User:AllanNeumann

QUEENS HIGH SCHOOL, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

QUEENS HIGH SCHOOL IS A PROMINENT PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA. IT IS UNIQUE DUE TO ITS LOCATION, PUPILS, STAFF AND PICTURESQUE FIELDS. THE SCHOOL HAS A MASSIVE 1450 SCHOOL PUPILS, AND 55 EDUCATORS AND A FULL SUPPORT STAFF OF SECRETARIES AND GROUNDS WORKERS. THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IS MR JOHAN LOURENS, AND THE DEPUTY HEADMISTRESS IS MS KATIE MCALLOM.

NOW APPROXIMATELY 85 YEARS OLD IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE OLDEST SCHOOLS IN JOHANNESBUG, CATERING MAINLY FOR PUPILS FROM KENSINGTON, BRUMA, BEZ VALLEY AND JOHANNESBURG INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS, SOWETO AND ALEXANDRIA. THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IS MR JOHAN LOURENS, WHO IN HIS TIME HAS CREATED HIS OWN VISION OF THE SCHOOL WHILE MAINTAINING THE ETHOS INSTILLED BY HIS PREDESSOR MR TERRY WILSENACH.

QUEENS HIGH HAS AN EXCELLENT ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT WITH MANY EDUCATORS BRANDISHING DOCTORATES, MASTERS AND HONOURS DEGREES. THE SCHOOL MATRIC PASS RATE IS APPROXIMATELY 90% AND CONSIDERING THE LOW LEVELS OF EDUCATION SOME OF THE PUPILS HAVE AT THE SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARRIVE, THESE ARE EXCELLENT RESULTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOL IS ALSO ACHIEVING PHENOMENAL SPORTS RESULTS, WITH REGARDS TO ITS EXCELLENT EXTRA-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME. RUGBY, CRICKET, ATHLETICS, NETBALL, GIRLS AND BOYS HOCKEY, SWIMMING, SOCCER, DANCING, DEBATING AND MANY OTHERS. THE SCHOOL HAS NOW PRODUCED CRAVEN WEEK RUGBY TRIALISTS (SOUTH AFRICA'S PREMIERE HIGH SCHOOL RUGBY COMPETTION) AND SEVERAL GAUTENG OR GOLDEN LIONS UNDER 18 RUGBY PLAYERS. QUEENS HIGH RUGBY COMPETES IN THE BEELD TROPHY AGAINST TOP SCHOOLS, THE HYDE PARK FESTIVAL, THE COKE SERIES AND THE PRIMROSE SEVENS. CRICKET SAW THE SCHOOL IN 2011 PRODUCE 3 GAUTENG EAST PLAYERS IN THE UNDER 18 DIVISION, WHILE THEY COMPETE IN ATHLETICS IN THE B LEAGUE, AFTER LOSING ONLY TO ONE SCHOOL THE ENTIRE 2011 SEASON. NETBALL PRODUCED ONE GAUTENG PLAYER ALSO.

THE SCHOOL IS ENSHROWNED WITH MAGNIFICANT FIELDS, INCLUDING 5 CRICKET FIELDS (WITH TOP-CLASS CRICKET PITCHES),3 RUGBY FIELDS, 4 HOCKEY FIELDS, A SOCCER FIELD, 8 TENNIS AND NETBALL COURTS, A SWIMMING POOL, A GYM, A SPORTS PAVILION WITH TUCKSHOP AND CLUBHOUSE, THE QUEEN'S HEAD. THE BACKDROP TO THE SCHOOL IS THE BEAUTIFUL JUKSKEI RIVER, WHILE MASSIVE TREES HANG OVER THE FIELDS, CREATING A UNIQUE AND TRANQUILL COUNTRY FEEL TO THE SCHOOL.

IT IS NO DOUBT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC SCHOOL IN JOHANNESBURG, AND CONSIDERING THE OBSTACLES THE SCHOOL FACES (LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC PUPIL POPULATION), WITH APPROXIMATELY ONLY 30% OF PARENTS PAYING SCHOOL FEES, THE SCHOOL ACHIEVES REMARKABLE RESULTS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

ALLAN NEUMANN