Bulletin, Cultural, Eco-Schools

Santa Shoebox Project

Ten underprivileged children in Graaff-Reinet will receive Christmas gifts this year, thanks to a Union Eco-Schools community outreach project held recently.

In support of the Santa Shoebox Project, a great charity that aims to give underprivileged children (many of whom would otherwise not receive anything over the festive season) a Christmas present, 10 members of the school’s Interact Club, partnered with 23 Eco Clubbers on Friday, 16 August.

The ten teams then made their way to the local shops with money in hand and a list of goods to purchase for a specific recipient of this goodwill project.

Teams had to buy an item of clothing, some toiletries such as soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush and a facecloth, a toy or game and school stationery for the particular child they were shopping for.

Upon their return to school, the teams had to do a reconciliation of funds spent, take off the prices and pack all the items into a shoebox.

They did extremely well and its clear from their purchases that children know best when it comes to buying for their counterparts. They also had so much fun, that they suggested Union do this annually.

The money used for the respective purchases was raised in the second school term, when the school’s staff and learners paid to take part in a civvies day.  This educational, yet enjoyable Eco-Schools community outreach project, is a clear indication that interdependent partnerships are fun and successful.

The ten festively gift-wrapped parcels will soon be handed over to the Santa Shoebox Project in Graaff-Reinet and Union thanks them for the opportunity to get involved in this worthy cause.

Academic, Bulletin

A Marvellous Market Day

Union High School’s Grade 7 learners put in a lot of extra effort to make their market day, which took place this morning, Monday, 19 August, a huge success.

The market forms part of the Economic Management Sciences Curriculum, where the Grade 7s learn about Entrepreneurship and the opportunities it provides. Market Day involved creating an ‘open market’ atmosphere, where the entire school had an opportunity to purchase goods on sale from our budding Grade 7 Entrepreneurs.  This project involves everything from advertising and marketing, to budgeting and calculating their profit or loss.

Items on sale included: food and drinks, crafts, toys and novelty items, along with some fun activities such as slingshot shooting, a balloon popping station and a bunny petting zoo.

Sport Results

Interschools Results

Union Schools and Volkskool have been neighbours, friends and rivals for almost 100 years and, irrespective of the outcome, this annual encounter always fosters an intense school pride while evoking a lot of emotion and excitement.

This year was no exception.

Although Union enjoyed a golden three years as victors of Interschools from 2016 to 2018, Union had to bend the knee to Volkskool this year, whose 1st rugby team won the encounter with 22 points to Union’s 3 points.

Congratulations to Volkskool on a good performance.

Well done to both hockey teams and their respective coaches! You put up a fierce fight!

The end score of the 1st hockey team’s match was 1 – 1.

Interschools Results 2019 final 1
Bulletin, Student Life

Prefect & RCL Induction

School elects proud new prefects

Union High School 2020 prefects were inducted during the Winter Awards Assembly held on Friday, 16 August.  The learners were extremely excited about being elected as prefects and they have promised to do their duty to the best of their abilities. The learners received a prefect tie and badge as well as a prefect pledge which they all signed.

The UHS prefects for 2019/20 are (in alphabetical order):

Brett Amsterdam, Somila Batala, Sakhe Booi (RCL representative), Jaden Brotherton, Matthew Hesselink, Katherine Imrie, William Kayster, Sara Kingwill, Bowen Langmead (RCL representative), Lauren Rose-Innes, Mack Rubidge, Jade Shires, Buchule Siloti (RCL representative), Laetitia Theron (RCL representative), Benito Vers and Deger Williams.

 

Representative Council of Learners (RCL) for 2019/20:

The RCL consists of learners from Grade 8, 9, 10 and 11 who have been selected by their peers to represent them.

The RCL is the voice of the school and serves as the link between the school’s learners and the management of the school along with the governing body. The RCL also plays a big role in maintaining discipline at Union High School.

The following learners were elected to serve on the RCL:

Grade 8:  Brigette Oelofsen, Caitrin Spence, Xhamla Magubeni, Andrue (AJ) Victor,

Grade 9:  Asa Matross, Barbara McNaughton, Mohamed (Aashiq) Hartley, Ruzhe Hendricks,

Grade 10:  Catelyn Anthony, Hannah Watermeyer, Kyle-Luke du Preez, Rogan Odendaal

Grade 11:  Sakhe Booi, Laetitia Theron, Bowen Langmead and Buchule Siloti.

These young leaders have a busy year ahead and we welcome them into their new positions.

 

Awards, Bulletin, Winter Awards

Winter Awards 2019

Union High School’s Winter Awards Assembly was held early this morning, Friday, 16 August.

The assembly served to recognise learners for their achievements in winter sports.

RUGBY AWARDS

• Merit Certificate for Rugby: Joshua Basson, Matthew Davenport, Chulumanco Faku, Shaakir Kazi, Dylan Kivedo, Kyle Liebenberg, Peter Michaels, Matthew Paxton and Jayden Swart.

• Achievement Bar for Rugby: Na’eem Mahomed, Thokozani Mpanza, Camran Swartz and Alutha Wesi.

• Merit Certificate for Rugby: Thembelihle Mxhunyelwa

• Team Awards for Rugby: Jaden Brotherton, Ashton Dawids, Mpisekhaya Duba, Bladen Jacobs, S’bongakonke Koyingana, Bowen Langmead, Luke McNaughton, Mack Rubidge, Khwezi Simon, Caerwyn Spence, Mxolisi Zikalala and Damon Fouche (Re-award).

• Half-Colours for Rugby: Brett Amsterdam, Ebben Johnston and Matteo Mahona.

• Colours for Rugby: Cleathon Koeberg, Zusakhe Ngwane, Gary Shell and Iviwe Ndamane (Re-award).

HOCKEY AWARDS

• Merit Certificate for Hockey: Chloe Erasmus
and Caytah-Leigh Koeberg.

• Achievement Bar for Hockey: Tyra Binney,
Sadé May and Sonwabise Mroro (Re-award).

• Team Awards for Hockey: Nicole de Bruyn, Sara Kingwill, Donné Marais and Laetitia Theron.

• Half-Colours for Hockey: Sakhe Booi and Jade Shires.

• Colours for Hockey: Marché Green, Kiah Hoffman, Chelsea Theron, Henzé Jaftha (Re-award), Micela Loock (Re-award) and Jenna McNaughton (Re-award).

Bulletin

Upcoming Interschools Auction

Interschools isn’t quite over yet!

The third annual Interschools livestock auction will be held on Wednesday, 21 August, at the Graaff-Reinet Showgrounds.

This is a fundraising effort facilitated by Vleissentraal on behalf of both Union and Volkskool, with a percentage of the commission earned during the auction being donated to the two schools involved.

Contact Philip Piek at 083 309 4144 to find out how you can support the schools in this endeavour!

Bulletin, Student Life

Gr 5 Excursion

To extend learning beyond the classroom, Union’s Grade 5s enjoyed a day excursion to the Ganora Guest Farm and the small village of Nieu-Bethesda on Tuesday, 13 August.

This trip provides unique opportunities for the children to learn in a new environment and to make real world connections to the knowledge they’ve gained in class.  Their day started bright and early with breakfast on the bus while en route to Nieu-Bethesda.

Upon arrival at Ganora, the children were split into two groups: boys and girls.  The girls first visited the Fossil Museum, where they were taught about plant and animal fossils, including the fresh water fish fossils found in the Karoo.  The fossilization process astounded many of the learners and they were also reminded of the differences between herbivores and carnivores, as they examined the fossil samples.  While this was happening, the boys hiked to the Khoi-San caves with Henry Witbooi, better known as Punky.  Punky entertained the children with his Khoi-San heritage stories and extensive rock art knowledge.

After the groups had swapped activities, everyone enjoyed a lovely lunch on the lawn and some free time.  Next on the agenda was a visit to Nieu-Bethesda’s community artists to do some shopping.

Freddy Jacobs, aka “Die Goggaman”, taught all the children how to upcycle a can and a piece of wire to make a candle holder – an item which will most definitely be useful during load-shedding.  In a heartwarming gesture, seven Grade 5s then showed compassion for a disabled artist and his two loyal dog companions, when they – of their own accord – bought and gave them gifts of water and food, including a dog bowl.  It was really affecting to hear the learners reflect on the experience.  Amber Bezuidenhout, one of the kindhearted learners who participated in the act of goodwill, described how she felt: “When we gave it to him, I started to feel a warm, tingly feeling and when I saw him smile, I just couldn’t stop smiling.”

The school extends its grateful thanks to all those who contributed to the success of this excursion.

Bulletin

Thank You Parents & Supporters

The success of the Union Schools, and really all schools, rests heavily on the support and dedication of its parents.

During the recent Interschools Weekend, it was inspiring to walk the grounds of our school and see moms, dads and extended family members dedicating their time and energy to ensure the success of the event. This sends a clear message to our children that they do indeed have an extended school family that cares greatly for them.

At Union, we consider ourselves very fortunate to have remarkable parents who give so freely and abundantly of their time and energy – we therefore offer our sincere appreciation and thanks.

Whether you help out at school or at home, your support is heavily felt and is producing great dividends.

 

Bulletin, Cultural

Keeping The Blood Pumping!

This morning, Tuesday, 13 August, Union’s learners participated in a blood drive held by the SANBS in the Tony Burrell Union.

Realising that the demand for blood is steady and blood banks count on volunteers to meet the needs of accident victims and patients in need of transfusions, the learners, once again, eagerly supported this initiative.