Grens High School marks 90th anniversary
Grens High School commemorated its 90th anniversary on April 12 in celebration of the school’s legacy and to mark a new chapter in the history of Afrikaans medium education in East London, as the school’s name changed to Ooskus Gimnasium High School.
The dream of establishing an Afrikaans-medium school in East London traces back to 1926 when Mr Goddefroy sought to provide quality education for his son. In 1934, Grens High School was officially established in the old Frere Hospital building, with the motto “Bou” (Build), inspired by the dilapidated state of the premises.
Over the years, Grens has overcome numerous challenges and obstacles, including initial shortages of basic supplies like blackboards and desks and since then it has flourished in both size and reputation.
By 1959, Grens had moved to its current premises, marking a new chapter in its history.
The school continued to expand, adding facilities such as hockey fields and an athletics track, and earning recognition for excellence in academics, sports, and cultural activities.
The school’s 90th year has seen it become amalgamated into the Ooskus Gimnasium campus which includes the Ooskus Gimnasium Primary School, formally Grens Laerskool and Nahoon Laerskool.
The name is derived from the school’s location on the Eastern coast as it is the only Afrikaans school in a radius of 300km.
Ooskus Gimnasium High principal Liesl Knickelbein said the school’s history and culture will continue to be nurtured for generations to come, ensuring that the school maintains excellence in Afrikaans education.
She said: “We are proud of everything the school and alumni have achieved over 90 years of excellence. We are proudly Afrikaans.
“The high school adopted the name Ooskus Gimnasium to match that of the newly established primary school to realise the dream of a united Afrikaans campus. The school uniforms will be the same, which means that parents will not have to purchase a new set of clothing when pupils enter the high school.
“The school’s mission remains the provision of quality, academic, careerorientated education, based on a Christian, Afrikaans and cultural foundation.
“Afrikaans schools have to fight to survive. We must adapt to the changing environment, but our values remain the same.”