Year: 2024

We are thrilled to share the wonderful news that we have recently had the privilege of revamping the 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 lab at Union High School, Graaff-Reinet.

This project has not only transformed the space but also reinvigorated the learning environment for learners who will walk through its doors each day.

The journey began with the complete gutting of the age-old classroom. We carefully sanded and varnished the floors, breathing new life into the room’s foundation. The outdated box blinds were replaced with modern window coverings, flooding the lab with natural light.

𝗪𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

New front-of-classroom cupboards were installed, which function as a traditional whiteboard, while housing the digital interactive whiteboard – an essential tool for dynamic teaching and interactive learning.

To enhance the overall ambiance, the walls and ceiling received a fresh coat of paint, while a stunning mural now graces one wall, adding a splash of colour and creativity that breathes life into the lab.

𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦.

This past Friday and Saturday, a group of 12 enthusiastic Grade 7 learners from Union High School had the incredible opportunity to participate in a Social Sciences 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 to the stunning KAROO RIDGE – Conservancy, located just 50 kilometers northeast of Middelburg.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 “𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺,” 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴.

The journey began early on Friday, 18 October, as the learners departed the Union grounds filled with excitement for the days ahead.

After a scenic drive, they arrived at the picturesque River Lodge at the Karoo Ridge Conservancy. Following a light lunch and a chance to unpack, the learners were warmly welcomed by Helen Wenham, who introduced them to the unique environment they were about to explore.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗲. This engaging hike not only allowed the learners to appreciate the breathtaking landscape but also provided valuable insights on erosion and its impact on the environment. After an invigorating walk, the group returned to the River Lodge for some relaxation time, which included a refreshing swim before dinner.

𝗔𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗺. This experience provided them with a close encounter with the local wildlife, further enriching their understanding of biodiversity in the Karoo region. The day concluded with a delightful dinner and braai in the Boma, where everyone gathered to reflect on the day’s adventures.

Saturday morning kicked off with a hearty breakfast cooked over an open fire, setting the stage for another exciting day ahead. The learners joined David Hall for a 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸, which included discussions on the local flora and fauna, alongside a hands-on activity in small gabion building.

Following a brief comfort break, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹. This hands-on experience reinforced the importance of sustainable practices in farming and conservation efforts.

After a well-deserved lunch, the group wrapped up their enriching excursion and prepared to depart, leaving with a wealth of knowledge and unforgettable memories.

Union extends its 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗧 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘 to Mrs Hanli Rose-Innes for organising this memorable trip, as well as to Pete and Helen Wenham for their generous hospitality and guidance throughout the excursion.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴’ 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

Dear parents/guardians, please take note that the 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 at which the 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦’ 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 budget will be presented to parents will be held on Monday evening, 11 November, in the Tony Burrell Union:

• Union Preparatory School @ 17:30
• Boarding Houses @ 18:00
• Union High School @ 18:30

𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴/𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦.

All parents/guardians attending are requested to bring their ID with them.

A safe and secure 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 for Grade 5 to 7 learners will be run by Herby Arnott House on weekday afternoons in 2025.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹.

 Space is limited so be sure to contact Jennifer Hope at 082 927 0282 to reserve a spot for your child.

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 1 𝘵𝘰 4 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘹 𝘒𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺.

With the end of their academic journey at Union in sight as the Class of 2024 sits for their National Senior Certificate exams, we would like to wish our Grade 12s everything of the best for the next couple of weeks.

𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴.

𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬!