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

Page 8 text:

J. D. SIEMENS Attended Osier, Sask.; M.C.I., Gretna Winnipeg Normal School, 1927 University of Manitoba, B.A., 1942 Faculty of Education (U. of M.), 1949-1950 Taught in Edenthal, Haskett, M.C.I. On Altona staff since 1951 THE PRINCIPAL ' S MESSAGE Our present school year has been a busy one. More work and responsibilities have stemmed from the growth in our school pop¬ ulation during the last few years when in the elementary grades it rose from 266 to 364, and on the high school level it expanded from 39 to 84. To accommodate this increase of pupils more classrooms, equipment and supplies had to be provided, and the teaching staff extended from 10 to 14. With a larger enrolment have also come what we may call the healthy growing pains of expansion. To solve some of the problems and to satisfy new needs and desires we have had to replan our school routine carefully. To relieve a developing playground congestion we have adopted the more satisfactory plan of staggered recesses; to give more classes access to the school auditorium for P.T., Music and Visual Education, we have adjusted that time table accordingly. During the cur¬ rent school year the high school time table had to be rebuilt completely a number of times. First, when by November (because of our building program) more classrooms becqme available we were at last enabled to divide our large group of (64) Grade IX and X students into separate classes; and then again when, for the second term, on the high school level we changed over from a 3 to 4 teachers basis. It has been our aim to offer leadership in recreation and extra educational opportunities. Endeavors such as sports, the annual Field Day, parties, a Christmas program, the an¬ nual Educational Tour, Education Week feat¬ ures and participation in the Musical Festival, have been not only continued but also im¬ proved upon, and in addition we have success¬ fully organized a Glee Club, established a High School Choir, and introduced graduation exercises. It is gratifying to note that the I.S.C.F. has taken root in our collegiate student body and is manifesting a measure of strength. We might ask ourselves, “Are these extra activities worth while?” It has been our ob¬ jective to make them educational and useful for broadening the student’s horizon. But we should not forget that the regular classwork that goes on from day to day is still the most important force in our educational en¬ deavors; it is by that work, efficiently done, that we advance step by step to higher goals of achievements. It is a pleasure to know that our teachers and students have displayed an optimism and a willingness to go the extra mile. There has been an urge to improve; a passion for doing things. The spirit of enterprise has made us a happier group, rightfully proud of our accomplishments. This year book partly mir¬ rors our school activities and shall enable us to look back with pleasant recollections. More of our students now realize that you have to do a bite of homework to get ahead; that a will to do and a soul to dare are gainful assets; that one must not be afraid to beat schedules, even though the herd put up a clamour that the effort is killing and should be prevented. This attitude spells growth, and education is growth. Ulman’s statement becomes understandable: “That men will some day reach the summit of the world means little. That they should want to reach it and try to reach it means every¬ thing.” If we want to become materially and spiritually truly great we must set our gaze God- ward, do honest work, practise self-dis¬ cipline, and with the help of knowledge, courage and perseverence we shall succeed. 6

Page 7 text:

[It 1 J ' 1 f r •

Page 9 text:

THE FACULTY Peter F. Penner Graduate of Winkler Collegi Graduate Faculty of Education (U. Albert C. Kroeker Graduate,