Early Wednesday morning, 17 April (in fact, as early at 04:30!) saw an enthusiastic gathering at Union High School, Graaff-Reinet as the school’s boarders participated in a spirited ๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ก.
The event – which was inspired by this year’s Olympic Games – aligned with the start of the 2024 Olympic Torch Run, which commenced in the historic city of Olympia, Greece, on Tuesday, 16 April.
๐ฟ๐ค๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐๐๐๐จ, the Grade 5 to 12 boarders from Arthur Kingwill House and Herby Arnott House embarked on an invigorating 8km relay along the R63 route into Graaff-Reinet.
After having navigated the darkness, the spirited runners were met by the younger residents of Max Kroon House outside the Union Pre-School as dawn broke, joining forces for the final stretch onto the school grounds.
๐ผ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ช๐จ, ๐๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐๐จ’ “๐พ๐๐๐ง๐๐ค๐ฉ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ง๐,” the torch was ceremoniously passed to hostel head prefects, Joy Merifield and Sobuhle Nyambali, who ignited the cauldron in a blaze of excitement.
Following this, the participants were treated to a delectable bacon and egg breakfast bun at the Tony Burrell Union before commencing their regular school day.
๐ผ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ง๐๐จ๐จ๐๐จ, ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ช๐ก๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ ๐ช๐ก๐ฎ 26, ๐ฌ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ก๐ก๐ช๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ช๐ก๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ช๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ค๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐จ 2024 ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐จ.
We extend our grateful thanks to Mr and Mrs Kingwill for arranging this wonderful event, the local traffic department for their assistance and to all the members of staff who assisted!