Paul Roos Gymnasium

Paul Roos Gymnasium is a prestigious state school for boys in the town of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.

The school was founded in 1866 as "Stellenbosch Boys' High School". In 1941, it was renamed after Paul Roos, the first captain of the Springbok rugby union team. Roos was a former pupil and teacher at Paul Roos Gymnasium, and was the school's rector from 1910 to 1940.

Boys from grade 8 to 12 attend Paul Roos and some subjects are offered in conjunction with its two sister schools, Bloemhof and Rhenish. The school is dual medium.cite book | last = Malherbe | first = Ernst Gideon | title = The bilingual school: A Study of Bilingualism in South Africa | publisher = Longmans | date = 1946| location = London| pages = pp. 122 | isbn = 0405110863 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=l0LsYLbvTlYC&pg=PA10&as_brr=3&ei=SFvBSKS7FZrqiQGg5uzqDQ&sig=ACfU3U0zNcsJnb7oYobm1MbA1bi79RT2Dg#PPA10,M1] Afrikaans- and English-speaking pupils study under one roof, but each language group is educated in separate classrooms and in his own mother tongue. Paul Roos also shares sport and internet facilities with the nearby well-known Stellenbosch University.

The school has a wide range of facilities including a library, two computer labs, three grass hockey fields and the famous Markötter rugby fields. There is also a swimming pool, with an Olympic Waterpolo Aquatic Centre currently under construction. Furthermore the school has 4 tennis courts and a gym on the school grounds.

Prima and Prima Nova, the two boarding houses, accommodation 226 boarders from across Southern Africa.

Paul Roos is a 'prestige' school, being among the best performing schools. [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=hat8osAERnUC&pg=PT136&as_brr=1&ei=0ZKHR730ApmOiQGsmYDEBQ&sig=Tn080PhslhHukYK0vPbKaJSlCz0 "Marking Matric: Colloquium Proceedings,"] Vijay Reddy, 2006. HSRC Press. [ISBN 0796921164] ] In the 39 years of the existence of the Chancellor's Medal at Stellenbosch University, 9 (23%) Paul Roosers have gained this award.Fact|date=February 2007

Paul Roos has produced the highest number of Springbok rugby union footballers. [cite web|url=http://www.genslin.us/bokke/StatSchoolMostPlayers.aspx|title=Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame: Schools Overall|accessdate=2007-06-25]

Notable alumni

*J.B.M. Hertzog, prime minister of the Union of South Africa
*Uys Krige, writer, poet, playwright and rugby union footballer
*Tjol Lategan
*D.F. Malan, South African prime minister
*Paul Roos, first Springbok rugby union captain
*Jannie Rupert, manufacturing director, Richemont
*Johann Rupert, executive chairman, Richemont
*Jan Smuts, South African prime minister
*Peter van der Merwe, musicologist, author and librarian
*Arnold van Wyk
*Cobus Visagie, accountant and former Springbok rugby player
*Andries Bekker, Springbok rugby player
*Schalk Brits, Rugby Player

External links

* [http://www.paulroos.co.za Paul Roos official site]
* [http://wcedemis.wcape.gov.za/ibi_apps/WFServlet?IBIF_ex=INERSCHOOLN&EMIS_NO=0109310275 Western Cape Education Department profile]

References