The Swaershoek Mountain Bike Challenge was held this past Sunday morning, 28 April, in Cradock. MTB enthusiast Schea Johnson, a Grade 11 learner at Union High School, claimed first place in the 20km challenge.
Well done Schea!
The teachers at Union High School play vital roles in the lives of the learners in their classrooms.
And, although the school’s teachers are best known for the role of educating the children that are placed in their care, they also serve many other roles in the classroom beyond that, such as creating a warm and happy environment for the learners in which to thrive.
Mrs. Louise Vorster, who teaches Grade 6 and 7 Afrikaans and Life Orientation (LO) at Union High School, demonstrated that recently when she spruced up her classroom by painting the desks and revamping the walls.
We hope that the learners will be happy in this new learning environment she created for them.
The ongoing EcoBrick project is one of Union High School’s constant endeavours to reduce litter by recycling. EcoBricks are constructed out of recycled 2-litre plastic bottles that are filled with all sorts of non-biodegradable waste.
Suitable materials to fill EcoBricks with include plastic bags, laminated paper, polystyrene trays, plastic fruit punnets, silvery packets from chips and chocolates, wax paper and dog-food bags.
The litter must be stuffed inside the bottles in such a compact manner, that the bottles are rock-solid and resistant to breaking and denting. Once filled, these bottles can then be used as a “brick” from which even school buildings and houses can be built. The compressed plastic waste does not disintegrate and provides hardy support, similar to normal building bricks, but at almost no cost. Apart from reducing the amount of trash that reaches the oceans, eco-bricks are also highly insulating and water- and fire-proof.
Each classroom at Union High School has again been tasked with creating an EcoBrick this year. The learners are encouraged to participate, and in so doing, take personal responsibility for their plastic waste.
On the occasion of the Union High School’s centenary, we request the pleasure of your company for an evening of celebration.
Tickets for the Centenary Banquet – a glittering formal dinner dance event that will be held on Friday evening, 3 May, in a Marquee on UHS’s beautiful sports grounds – are available from Mrs. Shell or Mrs. Marais at the Union High School office. Those from further afield are welcome to call the office at 049 891 0262 or send an e-mail to secretary@unionschools.co.za to reserve a ticket.
The evening will feature top class catering, a cash bar, dancing and entertainment and promises to be a most memorable event.
Tickets are limited so get yours now to guarantee that you don’t miss out!
The Union schools are now part of the Schools That Rock news platform.
Established in 2015, Schools That Rock – a website, promoting various school activities – is an online medium in South Africa for schools, that boosts them by publishing, not only their achievements but also their fun and games.
Since its establishment, the website has become a very popular communication medium for schools through which to share their news with South Africa and the rest of the world
Visit https://easterncapepe.schoolsthatrock.co.za/ to have a look at some of Union’s articles on the Schools That Rock (Pty) website.
On Wednesday afternoon, 17 April, Union High School hosted its very first competitive shooting league event.
Twelve UHS competitors took part in this sporting contest against the top shooters from Hoër Volkskool and Marlow Agricultural High School.
The event – which was held at the HVS shooting range – was a great success and saw the Union shooters achieve some very good results.
Union High School would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Mr. William Biggs who gifted the school with five 60-seater stands for our sports grounds.
These new stands will enable us to increase the spectator seating capacity next to our sports fields and in so doing, give parents, visitors and supporters a better experience when they attend sports days hosted by the school.
A word of thanks is also extended to Mr. Shawn Botha of Botha’s Garage who provided transport for the stands to the school. It is immensely appreciated.
Mrs. Christine Scott, an educator as well as school and career guidance counsellor at Union High School, recently successfully obtained her certification as an ILT practitioner.
Developed by Educational Psychologist, Dr. Shirley Kokot, Integrated Learning Therapy (ILT) strives to uncover the root causes of children’s learning difficulties and behavioural challenges in order to help them overcome them.
Mrs. Scott, who has always sought ways to widen the scope of help available… to learners at UHS, completed the ILT practitioner course in order to empower her with the knowledge needed to recognise the possible causes of learning difficulties in children and to then, initiate remedial movement and other activities in order to help.
Mrs. Scott encourages parents of children who experience learning and behavioural challenges to visit the ILT website to find out more about the efficacy of ILT: https://www.ilt.co.za/
A small delegation from Union High School’s music department headed to the mountains of KwaZulu-Natal on Easter weekend to attend the annual Music in the Mountains festival.Music in the Mountains, hosted by the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, is held over three days at the end of April each year and offers a quality craft market and performances by well-known South African artists and the Drakensberg Boys Choir School (DBCS).
This year, the main events were a performance by Loki Rothman, the Saturday Pop Gala performed by the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra and the Drakensberg Boys Choir as well as the Mozart Requiem by the Drakensberg Boys Choir, St David’s Marist Inanda, Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, and the Drakensberg Boys Choir Old Boys.
The Union learners and staff enjoyed their adventure in the Drakensberg tremendously.
Apart from attending the spectacular shows, the excursion also saw the group explore the beautiful region surrounding the Drakensberg Boys Choir School.
On Friday, they drove to Monk’s Cowl – one of the most unspoilt areas of the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. From there, they hiked to Sterkspruit Falls where they were rewarded with beautiful views. Some brave souls even ventured a swim in the crystal clear, but ice cold, rock pools.
The excursion was enjoyed by all and the group, who arrived back in Graaff-Reinet on Monday evening, returned enriched after the varied three-day programme of jazz, pop, gospel and classical music that included Bach and Beethoven right through to African folk.
Early Monday morning, 15 April, Lyn Rose-Innes, the Governing Body representative of the Union Schools’ boarding houses, met with interested parents of the schools’ weekly and termly boarders. This meeting is held each term and enables parents to air their concerns, if any, and discuss other matters of import such as fundraising activities and the like.
The meeting is also used to convey information to the parents relating to the three boarding houses, Arthur Kingwill House, Max Kroon House and Herby Arnott House, that concern the boarders.
Among matters discussed this term, was the town’s prevailing water crisis and how this is impacting the boarders. The annual Farmers’ Market fundraiser that will be held over this year’s Interschools weekend was also discussed.
It was also mentioned that the boarders will soon have access to wifi. The wifi will be strictly regulated and only available between a certain timeframe, but it should assist parents in reducing their expenses relating to their child’s data usage.