Die Hoërskool Menlopark is a public Afrikaans medium co-educational high school located in Menlo Park, Pretoria, in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Some learners call themselves Parkies.HistoryThe school was established in 1963, starting with 12 class rooms and 372 learners in grades 8, 9 and 10 (then called Standards 6, 7 and 8).Coat of armsMenlopark's school crest was designed by South African artist, Bettie Cilliers-Barnard, who was a big fan of Menlopark. Her daughter, actress Jana Cilliers, was also a learner at Menlopark.The meaning of the crest:The crest is designed in the shape of a circle – it symbolises the school's unity and strive for perfection.The most noticeable symbol in the middle of the circled crest is a cross which resembles their love for God and His love for them. Perfection in the Christian religion is the highest value Parkies strive for.Historically, the cross is the symbolic sign of the Huguenot ancestors.The four crossends each diverses into two and on the end appears eight small spheres which resemble the eight beatitudes (Matt. 5:3–10) heraldic embodied. Historically, it symbolises the eight anchors of the Huguenots and their strives.The ends of the cross are bound with each other in such a way that the four heart shaped quarters are formed. The hearts symbolise love and specifically how it is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13-7.Motto and credoMenlopark's motto is Excelsa Petamus which is Latin for "We strive for the highest values".
