Motto, Houses & Uniform
School Motto
The school motto is "Summa diligentia laboro" — I work with diligence. It was inspired by Mr Udal's signet ring, which bore the inscription "Tant Que je Puis" (I do my very best).
School Colours
The school colours are sky blue and maroon, chosen by the founding headmaster Mr Udal and his wife. Colours and Honours blazers were originally sky blue but were changed to navy in the early 1980s.
School Emblem
The school emblem features three key symbols: the Maltese Cross from Queen Alexandra's coat of arms, the elephant representing Pietermaritzburg, and the wildebeest representing Natal.
House System
Alexandra High School has five houses, each named after a prominent figure in Natal's history:
| House | Symbol | Namesake |
|---|---|---|
| Boyd's | Maltese Cross | Leo Boyd, M.E.C. for Education |
| Downs' | Elephant | C.B. Downs, Mayor of Pietermaritzburg |
| Allison's | Stars | A.T. Allison, Natal Provincial Council |
| Shepstone | Crown | D.G. Shepstone, Administrator of Natal |
| Trollip's | Wildebeest | A.E. Trollip, succeeding Administrator |
Uniform Traditions
Straw bashers were a mandatory part of the school uniform until the late 1970s. Founders House boarders wore their own distinctive uniform until the early 1990s.