A local school recently unveiled a new media centre with the intention of enhancing support for the academic needs of its students.
Paul Roos Gymnasium (PRG) recently unveiled the JF Marais Media Centre, a facility established to support the academic needs of students at the school, according to René Walsh, the manager of the media centre.
The establishment of the centre is important as it will “form part of the academic and cultural hub of the school, by providing tools, study, learning and research materials to the boys”, according to Walsh.
The newly established J.F Marais Media Centre is named after Paul Roos Gymnasium’s first South African rector, Dr J.F. Marais (1897-1901), “who tragically drowned at Rooi Els in 1901”, according to the school’s press release on the project. PHOTO: Caitlin Maledo
The planning and execution phases for the new media centre spanned 18 months, according to Karien Winter, a member of the marketing and fund development team for PRG. The media centre was completed on 31 August, she said.
The centre is named after the school’s “first South African rector, Dr J.F. Marais”, and serves in place of the library that was originally established there in 1901, according to a media release by the school on 7 September.
The newly established J.F Marais Media Centre at Paul Roos Gymnasium was originally a library, but now includes multiple self-study cubicles, a relaxing lounge area and a virtual reality immersion booth, according to Rene Walsh, the manager of the media centre. PHOTO: Caitlin Maledo
The amenities available at the media centre include fiction and non-fiction books, facilities for special functions and events, and a virtual reality booth, according to Walsh.
Old Boys involvement
Several PRG Old Boys, including Jan Hendrick ‘Portchie’ Viljoen, contributed to the project and shared in the excitement of the students.
The school named the conference-style room, which houses several special collections, after Portchie, according to the school’s media release. The Portchie Room also houses the Brotherhood painting, donated by the artist himself, according to the release.
“In my wildest imagination, I never would have thought that they would name the room after me – I felt very honoured by it,” said Portchie in email correspondence with MatieMedia. “I hope that the painting that I made for the room will bring joy to everyone who [sees] it.”
South African painter, Jan Hendrick ‘Portchie’ Viljoen, donated a painting titled Brotherhood to the newly established J.F Marais Media Centre at Paul Roos Gymnasium. It currently hangs in the breakaway room, called the Portchie Room. Portchie is an alumnus of Paul Roos Gymnasium. PHOTO: Supplied/Portchie
Martin Louw, a former PRG student, told MatieMedia that he was involved in many cultural activities at the school, and that having access to the media centre would have been “a huge asset” during his time there.
“It is truly jaw-dropping to see how the school has improved in the last five years since I left matric. A space like this would have, as it will now, made information much more accessible to us. It would have definitely benefitted me during my time there,” said Louw.
The Het Jan Marais National Fund, and several Old Boys from Paul Roos Gymnasium, funded the J.F Marais Media Centre project, according to Karien Winter, a member of Paul Roos Gymnasium’s marketing and fund development department. “[T]heir commitment to the school is just superb,” she said. PHOTO: Caitlin Maledo.