Bulletin, Cultural

Annual Primary Speech Competition

The Union primary department’s annual Speech Competition was held in the Tony Burrell Union on Wednesday morning, 31 July.

This year there were 13 learners participating.

Topics ranged from, ‘Strange world records set in history’ and ‘English is a crazy language’, to ‘Crazy inventions’ and ‘Oddest sports’.In accompaniment to the speeches, there were also some lovely poems recited, stories told and articles read aloud by other junior learners throughout the course of the morning.

We would like to congratulate all the participants and thank all those involved. It was pleasing to see so many enthusiastic learners presenting their speeches.  It is not easy to stand before a large audience and deliver a speech and we would like to congratulate all the young learners for their courageous efforts.

(left to right) Anna-May Hayes, Megan Nortje, Caytah-Leigh Koeberg, Na’eem Mahomed, Amber Bezuidenhout, Anebel Norval

Thanks also go to the teachers and parents for supporting and encouraging the learners and for the time spent preparing for the competition.

We would like to thank the judges who gave up their time to support the school by judging our contest.  The judges were very impressed by the high quality of speeches and the obvious preparation that had gone into the day and they commented that everyone did well.

Caytah-Leigh Koeberg was announced as the Grade 7 winner and Na’eem Mahomed as the runner-up.  Anna-May Hayes won in Grade 6 and Megan Nortje was announced as the runner-up.  The winner in Grade 5 is Amber Bezuidenhout with the runner-up being Anebel Norval.

 

Bulletin, Cultural

Born To Perform!

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!

Bulletin, Cultural

New Choir Benches

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).

Bulletin, Cultural, Eco-Schools

Respect The Spekboom!

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.

Bulletin, Cultural

All The Right Moves…

A number of Union High School chess players were invited to participate in the closed chess tournament that serves as the final round of trials to select the Chris Hani Chess Team.  If they are selected, they will represent the Chris Hani district at the South African Junior Chess Championship in Johannesburg in January 2020.

They are: Camran Swartz, Josh Arends, Erin Gedult, Naeem Mahomed, Neelon Fourie, Cassidy Goliad, Mihan Campbell, Matthew McNaughton, Tracy Petitt, James Rose-Innes, Hagen Muller-Brunke, Harun Wajid and Liano Naidoo.

We wish them the best of luck for the tournament that will take place on 17 August in Graaff-Reinet.

Bulletin, Cultural

Annual Senior (gr 10 – 12) Speech Competition

Learners shine at speech contest

The power of words, intonation and body language was unleashed during Union High School’s annual Senior Speech Competition, held on Thursday evening, 18 July.

The evening was themed, ‘The Wonderful World of Nursery Rhymes’.

Participants were each given a particular nursery rhyme and instructed to prepare a speech pertaining to the central message contained in the nursery rhyme.  Sixteen speakers participated and “wowed” the audience with witty speeches, serious speeches and even some way-out speeches.  Mandilakhe Matotie served as the evening’s MC and did a wonderful job of keeping the evening full of energy and running smoothly.

At the end of a very entertaining night, first place was awarded to Meghan Basson for her speech entitled ‘Jack Sprat Could Eat No Fat – Diet Edition’.  Second place went to Taylyn Miller for ‘Jack and Jill Went Up A Hill – When Things Go Wrong’.  Peter Watermeyer claimed third place for ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb – Role Models and Conformity’.

The evening was concluded with the guests and participants enjoying some delicious refreshments.

Thanks are extended to all those who were brave enough to deliver these exceptional speeches in front of a crowded room – you did yourselves and the school proud!

Bulletin, Cultural

Chess vs Gill

On Friday afternoon, 12 July, Union’s Top 10 players pitted their skill in the strategic game of chess against that of Gill’s top players.

Three rounds were contested to determine who would emerge the victors. Union started strong, coming out on top after the first round with 12 points to 10. After a short break, the competition commenced again, with a determined Gill side claiming the win with 15 points to 7. With it all on the line in the third round, both teams gave it their best.

As the results started coming in, it was evident that nobody wanted to lose. The closely-contested round ended with an 11-all draw, to bring the final score to 36 – 30 in Gill’s favour.

* Special mention must be made of Union’s Cassidy Goliad who went undefeated during Friday’s competition.

Bulletin, Cultural

Scouts Show Dedication

James Potgieter, Corniel Vorster and JJ Liebenberg, together with 29 Scouts from Gauteng, attended and passed the 10-day Weston Patrol Leader Training Course held in Johannesburg during the recent school holidays.

The Patrol Leader Training Unit (PLTU) is a comprehensive patrol leadership course run for young leaders in the Scout Movement.  It is a very physically and mentally strenuous course that focuses on character development in each individual, including the development of physical, mental and spiritual qualities. Attributes such as leadership and team spirit are instilled in the Scouts during this course.

Upon completion of the course, Gavin Kelly, the course director, spoke very highly of all three boys, remarking especially on their very positive attitudes throughout the course, even though they were in separate Patrols with Scouts they had never met before.

 

Bulletin, Cultural

Young Brains are Made for Enjoying Art!

Young brains are made for enjoying art!

The members of Union High School’s Art Club recently paid a visit to Our Yard, a unique cultural gem nestled in the heart of Somerset Street, Graaff-Reinet, to look at some of the new artworks they have on display.

While wandering through the building and perusing the various pieces on display, the different framing and display options were discussed as well as the mood of each artwork.The highlight for all was the viewing of Aberdeen artist Marguerite Beneke`s exquisite contemporary painted and fused glass creations.

The Art Club is hoping to visit this artist at her studio in Aberdeen next month.

The enjoyable outing was concluded with a milkshake and a delicious Dutch delicacy – the stroopwafel!