Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 8 text:

ALEDICTUHY Dear Girls, We never dreamed last September that the time for writing this farewell letter would be upon us so quickly. We have not moved into any new buildings, nor can we pinpoint any one outstanding event, but it has been a good year. The highlights of the School's social activities were two very successful dances, from which we all gained valuable experience as convenors and which we hope will become annual events. On May 22nd our versatile gymnasium was trans' formed into a gaily decorated teafroom for the highly successful LilacfMission Tea. It was very special because for the first time in eight years the lilacs were in bloom on the very day we needed oUR IIEAD GIRL JENNIFER YOUNG them. Most worthwhile was the formation of OUR scnooi. CAPTAIN BARBARA SIDGWICK The LIU-?fHfY SOCICW and We h0Pe that YOU Will see it carried on to better things now that it has been established. Besides these our sports programme expanded considerably this year, to the extent that our school basketball team won several matches. ' Long will we remember the lovely May morning, when we all gathered around the flagpole for Morning Prayers to dedicate our new Union jack. As the flag unfurled it seemed to form a bond between all of us participating in the ceremony, just as it does between all the countries of the British Commonwealth. In the same way, our school crest, now shining from our blazers, signifies a bond between us here at Balmoral Hall. We must be proud of our country as we watch our flag flying, and proud of our School as we wear its crest, remembering that Meliora Petensu is our aim. As we prepare to leave, we say goodbye and a special thank you to the Staff, the Prefects and to Miss MurrellfWright, without whose help this year could not have been so happy. To those who will be in authority next year, and to each one of you, if you keep in mind that nothing is achieved without effort, a prosperous, rewarding year will be yours. With love, JENNIFER AND BARBARA

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EIJITURI l Leaders Nobel prizes have been awarded since 1901 to those persons who have done most to promite Fraternity of Nations and Abolition or Diminution of Standing Armies and the Increase of Peace Congresses. Great men, leaders whom we all know, have received this award for some special contribution. We think of Pierre and Marie Curie, who made an unselfish and costly contribution in the field of physics, and of Winston Churchill, who led the free nations in time of strife, more recently of Albert Schweitzer and now of Lester B. Pearson, our own Canadian Peace Prize winner. When we think of such leaders who have made this world a better place by their une selfish examples, our thoughts turn to Moses and to Jesus, both of whom revealed awhole way of life to the millions who would live after them. We remember Moses for his fortif tude and fearlessness and jesus for His unseltishness. Jesus' concern for mankind made him unafraid to give and not to count the cost. The qualities of a leader are as many as they are varied, some being almost indetinable. A leader must have integrity, the ability to differentiate between right and wrong. He must be fortified with a determination to override all obstacles and should take pride in doing only his best. He must have good judgment, and faith in his fellow men. Because a leader works for the betterment of the whole, he must often put the general welfare before his individual wishes-he too must give without counting the cost. Among the greatest and most intangible qualities which a leader possesses is his ability to sense with a sympathetic heart the needs and desires of others. Our School days are our formative days. During these comparatively carefree years we are shaping the foundation upon which we will build our lives. At Balmoral Hall every girl from the youngest Class President to the oldest and most experienced Prefect is learning to develop the special qualities of a leader. Through helping and working with others, these girls are developing judgment, integrity, unselfishness, selffcontrol and, most of all, an understanding of human nature. Taking the lead is often very difficult, but with guidance, the leaders in this School have opportunities to develop these special qualities. Not forgetting that much will be required of those to whom much is given, our School leaders, having discovered the deep meaning of privilege and responsibility, should be ready to carry the torch into wider fields. RAB BURRELL, Editor.

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-f 'mm B H Balmoral Hall, june, 1958. My dear Girls, It is time now to Pack up your pencils in your old School bag And smile-smile4smile- but I have just a word to say as you set out for three months of comparative freedom. Recreation is a very necessary part of good living and if properly understood can, in three months, be an invaluable part of your life each summer during your school days. At the very beginning of your holiday you should have plans for this refcreating so that you will have something to show hy September. Most of you are still growing and the body needs a change from sitting in a desk to running in great open spaces. May you have many opportunities for such freedom. To keep pace with such activity the body will need to be well fed, and I can visualize the tremendous appetites that will gather around your family tables, and around campfires and at shore picnics. Refcreation of the mind is important too. At Iirst the mind will need a rest and then a change. Be sure that just as your body needs food so will your mind. Without mental stimulation you will End the days long, and some of you will soon be saying, What shall I do now? and towards the end of the Summer you will even be secretly glad that School will soon be calling you back. Food for the mind-here are some menus. Plan to learn something new-in swimming, diving, sailing, exploring, art, music, gardening, cooking or housekeeping. You can add to this list depending on your plans for this summer, but just remember that the mind will need food for its refcreation. It would be a good idea to include your Summer reading in this plan so that you enjoy at least one book each month and not leave four books for September. When I see you in the Fall I shall be interested to hear just what you taught yourself this Summer and how able you are to satisfy your own mind or how much you depend on entertainment that others create for you. A happy Summer to you all, and be sure, you who are graduating, that I shall look for several rows of Old Girls to wish us well as we set out for our New Year on September 10th. Affectionately yours,