Allen Glen High School Contact Details

The year 1992/93.  Great excitement!  A new school had been opened in Weltevreden Park.  Mr William Pope was elected as the Principal of the school with the assistance of the following staff members:

* Mr Johan Wiehahn – Afrikaans
* Mrs Colleen Hensman – English
* Mrs Kim Cohen – Mathematics
* Mrs Elize Kloppers – Sotho
* Ms Felicity Scully – Biology
* Mrs Laurette Holme – Accounting, Typing, Business Economics and Library
* Mrs Loggenberg – Life Orientation
* Ms Linda Pepler – Home Economics
* Mr Alec Galanakis – History
* Mrs Pat Cornelius – Secretary
* Mr Frans Boloi?

The year started with a bang and it was a very busy time for the newly appointed staff as so many decisions had to be made.  Was the school to be named Allen’s Nek High School since it was in Allen’s Nek?  What was the uniform to be?  How many periods per day and how long were the lessons to be?  What was the school motto to be?  The school badge?  The school song?  The colour of the hall curtains?  The list seemed to be endless and many meetings were held sometimes until late at night to make these important decisions.

The 199 learners who started at Allen Glen as it was to be named wore blue jeans and white t-shirts for the first year and were only Grade 8 and Grade 9 learners.

Most of the classes were taught on the middle floor of the school as it was on the same level as the staffroom.  The existing staffroom was too large and cold for such a small staff so it was moved to the corner room at the top of the stairs and an urn was put in the room for hot water.

The parking lot in front of the school was clear so this was used as the hockey field where learners could practice hockey.  Swimming was to be at the local Primary School and tennis was held at the tennis courts along Jim Fouche road.  Many trips had to be made taking learners to the tennis courts and then bringing them back again.

Mr Pope wore his academic gown around the school and insisted on the learners having clean shoes.  He used to stand at the gate in the early morning with shoe polish which the learners had to clean their shoes with if they were not clean.  He was seen to be riding on a bicycle to catch learners smoking behind bushes on the now rugby field.

The new block did not exist and horses grazed peacefully on the field next to the school.  Later a form of detention was for learners to dig holes for trees which would be planted on the grounds. Learners used to boast about the holes they had dug…

There were no carports at that time and the educator’s cars used to stand in the hot sun and rain every day.  This was a matter of concern to the staff and the carports became a matter of urgency.

And so started a school which was to become one of the top school on the West Rand.  Mr Wiehahn took over from Mr Pope as Principal.  Thousands of learners have passed through the school with good academic results as well as a solid foundation for their lives ahead.

The beautiful school song was written and the music composed by one of the learners Charlotte Steenekamp.  Hopefully the students will ‘fly like an eagle and reach the heights above… “

It has been a privilege to be part of this wonderful school and its history.  May Allen Glen continue to prosper and go from strength to strength in the years to come….
As the words of the school song …. ‘May God give me strength and give me courage all through my days let me shine …