About Parow High School

Parow High School is the result of an amalgamation between J. J. du Preez High School and Tygerberg Commercial High School. The new name is especially fitting as J.J. du Preez High School used to be Parow District High School. The most important reason is that Parow now has a school, which bears its name.

It was decided in 1991 to amalgamate the two schools, not only to form one strong school but also to preserve the traditions of the two schools. As the facilities of the Commercial School were more suitable and modern, it was decided to retain the site of the Commercial School for the new school.

In 1992 Parow High School was founded with Mr PT Theron as the first principal. There were 52 teachers and more than 800 learners. Something of each school was retained in the composition of the new school uniform, badge, rules, etc. Attention was also given to new elements because it was a new school.

BADGE AND MOTTO:
The design of the school badge had to fulfil the following three conditions:
1. The badge had to include the symbols and colours, which appeared in the badges of the amalgamated schools – Tygerberg Commercial High School and J.J. du Preez High School.
2. The badge had to be heraldically correct and had to be registered.
3. The badge had to be acceptable to the majority of the school community.

Because symbols such as torches and open books of knowledge are just a unacceptable heraldically as, for example, a rising sun, it was decided in co-operation with the Bureau of Heraldry to register the badge as it is. The two fleur-de-lis were part of the J.J. du Preez High School badge and represent the flower of an Iris as decoration. The star and the chevron is an inverted V-shaped band symbolising progress. The star symbolises light. The colours, black and turquoise, (from the badges of J.J. du Preez High School and Tygerberg Commercial High School respectively) have been rounded off with silver.

The motto “Superare Possumus” means, “So we can transcend!” The motto is in Latin because it solves the problem of an Afrikaans and / or English motto in a dual-medium school.

The badge was registered at the Bureau of Heraldry in 1992. It is thus the official school badge of Parow High School and may not be used or displayed by any other institution, company or person.

SCHOOL SONG:
SUPERARE POSSUMUS

Set against the Tygerberg
in a valley fair,
a school where mind and body,
and heart are well prepared;
each pupil to fulfil a role,
accepting each an aim.
Where now and forevermore
the Lord, our Saviour, leads.

Through service and through leadership,
our culture ever dear,
aspiring to a higher goal,
the Lord our guiding light so clear,
participating all we can,
to give, believe and live …
Superare Possumus!
So we can transcend!
Superare Possumus!
So we will transcend!

SUPERARE POSSUMUS (Afrikaans)

Genestel teen die Tygerberg
in ‘n pragvallei,
‘n skool waar hart en intellek
en liggaam saam berei:
vir elkeen hier sy eie rol,
vir elk sy eie doel;
waar daagliks en voortdurend
die Heer, ons Heiland lei.

Deur diensbaarheid en leierskap,
getrou aan ons kultuur,
eerbiedig aan ‘n hoër taak,
die Here aan ons lewensstuur,
deur mee te doen van ganser hart,
te géé, te lééf, te gló …
Superare Possumus!
Só kan ons oorwin!
Superare Possumus!
Só sal ons oorwin!

(MUSIC AND LYRICS: Mr Anthony Costandius)

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