Bulletin

Prefect Camp

Our newly elected #prefects for 2021/22 are attending their prefect camp this weekend, 15 to 17 October.
This year, the camp is being held in the heart of Addo at the ‘Leaders in Life’ outdoor education centre.
Accompanied by Mrs Nelia Read and Mr Hanno Sparrius, our learner leaders will spend the weekend doing fun-filled activities geared towards fostering the development of key skills such as confidence, self-belief, communication and team spirit.
Since arriving on the farm Riversong at the Leaders In Life-School and Sports Camps on the banks of the Sundays River in Addo, Union High School’s new #prefects have enjoyed an activity-fueled itinerary consisting of flag making, paddling and various team building games, which included a challenging obstacle course!
Bulletin

Elevate Parent Webinar

We urge Union High School parents to register for the final two parent webinars of the year this term.

The focus is on helping parents to support their children in the lead up to end of year tests and exams. We will cover exam preparation and exam room skills (including time management and answering the questions!)

  • The first webinar is next Wednesday 20thOctober at 6pm
  • The final webinar is on Wednesday 3rdNovember at 6pm

Parents can register for free here: https://get.elevatecoaching.info/za/register

As a reminder the students also have access to our website which contains past papers and memos for every subject from Grade 4-12: https://zastudent.elevateeducation.com/exam-questions

Bulletin, Cultural

Art Club Explores Local Gallery

The members of Union High School’s Art Club managed to escape the searing heat this week and spent a cool, contemplative time in the Hester Rupert Art Gallery Graaff Reinet.
During this time they were shown some of the national treasures that are exhibited in this gallery, including original works by Irma Stern, Maggie Laubser, Alexis Preller and Walter Battis.
The young artists looked at works from various art movements such as Impressionism, Expressionism, Surrealism and Post Modernism.
They also saw works in different mediums including oil paint, watercolour, sculpture and various printing techniques.
We are so fortunate to have a collection such as this in Graaff-Reinet, and the Art Club came away with a new appreciation of the visual arts.
Sport Results, Tennis

Snr Tennis vs Cradock High

𝗔 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀
On Tuesday afternoon, 12 October, Union High School’s Top 6 boys and girls tennis players hosted their Cradock High School counterparts for what turned out to be a very enjoyable afternoon of tennis.
All the matches were played in great spirit and tightly contested and we extend our thanks to the Cradock players for travelling to Graaff-Reinet and their wonderful sportsmanship.
Bulletin, Hostels

AK House Dinner

𝗔 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 ⭐
On Monday evening, 11 October, the Grade 8 to 12 boarders at Union’s Arthur Kingwill House enjoyed their annual house dinner and awards evening on the fields in front of the Tony Burrell Union.
The weather played along beautifully for this auspicious event, themed ‘Under the Stars’, with fairy lights and great camaraderie creating a wonderful ambiance.
The event was an opportunity for the boarding house’s staff and learners to reflect back on the year, to celebrate and recognize the immense growth each boarder experienced in this time, as well as to say farewell to the matric group.
It was a delight to see the learners dressed in their finery – they represented themselves very well and enjoyed a truly memorable evening.
To start the evening, Mr Donald Kingwill, Superintendent of Arthur Kingwill House, welcomed the guests and thanked all those who had contributed to the success and happiness of the past year, particularly the 2021 Grade 12s and prefect body. They have led the boarding house with quiet dignity and a passion for the school which doesn’t go unnoticed.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨’𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥:
Tennis Award: Jarrod Naude and Gemma Naude.
Basketball Award: Primrose Mutapati and Thando Matotie.
Grade 8 and 9 General Knowledge Champions: 1st Oyama Tukwayo, 2nd Megan Nortje and 3rd Angus McLaggan.
Grade 10 to 12 General Knowledge Champions: 1st Kendall Krige, 2nd Simamkele Soyana and 3rd Jarrod Naude.
Top Academic (Grade 8 and 9): Joy Merifield.
Top Academic (Grade 10 to 12: Grace Merifield.
Service Awards: Martin van der Berg, Primrose Mutapati, James Pienaar, Soyama Mbetshu, Jarrod Naude, Hannah Watermeyer, Thando Matotie, Kaydn Retief, Rogan Odendaal, Litha Mngoma, Michael-Joe Newton, Kelly-Page Scott.
The Fidelitas Award for the boarder who contributed most to hostel life by being punctual, neat, courteous and well-behaved: Rogan Odendaal.
The Bridget Stander Memorial Trophy for the learner who, by his or her character, conduct, spiritedness and qualities of leadership, has contributed most to the boarding life at Arthur Kingwill House: Primrose Mutapati.
The prefect body for 2021 – those who will lead this boarding house and take care of the younger boarders over the next year – was also announced. This will be made known in a separate announcement to follow soon.
Bulletin, Hostels

New Common Room at AKH

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲
A lounge area with a flat-screen television and DSTV access, recreational tables, indoor games, puzzles and reading materials to suit various needs are some of the facilities Union’s Grade 8 to 11 female boarders will be able to access at the new ‘girls common room’ at Arthur Kingwill House.
Located in what was once the Prue Murray Sick Bay, the room was recently converted into a recreational space for exclusive use by the boarding establishment’s girls and opened to learners at the start of this term.
This new room offers the perfect platform for learners to interact with one another and relax with a movie or a game or two.
👉 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀. 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲!
Bulletin, Student Life

Matric Dinner 2021

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗖!
Union High School’s Matric Class of 2021 enjoyed their matric dinner at the end of the third term.
Held at the Drostdy Hotel on Wednesday, 29 September, the elegant affair saw learners pull out all the stops to look their finest.
Themed ‘Masquerade’, the venue was decorated in black and gold and saw the learners being treated to a beautifully prepared 3-course meal, during which the headmaster and head prefects shared a few words with the Grade 12s.
Some members of staff also joined to celebrate the matrics, what they have accomplished, and the friendships and bonds they have formed over the years.
Bulletin

10 Years As Headmaster

This past term saw Mr William Pringle complete his tenth year as Headmaster of Union High School.
On the last day of term, Friday morning, 1 October, during the staff’s end of term get-together, Mr Pringle was presented with a certificate of acknowledgement by Governing Body chairman, Mr Kelvin Kayster, and thanked for all the work he’s done these past 10 years for the betterment of the Union Schools.
“It has been a decade of incredible change, development and progress which has presented many challenges – not least a pandemic,” said Mr Pringle upon accepting the certificate.
“As I look back on the last ten years, I am incredibly proud of all that has been achieved! A school head is only as good as his or her staff and the learners who attend. Without a doubt, it is the huge commitment of staff and learners to being the best they can be that ensures the success of Union High School. And for that I am enormously grateful – to lead such an outstanding team is a great privilege.”
Bulletin

Top Ten Academic Achievers – Term 3 2021

‘𝐵𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡.’ – Edward Rowland Sill
Congratulations to our 𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝟭𝟬 𝗔𝗖𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗖 𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦 for Term 3, 2021!
Keep up the great work!
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟮:
1. James Rose-Innes
2. Kyle-Luke du Preez
3. Catelyn Anthony
4. Petra Japhta
5. Hannah Watermeyer, Amzolele Relu & Ayanda Nyama
8. Melissa Swart
9. Lathitha Ngcwangu & Kaydn Retief
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟭:
1. Matthew Basson
2. Grace Merifield
3. Kendall Krige
4. Amber Binney
5. Marli Brummer & Kathryn Odendaal
7. Hannah Bodenstein
8. Matthew McNaughton
9. Jamie Jaftha
10. Michelle Doyle & Tamsin James
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟬:
1. Caitrin Spence
2. Siphosethu Malotana
3. Cadee Arends
4. Brigette Oelofsen
5. Gemma Naude
6. Tayla Kingwill, Anna Pringle & Ngomusa Zweni
9. Brent Hesselink, Simone Prinsloo, Andrue Victor & Trinity West
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟵:
1. Na’eem Mahomed
2. Caytah-Leigh Koeberg & Joy Merifield
4. Charlize Vorster
5. Johannes du Plessis & Lolitha Saki
7. Sarah Wilmot & Ethan Lynch
9. Joshua Neill, Jayden Swart & Tyra Binney
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟴:
1. Tara Ferreira
2. Megan Nortje
3. Sarah Jacobs & Erin Gedult
5. Aaminah Steele
6. Alastair Imrie & Kenza Neill
8. Pieter Hulleman & Danika du Preez
10. Sasha Cochrane
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟳:
1. Ciara Kivedo & Katelyn Trollip
3. Samantha Charles
4. Endinako Jadezweni & Anebel Norval
6. Amber Bezuidenhout & Josh Arends
8. Taegen Hamid & Misha Newton
10. Jade Palmer & Lisa Vutula
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟲:
1. Anna Stocks & Amber Slater
3. Tara Piercey
4. Richard Murray & Sixolile Singeni
6. Kirsten Collett
7. Jennavieve Woods, Aimee Short & Jade Slater
10. Benjamin Loots & Zack Verwey
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟱:
1. Antonia Adams
2. Isabella Hulleman
3. Cate Cochrane & Owen Paxton
5. James Stocks
6. Carlen Prinsloo
7. Gerda Clarke
8. Quinn Naude
9. Khaine du Preez
10. Bernard Raath
Bulletin

Fun With Robotics

Mr Bienvenu Mbanga in action

On Tuesday and Wednesday, 28 and 29 September, Union educators Mrs Helane Keyser, Mr Stephen Bezuidenhout and Mr Bienvenu Mbanga, attended the Level 1 Training Course for LEGO Mindstorms EV3 in Graaff-Reinet.

During this 2-day workshop – presented by Hands On Technologies’ robotics trainer Mr Danie Heymans at the Profcon Resort – the teachers were introduced to and shown the programming possibilities of the Mindstorms EV3 robotic kits.
The teachers were then able to actually build robots from the robotic kits and code them.
Following the workshop, Union received a donation of five EV3 robotic sets, 3 chargers, 2 teaching guides and a roll-up training mat, courtesy of the Care for Education Foundation.
We look forward to seeing the implementation thereof at Union!