Dear Parents,
Last year, Mr Pringle and I were involved in negotiating one of the most exciting prospects the school has ever had.
We met with a sponsor that is willing to add additional teaching specialists as well as incredible new facilities to the Union product.
All of the costs will be covered by the sponsors!
Here is what will soon be available to all the learners, and the many generations to come:
๐ก ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐: For the first time ever, Xhosa and Afrikaans learners will have access to home language specialists that will assist each child to easily streamline into education in English. A Xhosa teacher has already been appointed at the pre-school and the preparatory school is currently building a language centre that will accommodate Xhosa, Afrikaans and English additional specialized teachers. These teachers will assist the existing teaching program. By the time learners progress to Grade 5 the language transition to learning and being tested in English will be so much easier.
๐ก ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐, ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ: At no cost to the parents an optic fibre Internet system is currently being installed throughout the schools and hostels. This will not only allow the teachers to use all available digital platforms but has the potential to soon provide each child in Union data-free access to the schools Learning Management System from any of the already existing hubs spread throughout Graaff-Reinet. Internet research-based learning will soon be available to every learner at Union. It is the knowledge tool of the future. Plans are in place to teach Information Technology and basic coding techniques. The CAT lab at High School is ideally set up to launch a brand-new branch of teaching!
๐ก ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ: The Maths Department is on the verge of an exciting re-vamp! The classroom space will be the first of many to be totally upgraded and equipped with 21st Century Digital Age facilities. A campus-style environment will be created. An additional Maths teacher will be employed to further boost this strong department. We are planning for continuous access to Maths assistance throughout the day and in the afternoons. The science department and laboratories will then be upgraded and boast the best of facilities available.
๐ก ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: The SA Schools Act encourages the SGB to continuously reinforce the skills of the educators. All 53 of Unionโs teaching staff across the three schools are currently engaged in a program instituted by the Keller Institute. This is based on the most current research concerning the neurological development of a learnerโs developing brain, and how best to compliment it.
๐ก ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐๐: We have submitted a five-year plan to uplift and equip all the classroom spaces with the latest teaching tools and technology. We wish to make classrooms that are bright, clean and airy. We are planning outdoor teaching spaces around the campus. These will provide learners with a brand-new learning experience. On 23 March we are launching the first phase of an interactive mural celebrating the diverse culture of the Union community. In this launch, there are exciting prizes for those learners that can best manage all three of the most difficult tongue twisters that the different languages have to offer.
๐ก ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ: The benefits and the opportunities every Union learner, and those to come, will receive from this visionary project will reshape education at Union in the years to come. We will lead the way in embracing the future of learning. It is a thrilling prospect. The recent changes in global society have altered the world dramatically, and, as a school, we are well prepared to embrace the change and thrive. We have the opportunity to lead the way.
As we realise the opportunities that are tantalizingly ahead of us, may Union continue to be the wonderful school it has always been.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ
๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ช๐ณ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ: ๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ญ ๐๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ฐ๐ฅ๐บ, ๐๐ฏ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ
