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“𝘈 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴” – a saying that beautifully encapsulates the power of visuals in education.

We are delighted to show the community our newly revamped 𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠. The recent upgrades to this teaching space included a fresh coat of paint, elegant new blinds and essential maintenance work that has rejuvenated the room.

The crowning jewel of this transformation, however, is undoubtedly the stunning full-wall mural of Albert Einstein. This striking artwork depicts the iconic physicist through his famous quote, reminding us that every visual speaks volumes.

𝗔𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

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We are excited to announce the appointment of 𝗠𝗿𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 as the new Head of Swimming for Grades 5 through 12 at Union High School.

𝘔𝘳𝘴 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Mrs Davenport is not only a dedicated long-distance swimmer but also a highly accomplished athlete. She is qualified to compete in the South African Masters Nationals in March 2024, a testament to her exceptional skills and dedication. Her impressive resume includes completing the challenging Midmar 8-mile charity swim 2 years in a row, the Africa’s Toughest sea swim 5km Bell Buoy and holding the title of Age Group Winner at The River Mile for two consecutive years.

In her role as Head of Swimming, Mrs Davenport brings a wealth of experience and an enthusiastic, results-driven approach to coaching. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲.

Mrs Davenport’s vision for Union’s swimming programme includes not only achieving competitive excellence but also nurturing a lifelong appreciation for the sport. Her keen understanding of the demands and rewards of swimming, coupled with her genuine enthusiasm for coaching, makes her a perfect fit for our school.

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗿𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁. 𝗪𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀.

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𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to senior music students, Gerda Clarke and Chloe-Anne Fourie, who successfully passed their recent Practical Examinations with assurance!

Gerda played a Classical Rockschool Grade 4 Graded Certificate Examination and achieved 74% (Merit), while Chloe-Anne sang a Rockschool Grade 2 Graded Certificate Examination and achieved 93% (Distinction).

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗲-𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮!

Junior Musicians

We are incredibly proud of five junior learners who recently excelled in their external RSL piano practical examinations.

𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴!

• 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲 (Grade 7) achieved an impressive 88% for his Grade 2 Contemporary Piano exam;
• 𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 (Grade 7) passed her Grade 2 Classical Piano exam with a solid 85%;
• 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘆 (Grade 7) completed her Grade 1 Classical Piano exam with a commendable 80%;

• 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 (Grade 5) completed her Grade 1 Classical Piano exam with an impressive 90% and;
• 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻 (Grade 5) shone with a stellar 91% for her Grade 2 Classical Piano exam!

All five learners received encouraging and constructive feedback from the examiner, highlighting both their strengths and areas for growth as they continue their musical journeys.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀!

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In honour of 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬, or Poppy Day as it is sometimes known, which is observed on 11 November each year, a Remembrance Day Service was held at the St James’ Anglican Church in Graaff-Reinet on Sunday, 10 November.

[ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 11 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘞𝘢𝘳. 𝘐𝘯 1918, 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘞𝘢𝘳 (1914-1918), 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘯-𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 ‘𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘴’ 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 8 634 300 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴. ]

This is 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙤𝙘𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, especially for the family and relatives of the fallen, and also for Union High School, as we pay our respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗿:

• Lt Charles M. de V. Booysen SAAF (1943)
• Lt Victor P. de Kock MBE DSC MID (1943)
• 2nd Lt Fanie Nieuwoudt SAAF (1943)
• Trooper Gerrit T. Ferreira (1944)
• Lt Ronald Briggs DFC SAAF (1944)
• Trooper John G. Erlank (1944)
• Lt Allan McCabe SAAF (1944)
• Lt Piet Welman SAAF (1944)
• Capt. A.C. Ramsay RE (1945)
• Flt. Sgt Billy Wright SAAF (1945)
• Lt Noel Wright SAAF (1945)
• L Cpl Mark A. Plateel SAMS (1981)
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘭𝘥,
𝘈𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘯,
𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨,
𝘞𝘌 𝘞𝘐𝘓𝘓 𝘙𝘌𝘔𝘌𝘔𝘉𝘌𝘙 𝘛𝘏𝘌𝘔.

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Members of the Union community are invited to attend the 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦’ 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 celebrations on Friday and Saturday, 24 and 25 January 2025.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 106 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰.

Full details about the weekend’s programme will be made available early next year.

The annual Gisela Kingwill Mother & Daughter Morning will be held during Founders’ Weekend, on Saturday, 25 January, at 09:00.

This year’s event will see guests enjoying a ‘𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘛𝘌𝘈’ 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵’, held under the trees in the Union High School garden.

Tickets will be available for purchase as of Tuesday morning, 12 November, from Ms Elsebé Moos in the Union High School front office.

𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘨𝘦𝘵-𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳!

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As we prepare to step into 2025, Union High School is pleased to report the transformation of yet another one of our teaching spaces.

With a vision for progress and innovation, the classroom features the standard for all our revamps – a state-of-the-art digital interactive whiteboard, LED lighting and thoughtfully curated furniture.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱.

Large windows frame the field, allowing natural light to flood the room, providing a picturesque backdrop for daily lessons.

𝗔𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. With the transformation of this space, we are proud to offer a teaching environment that reflects our commitment to innovation and excellence