Bulletin, Student Life

Good Luck Matrics!

Ms Jones wished all her CAT learners good luck for their exams with a little note and a sweet treat.

As our matrics start their trial exams with CAT Paper 1 (Practical) today, we’d like to wish them all the best for the next few weeks ahead.

We are exceptionally proud of our 2020 matrics and their relentless efforts these past few months.
May all your hard work pay off, Grade 12s. Keep making us proud!
Bulletin, Student Life

RCL Care-Kit Drive

“The women in our community need to be reassured during these difficult times. We need to provide support and comfort to all those women in the Graaff-Reinet area who are struggling to let them know they are not alone.”

This is the belief of Laetitia Theron, a Grade 12 learner at Union who was inspired by the recent Women’s Month celebrations to reach out to the less fortunate in the community.

Laetitia, who serves as Deputy Headgirl and president of Union High School’s RCL, has commandeered her fellow RCL members to help her drive a CARE-kit collection aimed at providing women in need with small boxes containing basic necessities.

“A small gift can be a powerful reminder for a woman that she has not been forgotten and that she remains a valued and respected member of her community,” said Laetitia.

I want these boxes to be a source of comfort and hope for women in the midst of their battle. Our hope is that these boxes will brighten someone’s day, put a smile on the lips of a woman who is struggling or just provide a much-needed pick-me-up.”

The CARE-kits (which will be about the size of a shoebox) will consist of:

• Facecloth
• Bar of soap
• Feminine hygiene product
• Deodorant
• Lotion
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Chocolate

Each box will be accompanied by a small card, which will read: “𝘈 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.”

Union’s RCL kindly request that the community considers donating towards this drive. Donations can be big or small, an individual item or an entire CARE-kit.

If you are unable to purchase these items you are welcome to make a donation and the RCL will purchase items that are needed for the CARE-kits.

Donations can be dropped off at Union High School’s front gate in Donkin Street with Mrs Moos.

Those wishing to contribute, are asked to please do so before September 30th.

Those who would like to make a monetary donation, can EFT their contribution into the following bank account:

Account Name: UHS Clearing Account
Standard Bank
Account Number: 082528330
Branch Code: 050116

Please make sure to use ‘RCL – CARE’ accompanied by your surname as a reference.

Bulletin

A Warm Welcome

Please join us in welcoming student teachers Caley Taylor and Bethia Feldon to the Union campus.
Bethia and Caley are currently earning hands-on experience under the guidance of our knowledgeable teachers here at Union High School while studying towards their Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree.
Caley is in her 4th Year of study at the University of the Free State, while Bethia is currently doing her 3rd Year through Unisa.
We hope their experiences at Union will be enjoyable and rewarding.
Bulletin

Goodbye, Ms Munnik!

Today, Monday, 31 August, the staff and learners of Union High School bid farewell to Ms Lindzey Munnik.

Ms Munnik, who taught Afrikaans FAL to Union’s Grade 8s, 9s and 10s, recently accepted a position at Narsingstraat Primary School.

Ms Munnik’s friendliness, enthusiasm for teaching and commitment to her learners’ well-being made her a wonderful addition to the school.

Everyone at Union will miss her dearly and wish her all the best for the journey ahead!

Bulletin, Student Life

Matrics 2020 – Jerusalema Dance Challenge

Union High School’s Grade 12s recently participated in the trending Jerusalema Dance Challenge.
The aim of the challenge, which has taken SA by storm, is to spread much-needed positivity amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As young people in this difficult time, we are faced with many challenges, and the aim was to boost morale and get active in a fun way,” said Union High School’s Headgirl, Sakhe Booi.
She explained that the dance challenge can take place even with participants observing social distancing and wearing masks.
“The aim was to remind our fellow learners that although we have to keep each other at a distance, we are closer than we have ever been as a school family,” Sakhe said.
“We would like to challenge all businesses, institutions and schools in Graaff-Reinet to take up the Jerusalema Dance Challenge,” said Sakhe.
Bulletin

Explaining ‘Close Contact”

Today, Friday, 17 July, Union High School will have successfully completed our 6th week of on-site education since the reopening of schools. To date, Union High School has, fortunately, not been directly impacted by a confirmed case of Coronavirus (COVID-19). As the pandemic spreads, planning for the possibility of such a situation has, however, been a top priority and Union would like to take this opportunity to assure our community that in the event that this should happen, strict protocols will be followed, as per the guidelines provided to us by the Department of Education, to ensure the safety of the learners and educators.
Although the school has had no confirmed cases, we have noticed an increase in ‘close contact’ cases within the local community, i.e. people who have been in close contact with individuals who have tested positive for the virus.
The school has protocols in place for ‘close contact’ cases as well and parents are asked to please familiarise themselves with the following information to limit the risk to our school community:
What does being a ‘close contact’ mean?
A ‘close contact’ is defined as someone who has been in direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, but does not have any symptoms themselves.
‘Close contact’ means that you had face-to-face contact within 1 metre or were in a closed space for more than 15 minutes with a person with COVID-19. This contact happened while the person with COVID-19 was still “infectious”, i.e. from 2 days before to 14 days after their symptoms began. You are not a ‘close contact’ if you’ve had contact with someone considered to be a ‘close contact’, only if you yourself have been in contact with a person with COVID-19.

For example, you may be someone who:

1. Lives in the same household as a person with COVID-19.

2. Works closely in the same environment as a person with COVID-19.

3. Sat in the same classroom as a person with COVID-19.

4. Attended the same gathering as a person with COVID-19.

5. Provided direct care for a person with COVID-19 in a healthcare setting without using the proper personal protective equipment.

6. Sat within two seats (1 metre) in any direction of a person with COVID-19 case in any kind of vehicle including buses, minibus taxis, etc.

If a learner has been identified as being a ‘close contact’ of a confirmed case of COVID-19, they are required to self-isolate at home for 14 days while being monitored for symptoms. They may not attend school. No tests are needed. Just 14 days of self-isolation from last contact if you do not show any symptoms. If you do develop symptoms, you’ll be required to start another 14-days of isolation from start of symptoms.

If you have been around someone who was identified as a ‘close contact’ to a person with COVID-19, you should closely monitor yourself for any symptoms of COVID-19. You do not need to self-isolate. Parents must please notify the Headmaster immediately should their child be identified as a ‘close contact’. The Headmaster can be contacted directly on either 049 891 0262 or headmaster@unionschools.co.za

The learners will still be provided with at-home online-based educational support during their time of self-isolation to ensure continuity of education.

Parents are welcome to contact the school if they have any questions in this regard. In closing, we once again want to assure our parents of Union’s continued commitment to the well-being of our learners. We take every precautionary measure possible to ensure that our classrooms, venues and grounds are safe environments for our kids at all times.

Academic, Bulletin

Join G Suite

As most parents will be aware by now, Union High School has recently adopted G Suite for Education, to improve the technology we use for our online teaching support.
This is an exciting transition, as the tools available in G Suite, will make work-sharing easier, improve communication and also help teachers and learners to collaborate better.
All learners have been issued with e-mail addresses with which to access Union’s new Google classrooms.
To make the migration easier for learners and parents, we’ve put together this step-by-step instruction to help learners access the classrooms via a mobile device.
Please note:
1. Step-by-step instructions to access the classrooms via a computer has also been posted to our Facebook timeline.
2. These instructions were also sent out via the D6 Communicator and class WhatsApp groups.
3. Please contact Mr JP Kruger at 072 076 0352 should you need further assistance in this regard.
Bulletin

Thank You Teachers

Dear Mr Pringle and staff,

The current circumstances we live in are unknown to us all and they bring a lot of uncertainties and new challenges with them.

For this reason, we would like to express our gratitude to you on behalf of all the learners at Union High School for all that you and your team have done so far for us on and off-campus as well as for the kind and supportive messages you have sent to us all.

Even though some of us are still at home, life on campus has continued as much as possible given the circumstances. We think that it has created an even bigger feeling of community-building. That one feeling that the Union campus is known for.

We realise how much extra work it must have been for the academic staff to change the curriculum to an online format during lockdown and how much extra effort it is now, to have to do on-site teaching while offering online educational support.

To all organisational staff, we know that a big part of the school’s success is your efforts with coordination and support. For that reason, we would like to thank you and everyone else who have been involved in the preparation and continuation of the academic programme and for getting the school ready to receive learners.

Finally, we hope that this crisis will somehow be resolved in the near future and that those who have returned home will be able to return to Union soon to finish the year all together. And that if anything, we will all be able to learn something from this crisis.

Thanks again for everything, and if there is anything that we can do to help, please let us know.

With kind regards and best wishes,

UNION HIGH SCHOOL Head Prefects,

Sakhe Booi – Headgirl
Bowen Langmead – Headboy
Brett Amsterdam – Deputy Headboy
Laetitia Theron – Deputy Headgirl

Bulletin

A Letter From The Headmaster

We have now completed a month of on-site schooling for our Grade 7 and 12 classes, and we are so grateful to have negotiated this time successfully and safely.
It has not been easy for our learners and staff, and, no doubt, for our parents.
The new normal for our school is foreign and uncomfortable, but the protocols that we have in place have kept us all safe and it is our strict adherence to these safety protocols, i.e. the regular sanitising of hands and the school building, the wearing of masks and face shields and social distancing, that has enabled us all to be safe.
Please note that, following a statement issued by the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, on Thursday evening, 2 July, the immediate phasing in schedule for grades has been changed, with only our Grade 6 and 11 classes to resume schooling on Monday, 6 July.
It is expected that the Grade 10s will be phased in during the month of July. We hope to have more clarity in this regard soon.
We trust that those returning to school on Monday have worked hard while at home during their lockdown period and that they will quickly adjust to the systems at school upon their arrival.
Please be assured that anyone who enters the school campus is thoroughly screened before admission. No unauthorised person is permitted to enter the campus, for any reason. All learners have their temperatures taken three times per day, and anyone who shows signs of illness is encouraged to stay at home.
We have been inundated with appeals from parents, sports coaches etc to open our campus and sporting facilities for public use. Unfortunately, departmental safety regulations prohibit us from permitting this until further notice.
Grade 6 and 11 learners should take note of the following:
1. Learners who are exhibiting any symptoms of the Coronavirus (cough, fever, fatigue, sore throat, shortness of breath) should be kept at home.
2. Learners who have chronic illnesses must inform the school and special arrangements will be made.
3. Learners will be expected to pay special attention to personal hygiene – washing of hands, sanitizing, social distancing, wearing of masks (compulsory at all times), except when eating or drinking.
4. All learners are expected to have their own sanitizing spray or disposable anti-bacterial wipes each day. Learners must arrive at school with their own face mask and/or face shield.
5. Learners will initially wear civvies to school each day – clothing must be washed daily. The Clothing Shop will not be open for hand-to-hand purchases, but will take online orders at clothing@unionschools.co.za and parcels of orders will be delivered to your homes. Payment must be made in advance and proof of payment should be emailed to Mrs Clegg.
6. It is envisaged that from 3 August, we will allow learners to wear school uniform on Monday and Friday, school tracksuits on Wednesday and civvies on Tuesday and Thursday. This will allow parents an opportunity to ensure that all learners wear clean clothing each day.
6. Warm clothing should be worn, as it is the winter season and all windows will be open in all venues for ventilation purposes.
7. Learners will be permitted to carry their mobile devices at school so that parents are able to communicate effectively with their children. Strict control will be enforced and no devices may be visible or in use during teaching time.
The following protocols will be observed at school:
1. A Covid-19 Management Committee has been established and will ensure your children’s safety at all times.
2. School hours will run from 08.00 – 14.00, and afternoon catch-up sessions will take place to assist learners who have a backlog.
3. No assemblies or large gatherings will be held.
4. No extra-mural activities may occur.
5. The school building is thoroughly cleaned daily to prepare for the following day.
6. Every classroom is equipped with hand sanitizers. Educators will ensure that learners’ hands are sanitized before entering and leaving the classroom.
7. As far as possible, learners will remain in one venue and one desk for the entire day, except for specialist subjects, such as CAT and when combination classes must be taught. Intensive sanitising of desks by staff is needed once a day. This will also minimise the movement of learners around the school.
8. At breaktimes at different times, staff on duty will monitor social distancing. No hugging/shaking hands/elbow bumps etc.
9. All educators will continue their online/distance learning. All educators will still be available for questions for the distance learning classes.
10. The tuckshop will not be open for business. Learners are to bring sufficient food and liquid refreshments each day.
11. The bathrooms are thoroughly sanitized daily, and throughout the day.
12. We have organised additional PPE for learners and signs regarding safety issues.
13. We have drafted a Procedure Policy should a learner or staff member have a high temperature or becomes ill during the course of the day. We have allocated an “isolation room” for this purpose.
Arrangements for 6 July 2020:
1. All learners are to make use of the pedestrian gate (Bruce Maree Gate) in Caledon Street. Learners will be screened by staff upon arrival.
2. Latecomers will not be tolerated as temperatures need to be taken daily before entering school.
3. No parent, guardian or visitor may enter the school premises at any time. All communication with the school should be telephonic (049 891 0262) or via email (secretary@unionschools.co.za).
4. Learners need to leave school and be fetched immediately upon school closing.
5. The school grounds will be securely locked at the end of each school day to ensure the safety of those who reside in our boarding houses. Day scholars may not return to school in the afternoon to make use of recreational facilities.
Yours faithfully,
Mr W.E. Pringle
HEADMASTER
Bulletin

A New World For Teachers

In these unprecedented and uncertain times, it is normal for people to experience higher levels of stress and anxiety, teachers included.
From one day to the next, our teachers have found themselves having to give lessons at school, while managing virtual classrooms, communicating with their learners over social media platforms and learning by doing as they provide education from a distance as well as on campus.
Now more than ever teachers need socio-emotional support to face the extra pressure being put on them to deliver learning in a time of crisis as well as to enable them to support their learners’ emotional needs.
Union High School would, therefore, like to express our sincere appreciation to Mrs Paula Kingwill for facilitating a staff development session with our educators on Wednesday afternoon, 1 July.
The session dealt with simple, yet effective solutions and insights to help our educators navigate through the plethora of challenges they face while trying to teach during the pandemic, while also giving them the tools to support the emotional resilience and wellbeing of their learners during and post-lockdown.