PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Dear Old Boy
Mr Mansfield retired at the end of 2013 after 16 years of not only teaching at Pretoria Boys High School but being an inspirational role model to many individuals.
Below is Mr Mansfield’s final speech at Assembly on 29 November 2013 – which we thought many Old Boys would appreciate and enjoy.
Mr Keith Mansfield’s final speech at Assembly – 29 November 2013
Those two mighty trees, the Norfolk Island pines, are the same age as I am.
They stand like sentinels, taller than the bell towers, almost as tall as the dome, from which Danny watches over us.
I wonder whether they will grow even taller; I wonder how deeply and broadly their roots have drilled their way into the earth.
I wonder how exhausting it must be for them to have held their branches parallel to the ground for sixty-six years, without ever sagging.
Instead, they stand bolt-upright, tall and proud and unflinching.
Even in the roughest weather, they never bend or snap.
They are real giants among trees, and they are one of the reasons that I have my own name for this great school.
I call it the Place of Giants.
And those two trees symbolise what Boys High boys have been, and are, and will become: upright and unbreakable, giants among men in character, in morals, in manners, in behaviour, in work and at play.
We all know the names of many giants who have attended this great school. We must also remember that every year, some boys arrive in Form 1 as young giants – mature and accomplished beyond their years.
During their five years at this great school, many more boys grow to become giants, each in his own sphere of excellence.
And once they leave this great school, many more young men become giants, in their careers, in their families and in their communities.
And, of course, many of your teachers are giants – amongst the best in their profession.
We are all privileged to be here, and I have even more privileged than you are, for having been allowed sixteen years in this great school.
Today, as I leave you, I want to remind you of the enormous responsibility which lies on your shoulders.
You, the boys, are the school – not the teachers, not the historical buildings, not the magnificent grounds. You are the school.
It is your duty, to yourselves, to your parents and to the school, to live your life like those two mighty trees – upright, unbreakable, giants among men in every way.
And the easiest way in which to achieve this goal is to work WITH your teachers, and never against them. Allow them to teach you. Never hinder them in their work.
If you do this, then this great school shall continue to improve, to become even more amazing than it already is, so that your sons will be able to enjoy the same privilege which you have been given.
My sixteen years of working amongst giants have been the happiest and the most meaningful years of my life and I have no doubt that every one of you will feel the same as I do now, when the time comes for you to leave the Place of Giants.
– Mr Keith Mansfield
Contributor: PBHS – The Pretorian 2013
PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL 24HR MTB CHALLENGE
BARDEN is proud to present the Pretoria Boys High School 24hr MTB Challenge on 6 September 2014.
The event is hosted over a 24hr period and boasts a vibrant race village and a varied track with a surprising array of different riding features as riders traverse through Pretoria Boys High School’s lush estate on a 7km circuit. There will also be good food, camping on the fields and great entertainment throughout the 24 hrs!
Click here to enter and for more information.
PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
Pretoria Boys High School are the kings of squash after they won the boys section at the SA Top Schools’ Squash Championship which was hosted by Epworth High School for girls over the weekend (Saturday 2 August 2014) PBHS beat Northcliff (Gauteng) 5/10, beat Paarl Boys High (Boland) 4/1, beat Selborne (Border) 3/2, beat St Andrews (Free State) 4/1 before beating Rondebosch (Western Cape) 4/1 in the final.
Image and text from The Pretoria News – Tuesday 5 August 2014
PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL FIXTURES & EVENTS
- 14 August 2014 – Inter-House Soccer (S)
- 13 August 2014 – Inter-House Climbing (J)
- 16 August 2014 – RCL / Phobians Fun Walk
- 20 August 2014 – Cross Country PTA League Relay
- 21 August 2014 – Choir: Lunch Hour & Gala Concert
- 23 August 2014 – Athletics: School Championships
- 28 August – 31 August 2014 – Tennis: Menlo Park Festival
- 30 August 2014 – Matric Dance
PUNISHMENT
Once again I have the delightful opportunity to write a punishment essay because of a some-bite-so-muzzle-the-group reaction. This one is about etiquette and manners before entering a classroom.
I have consulted my common sense, thought about what the teacher said and contemplated the situation. After some hard thought, I have decided that some of the basic rules when standing outside class must be:
1. Stand in two straight lines. (Do not move except in emergencies).
2. Absolutely no fighting, prodding, pushing, pulling, boxing, slapping, jabbing, hair-pulling, nose-twisting, ear-pulling, eye-poking, ordinary poking, kicking, shoving, grabbing, biting, scraping, scratching, pinching, raking, elbowing, kneeing, head-butting, choking/chokeholds, strangling, punching, beating, bullying, nose-pulling, low blows, karate-kicks, karate-chops, karate-throws, Vulcan death grips, toe-stomping, bodyslams, ruler- fights, scissor-duels, pen wars, tackling, spitting, throwing, cat-calls, jeers, insults, shouting, talking, murmuring, whispering, conversing, arguing, debating, singing, whistling, chanting, banging on the walls, stamping, burping, laughing, giggling, disorder, chaos, unlawfulness, sneezing, coughing/hiccupping, etc
3. Do as the class does. Be naughty when they are, as there is a rather large and distinct possibility that, should a teacher take offence, you’ll all receive some sentence.
4. If you happen to be standing outside Mrs Kloppers’ classroom and there happens to be a funny picture/article/facts-list on the notice board, you may not comment, laugh or giggle.
5. Applaud the one-talks-so-punish-all system.
Christiaan Swanepoel (Form I) –The Pretorian 2008
RISSIK HOUSE GOLF DAY 2014
Date: Friday, 29 August 2014
Venue: Zwartkop Country Club
Cost: R3000 per Fourball
(Includes greenfees, halfway, prizegiving and dinner)
SOLOMON HOUSE GOLF DAY 2014
Date: Friday, 24th October 2014
Venue: Zwartkop Country Club
Cost: R3300 per Fourball
(Includes greenfees, halfway, prizegiving and dinner)
UPCOMING OLD BOY EVENTS
- 12 & 13 September 2014
50 YEAR ON 2014 - 24 & 25 October 2014
40 YEAR ON 2014 - 22 & 23 August 2014
30 YEAR ON 2014 - 8 November 2014
20 YEAR ON 2014 - 22 November 2014
10 YEAR ON 2014