Chords for Cause

The Prestige Academy battle of the bands - Chords for Cause is upon us, and we’re looking for talented musicians to join us in the fight against women and children abuse, on the 26^th of July 2013, at Bellville High School.

The 2^nd year event management students are the first ever at Prestige Academy, to host an event of this caliber, where they won’t only be showcasing what they have learned thus far at the Academy, but will also be giving young musicians the opportunity to win a once-off recording, and a professional photo-shoot, with a professional band website set up for them, not to mention great recognition!

To enter, bands need to register online at www.chordsforcause.co.za , follow the easy steps and wait for Prestige Academy to get back to them.

Please remember that band members need to be sixteen years and older, and at least one of the songs performed needs to be an original. The entry fee is R250 per band, sound and lighting and a standard drum kit will be supplied.

We can only choose ten finalists to take part on the night, so warm up them voices, tune those guitars and get ready to play some Chords for Cause. 

See poster for more info

Written by Kristyn Rohm

The Beach Party!

The beach party will be going down next Friday, the 10th of May 2013 at Cantina Tequila in Edward Street! R20 gets you in, expect great drink specials and awesome music!

We'll see you all there!

Annual Blood Drive

On Thursday, the 18^th of April 2013, CAPA grew some love and took part in a blood drive hosted at the Prestige Academy campus with the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service.

Centurion Academy and Prestige Academy managed to save up to 78 lives today, because according to ratio, one bag of blood can save up to three lives, and we donated 26 bags!

Even though some were afraid of needles and had a phobia of blood, they stood in line and donated anyways, while some only did it for the free cookies and juice. 

One of our students, Marcel Corcoran said, “we should do this more often,” while others said it’s quite convenient to have it at the Academy, as it is more accessible.

We look forward to the next blood drive, and we hope that next time we can beat this term’s record

Written by Kristyn Rohm 

4X4, Shooting and Snake Handling

The week of 25th to the 28th of March was one filled with excitement for the 2^nd year Nature Management ladies. They received training in weapon handling, 4x4 driving and snake handling.

For the 4x4 training they had to drive up steep inclines, over very large ditches and over rocky terrain. They also learned how to manage the 4x4's (both automatic and manual) with techniques that can only be done with a 4x4, like rolling down a steep area without using the brakes.

These girls are now ready to take on any rugged area!

After an intensive theory lesson in which the ladies learned the safety measures of guns and the South African law regarding these safety protocols, they were each given the opportunity to put this theory into practice. After some shooting practice with a handgun, the ladies were taught how to handle a rifle, and I’m sure this knowledge will be very valuable once they start working in the bushveld.

Even though the ladies enjoyed the above mentioned courses, the one they were most anxious to tackle was the snake handling course. The girly side of them came out, as they came face to face with various snakes such as the Cape Cobra, the Puff Adder and the harmless house snake. The ladies learned how to identify, track and handle various snake species, and could now be ones greatest ally, should one cross paths with a snake.

An exhilarating week has passed which not only prepared these ladies for their adventurous future in nature management, but also created memories that will last them a lifetime.

Written by Joey Lombard 

Easter Egg Drop-off

On Tuesday the 9^th of April 2012, students from Prestige Academy did an Easter egg drop-off at various non-profit organisations in and around our community, namely: Alta Du Toit, Tamam Street Children Ministry, Tygerberg Hospital, Boucher Safe House and Saamie Mommies.

Thanks to all that contributed Easter eggs to this cause, we were able to connect to a lot of people and make them feel important.

It was truly an awesome experience to get to know the people working for these various NPOs, as well as the people they help. We look forward to getting more involved in these various projects and we hope to grow a little more love where ever we can. 

Written by Kristyn Rohm

The World Water Day

On Tuesday the 26^th of March 2013, Prestige Academy’s representatives attended the City of Cape Town’s annual World Water Day, at GrandWest.

The World Water Day is set in place to inform the locals about South Africa’s water policies and how we, as a nation, can better the performance of which we adhere to these policies.

Rhulani Hlungwane, environmental officer and programme director, welcomed the guests and representatives from other companies with a brief introduction to the purpose of the day. A key note address was given by Chairperson of sub council four, Alderman Clive Justus, and informative speeches were presented by Farouk Robertson, Matanzima Pae and Titus Cookson on water saving, operations, and health and safety, respectively.

Jan Odendaal of Green4Life then welcomed the learners of De Waveren Primary School, and presented them with a short, well-rounded educational talk on water preservation, after which they headed to a nearby river to do a clean-up. 

Prestige Academy, shortly after the procession at GrandWest, went to De Waveren Primary School, accompanied by Jan Odendaal and an exchange student from Canada, to drop off Easter Eggs donated by their very own students and staff.

The day was closed by Councillor Cedric Thomas, and the learners from De Waveren Primary School went to the GrandWest Worm Farm for a little fun.

“This was a truly humbling and educational experience. I think more people should get involved, not only in preserving water, but in making a difference in their community and the people who live in it,” says Kristyn Rohm, a student and one of the representatives of Prestige Academy for the day.

The Easter egss

Manzi and the kids

Jan Odendaal and Learner from De Waveren Primary

Our reps, Manzi and some of the organisers

Hanging out Easter eggs

Visit to De Waveren Primary School

Written by Kristyn Rohm

Nature Camp!

Having passed their first year of studies, the time has arrived for Centurion Academy’s (Bellville branch) second year Diploma in Nature Management students to get engaged with more advanced practical and theoretical work. As such they arrived at Gondwana Game Reserve on 11 March 2013 for their first week-long practical excursion for 2013. They could not possibly have hoped to find a better outdoor classroom than GondwanaGame Reserve just outside Mosselbay.

Upon their arrival on Monday 11 March 2013 it was already clear that this would be a practical excursion with a difference. The students were welcomed and were treated to a first-hand experience of life as a student in their practical year as Tayla Hawkins, the third year student doing her practical year at Gondwana, took them to meet John Vogel, wildlife manager at Gondwana, where he and a number of German post graduate students were tending to the needs of Thandora, a 29 year old female elephant recently translocated to the reserve from the Bloemfontein zoo.

It was however not all work and as part of the syllabus for the FGASA level 1 practical assessment students were introduced to the Game drive experience by Ranger Mike Fabricius, a field guide at Gondwana. Between excursions with Mike and morning work with Tayla the Centurion Academy, Bellville branch students had the opportunity to look for, track and often find some of the most charismatic animals on the continent. They also monitored Rhino movements by using telemetry and tracking skills. Unfortunately the game of hide and seek ended with a win for the Rhino as they struggled to get a good view of the animal in the southern valley thicket of Gondwana’s Nouga valley.

By the time they left Gondwana on Thursday 14 March 2013 the students felt like part of the Gondwana family and it was with a heavy heart that they packed up for our return to Cape Town.