Student Life – Page 2 – Union Schools

Meet Your Mentors

In 2021, Union High School launched a cross-age peer mentoring programme at the school to promote the learners’ physical, social and emotional well-being.

The programme is constructed between the older and younger learners, with mentors being assigned to specific class groups so that the younger learners can benefit from the experience and knowledge of the older ones.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲.

The support of parents and teachers is undoubtedly vital for the success of our learners. However, the impact that guidance and advice from people who are closer in age can have is often overlooked – in fact, peer mentoring has been shown to lead to improved attitude to school, attendance and behaviour. It can also help learners to build up a peer network within their school, causing more holistic benefits such as a sense of community and belonging.

“𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨,” said Grade 12 mentor, Kathryn Odendaal.

Bulletin, Student Life

Grade 8 Orientation

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿!

Union High School’s new Grade 8s started their year with a fun-filled 𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 day.

The aim of this activity is not only to promote positive interaction among the Grade 8 group, but also to establish a relationship of 𝙢𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 and 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 between the Grade 8s and the school’s prefects.

So, bright and early Thursday morning, 20 January, the excited Grade 8s – accompanied by the guides from the Camdeboo National Park, Union staff members and school prefects – set off on from the school on foot, making their way through the scenic Camdeboo National Park, all the way to the park’s Environmental Education Centre.

Here, the Grade 8s enjoyed lunch after which they engaged in activities with the park’s educational team and then tackled a series of specially designed tasks that facilitated them working together as a grade and co-operating with the senior mentoring system in the school.

This was an excellent opportunity for the senior leaders of the school to get to know their younger charges.

The learners seemed to have a lot of 𝗙𝗨𝗡 while creating a lot of 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗬 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 of this exciting phase of their schooling.

Although completely exhausted, the Grade 8s arrived back on campus that afternoon, prepped, excited and ready to embark on the journey of being a senior at Union High School.

Bulletin, Student Life

Matric Dinner 2021

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗖!

Union High School’s Matric Class of 2021 enjoyed their matric dinner at the end of the third term.

Held at the Drostdy Hotel on Wednesday, 29 September, the elegant affair saw learners pull out all the stops to look their finest.

Themed ‘Masquerade’, the venue was decorated in black and gold and saw the learners being treated to a beautifully prepared 3-course meal, during which the headmaster and head prefects shared a few words with the Grade 12s.

Some members of staff also joined to celebrate the matrics, what they have accomplished, and the friendships and bonds they have formed over the years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NNjCPE82_U&t=12s

Bulletin, Student Life

Grade 10s Complete Odyssey

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗢𝗱𝘆𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆

It was with great excitement, that after nearly a 2-year hiatus on extra-curricula activities, Union High School’s Grade 10s were given permission for their 5-day 𝗢𝗗𝗬𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗬 to take place from 24 to 28 September.

The aim of the Odyssey is, that youngsters are ‘planted’ into the wilderness and taught the skills to survive and grow with all they need, carried in their backpacks – “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” – as Tennyson writes in his poem “Ulysses”.

Thanks to the generosity of various custodians of this beautiful part of the world, including Pierre and Magda Fourie, Dale and Kelly Jackson, Julian Murray, Johan Dercksen and Johan Bouwer, a remote route was mapped out in the Gats River canyon between Nieu-Bethesda and Graaff-Reinet.

The instruction to the Grade 10s was to make their way downstream, walking the 63km from Nieu-Bethesda to Graaff-Reinet. For weeks prior to the Odyssey, the Grade 10s were given talks on safety in the wilderness, the packing of backpacks, walking with packs, and were made aware of the simple changes we can make to heal our planet.

Early that Friday morning, 58 excited Grade 10s, bid their parents farewell and were transported to Nieu-Bethesda by Union’s bus drivers. After a debriefing by Mr and Mrs Langmead, the group set off on the adventure of a lifetime. With the Karoo in the grips of a crippling drought, the hikers were blessed with some refreshing pools in which to swim en route. Temperatures soared above 35 degrees, and the reality of true survival started to kick in as the heat and weight on their backs started to take their toll.

Roughly 18km later, a magnificent campsite on Riverdene welcomed weary feet and some tearful hikers – it had been a tough day with many having to dig really deep to complete the walk. Tents were pitched and delicious Boerewors rolls kindly sponsored by Mr Dean Marais and Mrs Leticia Jenneke were much appreciated. Headmaster, Mr William Pringle, then visited the camp and spent some time chatting to individuals about how their day had been.

Union is very grateful to Mr Kevin Watermeyer who assisted with the transport of water to each camp as well as his invaluable assistance with the acquisition of equipment – it was lovely to have him and his son Peter join the group for supper that evening. Sleep came relatively easy as the wonderful peace that only nature can offer descended on the camp.

Day 2 promised to be hot again. Paula Kingwill-North met the party early and involved everyone in a drama therapy session based on various situations that prove difficult in our lives, and how they can overcome them with collaboration and critical thinking. She commented afterward on how incredibly responsive the group had been, and it was fascinating to watch them working together, creating living sculptures with their bodies that symbolized scenarios we face in life.

Although the hike to Schoonberg was only about 8km, bodies ached from the previous day, and the heat was relentless. Some of the group endured the reality of diabetes, a heart condition and asthma – and through their tribulations, the group grew stronger in love, respect and support. Blisters and backache were the order of the day, and Schoonberg campsite seemed miles away!

The usually crystalline pools were stagnant, but this did not stop the weary hikers from taking a well-earned dip. Again, the reality of the importance of water really hit home – with nothing potable in the river, each person had 4 liters on which to survive the night and the following day. The logistics behind Odyssey are monumental, and it would certainly not happen without parent volunteers who give so generously of their time and resources. It was nothing short of miraculous that Mr Craig Victor and Mrs Jeanmarie Venter arrived with extra water and our ingredients for supper that evening. That evening, the group was taught to make camp bread and how to roast a whole chicken on a stick. Thrown into different groups, it is always a special evening as new friendships are forged over delicious food around the fire.

The food WAS outstanding this year – with some secret spices being added to the smell of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread. In preparation for their ‘Solitude’ experience the next day, where they would spend time totally alone, in the present, Mr Langmead spoke to the sated group about the addictive qualities of cellphones and how they are robbing us of so much quality time in our lives.

The group was woken before dawn and hiked out with the adults where they were strategically positioned for their next few hours in solitude. During this time they read letters written by their families and also wrote a letter to their future selves which they will be given at their Valedictory in 2023. This is always a mindful, focused, poignant time, and they returned to pack up camp in a peaceful state. The pool at the base of the hidden waterfall filled everyone with delight as they set up camp there that afternoon.

A delightful evening ensued which saw an impromptu cricket match being played and once again delicious food – and even chocolate cake baked by Mrs Victor – enjoyed by all. Bodies were cooled in the deep pool at this spectacular place, and many opted to spend the night under the stars – an experience of a lifetime as Saturn was magnificently large and clear, joined by satellites and shooting stars. There are few people on earth who have had the privilege of spending the night under a firmament such as this and gratitude abounded.

The true meaning of teamwork was evident the next morning as there were some who journeyed up and down the escarpment to assist with water and food containers. It was heartening to see the service ethic of some of the Grade 10s who put the needs of others before their own.

The group met with trepidation in their hearts as they knew of the difficult day that lay ahead. Fortunately, a cool breeze made the first 7kms relatively easy – before ‘Heartbreak Hill’ showed its face! It is during these 7kms of uphill that the true character of these youngsters truly emerged.

Gavin Steyn of St Olives met us at the boundary line and provided a backup of water up the steep hill. It was incredible to witness the strength of some who were determined to walk the whole way, even turning down offers of a lift on the bakkie. St Olives welcomed us with green lawns, white geese and pear blossoms. Gavin Steyn spoke to the group about the incredible work that the Herding Academy is doing regarding the preservation of Karoo veld through innovative farming practices.

Everyone welcomed Mr Pringle and Mr Mbanga who joined the group for the evening before Mr Pringle addressed the Grade 10s on what they had experienced over the past four days. The adults enjoyed a meal around the hospitable table of Mrs and Mrs Johan Bouwer, and once again, a delicious meal provided by Mrs Cheryl Waddelow and the Pick n Pay team was enjoyed by all, and once again, overwhelming gratitude for the amazing people of the Karoo really hit home.

Before departure the following morning, the group was met by Mr Donald Kingwill who loaded all the packs into the school bakkie as a reward for a very long journey!

The 12km descent to the Graaff-Reinet basin began with a moment of reflection when Mr Langmead asked everyone to pause and consider how light they felt without their packs. He likened this to leaving any pain that they might still be carrying at the top of that same hill.

The descent to school was filled with lightness and laughter where everyone was met by fellow Unionites and parents who welcomed them with pride and jubilation – memories of previous Odysseys came to the fore, and excitement for those yet to experience theirs was tangible.

Union High School is extremely grateful to parents Mr Brian Kenmuir, Mr Kallie Venter and Mrs Lisa Watermeyer – Mrs Watermeyer having given 6 years to Odyssey – who walked with the group, and Ms Zakkiyah Mahomed and Mr Shuab Mohammed who assisted with food. It was wonderful to have staff Mrs Cathy Pringle, Ms Paula Phillips and Mrs Bronwen Langmead walk alongside the Grade 10s and get to know them out of the classroom environment.

The school is also grateful to Mrs Shell, Mrs Liebenberg and Mrs Burger who assisted with admin and finances. And lastly, our grateful thanks to Mr Langmead, whose vision of Odyssey as a gift to our children and our planet is realized each time he makes one possible.

Bulletin, Student Life

Odyssey 2021

“𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴…”

While most of South Africa was marking Heritage Day with a day of rest, Union High School’s Grade 10s set off on their annual Odyssey adventure from De Toren, Nieu-Bethesda.

After a full day of hiking, they spent their first evening in the wild outdoors trading stories around a campfire, whereafter they bedded down for the night in tents beneath a pitch-black sky filled with bright stars.

The learners set off on the next leg of their journey bright and early the next morning…

Bulletin, Student Life

Meet Our Mentors

Earlier this week, Union High School launched a cross-age peer mentoring programme at the school to promote the learners’ physical, social and emotional well-being.

The programme has been set up between older and younger learners, with mentors being assigned to specific class groups so that the younger learners can benefit from the experience and knowledge of the older ones.

The programme also comes with the additional impact of providing leadership and development opportunities to the older or near-peer youth who serve in the mentoring role.

“We hope the mentoring programme will provide the learners with a safe environment to raise concerns and ask questions which they might not feel confident talking about in front of an adult or in a classroom setting,” said Grade 12 mentor, Tracy Petitt.

“Our overall goal is to get as many kids as we can impacted by the experience. There are many opportunities for all the younger learners, yet at the same time, there are numerous stressors and challenges for them to handle. How they adapt to and deal with all these adjustments is key to how they fare health-wise and emotionally every day, as well in the future. We hope to help as many learners as possible deal with these stressors by offering our support.”

Seen here are our 35 Grade 11 and 12 learners who will be serving as mentors this year, facilitating positive change in all their mentees.

They are: Michaela Price, Joshua Calitz, Lathitha Ngcwangu, Liso Binqela, Jade Edwards, Mihlali Tyanase, Primrose Mutapati, Likhona Batala, Tracy Petitt, Max Wright, Catelyn Anthony, James Pringle, Kaydn Retief, Kyle-Luke du Preez, Buhlebethu Rolomane, Chloe Bosch, Siphesihle Goliath, Jodi Kenmuir, Matthew McNaughton, Melissa Swart, Matthew Basson, Lutho Ludwaba, Sisipho Arnols, Kelly-Page Scott, Ruzhe Hendricks, Asa Matross, Ayanda Nyama, James Potgieter, Soyama Mbetshu, Kathryn Odendaal, Avemahle Matushe, Elam Nockpaal, Hannah Watermeyer, Rogan Odendaal and Cole Mackenzie.

Bulletin, Student Life

Odyssey Into The Wild

The Grade 10s of 2020 were terribly disappointed when their Odyssey was scuppered thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.

So it was with great excitement that it was rescheduled and they finally set off for a 3-day journey of discovery this past Saturday, 15 May.

As it was a sporting Saturday, only half the group set off in the morning. After hiking for 9km they proceeded to set up a fantastic camp for their sport-playing classmates who would arrive a little bit later on.

It was heartwarming to see some of the Grade 11s tirelessly putting up tent after tent for the latecomers. A true act of service that probably went unnoticed by many, but polished the souls of those involved.

At around 18:00, in the dark, the rest of the grade arrived, singing with excitement. A delicious meal was followed by singing around the campfire – the night was not an early one!

As dawn broke on Sunday, the early birds could be heard getting the morning kettles going, and everyone slowly emerged from their tents into an unfamiliar world for many.

After breakfast, the group was joined by headmaster Mr William Pringle, accompanied by Mrs Cathy Pringle, before heading off for a hike down the Gats River Canyon to the incredible fossilized waterfall. After clambering down to the base, some swimming in the bottomless pool was enjoyed before Mr Pringle delivered a poignant speech in this magnificent place of wonder as black eagles circled overhead. One could not have wished for a more perfect outdoor classroom.

Mr David Langmead then offered a few seasoned hikers a different route over the mountains, while the rest of the group returned upstream. Some took great pride in making it over the more challenging route.

Back at camp, everyone regrouped for chicken roasting and breadmaking. The Grade 11s were put into arbitrary groups of 4, juggling friends. Mr Langmead then taught everyone how to cook a whole roast chicken over the open fire, and Mrs Bronwen Langmead taught everyone to make a loaf of bread out in the wilds. Pure magic followed as new friendships were forged and expert cooks emerged!

After a superb repertoire of songs around the campfire, Mr Langmead spoke to the group on the importance of reflection and time alone to appreciate the space that they had become a part of. He spoke on how much of modern life is consumed by the distractions of the age of technology where we connect less and less with our natural environment and the people around us… not to mention getting to know ourselves.

He then briefed them for the Solitaire exercise, where for a few hours everyone would be in a place of quiet reflection and contemplation.

Sleep came easy that night. At dawn, the adults led the group out into the wilderness where they were positioned in solitude in the magnificent Karoo. They were given letters from their loved ones and were asked to write a letter to themselves which would be sealed and opened at their valedictory.

On return to camp a few hours later, an air of quiet contemplation enveloped the group. A sense of elation was prevalent, but also a nostalgia that the time had come to an end.

Everyone worked together to strike camp and no trace was left behind. A 10km hike took the group to the buses who drove them back to reality after an incredible few days.

• This Odyssey would not have been realised without the generosity of landowners Julian Murray and Dale and Kelly Jackson who so kindly let the learners hike and camp on their property. Grateful thanks must also go to David Langmead who never fails to give of his time and expertise. Kevin and Lisa Watermeyer are indispensable in terms of logistic and moral support. We are also grateful to Joan McNaughton, Kiki and Fanus Nell, Brenda James, Cheryl and Peter Waddelow and William and Cathy Pringle who were incredible backup support.

With sport being locked down 2 days after Odyssey, we are so grateful that this essential event in the development of these young lives in these trying times was able to take place.

View our FaceBook page for more photographs.

Bulletin, Student Life

Representative Council Of Learners 2021

Union High School recently elected class representatives as well as a new Representative Council of Learners (RCL).

Elections for the new RCL were done last month and all learners from Grade 8 to 12 participated.

The class representatives and members of the RCL are, at all times, expected to carry themselves with excellence and epitomise what a Union learner should be: kind, caring and sensitive to the needs of others; hard-working and motivated to bring about positive change in their environment; honest, trustworthy and dependable; but, most of all, proud of their school and the opportunity to serve others. This is what the RCL of Union High School strives constantly towards.

Congratulations to:

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟴:

• Erin Gedult (Class representative)

• Aaminah Steele (Class representative)

• Megan Nortje (Class representative)

• Kananelo Kometsi (Class representative)

• Zenande Mazana (Class representative)

• Lisakhanya Menos (Class representative)

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟵:

• Sade May (Class representative and RCL member)

• Joshua Basson (Class representative and RCL member)

• Na’eem Mahomed (Class representative and RCL member)

• Caytah-Leigh Koeberg (Class representative and RCL member)

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟬:

• Laythan Carelse (Class representative and RCL member)

• Jude Langmead (Class representative and RCL member)

• Lulibo Pietersen (Class representative and RCL member)

• Caitrin Spence (Class representative and RCL member)

• Simone Prinsloo (Class representative)

• Jenna-Lee Jansen (Class representative)

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟭:

• Bubele Thibini (Class representative and RCL member)

• Alutho Cekiso (Class representative and RCL member)

• Asa Matross (Class representative and RCL member)

• Lisakhanya Mvandaba (Class representative and RCL member)

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟮:

• Siphesihle Goliath (Class representative and RCL member)

• Chloe Bosch (Class representative and RCL member)

• Liso Binqela (Class representative and RCL member)

• Hannah Watermeyer (Class representative and RCL member)

Biathlon, Student Life

Learners Add Colour to Middle Street

On Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, 3 and 4 March, a few of Union’s learners enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime experience of working alongside renowned artist, Michèlle Nigrini, while creating a massive work of art in Middle Street.

Their eye-catching mural was created to celebrate the unique immersion of colour, collaboration and creative interaction of two simultaneous art exhibitions in Graaff-Reinet, which opened to the public on Friday, 5 March.

The first exhibition, ‘In Conversation with Colour Symphony’, is being housed at the Jan Rupert Art Centre in Middle Street and is a group exhibition comprised of over 40 artworks.

The second exhibition, ‘Outside In’, is a solo exhibition by Nigrini, and is being housed in Church Street, at the Imibala Gallery.

Both exhibitions are centred around Nigrini’s extraordinary installation, ‘Colour Symphony’, which was moved from the Rupert Museum in Stellenbosch to the Jan Rupert Art Centre in Graaff-Reinet for this event.

Union High School extends its thanks to the Jan Rupert Art Centre and to artist Michèlle Nigrini for involving the learners in this project and invite the public to view their finished mural in Middle Street.

Bulletin, Student Life

Prefects Get Together

On Thursday evening, 18 February, Union High School’s 2021 prefect body enjoyed an informal get-together at the Tony Burrell Union.

They spent their evening discussing their duties and responsibilities as prefects, having fun together during the various team-building activities and enjoying a delicious build-a-burger dinner.

The evening brought all of the prefects closer together and helped them to focus on a shared vision for this year.

The team of prefects look forward to working together with staff and learners in 2021!

Category: Student Life

Meet Your Mentors

Grade 8 Orientation

Matric Dinner 2021

Grade 10s Complete Odyssey

Odyssey 2021

Meet Our Mentors

Odyssey Into The Wild

Representative Council Of Learners 2021

Learners Add Colour to Middle Street

Prefects Get Together

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