Student Life – Page 6 – Union Schools

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!

Bulletin, Student Life

Special Welcome To Grade 5s

On Monday and Tuesday morning, the first days of school for our Group A and Group B learners respectively, Union High School’s head prefects made the extra effort to personally welcome Union’s new Grade 5s to the school.

The learners were introduced to the prefects, after which they were all presented with a little card. The purpose of the activity was to help the new learners feel welcome and part of the school community.

Bulletin, Student Life

Welcome Back!

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸!

Our head prefects for 2021, Hannah Watermeyer and Kyle-Luke du Preez, have put together a short video to welcome their fellow learners back to school for the 2021 academic year.

We invite you to watch the clip by clicking on the accompanying link.

Union High School thanks them for this special gesture and wish them well as they embark on the final stretch of their high school journey!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1CjAQfEXVkwcXOb6d4oGuVGfVF2wQeOPpzcMt2c-zvRWKngEC7ZyPGFGU&v=LKmDc37YUhs&feature=youtu.be

Bulletin, Student Life

Valedictory 2021

“𝘐 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺.” – 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿

This has not been an easy year for the Class of 2020. It was, therefore, especially heartwarming to witness our matrics carry out some of the traditions of school leavers at Union High School after their exam session this morning, Friday, 11 December.

Valedictory is a very special event for our matrics – in particular the ringing of the Centenary Bell which signifies the end of their high school careers.

Grade 12s, your journey at Union may be coming to an end, but know this: you will forever be part of the Union family!

We wish you, our Matric Class, all the best as you embark on the next exciting chapter of your lives.

Take responsibility for your own life, determine your priorities and persevere when life is difficult. Go forward with pride and courage, knowing that your time at Union High School has prepared you well for wherever your lives may take you.

https://www.facebook.com/272039036200212/videos/2868827226684937/

Follow the link to view more photographs:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=unionhighschool&set=a.4645791902158215

Bulletin, Student Life

AWSUM Couch with UHS Head Girl

Union High School’s Head Girl for 2021, Hannah Watermeyer, was invited to the AWSUM Couch to talk about what it means to be a leader at our school.

Follow the link to read her interview:

https://www.awsumnews.co.za/regions/eastern-cape/eastern-cape-towns/union-high-school/on-the-awsum-couch-with-union-high-school-graaff-reinettes-head-girl-for-2021/?fbclid=IwAR1mse6az48cDAO75OMvKW1pNZZ9mCOqRQjJv_8o75RAIva9_1pvrVj82tU

Bulletin, Student Life

AWSUM Couch with UHS Head Boy

Union High School’s Head Boy for 2021, Kyle-Luke du Preez, was invited to the AWSUM Couch to talk about what it means to be a leader at our school.

Follow the link to read his interview:

https://www.awsumnews.co.za/regions/eastern-cape/eastern-cape-towns/union-high-school/on-the-awsum-couch-with-union-high-school-graaff-reinetts-head-boy-for-2021/?fbclid=IwAR3K_WGkWYQP-wX6F49bJdawkrZrkHKdHqdsmBYMAKDhC1b-iXxCyodM8Ww

Bulletin, Student Life

Head Prefects 2021 Announced

Union High School is delighted to announce our head prefects for 2020/21.

They are Kyle-Luke du Preez (Head Boy), Hannah Watermeyer (Head Girl), James Pienaar (Deputy Head Boy) and Amzolele Relu (Deputy Head Girl).

We wish them all the best for their year of leadership and servitude and know that they will do their school proud!

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our 2019/20 prefects, who have done a wonderful job as ambassadors of the school this year, and in particular, have continued to raise spirits during a most unusual time in our school’s history. They are Somila Batala, Jaden Brotherton, Matthew Hesselink, Katherine Imrie, William Kayster, Sara Kingwill, Lauren Rose-Innes, Mack Rubidge, Jade Shires, Buchule Siloti, Benito Vers, Deger Williams, Laetitia Theron (Deputy Head Girl), Bowen Langmead (Head Boy), Sakhe Booi (Head Girl), Brett Amsterdam (Deputy Head Boy).

Bulletin, Student Life

A – 10 Dinner 2020

When the bell rang on their first day of school back in 2009, they could never have imagined what would take place over the next 12 years.

As the Winnie The Pooh quote goes, “We didn’t realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun”.

In a year where our matric learners experienced disenfranchised grief, a loss of so much that they should have experienced, Union Preparatory School was privileged to uphold the tradition of hosting the annual A to 10 Dinner, albeit a bit differently, this year.

What would traditionally have been a formal sit-down dinner for the learners who have been at Union since Grade 1, some even as long as their pre-primary years, was this year turned into a special ‘drive-through’ on Monday evening, 9 November, to ensure that all safety concerns regarding Covid-19 were adhered to.

This didn’t mean that it was any less special. Dressed to the nines, the Grade 12 learners received a warm welcome at the gates to the school, were a special personalised number plate featuring the matric learner’s name was affixed to every car.

The learners and their parents could then stop to take

UPS principal Ms Belinda Botha with Mr Johnny Swartz.

photos at any of the many photo corners lining the school’s drive, after which they received an envelope filled with messages and drawings made especially for them by Union Prep School’s little learners.

They then received a beautifully-prepared three-course meal to enjoy at home with their parents.

“This event is a very special occasion for those learners and their parents alike who have been on the entirety of their Union journey together. Union Preparatory, as a school, is thankful that we were still able to find a way to celebrate this special milestone,” said the school’s principal, Ms Belinda Botha.

“We applaud our matrics for pushing through their loss and for applying themselves to their studies this year. It is hard to believe that in a few short weeks, they will be leaving Union. We wish them well as they head into their matric final examinations.”