Paarl Girls' High - Old Girls

18/09/2026

Mieke Prins (née Brown) | Matriek 2015

As ek terugdink aan my skooldae by Hoër Meisieskool Paarl, dink ek aan die lewendige koshuislewe, die skoolbanke waar ons geleer het, die sportvelde waar ons mekaar aangemoedig het en die waardevolle vriendskappe wat gevorm is.

Na matriek het ek BSc Agric studeer en daarna vir ’n paar jaar in die landbousektor gewerk. Dit was hier waar my belangstelling in entrepreneurskap gegroei het en die droom om eendag my eie besigheid te hê, begin vorm het.

In 2025 het ’n onverwagse geleentheid oor my pad gekom om @‌koekies_en_beskuit, ’n plaasbakkery, oor te neem. Ek het die geleentheid in 2026 met albei hande aangegryp en myself vinnig in ’n heel nuwe wêreld bevind – ’n wêreld van bak, produksie, personeel, verkope, bemarking en kontantvloei.

Om ’n bestaande besigheid oor te neem en verder te ontwikkel, bring uitdagings, maar ook ongelooflike geleenthede. Entrepreneurskap vra harde werk, aanpasbaarheid en deursettingsvermoë, maar dit gee jou ook die geleentheid om iets van jou eie te bou en ’n droom in ’n werklikheid te verander.

My pad ná skool het anders verloop as wat ek ooit kon voorsien. Vandag is ek dankbaar vir die fondasie wat Hoër Meisieskool Paarl my gebied het – om groter en hoër te droom en die moed te hê om daardie drome na te jaag.

11/09/2026

Marise Pollard (née Malherbe) - Matric 2013

One of the greatest lessons I carried with me from Paarl Girls’ High is the importance of community and showing up for the women around you. I learnt the true value of female friendship and how beautiful life can be when you surround yourself with strong women who encourage you to be your best.

The Mom Era Club was born from my own journey into motherhood and a desire to remind women that they were never meant to do it alone. My husband and I lived overseas for six years, away from our families, and the women and mothers I met became my village. They made my introduction to motherhood feel lighter and carried me through the uncertainty and enormous identity shift that comes with becoming a mother.

When we returned to South Africa, I realised how many women were craving that same connection, a safe space where mothers could speak honestly about both the beautiful and difficult parts of motherhood without judgement. That is how began.

Our first event in Pretoria sold out within 48 hours, and we have since hosted another in Stellenbosch. The club is about more than events, however. It is about supporting the woman within the mother and reminding her that her identity, dreams and needs still matter. We guide each other and speak about the things that truly make motherhood lighter.

As I step into this new chapter, I will always be grateful for the tennis-court break-time chats that turned into tanning sessions, the lifelong friendships, and the importance of girlhood that Paarl Girls’ High instilled in me.

04/09/2026

Maresa Willers (née Grobbelaar) Matriek 2004

My verbintenis met Hoër Meisieskool Paarl het reeds voor my geboorte begin. Ná my laerskooljare in Eendekuil het ek self my plek by Girls’ High gevind. Die koshuis het my tweede tuiste geword en die skool ’n plek waar ek nie net akademies gegroei het nie, maar ook as mens gevorm is. Hier het ek lewenslange vriendskappe gesmee, geleer om my vlerke te sprei en deel geword van ’n gemeenskap wat veel groter is as jouself.

Na skool het ek my studies aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch voortgesit, waar ek ’n Meestersgraad in Musiek, ’n graad in Wiskunde en ‘n Nagraadse Onderwyssertifikaat (NOS) voltooi het. Daarna het ek vir vyftien jaar by Bridge House skoolgehou. Gedurende hierdie tyd het ek ook my eie musiekinstrumentverhuringsbesigheid begin, wat ek die afgelope drie jaar voltyds bestuur het. Dit was ’n ongelooflike verrykende ervaring wat my die geleentheid gebied het om my liefde vir musiek met entrepreneurskap te kombineer.

Nou voel dit egter asof die tyd reg is om weer my eerste passie uit te leef – om te onderrig. Met my dogter wat volgende jaar Graad 1 by Hoër Meisieskool Paarl begin, en my twee seuns onderskeidelik in Graad 4 en Graad 6 by Laerskool Courtrai begin daar vir ons gesin ’n nuwe en besonderse seisoen.

Vandag is die sirkel op ’n baie besondere manier voltooi. Dit is vir my ’n ongelooflike voorreg om terug te wees by Hoër Meisieskool Paarl – as dogter van ’n oud-onderwyseres, oud-leerder, ma van ’n toekomstige Girls’ High-leerder en nou ook onderwyseres.

Hoër Meisieskool Paarl was nog altyd vir my meer as net ’n skool. Dit is ’n plek van behoort, tradisie en geleenthede. Om nou deel te wees van die span wat hierdie nalatenskap voortsit en ’n bydrae tot die volgende geslag Girls’ High-leerders kan maak, is vir my ’n besondere eer. Ek sien met groot dankbaarheid en opgewondenheid uit na hierdie nuwe hoofstuk.

28/08/2026

Nicolene Geyser (née Louw) | Matriek 2019

7 jaar later en “Ampliora et Altiora” is steeds so deel van my leefwyse dat ek, sonder dat ek dit altyd besef, steeds elke dag probeer om daarvolgens te leef - om groter te droom, hoër te mik, aan te hou groei en altyd na meer te streef. Dit is ’n ingesteldheid wat ek vandag nog saam met my dra.

Na skool het ek BSc Voedselwetenskap aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch gaan studeer, waarna ek by Döhler in die Paarl gewerk het as ‘n Beverage Developer tot aan die begin van hierdie jaar. Op 14 Maart 2026 het ek met my universiteitsliefde getrou - ‘n ongelooflike spesiale dag met ook my HMS hartsvriendinne as strooimeisies langs my sy. Kort daarna het ek met die ongelooflike ondersteuning van my man en gesin, my jarelange droom nagejaag…

Op 12 Augustus 2026 het ek Lady Coleen Boutique Farm Shop op my ouers se plaas, Eikeboom naby Hermon, geopen. Kos en bak was nog altyd ’n groot passie van my, en by Lady Coleen kan ek vandag my liefde vir kos, bak en die plaas uitleef.

Ons bied varsgebakte lekkernye, gourmet focaccia sandwiches, goeie koffie, asook ’n verskeidenheid unieke keramiek- en huisware. Girls’ High het my lewe op soveel maniere verryk en ’n fondasie gelê wat my steeds vandag dra. Dit sal altyd ’n besonderse deel van my storie wees!

@‌ladycoleenfarmshop

28/08/2026

Paarl Girls’ High School, in partnership with Private Clients by Old Mutual, proudly presents:

𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗗 🌿

This spring, we invite you to step away from the pace of everyday life and experience something truly special.

In a world that constantly encourages us to do more, achieve more and be more, Rooted is an invitation to pause, reconnect and reflect on what truly matters.

Join us for an unforgettable morning set amongst the beautiful gardens of Zomerlust Boutique Hotel - a thoughtfully curated experience featuring a showcase of local makers, a silent disco beneath the trees, an intimate conversation with LIRA, and a beautiful spring harvest long-table experience.

A morning to connect. To celebrate. To be inspired. And simply, to be rooted. ✨

𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Saturday, 5 September 2026 | 09:00 – 13:00
𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗨𝗘: Zomerlust Boutique Hotel, Paarl

Book your tickets by clicking on the link in our bio.

Guest Speaker: Loves Life & Nature 🍃

This special event is proudly sponsored by Private Clients by Old Mutual South Africa

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful community partners for helping us make Ladies in Spring 2026 an extra-special celebration.
Charlotte Du Plessis
Poetry Stores
Rain Natural Skincare SA
Almost Monday
Andiamo Spritz
Carmién Rooibos Tea
Terbodore Coffee Roasters
Strauss & Co Auctioneers
KOKONOVA
Love, Lolla Xx
Bougainvillea Cafe
StyleBar_Optenhorst
Growing Paper - The Seed Paper People
Zomerlust Boutique Hotel

27/08/2026

This is one event you do not want to miss!

21/08/2026

Were you at PGHS in 1992? Were you part of the Sound of Music cast, or do you remember watching the show?

With regards to tonight being the last night of the Sound of Music being performed Mrs. Karen Swart wrote a short blog about both.

https://tinyurl.com/mr2zbmnu

𝗛𝗠𝗦 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗸𝗹𝗼𝗽 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🎶

With tomorrow evening marking the Final Gala Evening of our 150th-year celebration musical, The Sound of Music, Karen Swart writes in this edition of HMS Hartklop about our 1992 production of The Sound of Music, which was performed in the hall of Paarl Boys’ High School. Our modern-day production proudly follows in this tradition and is already destined to become one of our most memorable performances.

From the exceptional acting and outstanding production quality to the remarkable vocal depth and talent of our Paarl Girls’ High girls, this production has truly been something special. 💚

Read more about the musical in HMS Hartklop by clicking on the following link: https://tinyurl.com/mr2zbmnu

21/08/2026

Nina Erasmus (née Steenkamp) l Matriek 2006

Ek het in 2006 aan Hoër Meisieskool Paarl gematrikuleer. As ek terug dink aan my skooldae, onthou ek veral die wonderlike vriendskappe, baie lag en al die spesiale herinneringe wat ons saam gemaak het.

Vandag is ek ’n argitek en bestuur ek saam met my man ons argitektuur- en interieurontwerpfirma, Erasmus & Co, in Simondium tussen Paarl en Franschhoek.

Ons het drie kinders, en ons oudste is vanjaar in Graad 1 by HMS. Dit is so besonders om haar nou deur dieselfde gange te sien stap en haar eie herinneringe te sien bou.

Ek kyk met groot waardering terug na my tyd by HMS. As oudleerling én nou as ouer, ervaar ek die skool op ’n heel nuwe manier en het ek ’n nog groter waardering vir die geskiedenis, tradisies en die besondere omgewing waarin ons destyds so bevoorreg was om skool te gaan.

https://www.erasmusandco.co.za/

@‌erasmusandco

14/08/2026

Hanri van Zyl (née Rust) l Matric 2007

My story started in Paarl, where I matriculated from Paarl Girls’ High in 2007. Boarding school and Girls’ High gave me more than an education - it shaped my independence, resilience, and courage.

After school, I moved to Gauteng to study nursing at the University of Pretoria and completed my community service year in the Cardiothoracic ICU at Steve Biko Academic Hospital. That was where my love for critical care truly began. I later moved to Cape Town, specialised as an ICU nurse through Stellenbosch University, completed my Master’s degree, and felt called to humanitarian work.

In 2017, that calling took me to Iraq, where I helped set up and run field hospitals during the ISIS occupation. I worked wherever I was needed - ICU, paediatrics, trauma and even maternity - and one unforgettable moment was helping to deliver twins. My journey continued with Doctors Without Borders in Afghanistan, where I supervised paediatric wards, ICU and NICU.

When COVID began, I returned to South Africa to work in the COVID ICU at Tygerberg Hospital and later spent two years in Ghana with the World Health Organisation in a COVID field hospital. After that, I joined Princess Cruises as a medic, travelling to more than 38 countries.

In 2024, I met my husband, and we got married in May 2026. Today, I am back in Paarl as hospital manager at Nurture Paarl. After all the places life has taken me, it feels incredibly special to serve in the town where my story began.

I will always be grateful to Paarl Girls’ High for the foundation it gave me - and if I am blessed with a daughter one day, I know exactly where I would want her journey to begin: Paarl Girls’ High.

https://nurturehealth.net/hospitals/paarl