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

Page 9 text:

Balmoral Hall, june, 19 56. My dear Girls, In various ways as I read your articles in this Magazine I detect a note of appreciation for the changes and improvements that have come to Balmoral Hall and instead of writing a letter I would rather quote a Psalm of Thanksgiving for this wonderful year now completed. However, as I am not too sure that you would read into the Psalm all that I am thinking, I shall gather into this letter some of the gifts to this School for which we should all be truly thankful. Most conspicuous by its size and its importance in our lives is our new senior school building, nearly every feature of which has been referred to in some corner in this magazine. As we now use every room so completely and so naturally it is difficult to realize how we managed without a Common Room, an Art Room and a Locker Room- or how the old library could have been adequate - or how we faced the trips to the old Science Laboratory in 300 below zero weather. Less conspicuous to the casual observer but of great significance in the varying fields of your education are three pictures - you know where they are -a 1955 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, a Frigidaire, and Television. Still less conspicuous is the work of the Alumnae Association and the Auxiliary, your Mothers. These groups are busily working all the time, not where they will disturb you by their presence but working because they love this school or want the best for you. Their efforts are too numerous to mention but if you stop and think you will realize how much richer we are because of their help. Let us be thankful for all our blessings this past year and let us remember with joy any opportunities we have had for useful service. Service gladly and freely given is a gift in itself. You have served others by being friendly, helpful and considerate - by being able class officers or prefects - by fulfilling to your best ability your duties on various school committees - and by serving others you have served yourselves and your School. As you go away for a happy Summer holiday let no day go by without saying and meaning these familiar words: For what I have received this day, O Lord make me truly thankful . Affectionately yours,

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QL. ...L . .- ...,-..c-.,L.. MISS M. il. DALTON Headmistress 1901-1905 A Tribute to Miss Dalton The word of Miss Dalton's death last August turned the clock of recollection back for her old pupils of Havergal College to 1901. She opened the school as a stranger in Winnipeg but soon won the admiration and respect of her pupils and of their parents. As one of those pupils, may I express my deep appreciation of her, and an acknowledgment of her influence on my life. I was most fortunate in being taken on my first European trip with my parents at that time and Miss Dalton whole-heartedly approved of the break in the scholastic year. She excused me from classes for some weeks prior to our departure and gave me a corner in which to peruse books of information she provided about the places we were to visit. The result was that these places were already alive for me before we started, and I was armed with lists and notations of things I should see. That first trip abroad made an indelible impression on my life and greatly broad- ened my outlook on life-To Miss Dalton I owe much. Anne Collum GIFTS TO THE NEW SCHOOL Balmoral Hall has said thank you many times this past year to our extraordinarily generous friends. Among the many gifts we have received is a donation towards a dictionary stand for the Library, a donation -towards a shield for Sports Captains' names, a projector screen, a frigidaire for the Home Economics room, a 1955 edition of The Encyclopaedia Britannica, a television set for the Common Room, some office furniture, new library filing cabinets, a radiometer, a microscope and a precision balance for the Laboratory, two Library tables, a plant stand and plants, a plastic relief map of Canada, three paintings, a flag for the Guide Company and a rug for the junior Library. As we send this Magazine to Press once again we say sincerely, Thank you.

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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