St Johns Ravenscourt School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 60 text:

(JUinter This year we thought of adopting an orphan through the Save the Children Organization — a child that the school would be responsible for and would watch as it grew up. There were various ways of raising enough money, and we hit on a Winter Carnival as the best way and at the same time the most fun. The committee met a few times during the Christmas Holidays to discuss what had to be done, but the work really began at the start of the term in January. Girls had to be found who were willing to play hockey against our formidable senior team; the construction company at the school had demolished the old toboggan slide and a new one had to be built up; curling rocks were made out of Harold’s jam-pots and the Carnival Queen Snow Throne was built. Some guys had to be bribed into entering the Carnival Queen Contest, and at the last minute, Little Sister of Minerva withdrew, leav¬ ing us with only three candidates. The Carnival was held on January 30th. Ticket sales ran high and we cleared our profit objective nicely. Events began in the afternoon at two o’clock. Highlights of the afternoon were the girls vs. boys hockey game and the skidoo races. The game was refereed by questionable authorities, Dave Purdy and Randy Arnett, the stars of the Basketball Team. Through some weird and wonderful penalty shots, that the girls took, the game ended in a 4-0 tie for the girls. The team of Mary Bruce, Nancy Wicks, Nancy Hall, Jean Riley, Pat McGill, Carol Wiebe, and Midge Gosko enjoyed a cake for their efforts. The five skidoos that we had for the day were used continuously. The race course was three laps of the River Field, through a slalom and then three times around the field again. The McCaskill-Gard- ner team had the fastest time for the course. 56

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c aro IS .! ervice On December 13th, 1964, our annual Carol Service was held after much work in decorating the Dining Hall for the festive season. Prior to the Service, we had short and undemanding practices, supervised by Mr. Shepherd, in the belief that we would sing just as well and loud as in previous years without long and boring practices. As is now custom, the Service consisted of Nine Lessons; read by a Lower School boy, John Lawrence, an Upper School boy, Michael Trew, the Vice-Captain of the school, Craig Lamb, the School Captain, Derek Funnell, the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Gordon, the Headmaster of the Lower School, Mr. Kiddell, the assistant Headmaster of the Upper School, Mr. Bredin, an old boy, Gordon Greeniaus, and the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. Richardson. Immediately after the reading of the Ninth Lesson, Mr. Gordon made the speech which appears on the Dedication page, thanking Mr. Richardson for his long service to the School as Chairman with an unusual token of gratitude, a personal book called “Two Generations”. School An unusual flock descended on St. John’s- Ravenscourt on December 6th, 1964. It was a group of wandering minstrels from Breck School for Boys, Minneapolis, Minnesota, consisting of the Breck School Glee Club, coming to give us a concert. They arrived at 11:00 by plane, coming to the school at about 4:00 when the concert began. It was made up of nine songs, ranging from religious melodies to sailing songs. After the concert, we treated them to a steak dinner and after half an hour of exchanging stories in the Prefects’ Common Room, they had to go. In the hasty good-byes in all the rush, our alert reporter noticed that the Breck School boys seemed most impressed with the servility of our waiters. Since the visit, we have regularly received copies of the Breck Bugle, their school newspaper. We hope, if all goes well, to soon repay their visit, and who knows, it may become an annual pil¬ grimage! 55

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arniva l Curling and tobogganing, which went on all after¬ noon, were favorites of the Lower School. Chuck Alvi and Miss Sidney Macaw, a bumblebee and a penguin, won the costume contest. A Lower School party followed in the dining hall. Their lucky-num- ber draw took place with Donald Guest and Boyd Beaton winning. Events in the evening started with a blazing bonfire and the Carnival Queen Contest. The three candidates were: Miss Celebrity (Ian Hartley), Miss Night-Life of ’65 (Rick Matthews), and Paula Bella of Italia (Paul Bell). Miss Celebrity was chosen Queen by Barbie Blick, Shelley Johnson and Nancy Wicks because of her (his) impressive measure¬ ments, good looks, and original outfit, which con¬ sisted of golden KEX curls, short skirt and long- johns. WHEW! Dave McBeath won the lucky draw and then the tally-ho started, the Upper School going to a farm while the Lower School had theirs here, behind the skidoos. The dance, starting at ten, was attended by over 200 people. Credit goes to the Spectres (Read, Trew, Elliot, Everett, and Mackay) for its success. All was over at 11:30. The Carnival appeared to have been a success. Its organization was somewhat confused, but it made it all the ' more fun. Thanks go to Mrs. Fitz¬ simmons, Mr. Gordon and Harold. Their help was essential to making the Carnival the success that it was. The way the school supported the Carnival this year means that it will likely become an annual event. What better way to raise money each year for an orphan?! Even as this is being written, arrangements are being made for the adoption of an orphan. 57