Union News 3 August 2019
The newest edition of ‘Union News’ is available to watch.
Featured items include Union’s coaches, the start of the cricket season and academic matters among others.
Click on the link below to watch. Enjoy!
We’re about to embark on what promises to be a truly momentous Interschools and the Union family – from far and near – is gearing up for what promises to be a very exciting week.
What better way to show your allegiance to Union than to ‘ink up’ in support of your school?
The 2020 MF committee have made these ‘I love Union’ transfer tattoos available at only R10 each. They are available from all the MF committee members at the high school as well as from Mrs. Corrie Potgieter at Union Preparatory School.
Whether it’s a forearm, calf, hand, arm or full-face bonanza, get your tattoo and sport it next weekend when supporting the teams!
On Wednesday evening, 31 July, principals, deputy principals, SGB chairpersons and learner leaders from the various high schools in Graaff-Reinet, gathered at the Tony Burrell Union for Union’s Centenary Leadership Dinner. This very special event celebrated the start of new friendships and the consolidation of old ones.
Union’s learner leaders, Khanya Butshingi, Peter Watermeyer, Jenna McNaughton and Zintle Maki, were exceptional in delivering their items on the programme and Inge van Rooyen (Hoër Volkskool’s Deputy Headgirl), as well as Wayne Lomberg (Spandau Secondary School’s Headboy), deserve special mention for their contribution to the evening and their well-wishes conveyed to Union.
Mrs. Anziske Kayster, who holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Heritage, is registered as a Doctoral candidate at Stellenbosch University and currently serves as the Director of the Graaff-Reinet Museum, then addressed all those present on ‘Women in Leadership’.
The humorous presentation of her speech and her tips on developing yourself as a woman in leadership were well-received.
Old Unionite and Chartered Accountant, Mr. Gerrar Maya, who was recently appointed as the Internal Audit Manager at the Dr. Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, then grabbed everyone’s attention with a very strong and engaging speech on ‘Youth in Leadership’. He, once again, proved himself a most inspirational speaker.
Overall, the evening – held on the brink of Interschools for four of the five schools present – was a great success, with leaders – both young and old – committing themselves to do everything in their power to ensure that, in the end, team ‘Graaff-Reinet’ emerges as the winner!
Last night (Thursday, 1 August) saw the Union High School hall overflowing with excitement, enthusiasm and entertainment. The annual Evening of Music was a wonderful showcase of the different music groups here at Union.
From our primary choir and marimba band, through to our senior pianists and violinists, all our musicians demonstrated passion and commitment in the lead up to this fabulous night, culminating in a spectacular evening of performances.
Under the baton of Union’s Department of Music staff, Mmes. Sanette Brink, Zelda van Rooyen and Karmin van der Walt, this evening has become the highlight of the school’s cultural calendar – an event not to be missed.
To start, the primary choir set the tone and standard with their rendition of “You’ll be in my heart” and “All I need to know”. Union’s pianists then played a series of beautiful works such as the English folk song “Greensleeves” as well as newer songs like “Faded” by Alan Walker.
Following excellent performances by our violinists, a string ensemble – which showcased the skill of ensemble playing – and several talented soloists who graced us with their beautiful voices, the senior choir treated the audience to a heartfelt choral performance, singing “Let the river run” and “Amavolovo”.
A combined performance by the primary and high school choirs with a rendition of “Hallelujah” ended off the evening.
The event truly featured a kaleidoscope of musical items with something for everyone to enjoy. Congratulations to all those who took part and a big thank you to our many supporters, parents and friends who came along to enjoy the evening.
If you missed this concert, make a “note” not to miss next year’s Music Evening!
Union High School’s Grade 7s are learning all about renewable energy technologies in Natural Sciences.
Because cooking with the sun’s power is a fun way to use a renewable resource, the learners were tasked with applying the science they’ve learned, by building their very own solar ovens. The Grade 7s quickly got creative by using cardboard, aluminum foil and other recyclables to create their very own energy-efficient ovens!
Besides the musical part, there are many aspects to think about when a choir performs – acoustically positioning choir members being one of them.
To assist with this, Union High School recently invested in new choir benches. Expertly made by André Brink and Herman Laubscher, these sturdy new benches will provide the choristers with a comfortable place to stand and allow the choir directors the opportunity to position the singers for optimal sound.
Seen here are the members of the junior choir who were the first to make use of the new benches during practice yesterday (Tuesday, 30 July).
Kroonvale Primary School in Graaff-Reinet is currently constructing a new school hall.
Through the ‘Sponsor-A-Brick’ Eco-Schools Community Initiative, Union High School is endeavouring to help Kroonvale Primary realise their dreams. The school is facilitating a project, whereby the Union family is invited to sponsor a brick – at only R3 each. All the sponsored bricks will then be donated to the Kroonvale Primary School hall construction project.
The first delivery of 1 000 bricks was delivered to Union High School on Friday, 26 July!
Help us help Kroonvale Primary – sponsor a brick – or more – today!
(Learners can see the Eco Reps on duty in the main quad at 2nd break on Wednesdays and Fridays in this regard.)
Union High School’s learners dressed to a T for the recent Centenary Winter Ball.
Organised by the Grade 10 MF Committee, this much-anticipated event brought learners together on Thursday evening, 25 July, for a night of music and dancing in celebration of the school’s Centenary.
The Grade 10s managed to capture the beauty of falling snow with hundreds of snowflakes dangling from the ceiling and covering the walls of the school hall.
Thanks are extended to all the learners who came out, danced and enjoyed the evening.
As can be seen by the high levels of enjoyment on display by the learners in these photos, this learner-led event was well planned and enjoyed by all those who attended.
The members of Union High School’s Eco Club recently made great strides in neutralizing their carbon footprint, by assisting SANParks in establishing a Spekboom nursery.
This incredible plant with its bright green, circular leaves is a miracle worker when it comes to fighting air pollution. It has the ability to ‘sequester’ or capture four to ten tons of carbon per hectare!
Essentially, it acts as a carbon sponge, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and turning it into plant matter. Excess carbon in the atmosphere is responsible for global warming, so the more carbon we can remove from the air and return to the ground, the better. Spekboom is also known as Pork Bush or Elephant’s Food.
In an initiative to propagate new Spekboom plants, the Eco Club learners, accompanied by SANParks personnel, visited Mountain Drive, where they gathered Spekboom cuttings and then later transferred them to seedling trays in the Park’s nursery.
SANParks will sell these new Spekboom plants to generate an income for their nursery and simultaneously reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.
The cut-off date is looming for the ‘Union Farmers Market’ meat pre-orders.
If you haven’t done so yet, be sure to get right on it!
[The organisers are offering parents, Old Unionites and friends of Union the option of pre-ordering Karoo lamb – cut and packed for your convenience – as well as pre-packed biltong, droëwors and venison. They’ll then have your order ready for you to pick up at the m…arket on Friday afternoon, 9 August!]
Orders, as well as inquiries, can be e-mailed to unionschools.market@gmail.
Check out the prices or place your order by clicking on the following link: http://bit.ly/2LMHBHa