Diamantveld High School

Hoërskool Diamantveld is a public Afrikaans medium co-educational high school in Kimberley in the Northern Cape province of South Africa and the oldest Afrikaans school in Kimberley.

Hoërskool Diamantveld
Address
Map
3 Voortrekker Road

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Coordinates28°45′03″S 24°46′22″E / 28.75072°S 24.7727°E / -28.75072; 24.7727
Information
School typePublic & Boarding
MottoA posse ad esse(Latin) Translated Making a possibility, a reality
Religious affiliation(s)Christianity
Established28 January 1935; 89 years ago (1935-01-28)
School districtDistrict 4
PrincipalL.Victor[1]
Grades8–12
GenderBoys & Girls
Age14 to 18
Number of students765 pupils
LanguageAfrikaans
CampusUrban Campus
Colour(s)  Blue
  White
  Yellow
RivalNorthern Cape High School, Adamantia High School, CBC
Newspaper“Aitsa”
Feeder schoolsNewton Primary School
Diamantveld Laerskool
AlumniCoenie Burger, Andries Thomas Markgraaff, Karen Muir, Philippus Jeremia Rudolf Steyn, Edwill van Aarde, Philip Rudolph van der Merwe
Websitehttp://www.diamantveld.co.za/

Beginnings

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It was founded on 28 January 1935 on the then closed Kimberley Teachers Training College hostels’ premises, and the first Head Master was Dr. O’Grady. It was first called Kimberley High School but in 1936 it changed to Diamantveld.[2] Reverend Albertyn, J.R. headed the campaign to have an Afrikaans school established.[3]

Head Masters to follow

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Dr. O’Grady stayed on until 1960. While he was headmaster the school relocated to the premises of Belgravia Primary School.[4] The head masters that followed him was: Cerff, C.F. (1960–1969), Spangenberg, J.P. (1969–1974), Heyns, M.G. (1974–1979), Auret, J.P. (1979–1996),[5] du Toit, J.(1996–2012) and then Hugo, M. The current head master is Victor, L.[6]

Motto

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A posse ad esse (in Latin).Translated: Making a possibility, a reality[7]

Gender and language

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The school is a co-ed school in Afrikaans only.

Hostels

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Two hostels exist, namely J.P. Auret House and Dugmore House.

School Performances

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  • The school had the best matric results in the Northern Cape Province in 2016.[8]
  • Diamantveld won the International AQUALIBRIUM Schools Water Competition in 2015 held in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is an engineering, mathematics and science competition. In 2015 the school had to design a water model for a water distribution network.[9]

International Partnership

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The school was in a partnership with PASCH Schulen, a world-wide German school group in 2010 when South Africa presented the Soccer World Cup. The partnership entailed learning German as a third or fourth language while encouraging them to play soccer. This was aimed at both boys and girls.[10]

Sport

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The Wilde Klawer National Tournament, which brings together South Africa's top performing high schools in rugby and netball is hosted at the school since 2014.[11][12] The school’s rugby fields is of a standard that provincial rugby can be played on. It is the only other pitch in the region that is of an acceptable standard. The main stadium is Griqua Park. Griquas, the region’s senior rugby team, therefore play a few provincial games per season on the school’s rugby fields. The region from which Griquas draw players is called the Northern Cape. (one of South Africa’s nine provinces)[13]

Alumni

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Individual performances

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  • Alecia Brits - international science pupil.[20]
  • LM Joubert - first 16 year old rugby referee to be in charge of senior provincial rugby game.[21]
  • Lourens van Niekerk - winner of the countrywide Mathematics Olympia in 2012[22]

High Court Case

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The school took an application to the High Court of South Africa (Northern Cape Division) in 2004. The Head of the Department of Education (HOD) was the respondent. Diamantveld wanted to appoint teachers from outside the province, but the HOD overruled it. Judges Majiedt, J. and Tlaletsi, J. ruled against the school and in favour of the Department of Education. This created a precedent in South African law.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Beheerraad (Translated: Governing Body". Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  2. ^ Botha, A. (28 April 2015). "Skole trots soos min (translated: Very proud of School)". Noordkaap. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Ds J.R. Albertyn". NG Kerk Kimberley. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  4. ^ Book: Diamantveld hoërskool1935-2010 ISBN 9780620560382. Hoerskool Diamantveld. January 2010. ISBN 9780620560382.
  5. ^ "diamantveld legend passes away". OFM. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Agtergrond (Translate=background)". Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  7. ^ "School profile". Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Top achievers celebrate". Diamond Field Advertiser Newspaper. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Schools excel at the international Aecom Aqualibrium schools water competition". SAICE. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  10. ^ Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (24 June 2010). "Laduma heißt: "Tooor!"(Translated:Its a goal!)". PASCH Schulen. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Wilde Klawe Schools".
  12. ^ "Wilde Klawer Festival". Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  13. ^ "SuperSport Rugby Challenge to change rugby landscape". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Dr Coenie Burger" (PDF). Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  15. ^ "School profile Diamantveld". Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  16. ^ Evens, E. (3 April 2013). "'Tepid Torpedo' Karen Muir remembered". Diamond Fields Advertiser. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Rudi Steyn". Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  18. ^ "My lewe… 'n Skatkis vol herhinneringe(translated: My life with great memories". West Rand Window Newspaper. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  19. ^ SAPA (25 October 2010). "Two ex boks die". Sunday Times. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  20. ^ "Young scientists to compete in international pre-college science competition". ESI Africa. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  21. ^ "Teen refs get Currie Cup taste". News24. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  22. ^ Jordaan, K. (15 October 2012). "( Afrikaans)Diamantveld trots op slimlop (translated: Diamantveld is proud of clever pupil)". OFM radio station. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  23. ^ "High Court Case no: 1246 /03" (PDF). 20 August 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2018.