In a world that often feels hurried and impersonal, this gesture from the Graaff-Reinet Dutch Reformed Church stands out as an example of the community spirit and kindness that makes our town such a wonderful place to live
To the congregation of the Graaff-Reinet Dutch Reformed Church, your thoughtful initiative has made a significant impact. The NSC examinations can be a source of stress and anxiety for many young learners – ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ด๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐จ๐ฏ๐ช๐ด๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ต ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ด ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ด ๐ท๐ฐ๐ญ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ณ๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ถ๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ช๐ต๐บ.
We are thrilled to share the wonderful news that we have recently had the privilege of revamping the ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฆ lab at Union High School, Graaff-Reinet.
This project has not only transformed the space but also reinvigorated the learning environment for learners who will walk through its doors each day.
The journey began with the complete gutting of the age-old classroom. We carefully sanded and varnished the floors, breathing new life into the room’s foundation. The outdated box blinds were replaced with modern window coverings, flooding the lab with natural light.
New front-of-classroom cupboards were installed, which function as a traditional whiteboard, while housing the digital interactive whiteboard – an essential tool for dynamic teaching and interactive learning.
To enhance the overall ambiance, the walls and ceiling received a fresh coat of paint, while a stunning mural now graces one wall, adding a splash of colour and creativity that breathes life into the lab.
This past Friday and Saturday, a group of 12 enthusiastic Grade 7 learners from Union High School had the incredible opportunity to participate in a Social Sciences ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป to the stunning KAROO RIDGE – Conservancy, located just 50 kilometers northeast of Middelburg.
The journey began early on Friday, 18 October, as the learners departed the Union grounds filled with excitement for the days ahead.
After a scenic drive, they arrived at the picturesque River Lodge at the Karoo Ridge Conservancy. Following a light lunch and a chance to unpack, the learners were warmly welcomed by Helen Wenham, who introduced them to the unique environment they were about to explore.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ผ๐ผ๐ป, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฝ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฒ. This engaging hike not only allowed the learners to appreciate the breathtaking landscape but also provided valuable insights on erosion and its impact on the environment. After an invigorating walk, the group returned to the River Lodge for some relaxation time, which included a refreshing swim before dinner.
๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ด๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ, ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ป๐ต๐ฎ๐บ. This experience provided them with a close encounter with the local wildlife, further enriching their understanding of biodiversity in the Karoo region. The day concluded with a delightful dinner and braai in the Boma, where everyone gathered to reflect on the day’s adventures.
Saturday morning kicked off with a hearty breakfast cooked over an open fire, setting the stage for another exciting day ahead. The learners joined David Hall for a ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐น๐ธ, which included discussions on the local flora and fauna, alongside a hands-on activity in small gabion building.
Following a brief comfort break, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฝ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ, ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น. This hands-on experience reinforced the importance of sustainable practices in farming and conservation efforts.
After a well-deserved lunch, the group wrapped up their enriching excursion and prepared to depart, leaving with a wealth of knowledge and unforgettable memories.
Union extends its ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ง๐จ๐๐ to Mrs Hanli Rose-Innes for organising this memorable trip, as well as to Pete and Helen Wenham for their generous hospitality and guidance throughout the excursion.
Dear parents/guardians, please take note that the ๐๐ป๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด at which the ๐จ๐ก๐๐ข๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ข๐๐ฆ’ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ budget will be presented to parents will be held on Monday evening, 11 November, in the Tony Burrell Union:
โข Union Preparatory School @ 17:30 โข Boarding Houses @ 18:00 โข Union High School @ 18:30
A safe and secure ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐๐ for Grade 5 to 7 learners will be run by Herby Arnott House on weekday afternoons in 2025.
With the end of their academic journey at Union in sight as the Class of 2024 sits for their National Senior Certificate exams, we would like to wish our Grade 12s everything of the best for the next couple of weeks.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who participated and contributed to making this event a roaring success. From the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to the sponsors who made it all possible, your support was invaluable.
Friday, 11 October – COLOUR RUN
Huge Shoutout to our Union community and all the amazing Tri The Karoo Colour Run participants! What a great way to start the weekend!
Saturday, 12 October – TRIATHLON
The triathlon attracted participants from all over, but our learners truly stood out. With the sun shining and spirits high, our young athletes tackled the swim, cycle and run with enthusiasm and determination.
Sprint Distance Event
Union brothers Ben and Mark Lemke took on the Sprint Distance that included a 750m swim, a 20km bike ride and a 5km run.
Ben, in Grade 10, clinched third place overall with a time of 01:36:12, while Mark, the youngest competitor at just Grade 8, finished 7th overall with a commendable time of 02:04:17.
Ben LemkeMark Lemke
Olympic Distance Event
The Union High School community is buzzing with pride as we extend our heartfelt congratulations to one of our educators, Mr Steggman van Zyl who triumphed in the Olympic Distance event, securing an impressive third place with an overall time of 02:44:18.
In the 1.5km swim, he completed the course with a stellar time of 00:31:41. Transitioning seamlessly from swimming to cycling, he navigated the challenging 40km route in an impressive 01:26:08. It was during the final leg of the race, however, the 10km run, where Mr van Zyl truly stole the spotlight. With a phenomenal run time of 00:46:27, he not only finished strong but also recorded the fastest run time among all competitors on the day.
Fundraisings
Our senior sports teams hit the ground running with their fundraising efforts for their next season, with a bake sales, warm cups of hot chocolate and the selling of refreshing ice lollies.
Each cupcake sold, every cup of hot chocolate served and every ice lolly handed out contributed to their goal, showcasing their dedication to both their sport and their school community.
Today, Friday, 11 October, was an extra special day for the matrics, their parents, special guests and Union High School’s staff, as all came together for the Class of 2024’s ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ก๐ฌ.
Once everyone had gathered in the school hall, Headmaster Mr William Pringle extended a warm welcome to all, after which Deputy Head Boy Josh Neill and Deputy Head Girl Sarah Wilmott led the devotion.
In response to the Headmasterโs address, Head Prefects Na’eem Mahomed and Caytah-Leigh Koeberg spoke on behalf of the class, delivering touching farewell messages.
The Class of 2024 then presented a song, ‘We Are Young’ by FUN and a slideshow of their years at the school to those gathered.
The matrics then enjoyed tea in the Tony Burrell Union, joined by their parents and the school’s staff, after which they took leave of the school by walking through a guard of honour, created by the rest of the school’s learners.
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to Aaminah Steele (Head Girl), Shaakir Kazi (Head Boy), Kenza Neill (Deputy Head Girl) and Trystan Hulleman (Deputy Head Boy) on being appointed as Union High School’s, new ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฆ!
We couldn’t be more proud of these outstanding learners and are extremely excited for the well-deserved recognition they have received.
Space is limited so be sure to contact Jennifer Hope at 082 927 0282 to reserve a spot for your child.
