Academic, Bulletin

Integrated Learning Therapy

Mrs. Christine Scott, an educator as well as school and career guidance counsellor at Union High School, recently successfully obtained her certification as an ILT practitioner.

Developed by Educational Psychologist, Dr. Shirley Kokot, Integrated Learning Therapy (ILT) strives to uncover the root causes of children’s learning difficulties and behavioural challenges in order to help them overcome them.

Mrs. Scott, who has always sought ways to widen the scope of help available… to learners at UHS, completed the ILT practitioner course in order to empower her with the knowledge needed to recognise the possible causes of learning difficulties in children and to then, initiate remedial movement and other activities in order to help.

Mrs. Scott encourages parents of children who experience learning and behavioural challenges to visit the ILT website to find out more about the efficacy of ILT: https://www.ilt.co.za/

Bulletin, Cultural

Music In The Mountains

The Union delegation with a few members of the Drakensberg Boys Choir.

A small delegation from Union High School’s music department headed to the mountains of KwaZulu-Natal on Easter weekend to attend the annual Music in the Mountains festival.Music in the Mountains, hosted by the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, is held over three days at the end of April each year and offers a quality craft market and performances by well-known South African artists and the Drakensberg Boys Choir School (DBCS).

This year, the main events were a performance by Loki Rothman, the Saturday Pop Gala performed by the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra and the Drakensberg Boys Choir as well as the Mozart Requiem by the Drakensberg Boys Choir, St David’s Marist Inanda, Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, and the Drakensberg Boys Choir Old Boys.

The Union learners and staff enjoyed their adventure in the Drakensberg tremendously.

Apart from attending the spectacular shows, the excursion also saw the group explore the beautiful region surrounding the Drakensberg Boys Choir School.

On Friday, they drove to Monk’s Cowl – one of the most unspoilt areas of the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park.  From there, they hiked to Sterkspruit Falls where they were rewarded with beautiful views. Some brave souls even ventured a swim in the crystal clear, but ice cold, rock pools.

The excursion was enjoyed by all and the group, who arrived back in Graaff-Reinet on Monday evening, returned enriched after the varied three-day programme of jazz, pop, gospel and classical music that included Bach and Beethoven right through to African folk.

Bulletin, Hostels

Hostel Meeting

Early Monday morning, 15 April, Lyn Rose-Innes, the Governing Body representative of the Union Schools’ boarding houses, met with interested parents of the schools’ weekly and termly boarders.  This meeting is held each term and enables parents to air their concerns, if any, and discuss other matters of import such as fundraising activities and the like.

The meeting is also used to convey information to the parents relating to the three boarding houses, Arthur Kingwill House, Max Kroon House and Herby Arnott House, that concern the boarders. 

Among matters discussed this term, was the town’s prevailing water crisis and how this is impacting the boarders.  The annual Farmers’ Market fundraiser that will be held over this year’s Interschools weekend was also discussed.

It was also mentioned that the boarders will soon have access to wifi. The wifi will be strictly regulated and only available between a certain timeframe, but it should assist parents in reducing their expenses relating to their child’s data usage.

Academic, Eco-Schools

Geography

What sets an excellent learning experience apart from a mediocre one?

The ability to solve problems in creative ways!

Geography learners at Union High School were recently tasked with planning a commercial farm on a specified landscape provided to them.

The lesson was simulation-based and required learners to plan the lay-out of their ideal farm by applying content recently covered in class with regards to valley climates, river management systems and factors to take into account when making decisions on establishing a settlement.

They could then present their effort to their respective groups and negotiate the best possible solution. Each group then made a final presentation to the rest of the class.

The young geographers had loads of fun applying their newly acquired knowledge.

Academic, Bulletin

Study Skills for gr 6 & 9 Learners

The importance of good study habits can never be minimized. But, how can you make studying not only tolerable, but actively fun?

This is something that Elevate Education – South Africa’s largest provider of study skills seminars – have mastered.

Earlier this morning, Wednesday, 17 April, Elevate Education’s two young and vibrant study skills facilitators, Brett and Guy, once again paid a visit to the school to meet up with the Grade 6 and 9 groups for their second study skills session. (The first session – a Study Sensei seminar – was held in February.)

Shouts of delight could be heard ringing through the corridors as the presenters entered their respective venues and were greeted by the excited learners.  Time management skills were on the agenda today and the learners were shown, among other things, how to create an effective study timetable.

• UHS looks forward to seeing the Grade 6 and 9 learners’ parents when they meet the team tonight at 17:30 in the school hall for the Elevate Education study skills information session.  This is an opportunity for parents to find out what study skill students have been learning at school and how they can play an important role in supporting them at home.
Bulletin

Word Riders Visit UHS

There was much excitement at Union High School on Friday morning, 12 April, as a group of 31 motorcyclists – the Bible Society of South Africa’s Word Riders – arrived at the school.

Their visit was part of an annual week-long tour during which these Christian motorbike enthusiasts travel to different parts of South Africa distributing Bibles to schools.  During their visit to the school, the Word Riders brought with them a message of hope and boxes filled with Bibles, as well as booklets explaining how the Bible should be read, which were distributed among the school’s Grade 7 learners.

According to the Bible Society’s communications officer, Leon Steenkamp, the donation of the Bibles was made possible by the Bible Society’s Bibles for Grade 7 Learners Project, as well as funds that were raised by the bikers themselves.

Steenkamp invited people who would like to learn more about this tour or who would like to become involved with the Bibles for Grade 7 Learners Project to contact the Bible Society of South Africa at 021 910 8777 or send an e-mail to biblia@biblesociety.co.za

Bulletin, Media Team

Union News

The UHS Behind the Scenes media team’s latest edition of ‘Union News’ feature segments on South Africa’s upcoming general elections, the renovations at Max Kroon House and sports injuries. Watch it here:

https://www.facebook.com/unionhighschool/videos/2331954243706942/

Hockey, Sport Results

Jnr Hockey Results – UHS vs Sunridge Primary

In their encounter against Sunridge Primary School in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 13 April, Union’s young hockey teams delivered the following results:

The junior third team won 2 – 0, while the junior second team won 1 – 0 and the junior first team lost 1 – 3.

The junior first team was unfortunate to lose, but learnt a lot.  The game was played in wonderful weather and a friendly spirit.  The first half saw the Union girls pushing themselves in applying tactics they have learned these past few weeks.  Sunridge was, however, first in breaking past their opponents’ defence to score a goal.  Although it was a struggle to, in turn, break past Sunridge’s defence, Union managed it successfully to score a goal – shared by Chloe Erasmus and Leshay Fourie.  The first half ended with the score tied at 1 – 1.

In the second half, the Union team strived to make a breakthrough, but did not succeed.  They soon lost concentration as well as their perspective of the game.  Struggling to pick up the pieces, they allowed Sunridge to convert the score to 1 – 3.  The game ended with Union going down 1 – 3 to Sunridge.

Although the girls lost, the match gave them a fair idea of the areas they need to work on so that they can make the most of the season that lies ahead.

Hockey, Sport Results

Snr Hockey Results – UHS vs VP

Spectators witnessed an extravaganza of goals, when Union’s senior hockey girls competed against Port Elizabeth’s Victoria Park High School (VP) on Saturday, 13 April.

What turned out to be a clean sweep for the teams, started with the U/16B team putting 6 unanswered goals past VP’s defence.

The U/16A team then took to the turf and struggled to find momentum at first with what seemed to be a lack of enthusiasm. It took them 30 minutes to finally break through VP’s defence, but this then seemed to put the spark back into their play – they then continued to press and put a further 5 goals in the back of the net which gave them a convincing 6 – 0 victory in the end.

The 2nd team, too, had a good day on the field as they cruised to a 7 – 1 victory.

Goals didn’t seem hard to come by as the 1st team started their encounter with goals in the 3rd and 6th minute of the 1st quarter by Laetitia Theron.  Sara Kingwill increased Union’s lead to 3 – 0 with a goal in the 2nd quarter.  VP scored a goal in the 3rd quarter and also starved Union of any scoring opportunities during this period.  The 4th quarter saw Rosslyn Sparks and Sara Kingwill each scoring, to put an end to what was a good entertaining encounter. The match ended with the score standing at 5 – 1 in Union’s favour.

“The girls must be congratulated on their results, as well as for remaining humble in their victory and treating their opponents with respect,” said coach Alvin August.

“The girls have a few tough encounters lying ahead and they will need to put in maximum effort to ensure good results.”

Rugby, Sport Results

Snr Rugby Results – UHS vs VP

This past Saturday, 13 April, Union hosted Victoria Park High School (VP) from Port Elizabeth for the two schools’ annual rugby and hockey derby.  The positive atmosphere around the campus and the great support for all of Union’s teams ensured that UHS completely dominated the fixture.

All the teams played at a high intensity level and showcased the high quality brand of rugby Union is known for.

U/14A team won 50 – 17
U/15A team won 26 – 7
U/16A team won 55 – 12
3rd team lost 25 – 17 against Asherville Secondary School’s first team
2nd team won 41 – 19 against VP

These incredible performances from all the Union teams set a high benchmark for the 1st XV game which was to follow.

There was also a lot riding on this match, with the school’s “Mighty Whites” owing the community a better performance after last weekend’s loss against Muir College.  Three minutes into the game, Union was first to cross the whitewash through Luke McNaughton picking up a lose ball and running half the field to get Union onto the scoreboard.  A few minutes later, the forwards set up a good maul, with Zusakhe Ngwane dotting down to increase Union’s lead to 12 – 0.  Victoria Park bounced back and scored when Union was two players down due to ill discipline.  Ten minutes before half time, the Union team was back to their full contingent of players and took control of the game once again.  Good continuity and setting up phases, resulted in Gary Shell scoring Union’s third try, taking Union’s lead to 17 – 7 at the break.

In the second half, Jaden Brotherton and Brett Amsterdam used the conditions perfectly, ensuring that most of the play took place in VP’s 22m area.  Union, once again, scored first in this half, through Gary Shell from good trick play off a lineout.  VP hit back with a penalty a few minutes later, taking the score to 24 – 10 in Union’s favour.

Amazing attacking play, running lines and interlinking between backs and forwards saw Union score three more tries by Bowen Langmead, Khwezi Simon and Lihle Mxhunyelwa.  Jaden Brotherton successfully converted all three.

A lapse in concentration and turning our backs on the opposition led to VP scoring towards the end of the game.  The final score was 45 – 17 in Union’s favour.  Union High School’s try scorers were Gary Shell (2), Luke McNaughton, Zusakhe Ngwane, Bowen Langmead, Khwezi Simon and Lihle Mxhunyelwa, with Jaden Brotherton successfully converting 5 from the 7.

All in all, it was a wonderful day for Union rugby and a good comeback by the 1st XV.