Bulletin

Learners Warned Against Drugs

Drugs have the power to derail or end your future.

This message was brought to learners of Union High School when Freddy Trout and Wayne Windvoël of People Against Substance Abuse (PASA) visited the school on Monday morning, 10 June.

As is the case with all schools, Union High School’s administration is charged with ensuring a safe, supportive and healthy school environment where children can learn and reach their full potential.

This includes taking measures to prevent alcohol and drug use among learners.  Learners in high school are at an age where they need to hear the facts about the negative impact of drug abuse and how it has the power to derail or end their future.  Union, therefore, enlisted PASA’s expert help to host an educational talk at the school about the dangers of substance abuse.

During their visit, PASA founder Freddy Trout and former drug addict Wayne Windvoël shared their stories of drug abuse, addiction, gangsterism and violence in an attempt to enlighten the learners about the reality of addiction and possibly curb any experimentation with addictive substances.

The session was thoroughly engaging, demanding the rapt attention of all the learners present.

As every person is the architect of their own future, Union hopes that this informative talk will help the learners make wise choices and in so doing, contribute to the building of a brighter future for Union’s youth, short of the impediments that substance abuse can have on their lives.

Bulletin, Cultural

Young Brains are Made for Enjoying Art!

Young brains are made for enjoying art!

The members of Union High School’s Art Club recently paid a visit to Our Yard, a unique cultural gem nestled in the heart of Somerset Street, Graaff-Reinet, to look at some of the new artworks they have on display.

While wandering through the building and perusing the various pieces on display, the different framing and display options were discussed as well as the mood of each artwork.The highlight for all was the viewing of Aberdeen artist Marguerite Beneke`s exquisite contemporary painted and fused glass creations.

The Art Club is hoping to visit this artist at her studio in Aberdeen next month.

The enjoyable outing was concluded with a milkshake and a delicious Dutch delicacy – the stroopwafel!

Bulletin

Golden Key for Another Old Unionite

A world of golden opportunities unlocked

Kayla Hobson, an alumnus of Union High School, was recently invited to join the Golden Key Honours Society.  She received her certificate and badge on Thursday, 23 May, at a special ceremony held at NMU.

Kayla, who is the daughter of Daleen and Old Unionite Beaver Hobson, matriculated from UHS in 2016 where she served as Deputy Headgirl in her matric year and excelled in tennis, hockey and swimming.

After matriculating, she spent 2017 at Salisbury Cathedral School in the UK as a GAP student, where after she commenced with her studies at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU).

She is currently in her second year of studies towards a BHms (Bachelor of Human Movement Science) degree.

[Human Movement Science is the study of how people move in different contexts and of the factors related to the analysis, improvement and recovery of physical activity.  The focus is on issues encountered in physical activity in every-day life, related to work and free time, as well as recreational and top-level sports.]

Upon completion of her third year, Kayla plans on specialising in Sports Science, a study field which encompasses aspects such as helping athletes increase their skill levels, avoid injury and reach peak performance

• Golden Key is the world’s largest collegiate honour society and is based on academic achievement.

Membership into the Society is by invitation only and applies to the top 15 percent of college and university sophomores, juniors and seniors, as well as top-performing graduate students in all fields of study.

Well done Kayla!

Academic, Bulletin

Exchange Student Update

Exchange students enjoying life in the UK

UHS Grade 7 learners Matthew Davenport and Caytah-Leigh Koeberg, who are currently spending some time in the UK as part of the 2019 Salisbury Exchange Programme, are having a lot of fun abroad.

This past weekend, the two lucky learners were spoiled by their host family with a trip to Twickenham Stadium in London to enjoy the HSBC World Rugby Sevens tournament.  They have also become quite involved in the Salisbury Cathedral School’s extracurricular activities with Caytah-Leigh especially enjoying the school’s music programme, participating in singing and piano, while Matt did really well at the school’s recent athletics day.

Bulletin

UHS to Host World-Renowned Choir

This June, Union High School will play host to the musical wonder that is the Drakensberg Boys Choir.

This esteemed choir, widely regarded as one of the best in the world, will dazzle a Graaff-Reinet audience with their angelic voices for one night only in the Union High School hall during their national tour

The choir has been captivating audiences for the past 50 years and will now be showcasing their abilities for the enjoyment of a local crowd with songs both old and new.

The choir embraces the versatility, stamina and raw talent of boys from across the country and abroad to create a choral spectacular, jam-packed with a variety of musical styles ranging from classical and contemporary choral gems to billboard pop hits, to authentic indigenous South African music.

The boys themselves are ecstatic to be visiting Graaff-Reinet and hope the show fully delivers on everyone’s expectations.  Lovers of good quality choral music should not miss this performance which will surely wow all who attend.

Tickets for the show on Wednesday evening, 26 June at 18:30, will be available at R120 each from Wednesday, 29 May, at the Union High School office (049 891 262).

Bulletin

Jnr Boys’ Bathroom Revamp

Colin Warner Plumbing is at it again!

This time it’s the junior boys’ bathroom at Union High School that’s being revamped.

We’re talking toilets, sinks and urinals – it’s all getting redone to give the learners a bathroom with a clean, modern look they can take pride in.The school is very excited about this project as the renovation, upkeep and general cleanliness of the school’s bathrooms always feature high on Union’s priority list.

It all comes down to setting the tone for learning by making sure all aspects of the school, physical and instructional, combine to create a good environment.

Academic, Bulletin, Eco-Schools

Grade 7 Technology

Union High School’s Grade 7 Technology learners were recently tasked with designing and building a model of a cell phone tower using their knowledge of structures.

The learners were allowed to choose whether or not they would be building a standard cell phone tower or one that would blend in with the environment in order to limit visual pollution.

Seen here are some of their brilliant designs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bulletin

Another Golden Key Recipient

It’s always great to get news on our past learners.

If you have any stories to share, please send an e-mail to uhsmarketing@unionschools.co.za – we’d love to share the news with the Union High School community.

Here’s an update on Anje Oelofsen who matriculated from UHS at the end of 2017:  Anje was awarded yet another accolade for her academic excellence in the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) School of Accounting’s BCom (Accounting Sciences) Programme by being invited to join the Golden Key International Honours Society.

Well done Anje, you make Union High School very proud!

 

Bulletin, Eco-Schools

Trash to Teaching Treasure

In an effort to promote an earth-friendly attitude, Union’s teachers are turning trash to teaching treasure in very interesting ways.

The learners in the Grade 8 Arts and Culture class, for instance, were recently tasked with creating outrageous hats from waste material, such as newspapers, bits of cardboard, foil and the like.

After the 1½ hour time limit, it was very interesting to note the learners’ individual interpretations of the theme.  Seen here are some of the learners showing off their one of kind, handmade hats.

 

Bulletin, Hostels

HAH Bathroom Revamp Completed

In February, Union High School commenced with the renovation of the upstairs bathrooms as well as the guest bathroom at the school’s senior girls hostel, the Herby Arnott House.

The bathrooms, which were then gutted and completely redone by Colin Warner Plumbing, has recently been completed and the girls, as well as guests visiting the hostel, are now able to enjoy the new modern face-lifted facilities.