Balmoral Junior High School - Crimson Green and White Yearbook (Calgary, Alberta Canada)

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JUNIOR ASSEMBLY (Bob Stobie, Grant Trimble, 7A) As grade seven students we feel that this year’s assemblies have been extremely interesting and entertaining. The first officers of the assembly were as follows: President, Maurice Weegar, 7D; Vice-President, Jim Matheson, 7C; and Secretary, Artoria Wylie, 7A. While these people were in office we had six assemblies, one every other week. One of the most interesting of these assemblies was when Sergeant Moffat of the Calgary Police Force gave us a talk on safety, and showed us a film entitled “Scarlet and Gold”. The second executive consisted of: President, Helen Greig, 7C; Vice- President, Jack Alexander, 7D; and Secretary, Jim Matheson, 7C. An interest¬ ing assembly while this executive was in office took place when Mr. Hewlett from the Blind Institute gave us a talk on how blind people read and write. A successful group of assemblies followed this. We would like to congratulate the two executives for the fine job they have done throughout the year. INTERMEDIATE ASSEMBLY (Pat Carvell, 8A) The Grade Eight Assembly has had a very successful year, with the first te rm officers being: Ken Hendry, 8D, president; Ken McLaren, 8C, vice- president: and Bob Dahrouge, 8C, secretary. Assemblies, which were held every other week, had many interesting and educational programs. As an example. Mr. Hewlett, Director of the National Institute for the Blind, gave us a talk on the Blind Institute and how the blind manage in spite of their handicap. Mr. Hewlett, who is totally blind, made his talk very amusing and interesting. The officers for the second term were: Pat Carvell, 8A, president; John Waugh, 8B, vr ' ce-president; and Donald Hume, 8C, secretary. The assemblies were under the supervision of Mr. L. Pallesen. SENIOR ASSEMBLY (Donnie Williams, 9G) A complete series of Balmoral Senior Assemblies have iust been completed, from September 30, 1949 to March 17, 1950, with Mr. Baldwin in charge. Part of the term was made up of talks given by Mr. Hewlett, manager of Institute of Blind, talkin g on importance of the Canadian National Institute of the Blind, and Miss Weston, Balmoral Lady Vice-Principal, speaking on her trip to Europe. A debate, featuring students of Balmoral, was held on the topic, “Re¬ solved that Canada’s Immigration Laws Are Too Strict”. It proved to be quite interesting with the affirmative side winning. A quiz, sponsored by the Assembly Executive, was enjoyed by all, with Ray Evans, 9C, winning the jackpot. Plays were presented by 9C, 9F and 9B, under the direction of Mr. Bald¬ win, Balmoral Drama teacher. 9C presented “Airman’s 48”, 9F presented “Paul Ducks the Dentist”, and 9B presented both “The Gorilla” and “Elmer and the Love Bug”. A talent show, featuring Balmoral students, entertained with songs by Mervyn Parker and Sharon Johnston, piano solos by Coralie Dingle and Sandra Kalef, guitar solos by Harvine Cunningham and Jim Thibaudeau, dances by Connie Brietzke and Nina and Lorna Shoults, and comedy readings by Betty Hashman and Bob MacKay and Lome Hadden. The executive of the Senior Assembly of 1949 and 1950 was: President. Donnie Williams, 9G; Vice-President. Lance Alexander, 9C; Secretary, Jack Kenyon, 9A. 53

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Square Dancing (Gary Miller, 9C) It seems that Balmoral has caught on to the fad that is sweeping the country. Of course, how could we help but ' get hep” to it with a principal such as we have. I think the credit for making square dancing in Balmoral so popular should go to Mr. Byran, and I’m sure everyone else thinks so too. Since Mr. Bryan started teaching square dancing it seems that the other schools had to follow along, as Western and Crescent both have classes in which the pupils can learn these new dances. There was a square dancing club the latter half of the year and it had a full roster of members. It proved to be very popular. Under Mr. Bryan’s leadership we learned such dances as Dive for the Oyster, Forward and Back, Texas Star, Grapevine Twist, and Duck and Dive. Besides square dances we learned folk dances such as Varsouviana (Put Your Little Foot), Black Hawk Waltz, and Narcissus. These dances were also a lot of fun. Balmoral had a team entered into the Mac-a-bee Hop. We didn ' t win anything, but we had a good time. The team consisted of, Nina and Lorna Shoults, Peggy MacGregor, Pat Peck, Dennis Christie, Laurie Merkley, Cliff Wylie and Gary Miller. Some noons if you come early you can see the assembly hall full of Grades Sevens, Eights and Nines learning new square dances. The Home and School also has caught on and they have a dance every two weeks with large crowds attending. The Grade Nine Social, ' ‘Barnyard Shuffle”, was the success of the year. It was strictly Old Time. It was more fun than a picnic and everyone was dressed old time, with the girls wearing flowing calico dresses and print cotton skirts. The boys wore cowboy hats, blue jeans, and plaid shirts. Plays (Joyce Corsiatto, 9F) Throughout the year there have been several plays presented by the various Grade Nine drama classes. 9A (Girls)—Presented the ‘‘Spinsters’ Convention”. It was put on at 4 p.m. for all students and in the eveiV ' .ng for the public. There were good audiences both times and the girls did a splendid piece of work with the play. 9B—Presented very successfully to the Senior Assembly, ‘‘Elmer and The Love Bug”. They studied two other plays, ‘‘The Black Widow” and “My Cousin From Sweden”, but were unable to stage these. 9B—Entertained their home rocm with ‘Wildcat Willie’s Lucky Number” and ‘‘The First Shave”. They also presented for the enjoyment of the Senior Assembly, ‘‘Jerry Sees the Gorilla”. 9C—Presented “Wildcat Willie” for the Intermediate Assembly but were unable to finish, ‘‘Phillip For Short”. 9C—Senior Assembly enjoyed the presentation of “Airman’s Forty- eight ”, by this class. The Elementary Grades saw “Wildcat Willie Takes a Tumble”. Among the plays not completed were, “Have You Had Your Operation?” and “Wlio Gets the Car Tonight?” 9F—“Paul Ducks the Dentist”, was produced for the Senior Assembly and enjoyed by all. “Wildcat Willie and the Bearded Lady” was presented to an after-four audience. Time did not permit the production of “Our Dream House”. 9F—The Grade 9F Class enjoyed the presentation of “Buddy Answers An Ad”. Other plays worked uoon by this group but not produced were: “The Great Allowance Battle”, “Buddy”, and “Elmer”. 52

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Social Evenings (Lawrence Merkley, 9G; Doug Fraser, 9G) Commencing in the fall and running through the winter and spring, several successful social evenings, shags and dances were held. The Grade Seven pupils divided their efforts between games and dancing at their first social evening. At their second one they gave most of their atten¬ tion to dances new and old, mixing waltzes, minuets, and square dances in expert style under the guidance of Miss Weston, Miss Hoskin and some of the Grade Eight and Nine students. Miss Shepherd and Mr. Culley, assisted by visiting parents, ran games of binno. bowling and table tennis. The evenings were successfully concluded with hot dogs and pop. The Grade Eights held two social evenings. Both were well attended and enjoyed by all. Modern and western style square dancinq were featured along with Put Your Little Foot and some of the older round dances, which are in vogue again. Mr. Pallesen officiated as the caller. Some of the par¬ ents came to assist Miss Ballantyne, Mrs. McGimpsey and Mr. Russell with refreshments and games. Grade Nine social activities took the form of afternoon shags and evenina dances. Several classes combined at each shag, which gave jitterbugs and square dancers a chance to “strut their stuff”. Proceeds were used to buy records. The first evening party was a “Barn Yard Shuffle”. Everyone dressed for the occasion, including Mr. Goddard as the “Sheriff” and Master of Ceremonies. Thanks to the efficient work of the committee in decorating and preparing the program a very hilarious eveninq of square and modern dances was enjoyed by all. M ; ss Williams, Miss Ramsay and some of the parents were responsible for refreshments to conclude the evening. The winning of the Track Meet by Balmoral was marked by a Victory Dance, attended by the Grade Nines and the track team. The final social affair was the Grade Nine Graduation Ceremonies and Dance held for the first time at Crescent Heights High School. Much of the credit for a successful social season qoes to a small group of Grade Eight and Nine students, headed by Gary Miller, Nina and Lorna Shoults and Peggy MacGregor, and several of the teachers who worked very hard organizing practice dance sessions at noon, and to the Home Economics and Shop teachers who supervised the arrangements for refreshments. 54