The School Today
PIETERMARITZBURG GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL was founded on 4 August 1920 and moved from the site of the present Boarding Establishment to its present position in 1925. The original day school building was declared a NATIONAL MONUMENT on 3 AUGUST 1984. Therefore the FRONT FAÇADE of the building, in the Palladian architectural style, may not be altered in any structural manner without the prior approval of the National Monuments' Commission.
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GHS 1956 and on the right, GHS 2011 |
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At the beginning of 2007 the roof was condemned and many contingency plans for accommodation were put in place. The project was completed in 2009 and we have moved back into all the venues.
FRONT GATES WITH BADGE - donated by the matric class of 1999, flanked by pillars housing the guard-house.
FOYER - refurbished in 1982/3
TROPHY CABINET - donated by the late Mrs Betty Reed (a GHS Old Girl and a long-standing member of staff) on her retirement in 1983.
WALL CLOCK - donated by the matrics of 2000.
OFFICES AND ROOMS
PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - Green 13 - a number of significant paintings hang here.
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - Green 17.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE -Green 18.
LEARNER SUPPORT CENTRE - Yellow 2 – used for Life Orientation and by the Peer Counsellors.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES - Green 4, 5 & 7 and Red 6 & 7 - house nine secretarial staff members - redesigned and enlarged in 1970 and modified in 1998, 2002 and 2007.
PHOTO-COPYING CENTRE - Red 6 - all the bulk duplicating in the school is done here.
THE SCHOOL SHOP - Red 6 – open 2 days a week, it provides a valuable service and is an important source of revenue for the school. Second hand and new items of school uniform are available.
DRAMA ROOM - Blue 9 – formerly a Typing room.
FAY BAILEY ROOM - Green 24 - is now the second Deputy Principal’s Office. The furniture has been restored and it is an area where school memorabilia are on display.
STAFF MARKING ROOM - Green 26 - formerly a classroom and previous to that a staff room - new computers have been installed.
STAFF ROOM - Green 27 – housed the school’s first library- the Della Robbia plaque presented to the school by Mrs Davis still hangs here.
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The library then - now the staffroom. And the library today - then the Guy /gym Hall. |
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THE MILLICENT CALVERT ROOM - Blue 12 - upgraded in 2000 - a Life Orientation classroom used by the Peer Counsellors as a Learner Support Centre.
SCHOOL ARCHIVES - Red 21 – All archival material is housed here. The collection is being built up slowly and we welcome relevant material.
EVE GRUNDY ROOM - Blue 14 - the Library in the 1960's and the Counselling and Computer Centre in the 1970’s and 1980's. It was converted to a Board Room in 1990. Regular formal meetings and seminars are held here. It is also used for team teaching - two classes can be combined for certain lessons or topics - and for group work. Modular furniture allows for flexible group arrangements.
COUNSELLING SUITE - Blue 16, 17, 18 - The school employs two full-time Guidance Counsellors.
MEDIA CENTRE - houses both the GUY HALL and Computer Room (1). The Media Centre was officially opened on 22 June 1995 by Dr Sylvia Vietzen.
COMPUTER ROOM (1) - Yellow 8 - At different stages it has been a music room, film room, classroom and typing room. During July 1994 it was converted into a Computer Room and has been modified numerous times since then. Since 1998 all learners have had access to the Internet. Software programmes, which are subject specific, are purchased to ensure maximum use of the capital expended here. The latest additions are “Cami Maths” and “Readers are Leaders” which can be accessed after school by learners experiencing difficulty with Mathematics or Languages.
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Computer Room Blue 19 The quad with to the right, Computer Room Yellow 8 above
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COMPUTER ROOM (2) - Blue 19 - formerly the Counselling Room, Team-Teaching Room, then the Drama Room, has become a Computer Room. This was completed in May 2005.
COMPUTER ROOM (3) - Green 4 is used mainly for Computer Applied Technology.
PREFECTS' ROOM - Yellow 6 - was a housecraft teaching room, then became the Physical Education office and in 1999 was refurbished as the Sewing Room. Since Consumer Studies does not include much sewing, it is now used by the prefects.
CONSUMER STUDIES - Yellow 3 and 4 - Housecraft as a subject was replaced by Home Economics in 1987, and is now called Consumer Studies. Each kitchen is fully equipped with stoves and a microwave oven.
TECHNOLOGY ROOM - Yellow 7 – converted from a kitchen to accommodate Technology in Grades 8 and 9.
QUAD - a popular place for the girls at breaks, it is a haven of serenity with its lovely garden and fountain. The 3 metal bird sculptures were donated by the Matrics of 2002.
SUSAN ALLISON ART COMPLEX - Blue 1, 2, 3 and 5. Blue 1 was built in 1973. Doors open into the “Art Quad” where a small gazebo stands. The latest addition to the Art Suite is the Sculpture Studio, attached to Blue 1. This room has wonderful acoustics and is also used for music evenings.
JOYCE DOWSE COMMUNICATION CENTRE (J.D.C.C.) - Green 35 - our largest Audio Visual Room seating 200, it was completed in 1973. Data projectors ensure up-to-date use of both DVD and IT equipment. This centre was officially opened in 1986.
GUY HALL - a national monument – the school’s first assembly hall, then a gymnasium, it was converted into an award-winning, modern Library with a mezzanine floor and an upper floor, which leads into Computer Room (1). The old wall-bars from the gymnasium were used to form the balcony railing of the upper floor. The desk area was further modified in 2000. The enclosed Library Garden is an outdoor reading room. The library is well-staffed and equipped with 18000 books, internet-linked computers and many other resources.
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The Original Guy Hall. |
The Guy Hall today with the new Sculpture Studio on the left and the Techonolgy Room (downstairs) and Computer Room Yellow 8 (Upstairs) on the right. The Guy Hall is now the Media Centre.
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NORMA BURNS HALL quad - This quad was completed in December 1988 and is in constant use.
NORMA BURNS HALL - completed in 1962, it is a National Monument. It is used for major school functions and productions and as a venue for examinations. The Honours Boards are in the foyer. A canteen has been built on to the hockey field side of the hall.
REFECTORY – newly refurbished, it is open at break and lunchtime and fulfils a vital need. It is a privatised concern.
SHELAGH BOWNESS ARTIFICIAL HOCKEY TURF - completed and opened in 2010, it has given a boost to hockey in the school. There are also 2 grass hockey fields and 7 tennis courts in this area.
AUDREY LAIDLAW VIEWING DECK – opened in 2010, it can be used to watch hockey or tennis.
RED ZONE - completed in 1962, comprises Afrikaans classrooms; Biology and Science Laboratories: the Lecture Theatre, with its micro-projection system: and offices and storerooms.
HULAMIN SCIENCE LABORATORY – opened in 2009 opposite the Lecture Theatre, this modern facility was built with the aid of funds from Hulamin and equipped with the assistance of Old Mutual.
THE GREEN ZONE houses History, Geography, Mathematics, English and Zulu.
SPORTS OFFICE - previously an Art Studio and then the Drama Room, it now houses the 5 Physical Education Staff and has all the technology required by a good sports administration department. A canteen is attached to it for use in entertaining visiting teams. The beautiful old tiles from the former Music Practice Rooms adorn the new GAZEBO which is situated next to the Squash Courts.
BIOLOGY GARDEN completed in the mid 1970's is used for plant ecology study.
ELEANOR GRAHAM COMPLEX comprising two Squash Courts, was officially opened by Mrs E.M.F. Graham, a former Principal, in 1979.
SYLVIA VIETZEN COMMUNITY CENTRE - The foundations of this complex which was funded by the school were laid in April 1990. The roof, concrete floor and south-facing wall were completed in December 1990. Between 1991 and 1993, the lighting, change rooms and a gallery were completed and a sophisticated public address system installed. In 2003 the entire centre was walled and the air flow improved. In 1994 the synthetic floor (Rekorton Dynapoint CD10 surface) was laid to provide the only surface of its kind in the Natal Midlands. The centre is used daily for any of the following activities: Badminton, Basketball, Netball, Indoor Hockey, and Volleyball; and for Physical Education classes. Assemblies, Speech Days, and art exhibitions are a few of the other functions which take place here. National sporting tournaments are scheduled here on a fairly regular basis. International events have also been staged here.
The ‘Extension’ to the Community Centre was opened in July 2003. It consists of two large change rooms, a store-room and a beautiful Foyer and Functions Room which doubles as a ‘Gym’, housing small weights and exercise balls. An indigenous garden and attractive outside lighting are added features.
NETBALL FIELDS – next to the Community Centre
BIOLOGY POND – an attractive area providing water plant specimens
PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE houses both the McDOWALL CENTRE and the MUSIC SUITE
THE McDOWALL CENTRE was opened by Miss D McDowall on 19 May 1976. It formerly housed the Carnegie Library. Thousands of books were moved by a 'human chain' to the Guy Hall at the end of 1994 and beginning of 1995. It is now used for drama, music classes, meetings, seminars and social functions and is available for hire as a convention centre. It has recently been upgraded. Early in 2011 the roof collapsed in a freak accident but it has been reconstructed.
MUSIC SUITE - Music as a subject is taught here. The suite also houses the Music Workshop where pupils and the general public can learn any instrument from the team of teachers employed for this purpose.
AUDITORIUM - added in 2001 it provides an intimate venue for concerts as well as an area for Wind Band practices.
SCHOOL TRANSPORT: We have recently purchased a Mercedes Sprinter – 309 DCI (16 Seater) to add to our GHS fleet of two Ventures.
BOARDING ESTABLISHMENT – built around “Morningside, the former home of the Davis family where the school was first situated. 220 boarders and 10 boarder mistresses live here. There is also a full-time resident lady warden, three matrons, a catering manager and a housekeeper / matron. The Grade 8s live in LINDSAY HOUSE, in the dormitories: LAND'S END, JOHN O'GROATS, PICCADILLY and MAYFAIR and Grade 9s in AVIARY, WINDSWEPT, FAIRYLAND AND POOLVIEW. The senior girls are in GRUNDY HOUSE, SHONGOLOLO and the modern MC NEIL/TURNER WING.
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On the left, Morningside from the air and above the Boarding Establishment today as seen from the new Swimming Pool. |
JUNIOR PREP ROOM - used for prep by the Grade 8 and 9 girls.
BOARDER MISTRESSES' BEDROOMS are upstairs (a recently revamped suite area). Adjacent to the Junior Prep Room is HONEYCOMB the home to some Senior girls, in newly converted cubicles. The Head and Deputy-Head Boarder Prefects are accommodated in THE HIVE, which was formerly part of the matron's dining room or the MC NEIL/TURNER wing. MOONLIGHT and ROSES house senior girls.
SICK BAY and the newly revamped DISPENSARY are on the ground floor.
FOYER and the red stairs still remain a beautiful focal point of the building.
LOUNGE - the main TV Room.
GRADE 11 LOUNGE - equipped with a TV set and has a kitchenette area.
GRUNDY HOUSE, houses the dining room, 90 double cubicles, on ACACIA or HADEDA floors, four resident staff bedrooms and a senior prep room. Part of the prep room houses computers to which the boarders have full access.
SHONGOLOLO - the former music rooms have been converted into accommodation for senior girls. The wooden floors have been sanded and look beautiful.
MC NEIL/TURNER WING – opened in 2006, it houses Grade 11 and 12 girls, in individual rooms, in very modern accommodation.
NEW SWIMMING POOL - built in 1983, it replaced the old one which was filled in because of irreparable cracking and sinking. Because of the Scottsville shale this pool was fibre-glassed in 1999. It is now heated to allow for practices in the colder months.
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The Old Pool. |
The New Pool The new BE wing in the background was built on the site of the Old Pool. |
3 TENNIS COURTS – situated in the well-wooded grounds, they have recently been resurfaced. The boarders make good use of this park area.
PRINCIPAL'S HOUSE - occupied by the Estates Manager.
BE LAUNDRY - revamped and upgraded.
SPECIAL PROJECTS CO-ORDINATOR’S COTTAGE - on the main driveway connecting the B.E. and the school.
SECURITY FENCING - erected in May 1998 to ensure the boarders' safety
THE SHELAGH BOWNESS CONSERVATION TRAIL - opened on 10 May 1998 by Alderman Rob Haswell. This trail meanders through the grounds. Trees and plants have been named. This is an on-going project with further indigenous trees and shrubs being planted.
The original gates on the corner of Alexandra and College Roads were replaced, during 2000, by a wall bearing the GHS NAMEPLATE AND CREST. The old gates have now been placed near the new Gazebo.