Dear Parents

I am sure that a lot of boys are welcoming this half term break; the staff certainly are – we have fitted an awful lot into a short space of time and everyone deserves their break.

Our Cultural weekend was once again a great success. It always delights me to see so many young people really excelling in an area that is sometimes overlooked. On speaking to the participants, it does appear that the Workshops were fulfilling and provided new ideas and inspired folk to take that into their own careers. I would like to thank my staff, and especially Billy St. John, for putting it all together and making it happen.

Once again, we also had a very good sporting weekend, with Basketball, Waterpolo and Cricket teams travelling to Harare and Peterhouse. The weather was kind to us and the Cricketers had a full day’s cricket. It is always good to play against Peterhouse and we are delighted with the games and the manner in which they were played.

SPORTS' RESULTS:

Cricket:
Overall we won 5 out of 12 matches played against Peterhouse. The two best games were the 16A 50 over match which went to the last ball and the 1st XI two-day game which ebbed and flowed dramatically before we completed an emphatic 8 wicket victory. Some individual achievements were recorded by the following:
Batting: C. van Rensburg (1st) 77, M. MacIntosh (1st) 74, M. Mlambo (16A) 56, T. Ganyani (16A) 52.
Bowling: T. Enwerem (1st) 4-28, J. Chitate (1st) 4-38, C. Muzenda (3rd) 6-30.
Falcon 1st team are playing in a 20/20 competition at Petra on Thursday/Friday/Saturday. We wish them luck and would love your support if you are in the vicinity at any time over these three days.

Cross-Country:
Both our senior and junior A teams won the Falcon Inter Schools Cross-country event. Tapiwa Pongweni was the fastest senior runner.

Basketball:
The 1st team travelled to Harare to play in the Harare International Schools’ tournament. We beat Hillcrest, but lost to H.I.S. and so failed to make the final. We also lost to Peterhouse in a friendly match.

Tennis:
The following boys have made the Matabeleland Tennis Teams for Zimbabwe Schools’ trials this weekend in Harare
U19
M. Mhlanga, S. Mafukidz, W. Ullric, A. Nyathi
U16
B. Langley, M. Mlambo, F. Dollar, C. Frien, K. Midlane, S. Randell

Waterpolo: (U19 Grant Tilley at St. Johns)
Falcon finished 3rd out of 6 teams. St. John’s were the winners. Falcon 1st lost to St. John’s 0-12., Beat CBC 1st 11-4, lost to St. George’s 1st 6-8, Beat Lomagundi 1st 8-4 and beat Prince Edward 1st 27-5.

FEES:
Please, will all note that we are adopting a very hard line on fee defaulters and if fees are not paid in full by the weekend, we will be asking you to come and collect your child from the College. .

FIXTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA:
We now have our first fixture for next term confirmed in South Africa. Please make sure your son has a valid passport or travel document. It would be very disappointing for him not to be able to travel because his documents were not in order. It is now our intention to make regular trips across the border for sport, to make up for our dwindling competition in Bulawayo.

BUS BOOKINGS - IMPORTANT REMINDER:
PLEASE note that a payment in Harare does NOT constitute a bus booking. It is the responsibility of the boy to personally make the booking with Mrs. Randle.
Without such a booking, a place cannot be guaranteed as there is huge demand for places on these buses. In this respect, parents, in conjunction with their sons, are urged to organise their travel arrangements well in advance.
Boys, whose parents booked personally with Mrs. Randle at the beginning of term, must double check their bookings on the bus lists posted by Mrs. Randle.

SCHOOL SHOP:
Unfortunately, we have NO new stock in the shop, though we do have a large number of orders out with manufacturers. We are hopeful that the situation will be a great deal healthier by the next fixture free weekend.
The shop will open on Tuesday 3rd March between 2.00 and 3.00 p.m. and prices of available items will remain the same.

For our new boys and their parents, this will be a difficult time. It was wonderful to hear some really positive comments coming out of our U14 Cricket team who were talking to their Peterhouse counterparts.

Dealing with daily issues and coming out the other end positive and smiling, allows one to deal with a real crisis in a rational and controlled manner.

Have a great weekend with your sons.

REG QUERL