# Helpmekaar Kollege

Helpmekaar Kollege is a private Afrikaans medium co-educational high school situated in Braamfontein, in the city of Johannesburg in the Gauteng province of South Africa.

## History

Helpmekaar was the first Afrikaans high school in Johannesburg. The school was started by a group of Afrikaners who wanted their children to have an alternative to English high schools. The school was officially started in 1921 in the Irene Church opposite the Union Ground.$^{:339}$ Construction of the school started on 19 September 1925 with the foundation stone being laid by General Barry Hertzog.$^{:339}$ The land was donated by the Johannesburg City Council at Milner Park, Braamfontein.$^{:339}$ The school badge was designed by a matric pupil of 1925, A.J. Lessing.
The slogan of the school "KOMAAN" was derived from a poem by Jan F. E. Celliers by the same title. Literally translated, Komaan Helpmekaar means “come on, help each other”.

## Campus

The Helpmekaar Campus is situated on the corner of Empire and Melle Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
The school building consists of five parts:
* The Old Building (with the clock tower on top)
* The Newer Buildings
* The Terraces
* The Far East
* The DI Hub
* ” The Far West”
* “The Towers”
The school also has a rugby field, uniform shop, three tennis courts, two netball practice courts, two halls, a swimming pool and a boarding house.

## Curriculum

Helpmekaar follows the IEB curriculum.
Pupils are also given the opportunity to write the SAT, a standardized college admission test used in the United States, in Grade 11.

## Extracurricular activities

The school offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities including:

### Sports

* Rugby
* Netball
* Tennis
* Hockey
* Swimming
* Cricket
* Adventure Racing
* Athletics
* Cross country
* Chess
* Golf
* Orientation
* Squash
* Equestrian
* E-Sports
* Mountain biking
* Basketball
* Mountain climbing
* Jukskei

### Cultural

* Choir
* School paper
* Speech guild
* Debating
* Public speaking
* Dancing
* Orchestra
* ATKV (Afrikaans Cultural Organisation)
* School production

### Academic

* Hip2B2
* Robotix
* Afrikaans Olympiad
* English Olympiad
* Mathematics Olympiad
* General Knowledge Olympiad

## Traditions
### School uniform

Helpmekaar's school uniform has a style that forms part of the school's traditions and past. The basic uniform mainly consists of a brown blazer with a khaki jersey and white shirt, brown tie and khaki trousers or shorts for boys and a khaki dress for girls. Boys always wear caps, while girls always wear bashers. Girls do not have to wear ties during summer (except matrics; see below) and in winter they are allowed to wear dark tights.
The school has special, striped blazers for learners who perform exceptionally well in academic, sports and cultural activities. Traditionally these blazers may only be worn by seniors (i.e. grade 10 to matric).
A white blazer is the highest, most honourale blazer in the school and is given to cheerleaders and the head boy and head girl to be worn on special occasions. Matrics also have special ties that are lighter than the traditional brown school tie.

### Klets, Knibbel en Kykfees

The Klets, Knibbel en Kykfees (Chat, Nibble and Watch festival), commonly known as the KKK fees, gives learners the opportunity to express their creativity by participating in various cultural activities. With boat-building, debating, cupcake decorating, stand-up comedy, graffiti, poetry, rapping, idols and even paper-jet folding, it provides fun and enrichment for each Helpie involved.

### Rugby spirit

Rugby season is in full swing, and at Helpmekaar, rugby is more than just a game. The entire school attends all home games to support their first team, and when they reach the finals, everyone joins them.
The first team wears brown and gold jerseys, while the other teams wear white. First-team players can additionally wear customized scarves, hats, and shorts with their school uniform (mentioned above).

### Golden Boys

The Golden Boys are the official school mascots. Dressed up in brown cloaks, rugby-shorts and golden body paint, they perform at major events such as Inter-High Athletics meets, rugby games and swimming galas. Grade 10 boys are specially selected by previous Golden Boys to participate in this tradition.

## Notable alumni

* Mimi Coertse
* Marius Kloppers
* Odile Harington
* Gert Potgieter
* Louise Prinsloo
* Dan Roodt
* Magdalena K.P. Smith Meyer