Altona Collegiate - Green and Gold Yearbook (Altona, Manitoba Canada)

Page 33 text:

Calendar of the Year Aug. 26—First staff meeting of the year. Aug. 27—School opens with a staff of 13 teachers. Sept. 10—Principal Siemens reports that the enrolment in the Kindergarten class stands at 29 and 351 in the elementary section and 81 in the collegiate. Oct. 7—Lambert Toews, Grade IX, ill, discon¬ tinues school. Oct. 8-9—Teachers’ Convention. Oct. 23—Mr. D. M. Friesen and Mr. A. K. Braun are re-elected as trustees. Dr. John Lohrenz becomes mayor. Oct. 29—The Hallowe’en party is much en¬ joyed, especially the Horror Chamber. Nov. 4—A football game is played against Winkler; Winkler 15, Altona 10. Nov. 5—Scholarships are awarded. Nov. 11—Remembrance Day. Rev. J. Guenter gives the service. Nov. 22—High School Choir sings at Berg- thaler Church. Dec. 1—Year book publishing discussed at Student Council meeting. Dec. 1-4—Inspector Voigt visits the school. Dec. 10—Showing of the film “Oliver Twist.” Dec. 18-23—Christmas examinations. Dec. 23—Christmas Social. Rev. H. J. Ger- brandt is the guest speaker. Jan. 4—Classes commence. A fourth teacher, Mr. Lloyd McCullough, is added to the Collegiate staff. Jan. 6—Curling begins Jan. 18—A skating party. Tomato soup is served in the school auditorium. Jan. 30—Inter High School Bonspiel. Feb. 4—The High School enjoys its annual excursion. Points of interest—University library and new gymnasium, Legislative Buildings, Free Press, roller skating, oper¬ etta “Song of Norway.” Feb. 8—A film “Light in the Jungle” is shown. Feb. 10—Year book project commences. Feb. 14—Our High School team runner-up at Morris Inter High School Bonspiel. Feb. 26—Final bonspiel playoff for Thiessen Transportation trophy between Altona and Rosenfeld. Mar. 6—S.H. team wins High School Bon¬ spiel at Plum Coulee. Mar. 7—Collegiate choir sings at the Berg- thaler Church. Mar. 9—Altona Maroons advance to semi- Mar. 11—David Braun, ill, taken to hospital. Mar. 9-11—Education Week. Grades I-V pre¬ sent The Magic Ring”; Grades VII-Vin, The Golden Eagle.” Guest speaker is Dr. J. R. Wier, Dean of Agriculture, University of Manitoba. Recitations and songs ren¬ dered, Grades V and VI. Open House on Thursday, 2-4 p.m. Mar. 14—Funeral services for Mr. A. J. Kehler, father of Margaret Kehler, Grade IX. Mar. 16, 17, 18 and 20—High School Glee Club presents very successfully the “Mik¬ ado.” Attendance 1,000. Apr. 9, 13, 14, 15—Easter examinations. Apr. 16-25—Easter holidays. May 5-7—Musical Festival. High School Choir wins the Dr. Toni Trophy at Winkler. May 21—Graduation, Grades XII and XI. June 21-29—Departmental examinations. June 24—Field Day. June 30—Last day of school. 31

Page 32 text:

Inter-School Christian Fellowship Motto: To know Christ and to make Him known.” This organization has been in existence in Canada for many years. Not until last year, however, did our school get in contact with their executive. A number of students were sincerely interested in this kind of work and consequently organized to have Christian activities outside of school hours. The com¬ mittee nominated were: Mr. Orlando Saw- atzky, sponsor; Willie Braun, president; Clarence Guenter, vice-president; Linda Schulz, secretary; and Marie Hoeppner, so¬ cial convenor. On every Wednesday after four, we gath¬ ered in one of the classrooms for an informal Bible discussion, and on Thursday mornings we gathered for a mission prayer meeting. We have been favored by a number of good speakers for our Bible discussions, among whom were: Mr. A. A. Dyck, Ecua¬ dor, South America; Rev. A. A. Habeggar, Lame Deer, Montana; and the general secre¬ tary of the I.S.C.F., Mr. Wilbur Sutherland, of Toronto. Their messages helped the stu¬ dents to realize their own responsibilities toward God. Our social activities have been rare, but inspiring. At the end of November, a large group of us went to Winnipeg for a gymn party at Bethesda Church auditorium. On February 2nd, we had a sleigh ride to Buffalo Creek and following that we met in the school auditorium for a bean feed. In retrospect of the year’s activities, we can say that we would not want to be without the I.S.C.F. in the future. Willie Braun, President Enrolment in the Public School, 1953-1954 Pupils per Teachers Grades Classroom K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Miss K. Hoeppner . . 34 34 Miss H. Dyck . 39 39 Miss E. Sawatzky . 26 13 39 Miss H. Wiebe . 35 35 Miss S. Hildebrandt . 39 39 Miss Thelma Dyck . 5 30 35 Miss E. Wall . 11 14 25 Mr. Orlando Sawatzky . 26 9 35 Mr. J. G. Siemens . 30 10 i r Mr. J. E. Dyck . 24 19 43 Totals by Grades . . 34 65 48 44 41 40 39 34 19 364 Enrolment in the Altona Collgeiate Grade IX . 38 Grade X . 25 Grade XI . 12 Grade XII . 9 Total . 84 Total enrolment in both schools, 448. 30

Page 34 text:

History was in the making when the first Altona High School Glee Club meeting was called to order on a Friday after four in mid-November of 1953. A large portion of the student body had remained in the au¬ ditorium to discuss the possibility of an operatic production. The idea was received with great enthusiasm, and within a week, work on Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado” Mr. A. C. KROEKER Director £7Ae utfifona JAtiyA “Me 4 was begun. The casting proved to be a | difficult first hurdle, but after much delib- ' eration, the leads were finally chosen, and work began in earnest. Since the Glee CVjb had no monies to spend, economy became the password. Only one copy of the musical score was purchased, while a second was borrowed. With these two scores, practices were held and the laborious process of mem¬ orizing words and music continued week after week. There seemed to be an endless number of songs to learn and progress appeared to be very slow. Then quite suddenly, with the arrival of February, a new and quickening spirit caught the singers. Time was actually growing short. Practices intensified. Every night of the week was occupied with Glee Club activity in one form or another. Faithfully the leads and their pianist, Audrey Friesen, trudged to Mr. Kroeker’s house, there to be rehearsed hour after hour by Mrs. Kroeker who coached all the solo and part singing. A poster drive was launched, and soon colorful advertise¬ ments, made by co-operative students, were stuck in windows and on counters from | Gretna to Winkler. Oriental lanterns were being constructed by girls with a creative 1 flare, while others were painting the set. I Costumes came pouring in as forty-one Glee Clubbers were turned loose on the community 32