When the bell rang on their first day of school back in 2009, they could never have imagined what would take place over the next 12 years.
As the Winnie The Pooh quote goes, “We didn’t realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun”.
In a year where our matric learners experienced disenfranchised grief, a loss of so much that they should have experienced, Union Preparatory School was privileged to uphold the tradition of hosting the annual A to 10 Dinner, albeit a bit differently, this year.
What would traditionally have been a formal sit-down dinner for the learners who have been at Union since Grade 1, some even as long as their pre-primary years, was this year turned into a special ‘drive-through’ on Monday evening, 9 November, to ensure that all safety concerns regarding Covid-19 were adhered to.
This didn’t mean that it was any less special. Dressed to the nines, the Grade 12 learners received a warm welcome at the gates to the school, were a special personalised number plate featuring the matric learner’s name was affixed to every car.
The learners and their parents could then stop to take
UPS principal Ms Belinda Botha with Mr Johnny Swartz.
photos at any of the many photo corners lining the school’s drive, after which they received an envelope filled with messages and drawings made especially for them by Union Prep School’s little learners.
They then received a beautifully-prepared three-course meal to enjoy at home with their parents.
“This event is a very special occasion for those learners and their parents alike who have been on the entirety of their Union journey together. Union Preparatory, as a school, is thankful that we were still able to find a way to celebrate this special milestone,” said the school’s principal, Ms Belinda Botha.
“We applaud our matrics for pushing through their loss and for applying themselves to their studies this year. It is hard to believe that in a few short weeks, they will be leaving Union. We wish them well as they head into their matric final examinations.”
This past Saturday, 31 October, Union High School Grade 5 learner Grace Kemp competed in a TSA tournament in Port Elizabeth.
She did well to get to the semi-finals of the u/12 division, losing narrowly to Border’s top-ranked player. Grace ended up coming third, beating a player from the Western Province in the 3rd/4th play-off match.
Congratulations to Grade 7 learner Tara Ferreira who participated in the TSA Junior Nationals championship in Bloemfontein at the end of October.
Tara, who competed in the Girls u/12 Singles division, started the tournament off well, winning her first encounter. Her second match saw her meeting the top-ranked player in the division. She lost this match 1-6, 2-6.
The rest of the back draw matches were called off due to rain.
Overall, it was a good experience for this young tennis player and, most assuredly, not her last at this level.
Union High School was recently presented with a 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 by the South African Mathematics Foundation. This award acknowledges the school’s annual participation in the SA Mathematics Olympiad for the past 20 years.
Union congratulates all our current and past math educators for ensuring that our young math enthusiasts participate in this event!
Union High School is proud of our long-standing association with this national Olympiad and look forward to participating again in future.
The South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO) is South Africa’s biggest Olympiad. Approximately 100 000 high school learners from Grade 8 to Grade 12 participate annually. Through participation in this event, Union hopes to generate enthusiasm and curiosity for the subject in our learners. Mathematics competitions are becoming more and more important as it emphasizes that the school subject called “Mathematics” isn’t just about mechanical calculations or numeracy, but about thinking and the discovery, and validation, of problem-solving methods.
Please take note that the Union Schools 2021 Budget is available for viewing (by appointment only) at Union High School from 3 to 16 November 2020.
Please contact the school at 049 891 0262 to make an appointment.
🡆 The Annual General Meeting at which this budget will be presented to parents will be held on Monday evening,16 November, in the Union High School Hall:
• Union Preparatory School @ 17:30
• Boarding Houses @ 18:00
• Union High School @ 18:30
All parents/guardians are requested to diarise this very important date and to make an effort to attend if at all possible.
Congratulations to Grade 6 learner Melissa Naudé who passed her practical Rockschool Debut Piano exam with distinction – 93,75%!
Melissa takes music lessons with Ms Sanette Brink and is the very first Union learner to have played an exam associated with the Rockschool Piano syllabus.
Well done and congratulations Melissa, the many months of dedicated and consistent practising have paid off! We are very proud of you.
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!
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.
Congratulations to Grade 7 learner Tara Ferreira who participated in the TSA Junior Nationals championship in Bloemfontein at the end of October.
Congratulations to Grade 6 learner Melissa Naudé who passed her practical Rockschool Debut Piano exam with distinction – 93,75%!
We are deeply saddened by the news of Old Unionite Alison Japhta’s passing.
