Hillside High turns proud new leaf

Discipline, revamp pay off for pupils, principal

Transforming a rundown school into a spick and span institution pupils are proud of, while also bringing back discipline, was no easy feat for the new principal of Hillside High School in Port Elizabeth.

But seven months after he first stepped into the post, the rewards far outweigh the difficulties.

Restoring the appearance of the school buildings and introducing a blazer to the uniform were just some of the things new principal Nythil Paulsen got off the ground in order to boost morale.

Paulsen raised funds to get the school’s broken windows fixed and rustled up enough paint to coat half the school building.

A disciplinarian by nature, Paulsen is getting pupils disciplined enough to do away with their previous disregard for the school uniform in his mission to turn the northern areas school into a proud institution. Since taking up the principal post in July last year, Paulsen has been putting into action his vision for the pupils, who come from areas including Helenvale, Motherwell and KwaMagxaki.

-Zandile Mbabela