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

Page 11 text:

. 'Z PREFECTS and SENIORS in the COMMON ROOM Our Prefects XII Carol Cross Jacqueline Hoare jennifer Rose Patricia Smith Xl Brenda Dougall joy McDiarmid Dianne McPhail Lyn Stephen Diane Smith - Head Girl I Am The Common Room I am the Common Room and I speak as the Common Room. Hear my tale. Barely had the painters moved out when girls moved in. I must have been needed for I have stored away a long list of appreciative remarks beginning with Do you remember when we didn't have this Common Room? How am I used? I hardly know where to begin but if I tell you that the first month of opening produced a piano, the next month a new three- speed record player which the girls purchased themselves, QI heard about this one day at recrea- tionj you will understand that there is music in the C.R. Where there is music and a group of girls there is dancing. Believe me Friday nights were quite interesting when a group of seniors took a short course in ball-room dancing. My walls also resound to the tuneful voices of the singing classes where I hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil. I have witnessed interesting meetings, Guide parties, Alumnae Teas and endless moments of casual living. I seem to be the place where people let off but the greatest moment of all and one that I shall long remember was the occasion of the boarders' Christmas party when Staff and Pre- fects were the guests of honour. I remember the gay mood of the evening, the gaily-decorated Christmas tree, the sparkling eyes of excited girls, little girls in party dresses, big girls in sophisti- cated taffetas but all were one with uncontrolled delight when Santa brought to me, the Common Room, a gleaming new Television Set. From that day on I have been convinced that of all my com- panion rooms in this new building I am the most used and the happiest. I suppose that is natural for after all I am the Common Roomf' The Common Room

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Wana! Qc!-:fe VALEDICTUHY Dear Girls, School days seem so short when you want to do so much. As I write this valedictory, I am reminded that many of us are soon to end our school days. What glorious opportunities and adventures we who are graduating can recall - the amalgamation of the two schools, the turning of the sod of our new building, and finally the opening of the building, Of my many happy memories I think the most out- standing was being present at the cutting of the 'Q ribbon by Dr. Lockhart. Certainly the highlight this year has been the new building - with its Common Room, Laboratory, Library, Home Economics Room, and of course, the classrooms. Throughout this school year, we have not ceased to remember you who have left, but who worked for what we now enjoy. We too have worked-together with our Mothers, we planned and carried out the Library Tea, which was a tremendous success and has helped to provide the means for cataloguing our Library and for new library books. OUR HEAD GIRL - DIANE SMITH I shall always realize what I owe to my school - to Miss Murrell-Wright, Whose constant understanding and guidance has made this year so successful, to all the members ofthe Staff who have taught me and now send me on to Seek Better Things else- where. To the prefects, House Heads, and girls, I should like to say that this has been a wonderful year for me as your Head Girl. To you seniors who will fulfill the positions of responsibility and authority next year, and to my successor, I give my sincerest wishes for your happiness in all that you undertake next year. Although I find it hard to say good-bye after all these happy years, I hope to come back often to wish you well. Love, Diane

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IO g gg gg gg gg g g ggg g Te? ' hull H IA l -fx VR -ff'- M f U'-bl nf What the Cat Saw The fire leaped and danced and spread a cheery glow through the room. The cat sat blink- ing in the warmth, tail curved neatly about him, eyes on the flames. Like an aged professor, he seemed to be reminiscing on past experiences. His thoughts went back and back . . . Egypt . . . The jewelled fingers of Cleopatra stroked her fui ry companion. Deftly, she slipped the deadly potion into her brother's goblet as he bent, laughing, to retrieve the fan she had let fall. Slowly, she stroked, and stroked. Suddenly the youth uttered a sharp cry and fell to the floor where he writhed for a moment, twitched, and grew still, She smiled, and stroked M who would know? Only the cat had seen. Rome . . . The agonized voice cried hoarsely, Et tu, Brute? as the knife plunged once more. His murderers watched as their emperor crumpled slowly to the floor, then fled silently. The cat, disinterestedly washing himself in a small square of sunlight, reflected: So, Caesar is dead. Britain . . . At the sound of the terror-stricken scream, the cat leaped into a doorway. Running footsteps approached, and presently a sobbing girl darted past. Her frightened eyes glanced wildly to left and right, as if in search of refuge in the cold, echoing rooms. All day her pitiful cries were heard. Then all sound ceased. Another English queen had met her death, swiftly, at the block. France , . . From his perch on the window sill, the cat had a perfect view of the screaming mob below. Through the crowd rumbled a cart filled with aristocrats -- their faces drawn and haggard. One stood out among the rest - her snowy hair and erect body hinted at former beauty. But soon the gracious head was mutilated, the proud body broken and lifeless. The guillotine had ended the life of Marie Antoinette. America . . . Savage screams broke the calm of the still night. One by one the family was dragged into the yard screaming . . , then the night grew still once more, The only sound was the crackling of the burning barn. After a long while, the cat crept from his hiding place and gingerly picked his way to the middle of the yard where lay a child. He sniffed her cold cheek, and then, as if summoning her to play, patted a dishevelled curl. There was no movement. He mewed plaintively several times, then began a long vigil beside his little mistress. Is it any wonder that the cat looks so wise, so mysterious? Perhaps many of our questions would be answered if we had seen what the cat saw, Lyn Stephen, Grade XI.