Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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26 X-J VOLLEY BALL TEAM BACK ROW-C. Young, G. Murray, J. Malaher, A. Rice. I. Huehn. FRONT ROW-P. Riley, J. Carr, J. Gladstone, J. Adamson, L. Craig, D. Nanton, J. Davidson. l'hrislmas Carol Service . . . Balmoral Hall's second Carol Service was held on December 19th, 1951. Christmas trees with their coloured lights provided the only illumina- tion in the room. The dim light helped to create the atmosphere of worship and reverence which prevailed throughout the service. The choir and the school entered singing the old carol I-lark the Herald Angels Sing, and then Rev. W. G. Burch opened the service with a prayer. While the choir was singing the Coventry Carol, the curtains of the stage parted to reveal for a moment, the familiar and lovely Manger scene. During the service different groups presented carols, and the entire congregation sang three Christmas hymns. Rev. A. R. I-luband gave a short address on the spirit of giving. We listened to passages from the familiar story of the Nativity, read by Miss Murrell-Wright and some of the Grade XI girls. Canon Wilmot pronounced the benediction, and the service closed with the quiet singing of Silent Night during which the Christ- mas tableau was again seen. Joan Davidson, Grade X. The Christmas Party . . . The Christmas party took place in the school dining-room on December 18th, 1951. The candlelit room with its rows of long tables covered with Christmas crackers, hats, and mini- ature sugar plum trees received the gaily-dressed hostesses and their guests all wearing cheery seasonal corsages. Everyone had enjoyed the carol cocktails in the drawing-room. Colourful Christmas flags marked everyone's place, and we paused for grace. It was a real Christmas Dinner with golden, crisp turkey, delicious dressing, relish, olives, celery, hot rolls, nippy cranberry sauce, vegetables and luscious giblet gravy, for dessert we 'had ice-cream pie. All during the dinner there was a continuous cheery chatter filled with pre-Christmas news and expectations. The whole atmosphere was charged with Christmas delight. Following dinner, the staff separated from the girls and each group went to their after-dinner party. The guests went to the drawing-room and the girls gathered in the library around the Christ- mas tree. Santa had previously visited our tree and everyone eagerly tore open her present to see

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-LE Gymnastics . . . mano Ann mwcme 1 On Friday May 2nd and Saturday, May 3rd, a piano recital and display of gymnastics and dancing were presented in the auditorium of the school. The programme was divided into three parts, the first and last parts being devoted to gymna- stics and the middle part to piano selections and dancing. All the girls in the school took part in the programme from the smallest children in Grade I to the senior girls in Grade XI. The Grand March at the beginning of the programme brought all the girls into the gym- nasium for the singing of O Canada. The gymnastic work ranged from Very simple exercises to balance work, swinging on the ropes, work on the spring box, exercises in mat work and moving designs on the bars. The piano num- bers consisted of piano duets and solo piano selections. Dancers presented technical work and exercises, simple junior dances, a graceful pas de trois, a Russian peasant dance, frieze dance, ball dance and lively tarantelle. School uniform was worn for most of the evening, but for certain dances colourful costumes were used. We take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Far- rally, Miss Camden, Miss Bird, Miss Arnold, Miss Rossell and Mr. Thorsen who trained us for this work. Carol Feinstein, Grade XI. GYM Bell sounds. File out. Down stairs. Don't shout. Shoe on. Forgot my sock. Lend me one? Don't talk. Zipper broke. Hurry now. Get in line. Yes, but how? Up at last. Lead in. All here but Mary and Lynn. Take your distance, two by two. Hurry Zane, put on your shoe. Now commence, two, four. Pike, jack, touch the floor, Forward roll, neck-stand high, Arabasque and don't sigh. Point the toes, arch your back. Now a back-bend on the rack. Rest awhile. In comes Lynn. Where's Mary? Can't find a pin. Oh, well! Straddle-roll, Cross-legged turn, jump the pole. Door opens. Mary's in. Walks over, whispers to Lynn. Bell going? Good show! Relief at last. Let's go. Dawna Duncan, Grade IX. Miss SHARMAN: to a very talkative pupil. What was the formula I just rubbed off the board? PUPIL: I don't know. MISS SHARMAN: Well rome barb Hex! year and maybe you will!

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what gift Father Christmas had left. Cokes and Christmas cake were carried up to the White House Upper Hall where the mats had been rolled up in readiness for the dancers. The non-dancers were busily occupied with a small, withered piece of mistletoe. The wee green leaf managed to be held over, or by, nearly everyone at the party. As the clock ticked on, our Christmas Party for 1951 ended and everyone went home feeling full, tired and happy. Dawna Duncan. DESERTED Drifting, drifting all alone Drifting on a silver foam, A weary wail, a shrieking moan, A haunting laugh, a hollow groan. Deserted on a stormy night, Fantastic sails red and bright, A misty gap we soon do see- What, oh, what can it be? Sylvia Pierce, Grade IX. .aiinf Photography Winner-Mary Thornton, VIII. BRUWNIES I-IND GUIDES BROWN IES ENROLLMENT On Tuesday, December the 7th, we came into the gymnasium in our Brownie uniforms and stood in a circle. We all pledged to be good Brownies. Madame Commissioner put our Brownie pins on the ties of our uniforms. Madame Commissioner told us a fairy story about how Brownies started. All the Brownies put their fairy gold fcollectionj under the toadstool. Then we played The Germ and the Toothbrush. We had some good food to eat. Then, since the party was over, we all went home. Katherine Kaufmann, Grade III. A 16TH GUIDE COMPANY The Balmoral Hall Guide Company opened in September 1951, for its second year, under new leadership. The Captain, Mrs. Hutchinson, and the Lieutenant, Mrs. Graham, have worked very hard. In January ten new Guides were enrolled and one second class badge was received. Every guide 'has been working hard on her semaphore during February and March. At the end of each meeting there is time to play a few games. In the fall some of the Guides went on a picnic and in the winter we went for a tally-ho ride. The guides sent three sets of place mats into a competition, but we did not win. For one meeting we went to Canada Bread and were shown around. This was very interesting. The whole Guide Company went to the Auditorium to attend the Thinking and Remembrance Day Service on February 24th. All Guides, Brownies, Cubs and Scouts assembled at the Civic Auditorium on Sunday, February 24th for a special programme to com- memorate Thinking and Remembrance Day. We sang familiar hymns and were lead in prayer by well known guides and scouts. A guide brought forward the guide Hag and then Mrs. A. Mahon told us the meanfng of everything on the flag. Guide Patricia Malaher gave a speech about Thinking Day. The ceremony closed with all Scouts and Cubs solemnly renewing their pro- mise, and led by Mrs. Greer, our Provincial Commissioner, the Guides and Brownies repeated and renewed their promise. Mary Thornton, 16th Guide Company.