‘Leaders are created here’ say alumni at Beacon Hill’s 40th
| Published date | 24 April 2024 |
| Author | Marsha Bothma marsha.bothma@acm.co.za |
| Publication title | Plainsman |
The first principal of Beacon Hill from 1984 to 1986, Joseph Diedericks, said when the school opened they had to search for teachers on a waiting list.
He was not satisfied with the name Imperial Secondary School. He wrote to the department to change it.
Beacon Hill High was the “perfect name” for the school. “A beacon doesn’t stand in the valley but stands on the highest point,” he said.
The education department accepted the name, Beacon Hill High School. The children came in their masses. “Beacon Hill’s roots will remain strong for the next 40 years, striving towards greatness in this community,” he said.
Former deputy principal from 1984 to 1986 and former principal from 1986 to 1991, Errol van Wyk, said when he started it was difficult times with many challenges yet numerous triumphs.
They started with Grade 8 and Grade 9 pupils with 1987 being their first matric class. Formerly known as Mitchell’s Plain No.15 Secondary School, Mr Diedericks came up with the name and the motto: “Let your light shine.”
“What unites us is the shared experiences of our time together, the memories we made and bonds we formed,” he said.
Mr Van Wyk said they were a young group of teachers who started their first year of teaching at the school; they had to show they can produce great results, he said.
“We were competitive and wanted to show we can succeed while working with parents and the community,” he said.
Parents from all over wanted to enrol their children. When he left in 1991 there were 1 181 pupils and 62 teachers.
Their school played a pivotal role in the struggle. “We’re proud of the pupils, today they play a great role in the community,” he said.
It was Mr Van Wyk’s birthday when they won their athletics section in the 90s. Pupils wanted a day off but needed school to continue so that excellence could prevail, he said.
Former principal Gregory Kannemeyer, who was at the helm from 2013 to 2021, said Beacon Hill High’s examples are being sighted from afar for what they do.
They hosted the Mitchell’s Plain cycle tour in 2018 ("Bea
con Hill gears up for Heritage Day cycle tour" Plainsman, September 12, 2018) and was the first school that hosted an advanced pilot project for online and blended learning (“A new kind of learning”, Plainsman, July 24, 2020), to name a few accolades.
“We’re changing the landscape...
To continue reading
Request your trial