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In June 1873, a group of ladies met in the old Grey Institute on the Donkin and proposed a school for girls be established in the town. On 12 July 1873, a deputation of gentlemen joined the committee and by 2 September, there were twenty guarantors, and a constitution of “Rules and Regulations for ‘The Port Elizabeth Collegiate School for Girls’”. Almost nine months later, in February 1874, the school would open with its first 38 pupils.

As we celebrated the sesquicentenary of our school in 2024, the 150-year anniversary of the founding of Collegiate, we were excited about the various events to mark this significant milestone. It was a year with a VISION of CELEBRATION and FUTURE LEGACY.  We celebrated all that Collegiate is, those who have been through the School, its achievements, our friendships and connections. it was a year of looking to the FUTURE through the legacy we create and leave for the future, and this idea is extended beyond our 150th year.  We celebrated 150 years of Collegiate excellence. It was a year to look back with pride and forward with hope. We spoke of uniting as a community of Collegiate girls worldwide and igniting the Collegiate of tomorrow. That is the vision that we are carrying into this year, but now it is time to take action. Our theme for the year, “Living our Values, Building our Future”, is the next step in that journey. It is about putting into practice everything that we have learned from our history and from the stories of the Old Girls who have gone before us. Living our values means showing a good work ethic, respecting others, taking responsibility, being compassionate, and leading with integrity. It is about letting these values guide how we treat each other, how we tackle challenges, and how we grow as individuals and as a school.

In 2025, our motto was "Living our Values. Building our Future."

So, let us make 2026 a year of action. Let us live our values proudly, knowing that we are laying the foundation for an even brighter Collegiate, life and world.