A heartfelt ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ to Brian Bands Sports Graaff-Reinet for their generous donation of rugby ball bags to support Union High School’s rugby programme!
Seen here is Mr Jason Jacobs from Brian Bands alongside rugby coaches, Mr Andrรฉ Human and Mr Sean Koeberg, who are ready to put these bags to great use!
This past Monday evening, 17 February, Union High School hosted its annual ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก for its Grade 8 and 9 learners, at the Tony Burrell Union.
Konke Gawula (3rd), Chantรฉ Bezuidenhout (1st) and Rachel Wenham (2nd)
After a series of outstanding performances, the judges awarded third place to ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐น๐ฎ, whose speech captivated the audience with its depth and clarity.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐น ๐ช๐ฒ๐ป๐ต๐ฎ๐บ secured second place with her compelling delivery and strong stage presence. Taking first place was ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐รฉ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ต๐ผ๐๐ with her beautifully articulated speech on ‘What Makes a Great Leader’, leaving a lasting impression on both the judges and the audience.
The evening was a true celebration of young talent and all participants should be commended for their hard work and dedication. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น.
Union High School prefects, ๐ ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ and ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ต๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ, have truly hit the ground running in their roles overseeing the body’s PR portfolio.
Their ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ด๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐, a delightful monthly birthday celebration, is already making a significant impact. Each month, they plan on surprising learners with a sweet treat to celebrate their special day, ensuring that no learner feels overlooked.
Additionally, they’ve created a ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ that will be updated monthly to honour all those celebrating.
Union High School is proud to announce the newly elected leaders of the school’s 2025 Representative Council of Learners (RCL), who are poised to guide the learner body with enthusiasm and dedication.
Grade 12 learner ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐น๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป has been elected as president, while matric learner ๐ ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ assumes the role of vice-president.
โ ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐น๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป joined the Union Schools in Grade 8 after moving to Graaff-Reinet and since then, he has made remarkable contributions to our school. A talented athlete, Trystan plays for the 1st team in both cricket and rugby. His leadership skills are evident as he serves on the Media Team and takes on the responsibility of Deputy Head Boy at the school.
Trystan’s involvement extends beyond sports; he is a Blood Peer Promoter, highlighting his commitment to community service. Academically, he excels as a Top 10 student and has achieved Full Colours for Culture and Academics. His multifaceted talents and leadership qualities make him an exceptional choice for the role of RCL President.
โ Hailing from King William’s Town, ๐ ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ joined Union as a boarder in Grade 10 in 2023. Since her arrival, she has proven to be an invaluable asset to our school community. Milani currently serves as a school prefect and Head Girl at the hostel, where her leadership and mentoring skills shine.
In addition to her various roles, Milani is a Top Level Club member, a First Aider and a Mentor to our younger Unionites. She also holds the position of vice-chairman of the InterAct Club, where she actively engages in community service initiatives. Milani’s dedication and passion for making a difference align perfectly with her new role as vice-president of the RCL.
On Saturday, 15 February, Union High School hosting the first round of the ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐.
This event has attracted 130 chess players, ranging from u/10 to Open categories, from across the district.
Among the competitors are 28 talented young Unionites who are ready to showcase their skills and represent their school.
Due to overwhelming demand, we’ve decided to host a second showing of our 1st team hockey girls’ highly anticipated movie night!
Join us on Tuesday evening, 18 February, at the John Rupert Theatre for the second showing of ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐: Tickets will go on sale starting tomorrow morning, 12 February, at Union High School’s front foyer. Donโt wait too long – these tickets are expected to sell just as quickly as the first batch!
TICKETS FOR 20 FEBRUARY SOLD OUT
Join the Union High School 1st team hockey girls on Thursday evening, 20 February, for a movie night at the John Rupert Theatre in support of their 2025 fundraising efforts!
๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฆ cost R50 each and will be available as of Monday morning, 10 February, from Ms Elsabรฉ Moos in the Union High School foyer.
Please note that ticket numbers are limited to 140, so all those wanting to attend are advised to get their ticket soonest! No tickets will be sold at the door.
This evening’s ๐๐ก๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ง was a celebration of the spoken word with some extra spice thrown in due to the fact that for the first time in a while, Arnott and Daly were pitted against one another.
This year was also unusual in that the Head Prefects of Union and Arthur Kingwill House were invited to participate. With a wide range of topics to choose from, our Grade 11s and 12s spent the week writing and preparing their speeches – an admirable feat during such a very busy time.
๐ ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ’s poignant speech on ‘Choosing the Middle Seat’ had us all inspired and earned her third place. ๐ง๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฎ’s ‘last minute’ speech on Procrastination took a well-deserved second place with ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ’s brilliantly executed speech on the Power of Storytelling earned him a standout first position.
Mr Langmead concluded the evening by sharing some valuable tips on speechmaking and all that was left was to announce ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐๐.
This past weekend, Union High School’s ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ proved that they are not just athletes – they are leaders dedicated to making a positive impact in their community.
Rather than waiting for donations to come their way, these exceptional young women took matters into their own hands by organising a plastic bottle collection and recycling initiative. Their efforts not only aim to raise funds for upcoming tours but also contribute to cleaning up our beloved town.
While many were enjoying the weekend, the hockey girls were busy showcasing their commitment to both their sport and the environment.
(Even those representing Union in tennis at the Burgersdorp tournament joined in the effort, bringing back bottles in a true show of teamwork and dedication.)
But the effort doesn’t stop there! The hockey team is now issuing a challenge to the Graaff-Reinet community: can you match their incredible commitment to raising funds and cleaning up the environment? Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference and helps both the team and the planet.
Get ready to be swept away by a breathtaking blend of classic choral masterpieces, vibrant Afro-Pop energy and beloved South African favourites performed by the incredibly talented young voices of the Drakensberg Boys Choir.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ: 10 March 2025 ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ: NG Grootkerk, Graaff-Reinet ๐ง๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐: R180 for adults; R160 for pensioners; R120 for children under 12
Tickets will be available at the Union High School’ front office as from Friday, 7 February. (๐๐ข๐ด๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ญ๐บ.) Hurry, as seats are limited!