Bulletin

Thank You!

Union High School is pleased to be the beneficiary of washable cloth masks crafted by the ladies of the New Horizons sewing cooperative.  New Horizons is a Graaff-Reinet-based sewing enterprise founded by Ms Hanna Makoba in 2011 to help single women make a living for themselves.  Union High School extends its grateful thanks to Ms Makoba and her team for their generous contribution of skill, time and materials in order to help our school continue to safely serve our community.
Seen here is Ms Makoba, assisted by Ms Lynese Taho, presenting the masks to Union’s headmaster, Mr William Pringle.
Bulletin, Hostels

Drive-by Farewell For Aunty Pam

With the ongoing pandemic thwarting an in-person party, the staff at Arthur Kingwill House, one of Union’s boarding houses, had to get creative in saying goodbye and congratulations to a beloved member of staff who is retiring after a long career at the school.
The moment was therefore celebrated, from a distance, on Sunday, 14 June, in what is becoming an increasingly more common way to “get together” – a drive-by.
After having first all gathered at AK House, the friends and colleagues of Ms Pam Hector then drove to her house, with each of them stopping to tie a balloon to her fence and to wish her a well-deserved rest and an enjoyable retirement.

‘Aunty Pam’ as she was affectionately known, has worked for the Union Schools’ boarding houses for the past 34 years and has always been regarded as a very kind and dear lady.
Her gentle nature was appreciated by both the adults and the young AK House gentlemen alike.
The boys have always spoken very highly of her and the House’s superintendent Mr Donald Kingwill and his wife Alet will always remember her for her gentle nature and friendliness.  As a retirement gift from her friends and colleagues, Aunty Pam was presented with a beautiful king size blanket made up of squares, knitted by the ladies who worked at AK House during the winter of 2017, that was recently crocheted together.
Happy retirement, Aunty Pam. You will be missed!
Academic, Bulletin

Outdoor Learning

A Breath Of Fresh Air

Whenever the weather (and a lesson’s subject matter) permits it, the educators at Union love moving their lessons outside into the school’s green space.
Taking full advantage of the sunny day on Monday, Mrs Nelia Read took her Grade 12 Tourism class to the ‘outside classroom’.
While soaking up the bit of warmth the winter sun offered, the learners could be heard having a lively discussion about the impact of the Covid-19 Coronavirus on the world’s tourism industry, in particular, the effect that it has on world-famous icons and attractions.
Bulletin

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:
Bulletin

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.
Bulletin

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!
Bulletin

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!
Bulletin

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.
Bulletin

#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.
Bulletin

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.