Early Monday morning, 26 January, Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s new Grade 8s, along with the prefects and grade teachers set off on a hike into the Camdeboo National Park.
The reason for this was two fold – firstly, to orientate themselves in the beautiful natural environment and secondly to get to know one another and the prefects.
After 5km of gradual uphill, the Grade 8s reached the top of the neck, flanked by Spandaukop to the left and the Valley of Desolation to the right.
The view into the Camdeboo was spectacular and in turning around and seeing Graaff-Reinet way below, it dawned on everyone how much they had ascended.
๐๐๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐จ’ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ 8๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐ฃ๐. They then continued to walk without so much as a whimper, another 10kms through the back routes of Mountain Drive. As they walked, they stooped to pick up bits of litter that unscrupulous humans had left on Mountain Drive, leaving the park as it should be.
On arrival back at school, everyone enjoyed a swim in our beautiful newly extended pool. The prefects then took over and everyone had lots of fun playing team building games before sharing lunch together.
Union extends its ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ to Mrs Claire Lemke, who blazed the trail.
Team spirit, grit and kindness – that is what Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s Senior Interhouse Athletics Day was all about!
On Wednesday, 25 January, all Grade 8 to 12 Arnott and Daly athletes participated in a very memorable athletics meeting, where a ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ and ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป hallmarked the day.
๐ช๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ to Arnott House who claimed the victory, with 600 points to Dalyโs 501.
This past weekend saw Grade 9 learner ๐ง๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ competing in the Equifeed Colesberg Endurance Ride in the Karoo Gariep Nature Reserve, where he managed to claim 1st place in the Young Rider Category’s 80km race with a time of 5 hours and 3 minutes.
Congratulations to team ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ who finally reclaimed the title at this yearโs Junior Interhouse Athletics Day after having had to relinquish it to Arnott for the past couple of years
There was some fierce competition and plenty of house spirit displayed, but in the end, it was Dalyโs total of 1412 points accumulated by their athletes, that secured them the win over Arnottโs total of 1377.
Despite the sweltering heat, our young athletes were determined and enthusiastic, delivering some outstanding results on the day.
A total of ๐ญ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ช ๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฆ were set by our Grade 5 to 7 athletes:
โข ๐๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐พ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ-๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ฎ set new records in the Girls u/11 100m, high jump and shot put events;
โข ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด bettered the Girls u/11 long jump record;
โข ๐ ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ broke the Girls u/12 100m as well as shot put records;
โข ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ต๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐น๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ป set new records in the Girls u/12 long jump and 800m events;
โข ๐ ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฎ broke the Girls u/13 800m record and;
โข ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป broke the Boys u/13 200m and 800m records.
Four ๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฆ were held during this yearโs Interhouse athletics meet for the Grade 5 to 7 learners.
Therefore, the times of those that came first in these races, will be the records to beat in future:
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to Grade 6 learner Saalman Steele, who was acknowledged this morning for recent achievements in cricket.
Salmaan took ๐ฑ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฆ for 43 runs in 8 overs in a match against Lorraine Primary while representing the u/11A team, he then claimed ๐ฏ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฆ, for 18 runs, in 4 overs during an u/11A match against Herbert Hurd.
To our dear parents and Old Unionites, this past weekend, during our annual Foundersโ Day celebrations, we were again amazed by the wonderful group of supporters we are fortunate to have at the Union Schools.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who actively participated in the various activities this past weekend!
JUNIOR HOCKEY
Friday afternoonโs ๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ’ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ฆ, saw two young and very nervous teams of junior hockey players take to the turf, to face what might be their toughest competition this year โ a determined set of mothers, fathers, 1st team players and Old Girls.
They came out fighting in both games and gave the spectators an epic showdown.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ก๐จ ๐ข๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ on a fine, early start to the season. There were some lovely moments of cohesion and good communication with each other throughout the respective games and ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐.
SENIOR HOCKEY
The Friday of Foundersโ Weekend ended with an intense game of hockey between the schoolโs 1st team and the Old Girls.
The 1st team girls were understandably nervous but also full of excitement. It was brilliant to see the girls who have been training tirelessly, take to the turf for their first encounter of the 2023 school year and they did so with tremendous spirit and effort. The girls put on an excellent performance, fighting to the very last whistle, to win the match 4-3.
During the prizegiving ceremony at the end of the day’s play, the award for the day’s best defender went to Caytah-Leigh Koeberg, with the best goal being awarded to Leah Marais.
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to Misha Newton and Leigh-Ann Murray who shared the award for the ‘Most Promising Player’.
Union High School, Graaff-Reinet extends its thanks to all those who participated and for the support received from the Old Girls and parents.
A special ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ is also extended to Mrs Jennifer Hope for taking the reins with the organisation of the event this year. As well as to all those who assisted her.
On Saturday morning, 28 January (during Union High School’s 2023 Founders’ Weekend) the school hosted its annual ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ช๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ & ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ก๐ in the garden of the Union Preparatory School.
This year’s event was very special, as usual, with the 180 guests enjoying a beautiful morning of good company, scrumptious eats and the uplifting speeches of three exceptional local ladies.
๐๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ gave us a glimpse into the neurological processes that can shape how we see the world and how we are able to thrive despite our circumstancesโฆ heartfelt and wise words from an amazing woman and mother who has certainly walked a journey.
๐ง๐ฟ๐๐ฑ๐ถ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ต๐ผ๐๐ very bravely shared the heart-wrenching story of how Cancer has forever changed their lives on so many levels, but how the road has strengthened their family bond and their faith. She encouraged every single woman and girl to never give up and to live life courageously, with faith and gratitude.
๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ธ๐ถ๐ฒโs 360ห career change from physio to nursery owner, has given her the opportunity to fully explore her long standing love of plants, and to share this happiness and joy with others. As she says, โto plant a garden, is to believe in tomorrowโ. Thank you Claudia for inspiring us to get our hands into some life giving soil.
While the ladies were enjoying their delightful drinks and eats, the Grade 11s treated the little girls at a special pamper station set up especially for them. To top it all off, a few lucky draws were held to the delight of the winners!
All in all a wonderful morning was had by all.
Union High School, Graaff-Reinet extends its grateful thanks to all those who attended for their support of this fundraising endeavour.
A special word of thanks is also extended to the following businesses for their contribution to this event – ๐ผ๐ก๐๐๐๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ & ๐ฝ๐ค๐๐ฎ, ๐๐๐ซรฉ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ก๐ค๐ฃ, ๐ฝ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ช๐ข ๐๐ฅ๐, ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ค ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ช๐๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ฃ’๐จ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ค๐ ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฅ, 3:16, ๐๐ผ๐พ, ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ก๐ก, ๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ, ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ก ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ก๐, ๐๐๐ก๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ข๐จ, ๐๐ฎ๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ (๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฅ).
JUNIOR CRICKET
Saturday morning, 28 January, saw Unionโs ๐จ/๐ญ๐ฏ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฆ face off in their annual Foundersโ Weekend encounter on the Puggy Munnik Field.
And, what can we say, never have two teams been more keen to beat each other. There was more than just mere bragging rights at stake in the match that pitched fathers vs sons and brother against brother.
In the end, the dads claimed the victory. In cricket, as in life, never underestimate calm experience. ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ด๐ข๐ช๐ฅ, ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฅ๐ด ๐ฎ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ด๐ญ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต๐ญ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ด ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ช๐ณ ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐บ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ด.
Well done to all involved! (๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ช๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ช๐๐ง๐ฎ 2024 ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐.)
SENIOR CRICKET
Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s Old Boys and parents took to the field today in the traditional Founders’ Weekend cricket matches against the school’s 1st, 2nd and u/15A cricket teams.
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to Union’s Old Boys cricket team โ captained by William Copeman – who showed they still have what it takes, when they victoriously took on the school’s 1st cricket team during the traditional Founders’ Weekend cricket match on Saturday, 28 January
At the prizegiving ceremony held in the Tony Burrell Union this evening, Saturday, 28 January, upon conclusion of the day’s play, the following trophies were presented:
โข Most valuable player of the day – 1st XI: Shaakir Kazi
โข Best schoolboy performer – 1st XI: Hlaki Skepe with bowling figures of 8 – 0 – 41 – 5 (the trophy is shared with Mr William Copeman who captained the victorious Old Boys’ team that managed to edge out the UHS 1st XI in their encounter today).
โข Best Batsman – 1st XI: Shaakir Kazi
โข Best Bowler – 1st XI: Hlaki Skepe
โข Best Schoolboy Performer – 2nd XI: Oyanda Tele
โข Best Schoolboy Performer – u/15: Shiraz Pederson
โข The Dave Stern Memorial Award for an up-and-coming cricketer: Yaseen Kazi
Known as the โHome of Cricketโ, Lordโs Cricket Ground in England, undoubtedly, is the legendary ground and the haven of the gentlemanโs game.
There is a tradition at Lordโs for a distinguished visitor to ring the large silver bell outside the Bowlerโs Bar of the Pavilion, five minutes before the start of play in a Test Match. This was installed to further make it a unique cricket destination.
Young Kari and Micela Stern were the first to start the tradition, by ringing the 5-minute bell just before the start of the match between Union High School, Graaff-Reinetโs 1st XI and the Old Boys taking place on the Murray Field.
The bell was erected by the Old Unionite Association ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป, who served as chairman of the Old Unionite Association at the time of his passing, and will henceforth be known as the โDavid Stern Memorial Bellโ.
Union High School, Graaff-Reinet has always been closely tied to the scouting movement in Graaff-Reinet.
The Graaff-Reinet Scout Troop was established in 1910 and is recognised throughout South Africa for its high calibre of Scouts that go out into the world.
Scouts offer boys of Union High School and beyond (from Grade 5 to 12) ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ญ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐๐๐ช๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ช๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐จ๐๐ก๐-๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ช๐ก๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐๐ก๐-๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข.
The Scout Troop will hold its ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐, ๐ง๐ต๐๐ฟ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐, ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐, from 18:00 to 20:00 at the Chookie Geard Scout Hall, where skills such as outdoor survival, first aid, citizenship, leadership as well as teamwork are learned.
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐ง๐ข the following Union tennis players on their inclusion in the Sarah Baartman District Zone 2 tennis teams:
A beautiful day dawned as the Union learners travelled by bus to Somerset East to join our neighbouring district as Gill College hosted their first ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ก on Saturday, 21 January.
Each athlete performed well on the well-maintained grass track with a number of personal bests (PB’s) being recorded. Our two new boys, Tafadzwa and Benjamin Munzvenga were thrown into the deep end but gamely competed, while making new friends along the way.
The swim brought ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฆ of its own with the pool being 33 yards (30m), however, the turns and rope finish did not daunt our team as they swam enthusiastically throughout. Ben Lemke achieved a PB in his swim, which placed him first in his age category.
The u.11 girls did exceptionally well with Taylor Jacobs and Klara van Jaarsveld coming 1st and 2nd respectively. This is a ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง for Klara who has battled this season with injury (broken arm!) and illness.
The ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฆ of the day were Onika Jantjies and Luvela Makaula who bravely swam 100m for the first time! They displayed such grit as they faced their fear of swimming this distance and completed their swim wreathed in smiles.
Biathlon changes young people’s lives by giving them the confidence to achieve small milestones and build upon that by improving their times at the following event. This is invaluable for building self-esteem and ultimately confident, well-rounded individuals.
