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

Page 67 text:

OUR SOUND This year’s production of “Our Sound”, Mrs. Ainley’s pet talent showcase was an even bigger success than last year’s inaugural production. The overflow crowd was treated to examples of its offspring’s abundant talents. The Grade Two class graphically showed why you should never smile at a crocodile by bringing one on stage, and feeding it a couple of Grade Ones. The New Renditions rendered some Dylan, Bob for those of you who have some culture. Deborah Schwartz showed her ventriloquistic talents in imitating Bob Dylan through the mouth of her wind-up Gerry-doll. The Allisons proved conclusively that Scottish culture requires energy; luckily heather acts like smelling salts for those who did not eat rye in their porridge. A new instrumental group Cracker and the Barrel Staves entertained the crowd with a song drawn entirely from personal experience “Love is Blue, but My Ink is Green.” Morgan and Hugh Thomas gave a musical example of anti-climax, fortunately for them while they were ending their act not starting it. Mr. Glegg and Mr. Bevis revealed to everyone “the unyoked humour of their illness” to quote Prince Hal, and half the population of Argentina came north solely to entertain us with German folk songs. All in all it was an enjoyable evening, and the audience I am sure would like to take this opportunity to thank all the performers, in the words of a visiting Hollywood scout “you were beautiful, babies”, the kitchen staff for providing cookies, and Mrs. Ainley for providing the talent.

Page 66 text:

At the time of going to Press the 1969 school play “The Thieves’ Carnival” is at the rehearsal stage. This year, for the first time, Balmoral Hall has been invited to take part, and three of their students have major parts in our production. We hope this will lend authenticity and interest to both performers and to our audiences. The three thieves in Jean Anouilh’s comedy are played by Stewart Searle, John Hutchings and Morgan Thomas; Lord Edgar and Lady Hurf by Peter McCreath and Connie Kacharczyk; two French social climbers by Peter Dower and Hugh Thomas, and the two girls by Janet Denmark and Helen Hay. As with “A Theatre Happening” two years ago the production is in the round in the Dining Hall, and the performance of a modern comedy in this specialized theatrical form presents a real challenge to the members of the cast, and one which they are meeting well. The play is produced and directed by Mr. Glegg, and production dates are May second and third.

Page 68 text:

THE GOVERNORS’ HONOURS LIST McCreath, Kruegar, Searle, Thompson, Hammond, Kobrinsky. At Fathers’ and Sons’ weekend in the fall of 1968, the Chairman of the Board announced a new award for academic achievement, to be known as the Governers’ Honours List. After announcing the names of those elected for the award in the 1967-1968 academic year, Mr. Searle explained the purposes of the award. The Honours List is intended to honour and encourage scholastic achievement in each complete school year, by recording and perpetuating the names of outstanding scholars in the Upper School, whether or not they are returning to S.J.R. in the following year. It is also hoped that the award will supplement the Red River Scholarship programme by giving a really valid gauge of scholastic achievement, which will be of use to students when applying for entrance or scholarships to universities. Certain privileges and duties are attached to the award, the privileges being a distinctive tie, in the school colours, to be worn with the school uniform, a permanent record of those elected each year to be inscribed on boards in the Dining Hall, a dinner with the Board of Governors, study priviliges for boarders and a substantial entertainment allowance. Those elected will be expected to organize and run an internal tutorial system for boys in need of academic help, and they will also act as school hosts when there are visitors at S.J.R. Those elected to the Honours List for 1967-1968 were: Grade Twelve: Mark Dallas, Jim Lawson. Grade Eleven: Peter McCreath, Stewart Searle. Grade Ten: Nathan Kobrinsky, Lawrence Thompson. Grade Nine: Michael Hammond. Grade Eight: Hugh Brock, Stephen Krueger. Mr. Searle presented the new ties at a school assembly this spring. In future the announcement of awards and presentation of ties will take place at the banquet on Fathers’ and Sons’ Weekend. This “Valete” is out of place because of the deadline system used by The Eagle. —editor. WILLIAM LEONARD Mr. Leonard, who came to St. John’s-Ravenscourt in the fall of 1965, to teach English, is moving to British Columbia with his family where he has accepted a teaching position. Mr. Leonard will be much missed at the school: in the classroom, on the playing fields, in the rink and at the chessboard. In addition to his regular teaching timetable, Mr. Leonard coached Bantam or Intermediate Canadian Football for four years; he was Referee-in-chief of the Independent School Hockey League; he was staff advisor to the Chess and Bridge Clubs and on at least two memorable occasions arranged for world champion chess player Abe Yanofsky to come to the school to test the boys’ skill at Chess. Mr. Leonard was the creator and advisor of the S.J.R. Athletic Council. In addition he organized many trips to Hockey games and was an able referee in the House System Games Schedule. Before coming to S.J.R. Mr. Leonard attended the University of Western Ontario from which University he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1963. He later graduated from The Ontario College of Education and taught at Espanola, Ontario for two years prior to coming to S.J.R. Since coming here he has almost completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Manitoba. The Headmaster, boys, and staff wish Mr. Leonard all the best in his chosen career. 64