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Word Of Thanks

Dear parents and guardians,
In Union High School’s 101-year history, we have never faced a challenge quite like the one the Coronavirus pandemic has presented us with these past few months.
We are immensely grateful to our Union community, and to our parents especially, for the support we have received throughout.
We are confident that with your continued support, we will rise above this challenge and maintain our strong commitment to quality education.
Please see the attached word of thanks from Union High School’s Governing Body and Management:
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Amended School Calendar

The following amended school calendar for the balance of 2020 was formally received on 9 June 2020 from the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
[Please note that the Minister has approved the Amended 2020 School Calendar for publication and the DBE is in the process of publishing it in the Government Gazette.]
A more detailed breakdown of the calendar has been sent to parents via the D6 Communicator.
At this stage, it is uncertain as to how it will affect the phasing in of grades, but we’ll keep our school community informed of any new developments, should there be any.
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A Splash Of Colour

As anyone who’s added a collage to a wall or given it a splash of colour can attest, room aesthetics have an enormous impact on our ability to relax or concentrate.
With this in mind and fueled by a desire to create something that will inspire, lift spirits, and help foster pride among the school’s learners for the spaces they inhabit, three Union educators spent their free time this past week creating a striking mural full of vibrant colours in the hallway outside their classrooms.
Well done to Miss Lindzey Munnik, Mrs Bronwen Langmead
and Miss Paula-Jane Phillips – we’re sure this colourful corner will be a visual treat for all our learners!
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Welcome Back!

Welcome, Grade 7s & 12s!
Masks ✔️
Screening ✔️
Disinfectant✔️
Social Distancing ✔️
Excited Teachers ✔️
Feeling Good, Feeling Positive 💚
We celebrated our matrics’ return to school this morning with a little care package for each of them.  This packet, which contained items such as a small bottle of sanitizing liquid, a bottle of water and a bar of chocolate, was gifted to each learner to let them know that they are loved and that everyone is rooting for them as they tackle the rest of the 2020 school year.
The Grade 7s were also welcomed back with a bar of chocolate to make their first day of school a bit sweeter!
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Learner Transport

To safeguard our learners while they’re being transported to and from school, we’d like to request our parents to please communicate with (and monitor) those charged with the transportation of their children, to ensure that they adhere to the specific regulations set out in the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act no 57 of 2002), and the amendments thereto, as well as all the directives set out in the schedule to address and contain the spread of COVID-19 according to the lockdown level.
• In terms of the Measures to Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19 in the Public Transport Services, published through General Notice No. 412 of 26 March, 2020 in Government Gazette No 43157, all operators of learner transport facilities must at regular intervals, provide adequate sanitisers or other hygiene dispenser for handwashing and disinfection equipment for learners and drivers.
• All passengers must wear a mask including drivers and learners.
• All operators must ensure that public transport vehicles are cleaned and disinfected before picking up and after dropping off learners.
• Operators must ensure that all learner transport vehicles’ door and window handles, armrests and handrails are cleaned/wiped with a disinfectant before picking up and after dropping off learners.
• Operators must ensure that all learner transport vehicles are clean and tidy.
NB: Please note that learners who are using public transport also have a responsibility to practice social distancing and good hygiene to prevent or reduce the possibility of infection.
𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭:
In the case of lift clubs, it is important to adhere to the same measures as are required of public transport services.
𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥:
If learners walk to school, it is important that they practice social distancing and good hygiene to prevent becoming infected by COVID-19 droplets carried in the air. Close proximity to an infected person is risky and it is therefore recommended that walkers keep at least 1.5 metres apart from each other.
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#FightAgainstCovid19

Union High School took delivery today of another batch of PPEs, thermometers and a large quantity of sanitizing equipment and disinfectants supplied to us by the
ECDOE – Eastern Cape Department Of Education.
We are extremely grateful to the Department for providing these items. It will assist the school tremendously in our efforts to keep our staff and learners safe and healthy.
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Welcome To Our Team!

Please join us in welcoming our new temporary support staff Jevana Solomons, Vehona Jantjies and Delicious Solomons to Union.  These three ladies will be with us for the next three months to assist teaching and non-teaching staff by cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces. They will also be assisting with the screening of learners and will help make sure that physical distancing rules are adhered to.
We hope that they know how welcome they are and that the value they bring to our school is appreciated.
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One Day Closer

Dear Learner
We are one day closer to everything being back to normal again. That is certainly a good thought to wake up to every day.
Until such a time, and as we inch closer to our school being reopened, we are all trying to prepare ourselves for what our school days will look like in the weeks to come as it most definitely will not be what we’re used to.
It’s fair to say that it will be quite an adjustment.
We’ll all be wearing masks to school. We’ll need to forgo hugs and handshakes when we greet each other for the first time in months. Class sizes will be limited in number and schedules will be determined by a variety of factors.
Given that we’ll also be facing many ‘unknowns’ together over the next few months, in addition to the changes and challenges we know are coming our way, there are a few things we know for certain right now that we’d like to share with you:

#𝟏: 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 %9

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No Visitors Allowed On Campus

Please note:
For the time being, visitors, parents and vendors are not allowed to enter the Union High School campus unless the nature of their visit is essential.  In such a scenario, they will need to make an appointment (049 891 0262) and state the nature of their business.  When reporting to reception, visitors will need to sign a register, wear a face mask and sanitise their hands.
– All rules and regulations applicable to the school also apply to its hostels.
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Return To School

Dear parents and learners

Union High School is very excited to welcome our learners back to school, starting with the Grade 7s and 12s!

We have made a short video, for demonstration purposes only, to show learners what they can expect on their first day back at school. Parents, please watch this video with your children to show them the procedures they will be facing.

https://www.facebook.com/272039036200212/videos/3163826677011341/

To all Grade 7s and 12s, your educators are waiting excitedly for your return.

Please note that on an actual school day, the learners will be assisted by our full complement of staff and will have distance markers and posters to guide them safely throughout the course of the day.

As part of the preparations for the return of the Grade 12s and 7s, the Union campus is being marked with little feet which will assist in directing foot traffic once school reopens.

These markings (of which many will still be added in the next few days before school commences) will serve as visual aids for learners when they have to line up and will assist with the effective implementation of social distancing at the school.

As these “feet” take shape and start to line our pathways and hallways, we can’t help but long for the return or our learners and the accompanying chatter, laughter and constant busy-ness to bring our campus back to life.