Symbols and History
Insurgite – to fly high - to ensure that learners with
special educational needs achieve their full potential in every sphere of life.
Mission
The provision of excellent, evidence supported, special education
and therapeutic treatment to learners with special educational needs.
Logo
Muriel Brand School's logo of a rising bird is a reflection of the Latin logo "Insurgite", which means to fly high. At another level the logo represents the phoenix rising from its ashes, or - a disabled child rising above the challenge of his or her disability and achieving success.
The symbol of wild geese in formation flight represents team work and team spirit at the school. Special education by its nature is a multi-disciplinary enterprise and team work is essential for success.
History
The story of Muriel Brand School started in 1964. That was the year in which the school's sponsoring body, the Eastern Transvaal Cerebral Palsy Association (now the Gauteng Cerebral Palsy Association), was formed. Their fundraising, under the inspiring leadership of Mrs Muriel Brand, made the establishment of a new school for children with cerebral palsy possible.
Muriel Brand School first opened its doors on 14 January 1969. It started in very old, barely renovated mine buildings with 27 learners and 18 staff members. As learner numbers increased, it became evident that larger premises were needed. The Brakpan Town Council offered land to the new school in August 1970 and during September 1973 the first sod was turned on the site of the new school in Brenthurst, Brakpan. September 9, 1977 saw the closing of the State Mines premises and the move to the modern new school in Brenthurst, Brakpan. The first matric class wrote their finals at the end of 1981. At the end of the school's 36th year in 2005, the learner enrolment was 460 and the personnel complement comprised of more than a 100 professional and support staff members.
The school is classed as a provincial public special school and is subsidised by the Gauteng Department of Education. Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa
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