Etosha Secondary School (“Hoërskool Etosha”)[1] Is situated in the heart of the Northern part of Namibia,(Oshikoto Region ) in Tsumeb. Etosha's outstanding academic performance annually in the grade 10(International General Certificate of Secondary Education) and 12 has ranked it one of the best academic performers in the northern regions and Namibia as a whole.
History[edit]
1964 was the first German and English Medium State School in South West Africa to be opened in Tsumeb upon when The school received it's High School status. This was the time when the The mine’s smelter comes into operation, and the West German Max Planck Institute for space research had opened.
Staff[edit]
1964[edit]
- Mr E.P.F. Gouws was the first principal, with Mr S.T. Potgieter as the school's vice-principal.
- Mr Buden is the first hostel Superintendent.
As the school opened, The boys and girls were in the same hostel.
- Ms. Roland is The first Secretary.
1968[edit]
30 June: Mr. E.P.F. Gouws retires. Mr. S. T. Potgieter is appointed as the new principal.
1977[edit]
30 June: Mr. S.T. Potgieter is appointed schools inspector. Mr. Jan Alberts becomes the school’s new principal, with Mr. J.F. Eksteen as deputy Principal.
1979[edit]
Mr. Jan Alberts (later Dr.) left the school and was replaced by Mr. J.F. Eksteen as principal.
1984[edit]
The school has had 12 secretaries:
- Mrs. Rowland,
- Mrs. Mites
- Mrs. M. Stehle
- Mrs. Lottering
- Mrs. Marais
- Mrs.M. Stehle
- Mrs. I. De Groot
- Mrs. Diedericks
- Mrs. P. Pieterse
- Mrs. M. Stehle (Retired June 2004)
1985[edit]
Mr. J.F. Eksteen leaves the school and Mr. J.R. Muller is appointed principal.
1986[edit]
A second secretary was appointed for half-day by Ms. Trudie Koelman
1987[edit]
Mr. J.R. Muller left the school at the end of the year. Department of Works assists in reserving a house for the principal of Etosha Secondary School.
1988[edit]
January: Mr. Duvenage is appointed as the new principal.
1990[edit]
Mr. Duvenage leaves the school and Mr. Strüwig is appointed as the new principal.
- After 5 years, the half-day secretary, Ms Trudie Koelman, resigns and Ms. Linda Crafford (Oosthuizen), old student and former 1978 head girl of Etosha Secondary School, is appointed as second half-day secretary.
1992,31 July: Halfday secretary, Ms. Linda Crafford has resigned 1 August: Ms. Reni Roodt is appointed 3rd half-day secretary at Etosha.
Emblem[edit]
The school's emblem was designed by Mr. R. Fechter from Otavi.
The fort forming the top border confirms the idea of keeping watch while the torch that swings towards the flame on the right represents movement and symbolizes the school as a bearer of light for our lives and attitude to life. At the bottom there is the beautiful motto: “STAND SENTRY”.
Societies[edit]
In February 1954 the Photographic Society is founded.
- Klaus Albat and Auguste Hennies (Schmalzried) are the first head boy and head girl of the school.
In 1965 the first Matric Class of the school:
- Head Boy: Sarel Louw
- Head Girl: Auguste Hennies (Schmalzried)
1968 The first drum majorettes group is founded.
- The cadets get new , dark brown uniforms with barets.
1973 Alexander McDonald (trumpet) and Wayne Philip (bass drum) win as individual cadets in Windhoek and do unexpectedly well in Pretoria.
1984 Computer Studies are offered for the first time - Mr. Danie Junius was the first computer 1989 Last performance by the cadet orchestra.
1987 a new Media Centre is planned.
1989 The first Driving School for learners is offered with a Golf sponsored by Von Baums Motors.
1990 Chris Steyn is nominated Best Namibian Cadet and does very well in the competition at Langebaan, R.S.A.
Sport[edit]
in 1964 Planning for the sports complex begins.
- Soccer offered was the first sport to be recognized as the official school sport of in.
1966 The school’s sports hall (gymnasium) is completed.
1968 The first two rugby poles are planted on the new sports complex.
- Hockey starts at the school.
- Gernot Ahrens: is the first school boy to be chosen for the R.S.A. Schools Soccer Team.
- Magdalena Nieuwoudt (now McDonald) is given the first “Sportsman of the Year” award for being in the South West African Schools Team for 4 years in a row and she becomes captain of this team.
1971 The communal sports grounds and J.P. Ratledge Stadium (named after the General Manager of Tsumeb Corporation) is inaugurated. (Cost: R60.000.00)
1973,14 August: The then Prime Minister, the honorable Mr. B.J. Vorster, addresses all learners in Tsumeb at the communal sports grounds, the new J.P. Ratledge Stadium.
- The netball team wins the S.W.A. National competition.
- The U/16 soccer team wins the S.W.A. Nationals and receives the Pro Nutro cup.
1976 the first rugby team remains unbeaten and is the first team to reach the Klopper Cup Final.
- First rugby team also wins the Blok de Wet shield, Raadsbeker and Northern League competition.
- Bernard Pienaar, former member of Etosha’s first rugby team, is chosen as captain of the R.S.A. first rugby team.
1978 Johan Abrie, Josef van der Berg and Martin Lüsse are chosen for the S.W.A. boxing team and take part in Pretoria.
- The first rugby team wins the Northern League competition (Klopper Cup) playing against Otjiwarongo.
1979 March holidays: The first rugby team and the U/15 team tour Transvaal.
1981 Chris Bartholomea and Herman Louw are chosen for the S.W.A. shooting team, going to Bloemfontein and Chris achieves 10th place in the R.S.A.
1984 NISU - within 7 points of winning.
1985 First won at NISU in Otjiwarongo, with 6½ points.
1987 A sport tour to Eastern Transvaal was undertaken with the new bus.
- Sakkie van Zyl (Springbock), from the Free State in R.S.A., presents a rugby training course.
- Gert Potgieter (Springbock) presents a week-long sports training course.
1988 First rugby team wins the Raadsbeker (Council Cup), Blok de Wet Shield and Klopper Cup.
1993 Maranda Oberholzer is the first learner to be chosen for the Namibian Senior Women’s Netball Team.
1994 Maranda Oberholzer is chosen from 17 Senior women to represent Namibia’s netball team from 5 – 9 September in Zimbabwe.
Facilities and Infrastructure[edit]
The school received a new Albion school bus (with a Leyland engine) on 14 October, 1965
The school uniform is changed in 1966:
- The girls’ brown dresses are replaced by grey school skirts and white blouses;
- The boys’ khaki was replaced by grey trousers and white shirts.
1974 Installation of air-conditioning in the hostel study halls and the school hall.
- Chairs and curtains for the side windows of the school hall are purchased.
1974,15 November : A new Mercedes school bus is received.
1975 A part of the old school building is demolished while building starts on a new school building.
- October: A small Nissan bus is bought for the school.
1977, 13 - 15 October: The new school building is inaugurated and taken into use.
1978 Leather furniture (dark green) is bought for the principal’s office.
1980 Hostels are modernized.
- First VCR Video machine and Television were bought
1984 New electronic typewriters replace old typewriters.
1987 A Mercedes bus is bought (and fetched in Windhoek by Mr. H.O. Louwrens)
1990 A new Leyland school bus was purchased and christened “Koljander”, as a mate to “Vinkel”, the Mercedes bus.
1991 The last Std. 5 class is initiated.
Academic Affairs[edit]
1973 Matric learner, Ingo Lösch, is the winner at the Provincial Science Week and is chosen to attend the International Youth Science Fortnight in London.
1984 The Education Department starts implementing goals / aim management.
1987 For the first time Outdoor School is offered at Aus.
1990 Christa Coetzer, in Std.9, wins the 61 Mechanized Battalion Trophy for Best Academic Student for the 5th consecutive year.
1990 The Std. 6 class is renamed Grade8, and from then on the teaching medium of all subjects are in English. The Cambridge Syllabus is implemented.
1990 For the first time in years that the J.S.C. (Junior School-leaver’s Certificate) examination is set and marked internally for Std. 8.
1993 The first J.S.C. External examination was set by the Namibian Ministry of Education and written by Grade 10.
1994 The last Grd. 12, Matric class, writes the Cape Education exams in Afrikaans.
- A School Board, which includes learner representatives from the Learners’ Representative Council (L.R.C.) replaces the old School Committee.
Tours[edit]
1967 The first bus tour to Johannesburg and Pretoria took place.
1969 First tour to Angola: 7 cars with adults accompanying the bus.
1970 First tour to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe): 7 cars accompanying the bus.
1971 First school choir founded.
1972 In July a second tour to Angola took place.
1974 The last school tour to Angola with the old bus took place.
1975 A school tour to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in new Mercedes bus is undertaken.
1976 Study tour to the Cape.
1984 By then the school had done 11 tours (8 with the Albion bus).
1994 April: The ACSV (Afrikaanse Christelike Studentevereniging) tour to Stellenbosch together with learners from Academia High School and from HTS, Higher Technical School. On the return journey the front wheel of the “Koljander” bus bursts, but Mr. Piet Blom gets everybody home safely.
Culture[edit]
1974,26 July:The school celebrates the first 10 years of its existence with a fair.
1985 The school celebrates its 21st Anniversary with a fair.
1986: Jo-Rina Meyer: (Matric 1985) is crowned Miss Namibia.
1989 The school celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
1990 Schools are opened to all ethnic groups and Etosha Secondary School enrolls its first 11 non-white learners.
- 21 March: Namibia celebrates its Independence.
1990 The Official school photos were taken by Gerhard Botha, who was based in Windhoek.
1992 1 August: Etosha holds a fair and street parade with floats with the theme “Pepi the clown”.
1993 3 School terms are introduced by the Government.
1994 23 August: A formal revue gala evening was held to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Etosha Secondary School.