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

Page 9 text:

Balmoral Hall, June, 1957. My dear Girls: When you read this the Summer holidays will be just around the corner and you will be thinking of the freedom that is soon to be yours. Even so the end of the school year is often teeming with memories of school days to which you cling-your first gymnastic demonstration, or perhaps your last - dancing classes - House meetings - Common Room fun-sunftanning on the river bank Afriends from whom you will soon be separated. Whatever your memories may be I hope that they will include the words of your School Motto - Meliora Petensu - and the significance of your School crest. Little has been said this past year about our crest and it occurred to me when some of you who are comparatively new, were receiving School pins, and School rings, that you may not know or understand its meaning. I shall quote from an editorial in one of our earlier magazines: In the crest, wisdom is suggested by the four white pillars - and here at Balmoral Hall are opportunities for infinite wisdom and great understanding. The wavy lines at the base of the crest represent the tranquil flow of the storied Assiniboine on whose banks we live and in whose beauty we find peace. The eagle, flying high on the crest, symbol of fortitude and power, will always inspire us to aim high, challenge us to be firm in our convictions, and to be satisfied only as we move ever onward and upward Seeking Better Things. A crest so fraught with meaning, be it on your tunic, on your pin or on your ring, should be worn with pride and a sense of responsibility. How do you wear yours? Will you remember that a crest is a symbol and a symbol is a sign? Our School crest is but the first of these signs which you will discover in life. How you observe such signs will indicate to others as well as to yourself just what kind of a person you are. May Balmoral Hall always be proud of her girls. Affectionately yours, 3 Biff'

Page 8 text:

C IYN STEPHEN I XIX NANCY WIIITIQ W-XLEIJICTIIHY Dear Girls: One night last fall we gathered around a campfire in the gym to sing Getting to Know You and officially to welcome our new girls into the school. fWill you ever forget the feathers?j The months have passed quickly, too quickly for most of us, and our wish has been fulfilled-in working and playing together, we have come to know you. Our first complete year in the new building has been a rewarding one for we have known and appreciated the benefits of our wellfcatalogued Library, our Common Room, and all the other blessings for which former students worked. We have been pioneers too, in the field of student i administration with the introduction of a new office, that of School Captain. Because of your constant help and understanding, we who write this farewell to you feel that this experiment has been successful. ln leaving there is so very much we would like to tell you -for it is when they come to an end that one realizes the true value of school daysg the lessons in good sportsf manship, the search for knowledge, the value of religious guidance and the experience of true friendship. We hope that those of you returning will always wear your uniform proudly and be especially aware of the significance of your crest. Co on and on Seeking Better Things, and keep in mind that nothing is ever achieved without effort. We who are graduating owe so very much to Balmoral Hall and our sincere thanks go to all the Staff for their patience and encouragement. It will be especially hard to say goodfbye to Miss MurrellfWright who has in so many ways prepared us for a full, happy, and useful life in the world, and who by her example and understanding has taught us more than words can tell. And now, to all of you J Seniors and juniors, thank you for your enthusiasm and interest, and most of all for just being the girls you are. Our thanks to you Prefects, for your loyal and constant support, and especially to Beryl, our Sports Captain, who has done a difhcult job magnificently. Finally, to you who will be leaders next year, we wish happiness and the best of luck, and hope that you will have the same enthusiastic support that we have had. With love, NANCY AND LYN

Page 10 text:

8 BACK ROW-Joanne, Blight, Betty McRae, Anthea Dykes, Alyson Thomas, Elsie Albertsen. I FRONT ROW-Beryl Hoare, Sports Captain, Lyn Stephen, Head Girl, Nancy White, 'School Captain. Our Prefects From Tour Daughter and Balmoral Hallug an appreciation recently presented by members of the board, the mothers' auxiliary and the alurnnae. SEEKING BETTER THINGS AT BALMORAL HALL If education is to set a pattern for the true ends of living, then the moulding of character and the training of the mind must go hand in hand. With this in mind, Balmoral Hall in its daily routine encourages the development of: LOYALTY f RESPONSIBILITY AND LEADERSHIP. LOYALTY is developed through the House System. Each child, from Grade Ill level, is a member of one of the four Houses. The school uniform, the school motto, Seeking Better Things , and friendships formed, are influences creating bonds of loyalty to the school. Through competif tion in all phases of school life, the child is made aware at an early age, that cofoperation and loyalty are basic ideas of the civilized world. A sense of RESPONSIBILITY AND LEADERSHIP and the capacity to distinguish between right and wrong are qualities which the independent school em' phasizes. From the Head Girl, the School Captain, the prefects, and down to the youngest class presif dent, this feeling of responsibility to a position is important. In the senior school, students are given opportunities to plan and to make decisions in various ways4on the magazine staff, on the library committee, as team captains, as House executives, and in many other phases of School life-which will enable them in future years to be good citizens.