Bulletin, Rugby

Meet Our Rugby Captain: Mihlali Tyanase

Meet Union High School’s first team rugby captain: Mihlali Tyanase

Position: Eighthman

What makes it special to play for Union High School’s first team? The Union High School white rugby jersey is exceptionally special because when you put it on, you don’t just represent the 2021 1st XVs, but the past, present and future of the school as a whole. Every time I put on my white jersey, I think about who I am doing it for. How will I embody a level of excellence and respect for those who have come before me, and those who will come after? For me, as a boy who grew up in a small village in Keiskammahoek on the outskirts of King William’s Town, it is a privilege to be able to play for the Union High School first rugby team.

What would you consider the strong points of your team this year? My team’s strongest point has to, most definitely, be the lineouts. That’s where we have JJ Liebenberg in the hooker position who has the ability and skill to consistently hit our jumpers. We also have the expertise of Martin van der Berg and Liam Langeveld, both of whom are very skilled jumpers who navigate themselves quite well in the air. We also have skilled powerlifters in Liyema Mjoli, Bubele Thibini and Siphesihle Goliath – these gentlemen do all the lifting.

What motivates you to give your best on the field week after week? For me it is all about leaving the jersey – and what it represents – in a better place than where I found it. This is only achievable by making sure that I play my heart out week in and week out. Knowing that I’m holding my family name up high and making sure that I’m using a talent that God blessed me with to the very best of my ability, also serves to motivate me.

Your team has been together for 5 years.  What makes your team special? Our team’s philosophy is “Humility breeds success”.  The members of our team continuously show humility by asking themselves, “How can we do this better?” and they’re not afraid to put in the hard work to improve their performance. I think that is what makes us special.

What has been your team’s greatest achievement over the past 5 years? Our greatest achievement came in our first year playing together as u/14As when we beat our fiercest rivals, Hoër Volkskool, in front of a jam-packed Botanics stadium- that was a very special moment.

Who is the joker of the team and why? The joker has to be Thando Matotie. That oke knows how to get the lads laughing. He has a great sense of humour and is always laughing – even when we’re dead tired and doing hill sprints, you’ll just suddenly hear him crack a joke that gets everyone laughing.

What is the most enjoyable time after a match? The most enjoyable time after a match is when we get the “W” and we gather in the changing room where the lads take pictures with Sisipho Arnols’ phone (best quality) for our various social media platforms. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, my most enjoyable moment was when I’d walk over to my dad after a match and he’d give me a handshake and say, “Well played, son”.

Who was your matric hero in Grade 8? In Grade 8, my matric hero was the 2017 first team rugby captain, Ross Stanley. He always made me feel part of the team as its waterboy. That made me look forward to playing for the school’s 1st XV.

Choose one:

  • Tackle or Clean: Tackle
  • Dummy or Side-step: Dummy
  • Winning try or winning kick: Winning try.

Bulletin, Student Life

Meet Our Mentors

Earlier this week, Union High School launched a cross-age peer mentoring programme at the school to promote the learners’ physical, social and emotional well-being.

The programme has been set up between older and younger learners, with mentors being assigned to specific class groups so that the younger learners can benefit from the experience and knowledge of the older ones.

The programme also comes with the additional impact of providing leadership and development opportunities to the older or near-peer youth who serve in the mentoring role.

The support of parents and teachers is undoubtedly vital for the success of our learners. However, the impact that guidance and advice from people who are closer in age can have is often overlooked – in fact, peer mentoring has been shown to lead to improved attitude to school, attendance and behaviour. It can also help learners to build up a peer network within their school, causing more holistic benefits such as a sense of community and belonging.

“We hope the mentoring programme will provide the learners with a safe environment to raise concerns and ask questions which they might not feel confident talking about in front of an adult or in a classroom setting,” said Grade 12 mentor, Tracy Petitt.

“Our overall goal is to get as many kids as we can impacted by the experience. There are many opportunities for all the younger learners, yet at the same time, there are numerous stressors and challenges for them to handle. How they adapt to and deal with all these adjustments is key to how they fare health-wise and emotionally every day, as well in the future. We hope to help as many learners as possible deal with these stressors by offering our support.”

📷 Seen here are our 35 Grade 11 and 12 learners who will be serving as mentors this year, facilitating positive change in all their mentees.

They are: Michaela Price, Joshua Calitz, Lathitha Ngcwangu, Liso Binqela, Jade Edwards, Mihlali Tyanase, Primrose Mutapati, Likhona Batala, Tracy Petitt, Max Wright, Catelyn Anthony, James Pringle, Kaydn Retief, Kyle-Luke du Preez, Buhlebethu Rolomane, Chloe Bosch, Siphesihle Goliath, Jodi Kenmuir, Matthew McNaughton, Melissa Swart, Matthew Basson, Lutho Ludwaba, Sisipho Arnols, Kelly-Page Scott, Ruzhe Hendricks, Asa Matross, Ayanda Nyama, James Potgieter, Soyama Mbetshu, Kathryn Odendaal, Avemahle Matushe, Elam Nockpaal, Hannah Watermeyer, Rogan Odendaal and Cole Mackenzie.

Bulletin, Rugby

Ongoing Coach Training & Development

This past week, on 26 and 27 May, Union High School was privileged to have Mr Anthony Heugh, an experienced and respected World Rugby Coaching Educator, in our midst, to assess all our coaches for their World Rugby Level 2 accreditation.

Mr Heugh has been working with the Union coaches since September 2019.

After having successfully completed their World Rugby Level 1 certification a while ago, each of them had to compile a coaching portfolio of their coaching processes along with the completion of a set of online exams, to be followed by a practical assessment to be conducted by Mr Heugh for their Level 2 accreditation.

Following his visit last week, Mr Heugh was very impressed by the high standard of work done by all the coaches and completed the practical assessments with the coaches over two days, ensuring that all coaches were fairly judged on their coaching abilities.

Union High School is very pleased to announce that Messrs JP Kruger, Erwin Ittershagen-Strauss, Hanno Sparrius, Christopher Felix and Donald Kingwill were all awarded their World Rugby Level 2 accreditation.

“We are very grateful that the school has afforded us this opportunity,” said Union’s 1st team rugby coach, Mr Christopher Felix.

“Part of my goal for rugby at Union High School is that the coaches will grow together and provide quality coaching, be students of the game and keep sport educational. This Level 2 course definitely ticked all the boxes. All coaches were signed off as competent and received their certificates. We are looking forward to imparting the knowledge gained while completing the course with all our players.”

Bulletin

Thank You, Everyone

This past Saturday and Sunday, 29 and 30 May, Union High School’s 2021 Matric Farewell Committee prepared and sold delicious early morning breakfast buns, rusks and coffee to all the visiting Stoep Tasting tipplers accommodated at Herby Arnott House.
The fundraiser was a big success and we extend our thanks to everyone who supported this endeavour, as well as to all the learners and their parents who pitched in over the weekend.
Bulletin, Cultural

Interact Commemorates Women’s Day

Supporting and celebrating women’s rights is a year-round responsibility. So, during the month of May, to commemorate International Women’s Day, Union High School’s Interact committee hosted a Civvies Day, or rather days, on 19 and 20 May 2021, to raise funds for a very special project.
A staggering amount of R2 901 was raised and the proceeds used to purchase 580 packets of sanitary towels, which were delivered to Vuyani Safe Haven and the Thembalesizwe, Isibane, Kroonvale, Narsingstraat and Graaff-Reinet primary schools.
The Interact members extend their grateful thanks to Union’s management team, Headmaster Mr William Pringle in particular, for their support of this initiative.
A further note of thanks is also extended to the school’s learners, members of staff, Ms Elsabé Moos, Mr Donald Kingwill, Mr Trevor Zali and Mr Arnold du Plessis for going above and beyond to ensure the smooth running of this project.
Bulletin

Morning Chess

Early mornings at Union often include some of our bright young minds battling in wit over a chessboard before the start of their school day…
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥.” – Simon Williams
Bulletin

Leave Your Legacy At Union

Salute the past, embrace the present and make your mark on the future of Union with a commemorative plaque!

Securing a plaque on Union’s perimeter fence is a wonderful way for you as an Old Unionite, parent or current learner to share in the history of the Union Schools by having your and/or your child’s or family’s name engraved on a plaque for generations to come.
This personal name plaque will remain on Union soil in perpetuity.
Support this ongoing Old Unionite Association fundraising initiative and book your plaque by emailing uhsmarketing@unionschools.co.za
Bulletin, Student Life

Odyssey Into The Wild

The Grade 10s of 2020 were terribly disappointed when their Odyssey was scuppered thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
So it was with great excitement that it was rescheduled and they finally set off for a 3-day journey of discovery this past Saturday, 15 May.
As it was a sporting Saturday, only half the group set off in the morning. After hiking for 9km they proceeded to set up a fantastic camp for their sport-playing classmates who would arrive a little bit later on.
It was heartwarming to see some of the Grade 11s tirelessly putting up tent after tent for the latecomers. A true act of service that probably went unnoticed by many, but polished the souls of those involved.
At around 18:00, in the dark, the rest of the grade arrived, singing with excitement. A delicious meal was followed by singing around the campfire – the night was not an early one!
As dawn broke on Sunday, the early birds could be heard getting the morning kettles going, and everyone slowly emerged from their tents into an unfamiliar world for many.
After breakfast, the group was joined by headmaster Mr William Pringle, accompanied by Mrs Cathy Pringle, before heading off for a hike down the Gats River Canyon to the incredible fossilized waterfall. After clambering down to the base, some swimming in the bottomless pool was enjoyed before Mr Pringle delivered a poignant speech in this magnificent place of wonder as black eagles circled overhead. One could not have wished for a more perfect outdoor classroom.
Mr David Langmead then offered a few seasoned hikers a different route over the mountains, while the rest of the group returned upstream. Some took great pride in making it over the more challenging route.
Back at camp, everyone regrouped for chicken roasting and breadmaking. The Grade 11s were put into arbitrary groups of 4, juggling friends. Mr Langmead then taught everyone how to cook a whole roast chicken over the open fire, and Mrs Bronwen Langmead taught everyone to make a loaf of bread out in the wilds. Pure magic followed as new friendships were forged and expert cooks emerged!
After a superb repertoire of songs around the campfire, Mr Langmead spoke to the group on the importance of reflection and time alone to appreciate the space that they had become a part of. He spoke on how much of modern life is consumed by the distractions of the age of technology where we connect less and less with our natural environment and the people around us… not to mention getting to know ourselves.
He then briefed them for the Solitaire exercise, where for a few hours everyone would be in a place of quiet reflection and contemplation.
Sleep came easy that night. At dawn, the adults led the group out into the wilderness where they were positioned in solitude in the magnificent Karoo. They were given letters from their loved ones and were asked to write a letter to themselves which would be sealed and opened at their valedictory.
On return to camp a few hours later, an air of quiet contemplation enveloped the group. A sense of elation was prevalent, but also a nostalgia that the time had come to an end.
Everyone worked together to strike camp and no trace was left behind. A 10km hike took the group to the buses who drove them back to reality after an incredible few days.
• This Odyssey would not have been realised without the generosity of landowners Julian Murray and Dale and Kelly Jackson who so kindly let the learners hike and camp on their property. Grateful thanks must also go to David Langmead who never fails to give of his time and expertise. Kevin and Lisa Watermeyer are indispensable in terms of logistic and moral support. We are also grateful to Joan McNaughton, Kiki and Fanus Nell, Brenda James, Cheryl and Peter Waddelow and William and Cathy Pringle who were incredible backup support.
With sport being locked down 2 days after Odyssey, we are so grateful that this essential event in the development of these young lives in these trying times was able to take place.
View our FaceBook page for more photographs.
Bulletin

Thanks You UHS Ground Staff

This morning we’d like to extend a big word of 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦 to Union’s ground staff, who, once again, made us realise how fortunate we are to have such a spectacular team working for us.
Following last night’s storm, that caused immense damage in Graaff-Reinet, they were already hard at work before the break of dawn this morning to clear the school grounds of debris.
Before anyone had arrived at Union, they had already swept the entire school and have since been hard at work clearing fallen branches and making repairs where needed. To top it all off, they do everything with a smile on their face.
Well done, gents! We’re lucky to have you!
Academic, Bulletin

Coping With Grief And Loss

During their Creative Arts lesson on Tuesday, 18 May, Union’s Grade 9s were fortunate to be gifted a workshop by drama therapist Paula Kingwill.
The workshop, titled “Arts for Hope”, deals with grief and loss – poignant at a time when Covid has forced us to get personal with the loss of so much.
Paula taught the Grade 9s about the way they can deal with grief – by flocking together in support of one another.
Using hands as a symbol of unity and comfort, the class was guided into creating art that would assist them in this process.
It was a joy to see our learners absorbed in this valuable workshop and, upon the conclusion of the workshop, they expressed their gratitude to Paula for guiding and teaching them.