Category: Student Life

Last night marked a delightful occasion as the 2024 prefects of Union High School, Graaff-Reinet and Hoër Volkskool Graaff-Reinet united for their annual start-of-year get-to-know-one-another social event.

This year, Volkskool’s head prefects took the reins of organisation, and they did not disappoint – 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙨.

With the invaluable assistance of the talented bowlers from the Graaff-Reinet Bowls Club, the learners were able to fully immerse themselves in the sport and unleash their hidden potential. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥.

The most heartwarming aspect of the event was witnessing the learners from these neighbouring schools come together and enjoy themselves. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.

This past Friday, 1 March, Mr Luphumlo Joka, a distinguished Old Unionite and the head of Global Leadership Consultants, exemplified the principles of servant leadership during his visit to Union High School, Graaff-Reinet.

Despite the scorching heat, Mr Joka selflessly devoted his time to 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝘾𝙇 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘯.

The message of finding one’s own voice and confidently occupying leadership roles undoubtedly inspired our young leaders. It instilled in them a strong desire to fulfill their destined potential and become the leaders they were meant to be.

Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s Grade 7 boys recently had an unforgettable experience that marked 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿.

One afternoon after school, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗲 where they were able to marvel at the natural wonders around them.

But the adventure didn’t end there! After their hike, the boys headed back to school to enjoy some boerewors rolls and to cool down in the school swimming pool.

This adventure allowed the Grade 7 boys to come together, appreciate the beauty of nature and celebrate the bonds they have formed during their primary school years.

𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭. 𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘺, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥!

During the Winter Awards assembly on Friday morning, 18 August, the newly elected prefects were each presented with a prefect tie and badge.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s new prefect body of 2023/24: Joshua Basson, Tyra Binney, Caytah-Leigh Koeberg, Ethan Linch, Nangawethu Macanda, Na’eem Mahomed, Bontle Mashiane, Sadé May, Joy Merifield, Joshua Neill, Sobuhle Nyambali, Lolitha Saki, Camran Swartz, Uyanda Tele and Sarah Wilmot!

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.

We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing prefects. Your immense contributions, unwavering commitment and remarkable leadership have left an indelible mark on Union High School. You have been instrumental in guiding and inspiring your peers, and 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚.

As we embark on this new chapter, let us remember the words of John C. Maxwell, “𝘈 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺.”

May this quote serve as a constant reminder for our new prefect body to lead with integrity, empathy and vision. Together, let’s create a legacy that inspires and empowers others!

We’d like to give a special 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗧 to Union High School, Graaff-Reinet Grade 9 boarder 𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 who, on Wednesday afternoon, 19 April, went beyond the average citizen’s call of duty!

During their weekly outing to town, Ronan and his fellow boarders were standing outside a grocery store in Graaff-Reinet, when he heard a commotion and then spotted a suspected shoplifter fleeing past them.

Without hesitation, Ronan chased the shoplifter down and apprehended him.

𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵!

The end of the first term was celebrated with an explosive mix of colour, water, upbeat music and squeals of laughter as high-spirited learners gathered on the field on Tuesday afternoon, 28 March, for the Interact Club’s end-of-term 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛 fundraiser.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳.

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𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘊𝘓 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺.

Congratulations to Grade 12 learners Kaitlin Kenmuir and Ndalo Qwalela who have recently been elected, respectively, as the new chairperson and vice-chairperson of Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s 2023 Representative Council of Learners (RCL).

2023 Class Representatives:

Grade 8

Khayila Grootboom
Toka Ledwaba
Emihle Mateza
Richard Murray
Sixolile Singeni
Liso Sobantu

2023 Representative Council of Learners:

Grade 9

Josh Arends
Amber Bezuidenhout
Xarah Hoffman
Endinako Jadezweni
Vuyisa Karel
Athayanda Mahlati

Grade 10

Muhammad Ahmed
Jayden Eiman
Khazimla Kula

Grade 11

Joshua Basson
Asemahle Sakati
Lolitha Saki
Lisakhanya Zonke

Grade 12

Megan Adams
Ryan Jenneke
Kaitlin Kenmuir
Ndalo Qwalela

𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝟴𝘀!

Early Monday morning, 26 January, Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s new Grade 8s, along with the prefects and grade teachers set off on a hike into the Camdeboo National Park.

The reason for this was two fold – firstly, to orientate themselves in the beautiful natural environment and secondly to get to know one another and the prefects.

After 5km of gradual uphill, the Grade 8s reached the top of the neck, flanked by Spandaukop to the left and the Valley of Desolation to the right.

The view into the Camdeboo was spectacular and in turning around and seeing Graaff-Reinet way below, it dawned on everyone how much they had ascended.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨’ 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 8𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜. They then continued to walk without so much as a whimper, another 10kms through the back routes of Mountain Drive. As they walked, they stooped to pick up bits of litter that unscrupulous humans had left on Mountain Drive, leaving the park as it should be.

On arrival back at school, everyone enjoyed a swim in our beautiful newly extended pool. The prefects then took over and everyone had lots of fun playing team building games before sharing lunch together.

Union extends its 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦 to Mrs Claire Lemke, who blazed the trail.

𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 8𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.