Category: Bulletin

Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s 34th annual 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗕𝗬 & 𝗛𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟 kicks off tomorrow, Friday, 31 March, when close to 600 learners and coaches will arrive in Graaff-Reinet for this sporting extravaganza.

“There is great excitement as our hockey and rugby players get ready to once again welcome their counterparts from all over the country to their school for a weekend of rugby and hockey being played in a competitive, but fun-based environment,” said Union’s Head of Sport, Mrs Lou-Ann Gerber. “As always, the school is delighted to once again host this festival and relishes the opportunity that this festival offers us to see the campus fields, boarding houses and AstroTurf filled with happy and fulfilled learners.”

𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙂𝙚𝙧𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚, 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥.

She added that the staging of the festival would not have been possible without the backing of the school’s sponsors, including the festival’s title sponsors Caltex Eastern Cape and Botha’s Garage.

“We are grateful for their support as we look forward to a weekend of friendship, fun and loads of healthy competition.”

Caltex EC and Botha’s Garage said they were thrilled to support this event.

“It is really special to be on board with sporting events such as these and to be able to welcome a spectrum of schools from around South Africa to Graaff-Reinet,” said Mr Shawn Botha of Botha’s Garage.

“This is a great chance to compete on the sports fields, but also to have fun and to make friends with other schools.”

𝗔𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 Clarendon High School, Langenhoven Gimnasium, Hoërskool Framesby, Stellenbosch High School, Cambridge High School, Edgemead High School, Grey High School, Camps Bay High School, Cradock High School, Winterberg Agricultural High School, Gill College, Asherville Secondary School, Spandau Secondary School, Riebeek College, Hoërskool Nico Malan, Hoër Volkskool, Hoërskool Jim Fouché, Hoërskool Brandwag, Victoria Girls’ High School and of course, the Union 1st team and Invitational sides.

𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨!

RUGBY 1ST XV CAPTAIN

Ryan Jenneke will serve Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s 1st XV as their captain for the 2023 season. He will be assisted by vice-captain Chuma Sobantu.

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥.

HOCKEY 1ST XI CAPTAIN

Brigette’s passion for hockey, hours of practice and strong leadership skills have resulted in her appointment as captain of Union’s 1st XI for 2023.

𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦-𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘢 𝘡𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦.

These three girls embody the 3 C’s when leading their team: 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚, 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗢𝗨𝗦 and 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧 and we couldn’t be more proud of them!

Our annual 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗕𝗬 & 𝗛𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟 – sponsored by Caltex Eastern Cape – is a much-loved and highly anticipated event on the Union High School, Graaff-Reinet calendar.

With less than a week to go and much to do, we can’t help but relish the opportunity that this festival offers us to see our campus, boarding houses, rugby fields and AstroTurf filled with happy and fulfilled young rugby and hockey players.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱.

As always, the festival promises to be jam-packed offering something for everyone to enjoy, with close to 600 learners competing in rugby and hockey for three consecutive days.

Follow this link to view the Festival Programme: https://www.unionschools.co.za/upcoming-sport-fixtures/

STEAK NIGHT

All parents, Old Unionites and friends of the Union Schools are invited to a steak braai in the 𝙏𝙤𝙣𝙮 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 on Saturday evening, 1 April, at 6.30pm during Union’s 34th annual Senior Rugby & Hockey Festival.

𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 your tickets with Mrs Suzanne Marais at 049 891 0262 or secretary@unionschools.co.za

On Friday, 10 March, Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s math whizzes competed in the first round of the 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙊𝙡𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙙 (𝙎𝘼𝙈𝙊).

𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘 to the following learners who qualified for the second round:

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟵: Samantha Charles, Katelyn Trollip and Misha Newton
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟬: Tara Ferreira
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟭: Josh Neill and Sarah Wilmot
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟮: Brigette Oelofsen and Caitrin Spence.

On Thursday and Friday, 4 and 5 May, Union High School’s primary department will present a stage adaptation of the beloved animated film, 𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗗.

𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮, 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨, the musical will showcase the thrilling adventure of Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder as they face ruffians, thugs and a budding romance on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery.

Don’t miss the opportunity to follow Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in a musical adventure that will take then from a lonely tower, into the raucous Snuggly Duckling Pub to the distant Kingdom, where they both, finally, find home.

𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘰𝘯 Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’𝘴 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

This afternoon, Tuesday, 21 February, saw Union High School, Graaff-Reinet hosting its first #SANBS Blood Drive for 2023 in the school’s Tony Burrell Union.

It was wonderful to see so many of our learners, staff and even some of the broader Union community coming together for this great cause.

Many first time donors signed up even though they were very fearful. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙘𝙤-𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙨.

𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘈𝘕𝘉𝘚 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘱 𝘣𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯.

Congratulations to senior music student, 𝗩𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗰𝗘𝘄𝗮𝗻 (Grade 11), who successfully passed her recent Rockschool Practical Examinations with assurance!

𝗩𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 played a Classical Rockschool Grade 4 Graded Certificate Examination and achieved 80% (Merit).

𝘈 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘲𝘶𝘦, 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 20𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 21𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺.

Vivian mastered the key skills up to Grade 3 and subsequently acquired greater use of technique, more complex rhythms, co-ordination and musical understanding.

For the examination, she performed sixteen Technical Exercises (with legato feel), one Stylistic Study and three Performance Pieces presented as a continuous program.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠, 𝙑𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙖𝙣!

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to our senior pianists that have been 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 for successfully completing the requirements for their respective practical examinations for the year ending January 2023:
𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝘂𝗱é (Classical Rockschool Grade 2 Performance Certificate)
𝗧𝗮𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 (Contemporary Rockschool Grade 3 Graded Certificate)
𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 (ABRSM Grade 5 Performance Certificate)
𝗦𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲 (Classical Rockschool Grade 4 Graded Certificate)
𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱(Classical Rockschool Grade 8 Graded Certificate)
𝗩𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗰𝗘𝘄𝗮𝗻 (Classical Rockschool Grade 4 Graded Certificate)
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁é 𝗢𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗳𝘀𝗲𝗻 (Contemporary Rockschool Grade 7 Graded Certificate)

On Monday, 13 February, the Union High School, Graaff-Reinet 𝗗𝗘𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 – consisting of Brigette Oelofsen, Caitrin Spence and Musa Zweni – enjoyed a wonderful afternoon competing against Gill College.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙘 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚’𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮.

Both teams were very well prepared and arguments both for and against were convincing. The Union team narrowly won the debate with a compelling performance. In addition, four speakers delivered highly entertaining impromptu speeches.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴.