On Monday evening, 7 October, Union High School hosted its ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐ก๐, this year themed ‘The Phantom of the Opera’.
As always this event was a spectacular showcase of the hard work and dedication of the school’s Grade 8 to 12 music students, celebrating their journey throughout the year.
As the evening unfolded, each learner had the opportunity to shine, showcasing their unique musical abilities. From soulful vocal performances to intricate instrumental pieces, every act demonstrated the passion and commitment of the young musicians.
A ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ is extended to Ms Zelda Oosthuizen, Union’s dedicated senior music educator whose relentless efforts have nurtured the musical talents within the school.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐บ๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐น ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป, whose artistic touch transformed the venue into a dreamlike setting. Their contributions added an extra layer of magic to the event, making it not just a concert but a memorable experience for all attendees.
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The Welsh word ‘๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ข๐’ is formed from the Welsh morphemes: eistedd โ meaning โsitโ and fod โ meaning โbeโ – culminating in the definition, โsitting togetherโ.
As strange as this sounds, when one considers that the earliest form of the eisteddfod was a competitive meeting between bards and minstrels, it does make perfect sense! In centuries gone by, the winner was chosen by a noble or royal patron.
The vision of Union High School, Graaff-Reinetโs Cultural Department is ๐๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐บ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ, ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ. This yearโs Camdeboo Eisteddfod was an astonishing celebration of exactly that.
The Eisteddfod took place over three busy days. An increase in entries this year led to logistical and administrative challenges, but thanks to an online entry platform using Google Forms and an extensive set of guidelines, the programme was effectively streamlined.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ – ๐ญ๐ฐ, ๐ญ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ด๐๐๐ – ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐๐๐ with busloads of choirs dressed in stunning regalia arriving from other schools; children carrying sheet music and instruments, smaller children waiting anxiously to read their poems or play their pieces, gorgeous artworks and photos on display; duos and trios singing in harmony; lines being practiced in quiet places; moms quickly checking if their dancers had lipstick on; folk from the community relaxing in the audience surrounded by music for a few hours; props being shuffled onto stage; bats removed from the curtains to the squeals of ballerinas; tears when certificates werenโt always gold; jubilation when a โcum laudeโ was awarded and the general endorphin-filled atmosphere that is associated with the performing arts.
Qualified adjudicators were carefully chosen: Lynne Gouws -music, voice, choral and instrumental; Paula Kingwill – drama; Rebecca Langmead – art and photography; Bronwynne Kingwill – dance and Louise Vorster โ creative writing.
๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐น ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐บ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ and expertise under challenging circumstances and exhausting time constraints.
As each item was performed โ be it a song, piano piece, dance or prose โ it was immediately judged, a comment written and a certificate completed. This could not have happened without the invaluable assistance of Union moms, Marie-Louise Oosthuizen and Marsha Bouwer.
Mrs Sharon Krige printed hundreds of certificates and the technical assistance of Johan du Plessis and Muhamad Ahmed were also greatly appreciated. The Eisteddfod committee is especially grateful to Mr Donald Kingwill and his team who really went beyond the call of duty from dawn until dusk, fetching, cleaning, carrying and re-arranging during a very busy week.
As the Camdeboo Eisteddfod drew to a close late on the Friday afternoon, the organisers (๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐) consisting of Ms Zelda Oosthuizen, Mrs Sanette Brink, Mrs Tracy-Lee Chutu and Mrs Bronwen Langmead breathed a collective sigh of satisfaction that it had been a resounding success for the Cultural Department of Union.
Earlier this morning, Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s primary department held its much-anticipated annual speech competition for learners in Grades 5 to 7.
โข In the ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฑ category, congratulations are in order for Taylor Jacobs, who triumphed with the topic “Tennis.” Joint runners-up Layla Ott, who spoke about “My Life at School,” and Kate Scott, whose topic was “Piano,” also delivered outstanding performances.
โข Moving on to ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฒ, Kungawo Nako emerged as the winner with a heartfelt speech on “My Mother,” while Lilly Hunter impressed the judges with her presentation on “My Favourite Sport,” earning her the runner-up position.
โข The ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ณ category saw Clea Clark take the top spot with her insightful discussion on “Art,” while Chantรฉ Bezuidenhout secured the runner-up title with her engaging speech on “Music.”
๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐จ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ง๐จ, as well as to the adjudicators: Mrs Louise Vorster, Mrs Christine Nell and Mrs Tracy-Lee Chutu, who played a crucial role in evaluating the participants.
Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Well done to all participants for their hard work and dedication!
This term, the members of Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s ๐๐ฅ๐ง ๐๐๐จ๐ have been diligently channeling their creativity towards the upcoming ‘Wool in Art’ competition, with each member pouring their heart and soul into their respective entries.
Today, however, marked a departure from the woolly subjects that have been the focus of their attention. Instead, the artists ventured outdoors to the school’s sports fields, where they sought inspiration from the dynamic movements of our Union learners engaged in their various sporting codes.
With manic choreography, light-hearted humour, an amusing love story and sweet, singable songs, Union High School, Graaff-Reinetโs 2024 stage production โ โSeven Brides For Seven Brothersโ – offered a warm and lighthearted evening out to all those lucky enough to have secured a ticket for the show.
Along the way, the audience was treated to some irresistibly lively dancing and more than a few laughs as Milly guided Adam and his brothers through the wilderness of etiquette and courtship to the peaceful valley of requited love.
Caytah-Leigh Koeberg played lead bride Milly and Finn Cilliers portrayed lead brother Adam Pontipee.
Of the brothers, Gideon was played by Peter Michaels, Benjamin by Naโeem Mahomed, Caleb by Dylan Kivedo, Daniel by Josh Basson, Ephraim by Dumisa Mala, and Frank by Peter Michaels. (๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ช๐น ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ท๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ถ๐ฏ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏโ๐ด ๐ด๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ต๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ค ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ช๐ฏ๐จ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ข ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต.)
Of the brides, Alice was played by Amber Bezuidenhout, Dorcas by Lolitha Saki, Ruth by Lelomso Ngceba, Liza by Aaminah Steele, Martha by Jemae-Mari Davids, and Sarah by Joy Merifield.
๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ง๐จ ๐ผ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ก๐ก๐ ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ค-๐๐ฃ๐-๐๐๐ก๐-๐๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐๐จ๐จ๐ก๐ฎ, highlighting the heart-warming essence of the story, with each member of the ensemble bringing depth and vibrancy to the stage, captivating the audience with their strong vocals and harmonious melodies.
The infectious energy of the Going Courtinโ sequence, where Milly teaches the brothers proper manners and dance moves, resonated long after the curtains closed, leaving smiles etched on the faces of all those in attendance. The town social scene, brimming with lively dance-offs and comedic antics, also stood out as a true highlight, showcasing the talent of our performers.
Moreover, the fight choreography was fun with lots of moments where the brothersโ tendency to break out into a brawl made the audience laugh.
Overall, the cast of brothers, brides, competing suitors and townfolk – in fact too many talented learners to mention – delivered an uplifting visual feast – the only thing missing was an invitation to get up there and join the party!
๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐น, ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ๐ป’๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐น๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ. Their passion and dedication shone brightly on stage, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of witnessing their artistry.
Congratulations to ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ต๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐ฒ๐, a Grade 10 music student, for passing her recent ABRSM Performance Grade 5 Examination with an impressive 83% (Merit).
Samantha performed four pieces seamlessly, demonstrating excellent stage presence and confidence, as noted by the examiner.
Congratulations to ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐น๐, a Grade 11 music sturdent, for passing her ABRSM Grade 6 Performance Graded Practical Examination with a score of 81% (Merit).
She also showcased her ability to improvise and showed maturity and authenticity in her performances.
Erin’s music educator, Ms Zelda Oosthuizen, praised her diligent work, especially considering that Erin takes music as an additional module while still achieving subject music standard.
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ to senior music student, ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐๐ (Grade 9), who successfully passed her recent Rockschool Practical Examinations with assurance!
Kirsten played a Classical Rockschool Grade 1 Graded Certificate Examination and achieved 75% (Merit).
Kirsten has mastered the key basic debut level skills and has since acquired greater use of technique, 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.
Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ saw eight accomplished speakers from Grade 10 to 12, presenting their prepared speeches to convivial audience in The Tony Burrell Union.
Adjudicators Mrs Belinda Grewar, Mrs Tess Neill and Miss Rebecca Langmead provided positive feedback, recognizing the exceptional performances of the speakers.
The final results were extremely close with ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ taking a well-deserved second place for his speech on the topic, “๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ถ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ค ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ข ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ถ๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ด,” which he delivered with passionate intensity.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ’s speech, based on the quote, “๐ ๐ธ๐ช๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ค๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ด ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ข๐บ, ๐ข ๐ง๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ญ ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ค๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ข๐บ ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ,” displayed a good dose of humour coupled with wisdom and authenticity.
Overall, the quality of the speeches was excellent, with remarkable growth evident in our young orators.
In addition, the ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ competition held earlier in the term yielded outstanding results. Azile Mqhamkana (Grade 9) secured first place, followed by Zusange Phehlukwayo (Grade 9) in second place and Konke Gawula (Grade 8) in third place. These young speakers showed tremendous promise and impressed the audience with their abilities.
๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ for their exceptional performances, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event a resounding success.
โThe Philosophy Club is an ever-growing community of free-thinking learners, with a leadership framework that tends to take a laissez-faire approach to engaging in thought provoking discussions about various topics within philosophical parameters.
More than anything else, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ค๐จ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฎ ๐พ๐ก๐ช๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฎ๐จ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ and am glad that I have had the privilege of actively contributing and being commended for my service to the club through various means.
I am the first recipient of the prestigious Philosophy Club team award, and it is an honour to wear the inaugural scroll on my blazer, but that is dwarfed by the meaning of the Philosophy Club in my life.
Many factors have impacted how my character has been moulded over my very few years within the Union Schools, but most of those factors would be miniscule in comparison to the Philosophy Clubโs impact on my life.
The Philosophy Clubโs approach to assertively and clearly expressing your opinions whilst being respectful and understanding of others, has come to shape how I interact with anyone I speak to and will speak to for the rest of my life.
The privilege of being able to speak your mind freely with the intention of providing value to a discussion has been a platform I have needed multiple times in my life and stumbling my way into this incredible community at the age of 14 may have been the most relevant moment of my ongoing life at Union Schools.
๐ผ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐ฉ ๐ข๐๐จ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ ๐ข๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐จ๐-๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ค๐จ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฎ ๐พ๐ก๐ช๐โ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ช๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ค๐ค๐ก๐จ ๐ซ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐จ๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐ก ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ข๐, and paving the way for me to be the current president of this club. An even warmer message of gratitude must be given to Mrs Hanli Rose-Innes for her efforts in upholding the structures and initial purposes of the club from its inception up until this point and always being willing to offer a helping hand.
The Philosophy Club is and will continue being one of the most innovative communities in the history of the Union schools, and having been part of helping to add even more structure onto the creation of some of the smartest thinkers I have ever met has been nothing short of a privilege.โ
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ: โข Cynicism โ presented by Sobuhle Nyambali โข Stoicism โ presented by Mrs Hanli Rose-Innes โข Narcissim โ presented by Sobuhle Nyambali โข Artificial Intelligence โ presented by Chante Bezuidenhout โข Machiavelli โ presented by Athi Mahlati โข How to save yourself from yourself โ presented by Clea Clark and Chantรฉ Bezuidenhout
