𝗘𝗻𝗱-𝗼𝗳-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟰 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀
During the last week of school, the Grade 4 learners of Union Preparatory School, Graaff-Reinet embarked on their highly anticipated annual end-of-year excursion.
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 5.
On Monday, 20 November, on what was the first day of the excursion, the learners set off for the 𝗩𝗪 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 in Uitenhage, filled with curiosity and excitement. They were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the production line, witnessing the intricate process of assembling vehicles. Additionally, they had a wonderful experience at the Auto Pavilion, engaging in various activities that allowed them to explore the fascinating world of automobiles.
Next on their itinerary was a visit to the 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗖𝗢𝗕 𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗬 in Gqeberha. Here, our learners gained valuable insights into the detrimental effects of pollution on our coastline and the measures they can take to protect it. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮.
After a day filled with discovery and conservation, the group made their way to the UCSA Campsite in Jeffreys Bay, where they would reside for the duration of their excursion. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙧. Some of our creative young minds even utilised their technological skills by constructing bridges using tires, engaging in an imaginative game where the floor became a treacherous lava-filled obstacle.
Tuesday started with an extraordinary experience – watching the sunrise while reading heartfelt letters penned by their loved ones as the sun painted the sky with vibrant hues.
The day continued with a visit to the nearby fun park, where our learners were treated to a wide range of thrilling rides, exhilarating games, go-karting adventures and exciting rounds of putt-putt. 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱.
In the afternoon, the Grade 4s embarked on a scenic walk to the Shell Museum in Jeffries Bay. There, the learners were greeted by an experienced educator who enlightened them about the variety of shells found along the southern coast. They embraced the opportunity to explore Paradise Beach, participating in a 3km shoreline walk where they not only collected litter but also discovered beautiful sea shells, further enhancing their connection with nature.
As the day drew to a close, the learners eagerly anticipated the highly anticipated “Sokkie”. Dancing with joy and enthusiasm, our learners showcased their best moves while the teachers skilfully handled the braaing, creating a delightful atmosphere of celebration and togetherness.
On Wednesday, the final day of the excursion, our learners seized the opportunity to enjoy the beach one last time. Splashing in the sea and experiencing the thrill of body surfing amidst the picturesque waves, they revelled in the freedom and joy that only the ocean can provide.
This 3-day adventure served as an unforgettable conclusion to the 2023 academic year, leaving indelible memories and forming lasting friendships.
𝘈𝘵 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
