School Traditions
The school motto "Labor Vincit Omnia" ('tis work that conquers all) was carved above the prefects' door, and became the basis for the school song that every boy knew by heart:
- In tranquil days of long ago
- Under good Victoria's rule
- Their faith in Oxford's youth to show
- Our grandsires built a school.
- "Labor Vincit Omnia"
- Tis work that conquers all.
- This gem of ancient Roman lore
- Was carved above the prefects' door.
- "Nemo Repente Sapit", too,
- Was there beside it in full view,
- Reminding those of slower pace
- That perseverance wins the race.
- Labor Vincit Omnia
- Labor Vincit Omnia
Each November the School Speech Day took place in Oxford Town Hall. First there was a church service in St. Mary's church in the morning, then the main event in the afternoon started with a procession of staff in Academic robes and hoods. In December there was a school carol service in the University Church.
The boy's blazers were chocolate brown, as were the caps. In later years Sixth formers wore blue blazers. The striped tie was brown with red and blue diagonal piping. On entry to the school, every boy became a member of one of the four school houses: Lawrence, Jolliffe, Kerry or Salter.
Read more about this topic: City Of Oxford High School For Boys
Famous quotes containing the words school and/or traditions:
“While most of today’s jobs do not require great intelligence, they do require greater frustration tolerance, personal discipline, organization, management, and interpersonal skills than were required two decades and more ago. These are precisely the skills that many of the young people who are staying in school today, as opposed to two decades ago, lack.”
—James P. Comer (20th century)
“But generally speaking philistinism presupposes a certain advanced state of civilization where throughout the ages certain traditions have accumulated in a heap and have started to stink.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)