Ever wondered where Germiston’s future leaders took their first steps? It’s here at Germiston High School. Established on September 10th, 1917, Germiston High School began as the Secondary School Germiston. Mr R.C. Harding made the first entry in the logbook. Initially, it was a co-ed school. Later, the boys and girls were separated.
The school was initially housed in the building now occupied by Germiston South School. In April of the following year, it became known as the High School Germiston. Imagine the bustling hallways filled with students eager to learn.
Construction on the school’s permanent building finally began in 1922. The Administrator of Transvaal officially opened it on August 1st, 1923. Interestingly, some residents opposed the location. They thought it was too far from town.
In 1917, the school selected its colours. However, the Great War made them hard to obtain. Even when available, the quality wasn’t great. This shows the school’s resilience during challenging times.
Mr R.J. Johnson became headmaster in 1919. He held the position until 1924. Mr F.N. Gammidge succeeded him. In 1925, the school switched from soccer to “rugger”. Also in 1925, the cadet detachment provided a guard of honour. They honored H.R.H the Prince of Wales during his visit to Germiston. He later became King Edward VIII.
Mr W. Main took over as headmaster in 1934. He led the school through the war years. Mr H.C. Robinson followed, serving from 1946 to 1960.
In the early 1950s, the Transvaal Education Department decided to separate the boys and girls. In 1951, the girls moved to Lambton. The building is now Delville Laerskool. Miss E.B. Bergen became headmistress. She remained in that role for the school’s remaining thirteen years.
The Germiston Boys High School, under Mr Robinson, occupied the Lake Grounds building. Mr J. Lane, a Germiston High alumnus, became headmaster in 1960. He left in 1963 to lead Greenside High.
After a thirteen-year separation, the girls rejoined the boys in 1964. Germiston High School was reunited. The TED offered Miss Bergen the headship of the newly amalgamated school. She declined, stating her heart belonged to the “Girls’ High.”
Dr E. Hudson was acting Headmaster for the first year. Mr H. Kroes then held the position from 1965 to 1970. During this time, major construction doubled the school’s size. A new hall and a magnificent library were added. Professor Kroes left to lecture at R.A.U. which is now the University of Johannesburg.
Mr K.R. Paine succeeded him. He stayed until 1974, when he was promoted. During Dr. Paine’s tenure, enrollment peaked. In 1973, there were nearly 1500 students. There was a full staff of over seventy. Despite new buildings, the school was overcrowded. Prefabricated classrooms and laboratories were built. The opening of other high schools eased the pressure.
Mr R.J. Gouldie succeeded Dr Paine in 1975. He remained until 1978. He returned to the classroom and later became a principal. Mr A.F. Wheeler was Headmaster from 1978 to 1990.
In the 1980s, the TED introduced a technical field of study. Workshops were built next to the tennis courts. The first technical students matriculated in 1989.
Mr Lilleike was principal from 1991 to 2002. He joined classrooms for larger groups. Basketball was introduced in 1997. A new staff room was built.
In 1992, Germiston High opened its doors to all races. In August, it became a Model C school. Mr A.J. Beukes served as principal from 2003 to January 2017. He ushered the school into the era of technology. E-learning was introduced in 2015.
Today, Germiston High School stands as a testament to resilience and adaptability. The school is currently under the leadership of principal, Ms R. Goosen. It is ready to meet the challenges of the future. Its rich history and dedication to excellence make it a cornerstone of the Germiston community.