From the Headmaster's Desk

What of Falcon College in 2006 ? 
The College grounds are quite outstanding after the good rains.  One of the more senior staff said in our initial meeting that he had not seen the place looking better.  Real praise.

So who are we and what are out intentions for 2006?
Firstly, an analogy that's well overdue:

Falcons are not the Kings, but the Emperors of the sky.  They are the Rolls Royce of Raptors - right at the top of the food chain - that's us.
What's more of Falcons - THEY ARE FAST MOVING - 280 km per hour in a stoop.
They have an amazing efficiency - 98% of the time that they set out to hunt, they are successful.

They are really nice to live with - easy going and loving, but ruthless in the hunt.
They 'don't waste time' - they use their energy when it really counts.
They look good and keep themselves looking good - I've never seen a scruffy Falcon.

They don't get into scraps on the ground where they could break feathers and lose their dignity.

They work hard when they have to and rest in shady, beautiful places.
Finally, they protect their young ferociously, are wonderful tutors of their trade, but then expect the young to move on and become independent.

So that's our logo, that's our name - quite a bit to live up to in so many areas.  I would like everyone to think of these things next time they have negative thoughts - we need to be a Falcon - after all, we wear the shirt.

Link to the full text of the Headmaster's Message: What of Falcon in 2006.

There are other areas I would like to touch on at the start of the year.

I read some literature this holiday passed on by a Board member, questioning the schooling system.  It was great food for thought and has triggered these remarks.

Firstly, our intentions to make every boy's time at Falcon an experience - and what is an experience. It's an event, an adventure, a happening, a soul jogging, spirit-lifting phenomenon with a beginning, a middle and an end.  It leaves an indelible memory, adds to a person's history, provides fodder for a thousand future conversations with Old Pals and grand kids.

This holiday and my trip to Dubai, organized by some "Old Boys", I simply sat listening to them tell stories of their school days and it made me realize that Falcon in the past has been an experience - we want to keep it that way.

We must 'dream' and what are dreams - those who have been into my office will know that dreams are really goals with deadlines.  You all need to know 'my dream' - it's for normality, for a 'full College' of pupils we want, and for staff who work with passion and understanding of our pupils and each other.  We will dream, but we will have some deadlines.

We all believe and design.  What do I mean by that?  I mean have a plan - not 'pie in the sky', but tangible, real, written-down things.  Talk is cheap.  We will have our designs down on paper so that we can work towards them.

We will let the system serve you.  The system is a great one - it has worked for so many Falcon boys.  Yes there is a need to modify the system from time to time and Dave Fleming has done a wonderful job in doing just that, but we will use the system.

The College looks forward to further development of our Computer facilities.  Our intention is to develop our ideas of a new gym and it looks forward to still further developments in our agricultural project and into an exercise of 'whole school reading'.

Our academic drive will continue with a multi-pronged approach, as well as persevering with our philosophy of a whole education for our young men.

Reg Querl
Headmaster