We are beyond thrilled to announce that this week, Union High School is welcoming a team from Staccato Music to ๐๐ฝ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น’๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ to create an even more dynamic and engaging environment for our learners and community.
The enhancements will include an impressive array of ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐-๐ข๐-๐ง๐๐-๐๐ฅ๐ง ๐๐ค๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ก๐ง.
Weโre excited to be installing a brand new sound desk, complemented by high-performance amplifiers and bass subs that will ensure rich, full-bodied sound for all our performances.
In addition, we will be equipping our stage with new hanging microphones and wireless belt packs, making it easier for our performers to shine. ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐โ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐, ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ!
But thatโs not all. Weโre equally excited about the complete overhaul of our lighting system. The new setup will not only enhance the visual experience but also offer the capability to be controlled from a computer located at the back of the hall. This means that our lights can be synchronized with music, creating a mesmerizing ambiance that truly elevates the mood and energy of our events.
We are confident that this new setup from Staccato Music will take Union High School’s productions and cultural events to new heights, leaving a lasting impression on all who attend.
This morning, Thursday, 17 April, Union High School celebrated its ๐ฆ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ช๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ, marking a momentous occasion to honour our learners’ accomplishments across various summer sporting activities.
Additionally, we recognised the talents and contributions of our learners in Culture and Service.
Congratulations to the following Union High School ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ on successfully passing their Level 2 certification: Jemae-Mari Davids, Nombulelo Ncombo, Brogan Koeberg, Taegan Hamid, Ciara Kivedo, Milani Pongoma, Lina Tadesse, Zelreech Frazenburg, Erin Gedult, Lolwethu Dayimani and Viwe Ngxekisa.
๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐, especially with 77% of our learners scoring above 90% and an impressive 36% exceeding 95%!
A special ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ to the Union High School SGB for their unwavering support of the First Aid programme; their support is truly invaluable!
We have just offloaded a truck-load of new ๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ฆ intended for the Tony Burrell Union’s deck, generously donated by our wonderful Old Unionites.
These benches will serve as an incredible asset to theย Union High Schoolย campus and clubhouse, creating inviting spaces for gatherings, relaxation and community connection.
In addition to the gratitude we feel towards our Old Unionites, we would also like to extend a ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ to Mr Gilbert Loots and his team at Montego Pet Nutrition for their exceptional support with the logistics involved in transporting the benches from Johannesburg to Graaff-Reinet. Their assistance has truly been invaluable!
As Term 2 unfolds, weโd like to reflect back on the remarkable moments from Union High School’s 2025 ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ & ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐, held over the weekend of 28 to 31 March, marking its 36th edition.
This yearโs festival, which began its journey back in 1987 on the schoolโs campus in Graaff-Reinet, witnessed an impressive turnout with over 600 enthusiastic hockey and rugby players participating.
The 4-day celebration kicked off on Friday, 28 March, with a cocktail function held in the Tony Burrell Union. Despite starting the day with a torrential downpour, the evening transformed into a stunning spectacle as the sky cleared, providing a breathtaking backdrop for teams to mingle and connect on the sports field, enjoying the social camaraderie that is the essence of the festival.
Coaches and managers relished the opportunity to network in great company while savouring the delicious offerings supplied by the dedicated Union moms.
๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐จ๐ข๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ท๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ง๐ถ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ถ๐ฏ๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐น๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ช๐ด๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐น๐ค๐ช๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ข๐บ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ญ๐ข๐บ ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ. A heartfelt thank you was also extended to our sponsors, Bothaโs Garage and Astron Energy Eastern Cape, along with the devoted individuals working behind the scenes, whose efforts made the festival possible.
The following three days brought beautiful weather, allowing teams to take full advantage of the AstroTurf at both Union and Hoรซr Volkskool, while rugby enthusiasts cheered on the action unfolding on the Union rugby fields.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. While the hosting side had previously clinched the title, they faced a challenging match against Sasolburg High School, which ended in a nail-biting shootout that saw Sasolburg emerge victorious, ultimately placing the Union side third.
With the exception of the Sasolburg game, the Union girls managed to secure victories in all their other matches. They triumphed over Lilyfontein School 6-1, Hoรซrskool Langenhoven 6-0, Nico Malan 3-0, Clarendonโs 2nd Team 10-0 and Fichardtpark 3-2, ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐.
On the rugby field, the Union 1st XV played two matches during the festival. Day 2 saw them victorious against Stirling with a score of 17-14, while the final match on Day 4 was a tough contest against Cambridge, resulting in a close loss of 24-27.
We would like to extend a heartfelt ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ to ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ-๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ for the generous donation of backpacks to our 2025 u/13A rugby team!
Your thoughtful contribution means so much to us and we are truly grateful for your support. The boys are absolutely thrilled with their new bags, which not only enhance their team spirit but also serve as a reminder of the communityโs encouragement.
Seen here is Mr Wessel Landman and Mr Ampie Jordaan of PSG Graaff-Reinet, with Union’s u/13A rugby captain, Lukhona Bulembu and vice-captain, Dante Mills.
We are delighted to extend our heartfelt ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to Mr Calvin Beck on his recent appointment as Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s new ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐! His passion for all sport and dedication to fostering a vibrant sports culture will undoubtedly elevate our programmes.
We are proud to announce that for the second consecutive year, Union High School’s 1st rugby team is generously sponsored by two Old Unionites, Mr Philip Putziger (๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐) and Mr Frank Elliot-Gentry (๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐).
We extend our ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ง๐จ๐๐ to Mr Putziger and Mr Elliot-Gentry for their unwavering dedication to their alma mater and its learners.
Seen here is Mr Jason Marais, representing Karoo Taxidermy, presenting the kit to 1st XV captain Kyle Liebenberg and coach, Mr Andrรฉ Human
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to Union High School Grade 6 learner ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป on an impressive set of piano exam results!
After completing her RSL Grade 2 Classical Piano exam at the end of Term 3 last year, she swiftly passed her RSL Grade 3 exam in just one short term and 7 weeks of Term 1, 2025.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ-๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป. During the long December holiday, she independently mastered her technical work, including scales and arpeggios, without formal lessons. Upon resuming lessons, music teacher Mrs Sanette Brink only needed to refine her interpretation and dynamics, leading to a polished performance that earned her an outstanding 91% Distinction
