In This Issue

Falcon Weekly News

Week 2  Third Term 2006

Taita and Peregrines hatch in captivity

Awakhiwe Mnyandu Wins Top Poetry Award
Link to Poem

L6 Leadership Course
Moulding future leaders
- led by Danny Tanser

Gymnasium: 
Progress Report.

One of the 8 Taita Falcons at the Falconry Club. Two pairs of Taitas have laid eggs.

Two pairs of Taita Falcons in the Falconry Club breeding project have now laid eggs. This is a big deal as the first pair to produce a young one in captivity for 6 years was last year. This year both of our pairs have laid eggs which is great news. Our Peregrines have also laid so we look forward to a good season.  

Awakhiwe Mnyandu Wins Top Poetry Award

We are proud to announce that our student Awakhiwe Mnyandu has won the top poetry prize in the National Allied Arts Competition. This was a remarkable achievement. Follow the link below to read the poem.

Mnyandu Poem: The Beginning

L6 Leadership Course. Moulding the future leaders.
Billy St Johns who accompanied the boys filed this report:

The Lower 6’s embarked on a four-night course in the Matopo’s last week for a course on leadership in preparation for their roles next year, as they reach the top of the school ladder. The camp was held at Shalom run by the Christian group Family Impact. Our leader, Danny Tanser, is a Falcon old boy and knows what skills are needed for Upper 6 at Falcon College.

The camp was about bonding and working as a team in several activities and challenging situations. The Bonfire Battle was a war where each team had 5 minutes to build a fire and then it was an all out fight, with only cups of water, to put each other teams fire out, whilst still protecting your own.

The camp leaders gave excellent talks and lead group discussions on topics such as Self Image, Passion and Dealing with your Past. Some chats were intense and such topics caused much debate and controversy among certain boys. It was good for them to hear stories about values and leadership and even discuss real situations from Falcon College.

A day at the dam with Volley Ball and Raft Building was brilliant fun. The boys chilled in the water with canoes or just enjoyed the cool water on the hot day that it was. An innocent mud ball thrown by myself sparked an all out war, leading to students, versus, one lonely, and aching, dirty staff member.

The foofie slide was a person challenge for some, but all out fun for most.

 The Ropes Course was a mammoth challenge for the teams. The course involves carefully getting your team along small ropes and over hanging tires and rope swings. As well as carry a bucket of water and not touching the ground.

The final night was spent camping along the banks of the dam. Boys were split into house groups and built their own fires and chatted and laughed under the beautiful stars. It was a chilly night and those fires were kept going all night by those who found it difficult sleeping on cold hard rocks. It was an excellent bonding time for all students and for myself, still being new to the school and having nothing to do with lower 6 students.

It was an achievement and learning experience for all and we hope that it will not only generate fantastic leaders next year, but taught them skills and knowledge that will last with them for their lives.

Gymnasium: Progress Report

The High Performance Gymnasium (The Davenport Pavilion) is beginning to take shape. Work at the site had been stalled because of difficulties encountered in obtaining door frames and window frames of the required specifications.. Since the last report, some window frames and door frames have been sourced and are now in place.  The wall on the western side is about to reach first floor level.  The brick work on the eastern side is as high as it will ever be because this side will be fitted with sliding French doors.

Left: View from the Founders field
Right: View from the front facade. Some window frames and door frames are at last in place.

Work Starts on the George Grey Form 1 Dorm

Building damaged by a precision smart bomb? No! the gaping holes in the walls were deliberately cut out to enable reinforcements to be put in place.

Work has started on the upgrading and refurbishing of the Form 1 Dorm in George Grey house  Consultant Engineer Shayne Spalding detected some structural defects in the building which had developed with time.  As a result, the walls had to be partially demolished to enable stronger reinforcements to be put in place before the refurbishing takes place.

Right: Taking no chances with structural defects. All windows and frames on the eastern side of the dorm were temporarily removed!

New-Look Sports Page
A new-look Falcon Sports page has been launched and all Sports results and highlights in pictures will be published weekly on this new Page. Follow the link below:

Sports Results

Form 1 Christian Camp at Quiet Waters 
Friday 8th to Sunday 10th September

In the rugged beauty of the Quiet Waters "wilderness", at Chilikuti camp, a group of Form 1 Christian boys were camped to be bonded in the fellowship of God.  The boys were accompanied by Mr. Jermaine and Mrs. Lesley de Noronha, Ms Amanda Watson and Ms Barbara Jackson. Baveer Doolabh, one of the Christian group leaders who accompanied the Form 1 boys filed this report....

As usual both Form 1 and Christian Leaders were overly excited as the date of the camp approached.

We all departed from the de Noronha's house on Friday 8th September and began our trek to Chilikuti camp in Quiet Waters. On arrival, we set up camp and settled into our groups.  Altogether there were 6 groups. Each group had a Christians Leader and about 6 Form 1 boys. 

In perfect harmony at Chilikuti Camp..............

Left: Form 1 boys worshipped and praised the Lord

Right: The boys barbecued in the bush.

In-between the variety of games and water fights there were praises and worship sessions, quiet times and sermons.  The camp was really blessed by God and we all learnt a great deal more about Him. In fellowship with God, we enjoyed the outdoor life for the three days that we were out at camp. We ate together, played together, praised the Lord and worshipped him in perfect harmony.