Our History

Parkview Senior History

On the 10 April 1917the Parkview Government School opened its doors to 19 children, one teacher, and acting headmistress Mrs. Endly. The wood and iron building comprised of two rooms on the site of the present Parkview Junior School in Ennis Road Parkview. Three months after the school was opened, Miss G.E Lance was appointed principal. The years that followed were difficult years. School attendance was greatly affected by epidemics such as Spanish Influenza and Scarlet fever, as well as by a number of strikes.

By 1919 the school boasted three teachers and 78 pupils. One class had to be accommodated in the children’s cloakroom, the beginning of accommodation problems which would plague the school for years to come. By 1920, enrollment had risen to 100, but there was only accommodation for 65 pupils. For the next thirty years the increase in enrollment was to outstrip the provision for additional classrooms. As the numbers increased relief was obtained by using both the staff room and principal’s office as classrooms, as well as temporary erected classrooms on the school grounds. By 1925 enrollment was up to 245 pupils. Major renovations took place boasting four new classrooms, a new cloakroom, staff room and out buildings. Classes were large, with 52 in a class; pupils seated three to a desk.

Continued...

By 1929 enrolment was up to 500. Despite the recent renovations, the accommodation was once again inadequate. The school board under E.P Baumann, recommended the building of a second school. On the 5 February 1932, the building of a new school had begun on a three-acre site near to the Parkview Golf Club.
Despite the problems, life at Parkview School continued. Sport was important and cricket and soccer teams were formed. Girls hockey and tennis was also offered by the school .
All sport took place either at the Zoo Lake Sports Club fields or at Parktown Girls High School.

On 26 July 1932 the school was divided. The junior primary remained on the old site in Ennis Road, while the senior school with 301 pupils moved to the new school of eight classrooms on the three-acre site surrounded by Dundalk Avenue, Dee Road and Donegal Avenue. The Administrator of the Transvaal, J.S. Smit, officially opened the school on Saturday 17 September 1932. Both schools retained the same school uniform, colours (those of the Union Jack flag) and the badge with the letters P.V.S. – the abbreviation for Parkview School.


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