Wynberg Boys' High School - History

History

In 1841 John McNaughton re-opened the doors of the future Wynberg Boys' High School in Glebe Cottage to sixteen pupils. Initially co-educational, this school made no distinction in respect of colour or creed.

John McNaughton was eventually granted an assistant to help him run his school, while the current headmaster, Keith Richardson, has nearly 50 full time and part time teachers to help him in the task of educating hundreds of young men.

The school has moved three times over the years until it eventually found a home in 1980 on the top of the Wynberg Hill - a kilometre away from its original home, Glebe Cottage. Plato's injunction of "Education should take place amongst beauty" is certainly applicable in the case of the Wynberg Boys' High School of today.

Every year, in the last week of August, the school celebrates its traditional Founders Day. The history of South Africa is reflected in the school's history. When necessary, graduates have answered the call to arms in all the major conflicts which have afflicted this country in the last 168 years and the Role of Honour above the Garden of Remembrance recognises those who have made the supreme sacrifice.

There are two school museums as well as in the two books written on Wynberg: 'The History of a School' (1961) by Doug Thompson who was a teacher of English at the school and 'A School Reflects' (1991) by Old Boy Roger Goodwin.

The School's motto 'Supera Moras' can be translated literally from the Latin as 'Overcome Difficulties'. Generations of Wynberg men have taken a less stilted translation : 'A Wynberg Man Never Gives Up.' This motto is given life in all four pillars of the school : Academics, Culture, Sport and Service.

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