole.

Menlopark annual social events

• Valentine's Ball (Known as the "Parkiebal")
• Matric Dance
• Parkiedag (Parkie Day in English which takes place on Valentine's Day)
• Liefdadigheidsweek (Charity Week in English)
• Jesusweek (Jesus Week in English)
• Menlovaria (the school's own cultural week)
• Grade 10 Ball
• Menlofees (Menlo Festival in English)
• Spring Tea (for mothers and daughters)
• Matric Council Camp
• Parkieraad (SRC) Camp
• Grade 9 Camp
• Choir Camp
• The headmaster's birthday celebrations
• Foam Party
• "Beheerliggaam-skild" spirit challenge (competition between the grades 8,9,10 and 11 that consists out of multiple "boeresport"-activities and which takes place on Spring Day; the grade with the most spirit, wins - the grades 9's are the current title holders)
• Menlo Open Day
• FNB Classic Clash (rugby match between Menlopark and St Alban's College - Menlopark are the current holders of the cup)
• Tekkielympics (Co-ed netball competition)
• Menlo Soccer League (MSL)
• The Cricket Big Bash (Twenty20-match between Menlopark and Hoërskool Waterkloof - Menlopark are the current title holders)
• Subject Evenings (French and German)
• Former Parkies vs. the first rugby team match
• The Fear Factor Challenges (consists out of 4 challenges: Oros-downing (the student who finishes downing 2 litres of Oros first, wins), "Koning van die Kaf"-competition (King of the Cafeteria in English - the student who eats the required amount of food the fastest, wins), MXit-competition ("Menlo's Xtreme Intense Typer" - the first student who types and sends a specific given phrase via SMS, wins the title) and hand tennis (dumpie).
• Restaurant Evenings (Menlopark has its own restaurant on campus, called "Cuisine Le Park", where students can improve and embrace their cooking and waitering skills)
• The Menlo Choir's Annual Christmas Carol

Notes and references

1. ^ ^{a b c d} School website, accessed 9 September 2008
2. ^ accessed 9 September 2008.
3. ^ Koos Kombuis en die First National Band on Flickr, accessed 9 September 2008.
4. ^ Logista website, accessed on 9 September 2008.
5. ^ Anti-fraud Network website, Accessed on 9 September 2008
6. ^ [1]

External links

• school website