Ashbury College - Ashburian Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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THE ASHBURIAN ll - or at least the first section of a new classroom block. The addition should prove of tremendous benefit in increased efficiency as, although our classrooms have never been overcrowded, several of them have not provided the best facilities. These new, up-to-date. spacious rooms will take the place of all but the best of those at present in use. They will also make possible a further segregation of age groups during school hours. The abandoned classrooms will be used for much needed storage space and work rooms. And now for a seemingly abrupt transition, one that will carry the content of this editorial far afield but will carry it, I hope, safely back to its starting point-a window on the school. The recent coronation ceremonies of Her Nlajesty, Queen Elizabeth Il, stand for something even more significant than traditional ritual, and even more stimulating than the spectacle of massed pageantry. These ceremonies were celebrated at a time when the people of Britain must have felt that from a harsh and debilitating war they had emerged into a world-not of peace but of threat, not of economic recovery, but of still sterner austerity, not of integration but of disintegration- political, social and moral. At such a time, the rally of thousands of representatives from near and remote corners of the Commonwealth, come together in Britain for the sole purpose of acknowledging the symbol of the crown, must have seemed in itself a heartening symbol. It must surely have been felt as a symbol, not only of continuing solidarity and as a restatement of old political affiliations, but as a mystic sign of faith and encouragement in the dawn of a new and better time, of a renaissance of the day of that earlier Elizabeth when men rejected many of the old depressive beliefs and fought, successfully, toward the light. Certainly it would seem to us that so it must have been with those who were present at these ceremonies, and even at this distance there is among many of us here in Canada an expectation of increased pro- gress and expansion, and the achievement of still better times. Assuredly here at Ashbury we are reinspired with the confidence that our future is constantly widening and brightening and that now, in this Coronation year, we may look for a still more powerful solidarity and singleness of purpose in the march toward our goal-a greater Ashbury.

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10 THE ASHBURIAN EDITORIAL R031 under the highest eaves my window affords a fine view of most of Ashbury's acres and much of its outdoor activities. From this coign you can see to the southern boundary of the property, where the street cars sometimes linger to watch the games. To the eastern limit, too, the playing fields are visible, and only a small corner to the north-west is concealed by the jut of the building. ln the fall the soccer goals stand in the middle of the field, here is feverish activity, punctuated by an occasional malediction in Spanish and the crunch of shin-bone under toe-cap. Directly beyond, a seeth- ing mass of medium-sized football players plunge and tackle, and to the left their smaller counterparts are being taught to give and take. These are the second and third football teams. To the right, the first team bends, and bursts into sudden move- ment, or are at tackling, or blocking, or signal practice, while farther to the right, but hidden from the eye, there is an indescribable welter of small, shrill masculinity doing something or other violent. This is the fourth team at its chores. And so on, until long after the first prophetic powdering of snow. In the depths of winter you can see the outdoor rink to the left of mid-field. This is an athletic oasis in a surrounding desert of snow. It has been cleared by tractors, and flooded during the night by mysterious powers. Its boarded sides are buttressed by banks of snow and encircled on the outside by a highway of ice where beginners scramble and stumble. On the rink itself, the serious business of shaping future hockey teams goes forward. Between my window and the rink, from the side door issues a single file of long-striding, probing skiers. While in summer . . . but something too much of this . just before Easter a new and significant scene appeared beneath my window. Almost before the snow had gone, came a small knot of men accompanied by a grunting, shuffling monster that bopped its shovel nose against the trees and toppled them over and snouted them contemptuously aside. Came many more men, who closed the wounds and smoothed the scars. Since then, the construction of the new building has been progress- ing satisfactorily and is expected to be completed in the fall. This building, as many of our readers know, is to be a new classroom block

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12 THE ASHBURIAN SCHOUL NGTES Opening Day N September 10th, 1952, the school year officially began as Mr. Perry welcomed back many old faces as well as greeting 65 new boys, who were immediately formed into the new school house , which is named in honour of Earl Alexander, our recent Governor- General, who was such a great friend of the School during his stay in Canada. The new crop seemed as line a bunch as we have had here for many years. Many innovations had been effected during the summer, including the repainting of several classrooms and a reflooring job in several of the boarder's rooms. iVhile we were exploring the possibilities of these improvements, we also noticed amid the jostling crowd several new additions to the staff. Mr. A. H. N. Snelgrove, an old friend of many of our number, arrived from T.C.S. to assume the teaching duties for middle school science. Mr. john Viiayland came to us from Yankeeland and immediately became swallowed up by that mysterious part of the school known as the Memorial iVing, where he will no doubt prove to be of admirable assistance to Mr. Lord. And as well as these additions, we welcomed Miss M. Bray, from Kingston, as the new School Nurse. She is replacing Miss McLaughlin who, after many years of fine service to the boys and Staff of Ashbury, had been forced to retire because of ill health. VVe wish her and her successor the best of luck. On Friday, September 12th, Mr. E. N. Rhodes, Chairman of the Board of Governors, came to talk to us briefly on the forthcoming year and sent it off to a good start by asking the headmaster if he would proclaim a half-holiday. On Monday, 15th, the Mothers' Guild held its opening meeting. This organization carried on its good work throughout the year by many and varied contributions to the school's well being and comfort and convenience of the boys. Entertainwzent In the middle of the Fall Term the Hallowe'en Party was held. A movie was shown and generous refreshments served. Following the movies the juniors contested for the costume prizes. These boys are to be congratulated for their imagination and sense of humor which helped to make the evening so vivid. The highlight of the evening was the appearance of two dazzling beauties: Miss David Knowlton and Miss Edward Mulkins. These girls, in their beautiful gowns, re- ceived many wolf-whistles from the seniors. After the Christmas examinations the school celebrated its annual Christmas Dinner and Party. Sitting at the Head's table for the delicious turkey dinner were representatives from about a dozen different coun-