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

Page 8 text:

fiLBti3:1f3sif W? EI' I 5. 4 Sv T . May 9th, 1955 One sod- The symbol of a newer school A better Thing Wlhere girls Shall see this sun, this sky And live their youth- Become a part Of this, our school Whose countenance The light of kindly stock Emits still more Enkindled by This sod. sr . 4 JA' 4332: sn.

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IEIJITUHII-ll Uur School . . . our Juotlzera Blue print of a school! What a singular frontispiece in contrast with other plans that appear foremost in the year book of the world -- yet how appropriate. What a positive picture for the future our blue print presents! What successful manoeuvres will accomplish Operation School Building! What lies behind our blue print? Ink, parchment - but something more. In American history a Tea Party preceded a declaration that was to be the blue print of a nation. At Balmoral our blue print was preceded by a Coffee Party fbut a proper one with coffee in cups, and not in the brinkny. However, the next year the sea did claim our guests when the Captain and Crew of the Good Ship Balmoral enter- tained on deck, at a Smorgasbord. The following year the deck gave way to a Village Square. Indeed, just as Boston business men, alias the Indians, could claim a part of that 1776 declaration, we have big friends and little friends, alias the candy clerks, the sailors, the townsfolk, who can claim their part in our blue print. Edmund Burke said that example is the school of mankind and it will learn at no other. Our blue print is a thesis from masters of that school H from our mothers -- who have been such examples of loyality, service and foresight which qualities are Clearly evidenced in our blue print. Indeed, they have been master draftsmen. The school is their design. In it they will see their Bricks for Balmoral. In it they will see the better things they planned - -the classrooms, the common room, the art room, and the new plumbing, a memorial to the more seasoned fixtures which performed aquatically one glorious February fifth. Yes, in years to come Balmoral Hall will be proud of its building, and praise its designers. It is for us, Balmoral Hall of today, who know these designers, who saw them in action, who know their Part as draftsmen of our blue print, to say thank you. And so, though inadequately, we say our thank you, and take off our hats four sailor hats and our New York originalsj to you, the draftsmen of our new Balmoral- to you our mothers and to Miss Murrell-Wright - mother of it all! Blue print of a school, and what a lot we can learn from it! As the architects follow their blue print, so must we find ours and follow it, for there will be the plan for our success and for new Balmorals. As our mothers worked on this plan so we must work on ours and see as they did, somewhere in the small print of the legend, Meliora Petensf' Dawna Duncan, Editor

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Balmoral Hall, june, 1955. My dear Girls, Having read the very excellent editorial which precedes this letter, I feel that this issue of our Magazine may well be dedicated to our mothers. They indeed deserve this tribute. I choose, however, to tell you senior girls how great has been your contribution in making Balmoral Hall what it is today. In 1950 when we opened you were little girls not responsible for the difficulties that arise with an amalgamation and yet not unaware of them. Each year you have made contributions of ideas which have created traditions worthy to be passed on to those younger, who in turn will enrich what you have begun. Some of you dreamed with me away back in 1950 of our new building-in 1951 some of you helped to support a Common Room Fund which was opened by the Prefects that year. You added to this Fund in 1952, in 1953 at the Coffee Party, in 1954 at the Smorgasbord, and this year at the Village. Even though you who are graduating wi-ll not study in this New Building it will be yours in a way that it can never belong to those who succeed you. May you always feel that you are very much a part of it and return as often as you can until the new halls are as familiar to you as these where you have grown up, Now co-me with me little girls and 'big ones into our New School which is to be a reality when you return in the fall. We go out the side door of the W'hite House through ia glassed-in passage above a stone patio, into the Senior School Building. There are two storeys and we'll go downstairs first and visit the rooms on the River side. Come in to the Science Laboratory. See the new demonstration desk and the equipment room. Now come to the next room, the Home Economics Laboratory which is still more up to date and conveniently arranged than our new room of two years ago. Still on the river side come to the next room and hold your breath. Here it is-your long-waited-for Common Room. This room will give the Seniors a pleasant spot for recreation and lunch periods but it will have many other uses. With acoustic tile on the ceiling it will be ideal for singing classes and small recitals and a built-in cupboard will contain a'l'l the visual education equipment so that the room can readily be prepared for movies. This is the room which your 'fund will help to furnish and which some of you have helped to pilan. Opposite the Common Room across the corridor is the Art Studio. Wlhiat joy to have a place for Art supplies at last, for ea-sels, where you can leave unfinished paintings and go back to them when time permits. Now back towards the main door we walk and pass the Senior Locker Room and the Staff Room. Up the stairs we go, again to the River side, and here I shall have my office and be ready to welcome new girls and old girls in a very much more conveniently located spot. Opposite the office there will 'be a lovely new library which should inspire you to make excellent use of your free time. And then there are five large classrooms for Grades VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and a smaller classroom for Grade XII. Our tour is over but the organization of this new venture with the Junior School all housed in the present Senior School building, and with the Senior School in the new wing will be a challenge for you Senior Gi-rls in September. There will be many oppor- tunities for you to show initiative and leadership but let us never forget that a school is a place of learning. It will be good to have space but may it be space that is dedicated to the promotion of Christian learning that you who grow up here may develop sound minds and worthwhile standards -of life. Now away you go for a happy holiday while the hammers are banging, anid may God bless you all. Affectionately yours,