In This Issue

Falcon Weekly News

Week 10  2006

Peterhouse Weekend
First XV win.
U16 Hockey
remain unbeaten in 3 years.

Falcon First Aid Team
Caring for the injured - in a professional way

School on the Shopfloor 2006
A great experience for the boys

Angling Society Clinic
A 'fishy' affair

Grahamstown Arts Festival
- Mr and Mrs Ndlovu recently took a group of 8 boys to the festival and filed this report.

Tennis Tour
Two staff and 7 boys off on tour to South Africa

Work is progressing steadily at the site of the new 620 square metre Davenport Pavilion.  Already, a massive 80 tonnes of cement and about 20 tonnes of steel reinforcement have been used to lay the foundation and construct the supporting pillars. The floor is yet to be filled!  The brickwork has already started.

The steel reinforcements tower above the foundation at the building site.

Peterhouse Weekend
A Great Weekend marked the end of the Rugby and Soccer Seasons

During the final weekend of the term we hosted Peterhouse College. The weekend was a great success. Many parents came out in full support.  Our teams performed very well and there were many highlights.  The U16 Hockey concluded a three-year stint without conceding any defeat.  Our 1st Hockey team turned the tables against Peterhouse - after losing 0-3 to them in Natal during the last holiday we beat them 1-0 this time round, sweet revenge!

All the senior Rugby teams won their encounters comfortably while our junior boys were exposed to very competitive Rugby, with the U15A winning.

In soccer, the First XI lost 0-1 and it would seem that they cannot overcome this hurdle as the score line against Peterhouse has remained stubbornly the same for the last 3 years.

It was a great weekend which was enjoyed by all.

Left: Players keenly anticipate the ball in the First XI soccer encounter against Peterhouse.  Falcon lost 0-1.

The First XV players speed through the "supporters" tunnel at the beginning of the match

Right: Gregory Gavazzi about to take the last conversion of the First XV encounter.  Falcon won 34-19 against the season's previously unbeaten Peterhouse XV . 

Falcon First Aid Team 
Prompt and professional care for the injured

You will meet find them at every sporting event, accompanying the Sanatorium Sisters.  They are normally clad in red luminous tops or white T-shirts with large red crosses sewn or embroidered on the sleeves.  They are not members of the International Red Cross - they are members of the Falcon College First Aid Team - all students of the College. Second term is the busiest for them. 

Right: Three members of the First Aid Team (from left), Charles Taylor James Winwood and Tonny Mupariwa watch a Rugby match closely, ready to swing into action should there be an injury.

The First Aid volunteers work with and under the watchful eyes of the Sanatorium sisters. The team is well-equipped with an orthopaedic stretcher and a full First Aid kit.
To qualify as a First Aider, a student has to show a high-level of competency in all aspects of First Aid.  Some of the First Aiders are trained at Mars (Medical Aid Rescue Society) while others are trained in-house.  Those following the Mars option are sent to Mars in Bulawayo for the one week course.  The course is very demanding and those who complete it successfully are officially certified. Those who opt for the in-house course are given practical training by our Sanatorium Sisters who are known for demanding a high level of competency.

Left: Sister Watson attends to an injured Rugby player during the match between Falcon and Peterhouse.  Two members of the First Aid Team give assistance to Sister Watson.

The San Sisters and the First Aid Team ensure that an injured student receives prompt attention to alleviate pain before he is released back to the sporting field or taken to the Sanatorium for further observation or, in the case of suspected fractures or other suspected severe injuries is rapidly  evacuated to Mater Dei Hospital.  An EMRAS ambulance is always on stand-by for emergency evacuations to the hospital.

School on the Shopfloor 2006
24th July - 29th July. A taste of the real world.

Eight members of the Form 5 group recently participated in the School on the Shopfloor Exercise. This worthwhile annual scheme involves introducing pupils close to school leaving age to various aspects of life in commerce and industry by placing them with oganisations for a one week period. We are grateful to commerce for supporting our venture and this year pupils were able to gain experience in an wide range of fields which included footwear, taxidermy motor engineering and computers.

Left: "Mechanic"  Richard Wicks attends to a car engine during his one-week stint with Sable Motors. His supervisor Mr. Gary Whitehead-Willson watches closely.

Right:  "Shoemaker" Dexter Nyarirangwe proudly shows how shoes are made at the shoe factory during his stint.  He spent his week at  Footwear and Rubber.

Angling Society

On Sunday 23rd July nineteen members of the Falcon Angling Society were treated to a "Fishing Clinic" at Mbonisa Weir on Quiet Waters. The venue proved to be a perfect setting for the event which was conducted by a Matbass team comprising James Crawford (George Grey 1992), Bruce Kesson and Rory Muirhead.

Left: James Crawford displaying the latest in plastic worms.

Right: Bruce Kesson demonstrating fishing equipment

Left: Anglers practise casting from the Walls of Mbonisa Weir. 
Right: Rory Muirhead shows lures to members of the society.

Techniques in bass fishing were covered and the boys were updated on a wide and interesting range of the latest fishing lures and plastic worms. The Clinic, which lasted for almost three hours, proved to be both enjoyable and informative and the Angling Society thanks Matbass and in particular the visiting team for their participation.

Grahamstown Arts Festival 2006 
An insipiring experience for the boys

Eight boys and two staff, Mr and Mrs Ndlovu attended the Grahamstown Arts Festival from 29 June to 6 July. It was the 32nd Festival and the College's 10th attendance..

Apart from the long drive the weather was congenial and the festival itself very enjoyable.  The boys saw diverse art forms which included drama, ballet, singing, dancing and physical theatre.  All these performances were of international standard.  The boys drew a lot of inspiration from them.  Apart from the festival itself the boys learnt to exercise their freedom responsibly when they booked and attended shows as they saw fit.  They behaved very well and were complimented on this score by the St Andrew's College staff.

To cap a pleasant and rewarding trip, the tour team got the time to go to the beach at Port Alfred.  We would like to keenly thank the parents who funded the boys who were on the tour.

Tour party 2006

Aubrey Ndiweni, Bjorn Moyo, Munyaradzi Tirivepi, R Pamacheche,  CDM Madondo, Mr Ndlovu
Thabang Mpatane, Shingirayi Chaya, Xeshelihle Mhlanga
(Mrs P Ndlovu who also attended the festival is not in this picture)

Adam Joelson and Jonathan Makola left on Sunday 30th July for a tennis tour to South Africa.  The two staff are accompanying Edward Leared, Guy Bradnick, Vimbiso Makovah, Andrew Makoni, Jeremy Badcock, M Mhlanga and Brynn Meredith on the tour.  We will give you a full report on the tour in the next issue.