Category: Cultural

Congratulations also go to Erin Gedult, a Grade 7 learner at Union, who passed her Grade 2 Piano exam with distinction.

Both were awarded merit certificates for their respective accomplishments during the school’s assembly on Friday morning, 17 January 2020.

Melissa and Erin’s music teachers Ms Zelda van Rooyen and Mrs Sanette Brink, are thrilled, commenting, “We are incredibly proud of them, they worked really hard towards their exams – well done!”

As instrumental skills progress, development in music theory and musicianship becomes increasingly important in helping learners to perform with sensitivity, understanding and confidence.

Union High School, therefore, thank these learners for their hard work in preparing for this examination and extends a word thanks to Mrs Van der Walt for providing them with a thorough understanding of the building blocks of music.

This year was no exception with the learners, staff and special guests gathering in the quad on Friday, 1 November, for a special Remembrance Day Service.

The Ven. Dr Mark Marais led the devotions, after which the Headmaster, Mr William Pringle, spoke about the significance of the day, highlighting the importance of Remembrance Day in “showing respect for those who were willing to serve their country and, if need be, to make the ultimate sacrifice so that we who are here now can have the life that we know”.

Two bugle calls, the ‘Last Post’ and ‘The Reveille’ were then played by Mr Charles Maasdorp, Union’s Head Boy of 1951, while Mr Hanno Sparrius lowered and raised the national flag.

The Last Post is a bugle call that has been incorporated into military funerals where it is played as a final farewell, symbolising the fact that the duty of the dead soldier is over and that they can rest in peace, while ‘The Reveille’, is a call that marks the beginning of each day to wake up soldiers. The two tunes symbolise sunset and sunrise respectively, and in the context of this occasion, they symbolise death, but more importantly a promise of resurrection.

The Union High School Roll of Honour was then read aloud by Mr Sparrius, to remember the Old Unionites who perished in valiant struggles “for hearth and home”.

Other traditions that were observed included a minute of silence for reflection and the laying of wreaths by the school’s Head Prefects, Sakhe Booi and Bowen Langmead, as well as by Mr John Crankshaw, on behalf of the Old Unionite Association.

They were treated to a 1-night stay at the Asante Sana Private Game Reserve, where they had loads of fun and even worked on an academic task in the peaceful setting.

Union extends its thanks to everyone who made this outing such a memorable one for all the learners involved.

Seen here are some of Union’s Blood Peer Promoters with the sought-after trophy.

The Maya Deaf Foundation (MDF), based in Graaff-Reinet, aims to help bridge the gap between the hearing and the deaf by providing a range of services to those affected by hearing loss. They rely solely on donations and fundraising efforts to further their cause.

Union is honoured to be able to contribute to this foundation and its endeavours.

PHOTO: Seen here is Interact member Katherine Imrie, with the MDF’s secretary Ruth-Mandy Abercrombie, its founder Laszlo ‘Laz’ Maya and Siphesihle Jali, chairperson of Union’s Interact Club.

#NotDEAFeted