JUNIOR INTERHOUSE ATHLETICS
This past week both the prep and middle school took part in the annual Junior Interhouse Athletics Day. The athletics meeting was held over two days with the track events taking place on the Monday and the field events on Thursday. Both days were full of enthusiastic competition and everyone had the opportunity to partake in any one of the many events. Mass participation was at the heart of this Interhouse meeting, however, there are a few names that needs special mention.
The following middle school athletes contributed immensely to their respected houses:
Farronique Booysen, Sade May, Amahle Finca , Sisipho De Vos, Leyton Carelse, Alutha Wesi, Dylan Kivedo, Shaakir Kazi, Chloe Erasmus, Matthew Paxton and Lana Bouwer.
(Trophy winners will be announced at the Summer Sports Awards Assembly)
SENIOR INTERHOUSE ATHLETICS
“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass… It’s about learning to run in the rain!”
On Monday, 22 January, all Arnott and Daly athletes participated in a wet and windy Interhouse Athletics Meeting.
Competition was fierce and there was an impressive display of strength, skill and speed…and some thrills and spills! It was great to see so many parents, who bravely muffled themselves against the wind and rain.
Everyone who participated in an event contributed to a fantastic spirit and earned house points – but at the end Arnott claimed the Interhouse Athletics Shield with 808 points vs Daly’s 694 points.
Well done to everyone who competed!
(Trophy winners will be announced at the Summer Sports Awards Assembly)
FOUNDERS’ WEEKEND
On Founders’ Day the school pauses to recognise that parents, educators and learners before us, and the broader community, have given of themselves to build what we now enjoy.
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Headboy, Cameron Muir, lighting a candle for the future of Union High at the Founders’ Day Assembly |
The annual Old Unionite Association Annual General Meeting, chaired by Mr John Crankshaw, was also held.
Unfortunately the planned biathlon and colour splash was rained out on Friday afternoon.
A Steak Evening, hosted by the Old Unionite Association, was enjoyed by the entire community in the Tony Burrell Union. The atmosphere was one of good fellowship and camaraderie and was enjoyed by all as past pupils and parents all descend on the school and enjoy a weekend of festivity.
| On Saturday, while the men were playing cricket, the moms and their daughters enjoyed a morning tea at Herby Arnott House. It was a beautiful occasion where fun was had by all. |  |
Very early on Saturday morning some mini-hockey and junior hockey matches were played between girls and moms (and a few dads), and the day concluded with a match between the 1st hockey squad against the Old Girls. Our girls played extremely well, scoring well-constructed goals, and defeated the Old Girls 6-3.
Six cricket games from U9 to 1st Team, between the boys and their fathers and past pupils, took place on the school fields and the Botanics Sportsgrounds. The day was filled with much laughter as this year the dads got the better of the junior boys, and some very competitive cricket was played between the senior boys and the Old Boys.
In the 1st Team match the Old Boys won the toss and elected to bat first. The Union boys bowled very well from the beginning, hitting good areas and putting pressure on the Old Boys. Excellent bowling from the whole team and a good effort in the field ensured that they restricted the old Boys to 162 for 10 in 40 overs.
The Union Boys went in to bat and looked good from the beginning against a very good bowling attack. Unfortunately Terrence Siyaya was run out early, but Trevor Moos stood his ground to keep out the bowlers. Matt Harpur and Brett Amsterdam both played a masterclass innings, showing patience and skill, but the both lost their wickets through the Old Boys’ experience. After that the school boys lost wickets at regular intervals and managed to score 121 runs. It was an excellent effort from the First Team. Union High lost the game by 41 runs.
In the 2nd Team match, the Old Boys batted first and were bowled out in the 29th over for 154. Lunga Zintsi took 3 wickets for 12 runs, Jayden Brotherton 2 for 8 and Noah Ackerman 2 for 6. For the Old Boys Ronald McNaughton scored 38 runs, Johnny Marais 31 and Jason Jacobs 19. The Union boys were bowled out for 79. Khwezi Simon scored 18 runs and Matthew Hesselink 10. Old Boy Johnny Marais took 2 wickets for 12 runs, Flippie Loock 2 for 15 and Mark Hudson 2 for 6. The Old Boys won by 75 runs.
Awards were handed to the girls and boys for their play on the day. James Pienaar received the award for the Best U15 Player and Lunga Zantsi for the Best 2nd team Player. The Most Valuable 1st Team Player award went to Brett Amsterdam and Matt Harpur received the awards for the Best Batsman and the Best Schoolboy Performance by a 1st XI Player. Micela Loock received the award for the Best Player of the Day, and Rebecca Langmead an award for the Best Goal.
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| Matt Harpur, Micela Loock, Brett Amsterdam, Lunga Zantsi and Rebecca Langmead with their trophies. |
Thank you to all the Old Girls, Old Boys, moms and dads for a fantastic day’s hockey and cricket.
After a whirlwind of activity, the participants and supporters were able to wind down with refreshments and snacks Union. It was a wonderful weekend of good, clean family fun enjoyed by everyone concerned. The school extends its sincerest appreciation to the Old Unionite Association Committee for their organisation and hard work over the weekend, and to all those parents, friends and supporters of the school who made the effort to be part of the activities.
OPENING OF PRE-SCHOOL
Sue Oliver, the pre-school’s principal, was joined by representatives from the Union Pre-School Governing Body, the Union High School Development Trust, parents and pupils for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The ceremony, which coincided with Union’s annual Founders’ Weekend, was opened by the school’s Governing Body chairperson, Jacqui Marais, who eloquently introduced the guest speakers and led the proceedings.
After a few words of welcome by principal Sue Olivier, pastor Dolan Cochrane said an opening prayer after which Derek Light, chairman of the Union High School Development Trust, addressed all those present.
Light expressed the Trust’s pride at having been involved in the realisation of this dream and thanked all those whose generous contributions and assistance made it a possibility.
One such contributor, the late Gysbert ‘Pinky’ Watermeyer, has been honoured with a bench dedicated to his memory on the school’s playground.
William Pringle, the headmaster of Union High School, then gave his address, after which the pre-school learners delivered an adorable rendition of the school song.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of gifts to the school’s stalwarts and the cutting of the ribbon by two of its pre-schoolers after which the keys to the school were gifted to its principal, Sue Olivier.
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Celebratory cake and refreshments were then enjoyed by all those present.
B AGE GROUP GALA
Results
Boys Open
Ben Kroon: 1st in 50m Backstroke; 2nd in 50m Butterfly; 3rd in 50 Freestyle;
Michael Krige: 2nd in 50m Freestyle; 2nd in 100m Breaststroke
Jason Wright: 1st in 100m Breaststroke; 3rd in 50m Butterfly; 4th in 50m Breaststroke; 4th in 50m Freestyle
Boys 13 years
Corniel Vorster: 2nd in 50m Backstroke; 3rd in 50m Butterfly; 3rd in 100m Breaststroke
Girls 13 years
Kendall Krige: 2nd in 50m Breaststroke; 4th in 50m Freestyle
Hannah Bodenstein: 3rd in 50m Backstroke
EP BIATHLON
Congratulations to the following biathletes:
Cameron Muir: EP A Team boys u/19
Candice Russell: EP A Team girls u/19
Sanja du Plessis: EP B Team girls u/19
Micela Loock: EP B Team girls u/17
Jenna McNaughton: EP B Team girls u/17
Kendall Krige: EP Development Team girls u/15
Drew Dobinson: EP Development Team girls u/13
UHS WELCOMES SALISBURY EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Union High School welcomes the learners from Salisbury Cathedral School who will be spending the first term of this year at Union. On their return to the United Kingdom, they will be joined by the four Union High Grade 7 learners who were selected to spend the second term at Salisbury. In the back is Lily Broilliard, who is hosted by Anna Pringle and Jemma Naude. In the front is Brent Hesselink, who is hostingSam Reeve, and Max Firth, who is hosted by Jude Langmead.
We wish these learners a wonderful time at Union, and hope they return to the United Kingdom having experienced the Karoo in all its glory.
GRADE 8 ORIENTATION
The grades 8 had great fun sand-skiing, trying to fit 10 people into a 500mm diameter circle, with Cameron keeping the tower upright, untangling themselves from each other, being tied with two pieces of string, cheering under the Karoo night sky under the guidance of Ikhona and S’bo, and spending some time around the bonfire. After very little sleep, and a good breakfast, they hiked back into town.
Thank you also to our local Pick ‘n Pay for their generosity in feeding the masses.
A great, big thank you to David and Bronwyn Langmead, who once again organised this great adventure for our Grade 8s. This was such an uplifting experience for our learners.
Welcome to High School, Grade 8s!
| We were surrounded by so much beauty! |  |
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Rebecca explaining an activity to the grade 8’s. The prefects aimed to instil the Union ethos of teamwork, faith, justice and respect for one another during this camp. |
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Our talented rap star Saphin, explaining the relevance of the activity that the prefects did with them…accompanied by an onomatopoeic Ntsika! |
| An incredible feat! Ikhona’s entire group thought laterally and balanced in a tiny circle! |  |
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‘What is impossible?’ Pairs were tied in infinite loops…and what seemed impossible and unreachable soon became otherwise. They learned that through thinking creatively, nothing is impossible! |
| Thank you Pick ‘n Pay for so many delicious treats! Bongi worked hard for his doughnut! |  |
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The evening drew to a close after a welcome thundershower…the seniors led the grade 8s in song and cheering and the hills rang with the singing of it! |
ANNUAL TENNIS QUADRANGULAR
The girls did us proud by winning the tournament for the third consecutive year. All the girls played well under extremely windy conditions. Their final scores were:
UHS 9 – DSG 3
UHS 10 – Kingswood 2
UHS 12 – Victoria Girls 0
The boys finished 3rd in their group, with final scores:
UHS 1 – Graeme College 11
UHS 8 – Kingswood 4
UHS 2 – St Andrews 10
BIATHLON LEAGUE
Drew Dobinson competed in her first meeting and did well to obtain the best result for Union – closest to the bench mark of 2000 points. Kendall Krige followed closely behind her. Ben Kroon and Corniel Vorster both swam a good race and Jason Wright competed in his first event, with a fine time in the swim.
For the rest of the events this season (season started in September 2017), the biathletes have to be invited to compete after qualifying during the season. We await those names.
HOSTEL HAPPINESS
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THANK YOU TANNIE ANN
Our stalwart at every event! When we walk into the Union on a Saturday morning, there is always a smell of freshly baked muffins and coffee hanging in the air. We appreciate your friendliness and hard work, and especially the service with a smile!
UHS CRICKET FESTIVAL
Union played Glenwood from Durban in a declaration match on the first day, and the boys always knew that they would tough competition. Glenwood won the toss, elected to bat first and scored 237/10. Union went in to bat, but struggled with the bowling and lost wickets in constant intervals. The Union boys only managed to get 120/10. Union lost the game by 118 runs. Cowan Swartz bowled very well and took a 5 wicket haul.
On the second day Union High played a 50 over match against Stirling. Union won the toss and elected to bat first. The batsmen applied themselves much better and they scored 217/8. Stirling went in to bat and batted well, but at the end of the day Union High was good enough to close the game and secure a victory. Stirling made 208 all out – Union won the match by 9 runs. Once again Cowan Swartz batted well and scored an unbeaten 58 not out.
On the final day of the festival, Union played a Pro 20 game against Milnerton from Cape Town. Union won the toss and elected to bat first. A fantastic opening partnership between Ronan Retief and Brett Amsterdam had Union at 134/0 after 15 overs. After Ronan got dismissed the run rate went down, but a steady innings from Brett made sure we could get to a very good total off 166/4 after 20 overs. Milnerton went into bat and the Union boys took early wickets. Milnerton reached a total of 139/8 and Union High won the game by 27 runs. Ronan Retief scored a blistering 83 and Brett Amsterdam and batted out 20 overs and scored an unbeaten 56 not out.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank our sponsor, Mica, for their contribution to the success of this tournament. As always, the cricket moms were also very hands on in preparing the food and hosting the cocktail party for our visiting coaches. Thank you for your constant support and willingness to host our visitors. And last, but not least, the Union school and hostel staff – without your commitment and hard work a festival such as this will never be possible.
Once again, Union High has hosted a very successful Senior Cricket Festival. We are grateful to the schools that have travelled so far, and for their coaches for giving up a part of their holiday time, to attend what is always a very important event on the Union High calendar. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2019!
SCOUTS HIKE UP NARDOU
Union High School members of the Graaff Reinet Scout Troop left for a 3-day 30 km hike up Nardou Mountain in support of Cameron Muir’s Springbok Scout badge.
Photo taken on top of Nardou.
UHS MATRIC RESULTS 2017
Five candidates achieved A-aggregate passes. The top performer was Anje Oelofsen with 6 distinctions (in photo: Mr Pringle, Mr Oelofsen, Mrs Oelofsen, Anje Oelofsen and Mrs Gedult), Amy Chaplin was placed second, with 7 subject distinctions, Kerrin Kingwill was placed third, with 6 subject distinctions, Gerrit Brink was placed fourth, with 6 subject distinctions and Timony Miller was placed fifth, with 4 subject distinctions.
In total, the class achieved 53 Subject Distinctions.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to these results. Hats off to our learners, parents, all educators and the community at large who played a part in the excellent performance of our learners.