Bulletin

A Tribute To Bongi

It is with great sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Old Unionite Bongi Johnson, Class of 2019.  Bongi brought such joy to our school and to all those who knew him. He will be deeply missed by all.
Bonginkosi ‘Bongi’ Johnson was one of the brightest lights many of us has ever known. Described by his teachers and fellow classmates as a ‘gentle giant’, his laughter was contagious, his smile spread to everyone he met.
Having served the school as a member of the prefect body in his matric year, Bongi was awarded the William Lawrie Bursary and the Puttick Prize for the prefect, who through force of character and devotion to duty, contributed most to the smooth running of the school.
This is such an apt testament to the character of this young man, who, as a life-long learner of the Union Schools – from Grade 1 at Union Preparatory School right through to Grade 12 at Union High School – became an invaluable member of his class, his school and his community.
There is not a single person who met Bongi that will ever forget him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones at this very difficult time. May you find comfort in your happy memories of this fine young man!
Bulletin

A Hint Of Pink

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Union High School has wrapped the trunks of about 40 trees lining the school’s sidewalk with a pop of pink material in support of Pink Trees for Pauline.
Locals can still support this fundraising initiative in aid of the Graaff-Reinet Cancer Association, by purchasing Pink Trees for Pauline merchandise at Our Yard in Somerset Street.
🌸 Pink fabric to wrap your trees @ R30
🌸 Pink socks @ R20
🌸 T-shirts @ R20 (limited sizes available)
🌸 doekwithadifference @ R100
🌸 Face masks @ R50
🌸 Caps @ R30
Please support this worthy cause!
Bulletin, Student Life

UHS Leaders 2021

“𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 – 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭.” – 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮
Earlier today, Thursday, 8 October, Union High School had the privilege of announcing the school’s prefect body for 2020/21. They are (in alphabetical order):
Catelyn Anthony, Kyle-Luke du Preez, Petra Japhta, Thando Matotie, Soyama Mbetshu, Primrose Mutapati, Lungile Netnou, Rogan Odendaal, James Pienaar, James Pringle, Amzolele Relu, Kaydn Retief, James Rose-Innes, Melissa Swart, Mihlali Tyanase, Martin van den Berg and Hannah Watermeyer.
May you serve the school with pride and dignity.
BOYS
Back: Kyle-Luke du Preez, James Pringle, James Rose-Innes and Rogan Odendaal. Front: Martin van den Berg, Thando Matotie, James Pienaar and Mihlali Tyanase
GIRLS
Back: Amzolele Relu, Hannah Watermeyer, Kaydn Retief and Melissa Swart. Front: Catelyn Anthony, Petra Japhta, Lungile Netnou and Soyama Mbetshu. Absent (inset): Primrose Mutapati.
Boarding House Prefects
Union High School also announced the school’s boarding house prefects for 2020/21 earlier today (Thursday, 8 October).
These learners were elected by their fellow boarders to provide them with leadership and guidance during the upcoming year.
They are (in alphabetical order): Thando Matotie, Soyama Mbetshu (Deputy Head Girl), Litha Mngoma, Primrose Mutapati (Head Girl), Jarrod Naude, Michael-Joe Newton, James Pienaar (Deputy Head Boy), Kaydn Retief, Kelly-Page Scott, Martin van den Berg (Head Boy) and Hannah Watermeyer.

 

AKH PREFECTS

Back: Jarrod Naude, Thando Matotie and Michael-Joe Newton. Front: Martin van den Berg (Head Boy) and James Pienaar (Deputy Head Boy).

 

HAH PREFECTS

Back:  Hannah Watermeyer and Kaydn Retief.  Middle:  Litha Mngoma.  Front:  Kelly-Page Scott and Soyama Mbetshu (Deputy Head Girl). Absent (inset):  Primrose Mutapati (Head Girl)

Bulletin

Montego Cares

Union High School would like to extend a special word of thanks to 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 for their generous contribution of care packs towards the RCL’s recent CARE-kit Drive.
We are grateful for your support of this initiative! Thank you for getting involved and for assisting our young learner leaders with their community outreach project.
Read more about the CARE-kit Drive here: https://www.unionschools.co.za/…/09/03/rcl-care-kit-drive/
Bulletin

Welcome To The UHS Family

Union High School is delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Hanel Weidemann who began teaching at the school today, Monday, 5 October.

Mrs Weidemann – who taught at Muir College Boys’ High School prior to being appointed at Union – will be teaching Afrikaans to our Grade 8 to 10 learners.

Welcome to the Union family Mrs Weidemann! We hope you have a wonderful teaching experience at our school.

Academic, Bulletin

Fun With Notan

Union High School’s Grade 8 and 9 Creative Arts learners recently explored different arrangements of light and dark elements in ‘Notan’ art – a Japanese art concept often described as the play between light and dark.
This assignment taught them how to work with light and dark contrast, symmetry and composition and they produced some excellent work.
Bulletin

Spotlight Shines On Cape Ash

To increase awareness of South Africa’s beautiful indigenous tree species, two trees are highlighted each year as Tree of the Year – one common and one rare species.
The Common Tree of 2020 is the stunning 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗵 or 𝘌𝘬𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 and the Rare Tree of 2020 is the incredibly sculptural 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗯 or 𝘈𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢.
Union High School has a beautiful Cape Ash growing in front of the school’s main building off Donkin Street.
The tree has a tag identifying it as such, which was affixed to it as part of an Eco-Schools’ project during Union High School’s centenary celebrations, where all the indigenous trees on the school’s campus were labelled with tree tags.
The tag contains interesting information about the tree, including the national tree number, the botanical name as well as the English, Afrikaans and either isiXhosa or isiZulu name.
The Cape Ash is a magnificent tree, well-worth planting. An evergreen fruit-bearing tree, the Cape Ash can grow up to 15m high. Its trunk and stems are greyish black, with large, glossy green leaves often with pink edges. On occasion, the tree shows its beautiful white, scented flowers in summer along with seeded red fruit enjoyed by birds and small animals. Historically, the Cape Ash was used as a decorative street tree, offering good shade and some resistance to drought conditions.
𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄: The Cape ash belongs to the Mahogany family. It is the host plant for the fastest flying butterfly in Africa, namely the White-barred Emperor butterfly. 𝘌𝘬𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 was named after Carl Gustov Ekeberg, a Swedish ship’s captain who worked for the Dutch East India Company.
“It is important that we recognise the role that trees play in our lives. Trees not only provide oxygen, fruit and nuts but also absorb carbon dioxide and beautify the environment and are an important link in the ecosystem. It is remarkable how a bland landscape can be immediately transformed into an inviting outdoor play area, and so many of us enjoy the beauty of leaves, shade and colour as seasons change. Learning how to preserve nature’s gifts and care for the environment is something we can all contribute to and enjoy by planting more trees and being mindful that bark stripping and littering prevents them from flourishing,” said Mrs Danelle Botes, facilitator of Union High School’s Eco-Schools’ efforts.
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.” – 𝗪𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆

 

 

Eco Representatives Tessa James, Kaitlin Kenmuir and Erin Gedult with Union’s magnificent Cape Ash.

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.