Jeppe High School for Boys

Jeppe High School for Boys is a public English medium high school for boys located in Kensington a suburb of Johannesburg in the Gauteng province of South Africa, one of the 23 Milner Schools and also one of the top schools in the Gauteng province, The sister school is Jeppe High School for Girls.

Jeppe High School for Boys
Jeppe High School for Boys main entrance
Address
Good Hope & Roberts Avenue Kensington Johannesburg , Gauteng 2101 South Africa
Coordinates	26°12′0″S 28°5′58″E
Information
Type	All-boys public school
Motto	"Forti Nihil Difficilius"
Religious affiliation(s)	Christian
Established	1890 (1890)
Founder	Sir Julius Jeppe
School board	National Senior Certificate
School district	D9.
School number	GDE No. 130633
Headmaster	Dale Jackson
Grades	8–12
Gender	Male
Enrollment	950 boys
Average class size	33
Language	English
Schedule	07:30 - 14:00
Campus	Urban Campus
Campus type	Suburban
Colour(s)	Black      Gold      White
Slogan	Turning Black and White into Gold
Song	[Jeppe School Song]
Mascot	Zebra
Nickname	Jeppe
Rivals	Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool King Edward VII School Parktown Boys' High School Pretoria Boys High School St Benedict's College St Stithians College
Accreditation	Gauteng Department of Education
School fees	R50 700.00
Affiliation	International Boys' Schools Coalition
Alumni	Jeppe Old Boys
Dayboy Houses	Duiker, Eland, Impala, Koodoo, Roan
Boarding Houses	Oribi, Tsessebe, Sable,Droste
Website	www.jeppeboys.co.za

The school's motto is the Latin Forti nihil difficilius, meaning "Nothing is too difficult for the brave". Jeppe High School for Boys is the oldest known school in Johannesburg.

History

St. Michael's College was the predecessor of all the Jeppe Schools. This was an Anglican private school on the corner of Commissioner and Crowns Street in Fairview. There were 25 students when the school first opened. The headmaster of the school was Rev. H B Sidwell. His successor was Rev. George Perry, in 1891.[1]

The buildings of the college and the site on which its grounds lay were bought by the Witwatersrand Council for education, in 1896, as the school was struggling to function. The school was re-opened, in April 1897, by the council as Jeppestown Grammar School. 15 boys enrolled into the school and the first headmaster of the school was Mr. H Hardwick. However, school financial issues forced the council to reduce its disbursement. As a result, Mr. Hardwick and the rest of the school's staff were given notice. On 1 October 1898, a group of Jeppestown parents bought the school from the council for £2,500. The staff had been replaced, but Mr. Hardwick remained the headmaster of the school.[1]

In 1899, at the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War, with the number of students slowly decreasing, the school was forced to close down. Mr. Harwick left in September 1899.[1]

The school re-opened, after the war, as Jeppestown High School for Girls and Boys using land donated by Sir Julius Jeppe.[1] It was opened in the same building of the Grammar School, and was one of the first co-educational schools, opened by the Transvaal Education Department (T.E.D). The precise date of the re-opening is unknown, however it is believed to have been during the first quarter of the year 1902, as a letter sent to the Department of Education by the school, about the teachers being unwilling to teach under the conditions of an unfinished building as well as there not being enough space for the number of children, was sent on 9 April of that year.[1]

The Parents' Committee experienced financial hardships at the same time as the school's construction. In September 1902, the Education Department was presented with an ultimatum, which stated that either they purchase the premises or vacate it, by October that year. The Public Works Department advised that purchase be made, until a new school building could be constructed.[1]

The new headmaster of the school, in 1902, was Mr. C D Hope. He remained headmaster until he left in 1904 to found a fellow "Milner School", Potchefstroom High School for Boys. He was succeeded by Mr. J H Payne, who became a staff member in 1902 and remained headmaster until his death, in 1917, during his service in the First World War (170 boys and staff members lost their lives to the border conflicts and two World Wars).[1] Mr. Payne acquired the building that the Jeppe Boys students currently occupy.[2]

By 1912 the new school's grounds were not sufficient enough for the accumulating number of pupils at the school. Owing to the boys out-numbering the girls, and pressure from the Governing Body of the school, who were against the co-educational system of the school, it was decided that the girls would be moved to other premises.[3] The split would occur in 1919.[4]^:339

When Johannesburg celebrated its centenary, in 1986, the main building of Jeppe High School for Boys, as well as the First World War Memorial, were declared national monuments.[1]

Current administration

Headmaster | Principal

• Mr. Dale Jackson

War Memorial

A dome built near the main entrance of the school is one of the prominent facades of the school building. One side of the dome is used for "recruiting" and the other as the school museum. Alongside the dome can be found the names of boys who died during the war while still attending the school. The dome also features a plinth with the names of staff and pupils who lost their lives in The Great War. Mr. James Humphrey Allen Payne, who was a headmaster at the school, died of a fever in 1917 while serving in the war. The second hall in the school is named after him.

When the school celebrated its centenary in 1986, the First World War Memorial, which was opened by field Marshal Jan Smuts, was declared a national monument.[5]

Buildings and facilities

Hostel

In 1912, Oribi House, the oldest hostel, was built. In 1916, Tsessebe House occupied Friedenheim, Sir Julius Jeppe's home. During the Anglo-Boer War, Friedenheim was used as British Headquarters and was owned by Sir Abe Bailey. In the early 1960s, Friedenheim was declared unsafe to occupy and was demolished. Roan House and Sable House are the oldest buildings on the property.[1]

Main gates

The main gates to the school are dedicated to FWB von Linsingen and AS Dashwood who were both killed in action in Bardia on 31 December 1941.

World War II Rolls of Honour

Two World War II plaques are situated in the foyer of the school's main hall. These contain the names of Jeppe pupils who died in action while still attending the school.

Jeppe High School for Boys Association

There have been a number of different Old Boy Associations over the years at Jeppe High School for Boys. However, over time they had become defunct, in 2009 the Jeppe High School for Boys Association (JBA) was officially formed.

The stated aims of the JBA are as follows:

• To communicate with Old Boys and members of the Jeppe family through monthly newsletters and the JBA website as to the activities, achievements, developments and progress of the School.
• To facilitate continued interaction amongst the Old Boy network by assisting with reunions and various fundraising events.
• To become the “business advisory” arm of the School by acting as a conduit for the School to interact with the many areas of business acumen and expertise which exist within the Jeppe family.
• To contribute to the continued high standards of academic, sporting and cultural performances at the School and the high levels of discipline and behaviour by raising finances to support the various capital projects at the School.
• To give underprivileged and financially disadvantaged scholars, of all races, the opportunity to attend Jeppe through the establishment and maintenance of the various Scholarship Funds.[6]

Academics

Jeppe Boys write the Gauteng Department of Education preliminarily examinations and the Department of Education, South Africa final examination via the FET (Further Education Training) board. They are also offered the opportunity to partake in Advanced Programme mathematics, which is written separately under the IEB.

Scholarships

Jake White Scholarship Fund - The Jake White Scholarship, named after Jake White who was a pupil at the school from Grade 8 to Grade 12, aims to brand all sports scholarships at the school under this fund.[7]

White, who is a former Springbok and IRB World Cup Winning Coach, and Jeppe old boy, was a prominent figure in the Springboks' victory in 2007 during the Rugby World Cup.[7]

Theo Jackson Scholarship Fund - The Theo Jackson Scholarship Fund, established by Dale and Craig Jackson in 2006 in honour of their late father, Theo Jackson, is a separate scholarship within the JBA association. The scholarship aims to grant scholarships to boys of all races and from disadvantaged backgrounds. Recipients of the scholarship are not chosen based on academic or sporting excellence but rather on strength of character and the will to succeed despite a disadvantaged background.[8]

100 Club - The 100 Club, formed in 2004, aims to improve sports, academics, facilities and infrastructure at Jeppe Boys through donations from Jeppe old Boys.[9]

Extramural activities

Swimming at Jeppe High School for Boys.

Listed alphabetically according to season

Summer	Winter	Both
Aquatics (Rowing, Swimming, Water Polo)	Athletics	Chess
Basketball	Cross-Country	Choir
Cricket	Hockey	Comic and Cards Club
Golf	Rugby	Creative Writing Society
Orienteering	Soccer	Debating
Rowing	Mountain Biking	Emergency Medical Care
Squash		JAM (Jesus and Me)
Table Tennis		JJC (Jo'burg Junior Council)
Tennis		Pipe Band
		eSports
		Performing Arts
		Public Speaking
		Photography Club
		Wildlife Club

Academics

Jeppe Boys write the Gauteng Department of Education preliminarily examinations and the Department of Education, South Africa final examination via the FET (Further Education Training) board.

Subjects

In line with the requirements of the Education Department, Jeppe High School for Boys offers the following subjects in the Junior and Senior Phase:

	Junior Phase (Grades 8 & 9)	Senior Phase (Grades 10 -12)
English	X	X
Afrikaans	X	X
IsiZulu	X	X
Mathematics	X	X
Mathematical Literacy		X
Advanced Programme Mathematics		X
Natural Science	X
Life Science		X
Physical Science		X
HSS (Human and Social Sciences – History and Geography)	X
History		X
Geography		X
Technology	X
Engineering Graphics & Design		X
Civil Engineering		X
Life Orientation	X	X
Accounting		X
Business Studies		X
Physical Education	X	X
Information Technology		X
Art and Culture	X
Visual Art		X

School buildings

Jeppe Boys has stone buildings with a prominent facade. The Payne Hall, a stone building with a largely wooden interior, has been declared a national monument. Within the school is another national monument; a war memorial dedicated to those who died in the First World War.[10]

Prominent Old Boys

• Herman Charles Bosman (1905–1951), writer and journalist
• Jock Cameron (1905–1935), South African international wicket-keeper[11]
• Bob Catterall (1900–1961), South African Test cricketer[12]
• Jim Christy (1904–1971), South African international opening batsman[13]
• James Dalton (born 1972), Springbok hooker[14]
• Norman Gordon,(1911-2014) South African cricketer who participated in the famous "timeless test".[15]
• Morgan Gould (born 1983), soccer player
• Daryl Impey (born 1984), South African professional road cyclist[16]
• Samuel Kinkead (1897–1928), air ace and Schneider Trophy pilot
• Henry John May (1903–1995), author,[17] noted South African constitutional lawyer,[18] and Queen's Counsel
• Brian Mitchell (born 1961), World Junior Lightweight Champion Boxer[19]
• Brent Moyle (born 1973), Springbok prop forward
• Bob Hepple (1934 -2015), legal adviser to Nelson Mandela in his trial for incitement in 1962.
• Herbert Cecil Pugh (1898–1941), clergyman and George Cross recipient[20]
• Wilf Rosenberg (born 1934) Springbok outside centre[21]
• Harry Schwarz (1924–2010), lawyer, politician, Ambassador to United States and anti-apartheid leader
• Des Sinclair (1927–1996), Springbok inside centre[22]
• Jake White (born 1963), World Cup (2007) winning Springbok coach, who also taught at the school
• Fhatuwani 'Rasta' Rasivhenge (born 1986) International Rugby Board referee
• S'busiso Romeo Nkosi (born 1996), Springbok winger
• Wandisile Simelane (1998), former Junior bok. Lions center
• Tyrone Green (1998), former Junior bok. Lions Utility back
• Hacjivah Dayimani (1997). Lions Flanker

References

1. http://www.jeppeboys.co.za
2. "History". Jeppe High School for Girls. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
3. "Jeppe High School for Girls —". Jeppe High School for Girls. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
4. Shorten, John R. (1970). The Johannesburg Saga. Johannesburg: John R. Shorten Pty Ltd. p. 1159.
5. War Memorial
6. "Jeppe Old Boys Association (JBA) – Jeppe High School for Boys Johannesburg, South Africa". www.jeppeboys.co.za. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
7. "Jake White Scholarship Fund". Jeppe High School for Boys. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
8. "Theo Jackson Scholarship Fund". Jeppe High School for Boys. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
9. "100 Club". Jeppe High School for Boys. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
10. "Jeppe High School for Boys, Kensington, Johannesburg". South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). 11 August 2018.
11. "Jock Cameron". Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
12. "Five Cricketers of the Year". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Part I. Wisden. 1925. p. 292.
13. "Jim Christy". Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
14. "James Dalton page at Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame". genslin.us. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
15. "South Africa news: Norman Gordon first Test cricketer to close 100 – Cricket – ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
16. "Former Jeppe Boy, Impey, lives his dream in Tour de France". bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
17. "Orbis Authors". yale.edu. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
18. Guide to the Henry John May Papers, compiled by Carol King, January 1995, Yale University Library
19. "BRIAN MITCHELL Sports and Motivational Speaker - Johannesburg". entertainment-online.co.za.
20. "George Cross Recipients". Marion Hebblethwaite. 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
21. "Wilf Rosenberg page at Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame". genslin.us. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
22. "Des Sinclair page at Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame". genslin.us. Retrieved 27 September 2015.

External links

• Jeppe High School for Boys
• Jeppe High School for Girls