Blumenhof High School - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Blumenort, Manitoba Canada)

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BEN B. DUECK Teaches Grades 9-11 Dear Students, Parents, Colleagues, and Friends: Years ago, when I was a mere lad in a one-roomed rural school, a truly great teacher taught us th ' is little verse: “Four things come not back— The spoken word The sped arrow Time past Neglected opportunity.” Many words have echoed through our classrooms and hallways, and over our playground during this year; words of in¬ struction, admonishment, and prayer; words of joy, trouble, singing, or fun; words of dawning intelligence and understanding. Some of these words certainly were seeds well sown; others perhaps we would give much to recall. Words—their shape, mean¬ ing, and sounds — were what the Grade I’s learned. To acquire, smooth, flowing meaningful communication through oral speeches, debates, and written essays was the serious purpose of the Grade XI’s. At all grade levels, words were the significant tools for furthering the learning process. How did we use our words this year? Were we as teachers quick to give generously words of praise and encouragement where needed? Did each of us as students and teachers at Blumenhof School use our Principal’s Message words as building-blocks of character ? How anxious were we that our words should be modelled to the pattern of God’s Word ? Much as words, so arrows, also can be used for various aims. They may be em¬ ployed for mere enjoyment or fun. Other users of arrows, such as the pygmies of Africa, tip their shafts with deadly poison to bring down their enemies. Again, we have heard of fr ' iendly messages, of food or lifebelts being tied to arrows in a genuine effort to be of assistance to others. Might the “arrows” we used in our school work and school relations this year always have been of the heart-warming, wholesome variety! Time—since registration day last fall—- has sped by with the urgent haste of ten satellites. Although every day still con¬ sists of twenty-four hours (hard to believe, isn’t it ?), there simply doesn’t appear to be enough of that precious material—time— to satisfy the demands that school, family, homework, chores, church, and social activi¬ ties make upon it. Here’s a thought; should we pause long enough occasionally in our busy whirl to stop and take stock of HOW we are using our time? Time is a gift of our heavenly Father. Remember, dear graduates, God is happy to let us use time to equip ourselves for doing an honest work on earth—but only if, in so doing, we are also furthering our Lord’s heavenly king¬ dom in the spiritual realm. You, as the largest graduating class In the history of Blumenhof High, have striven nobly and aimed high. May His blessing accompany you as you go forth in service. May you never neglect any opportunity to help a fellow-pilgrim in his time of trouble! I would like to ask the undergraduates and other students, as well as the faculty members and myself this question: Haven’t we all frequently neglected an opportunity this year? As we look forward toward another school year, let us resolve now to make the most of every opportunity to Continued on page 20 6

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The School Board MR. C. P. UNGER Secretary-T reasurer MR. BEN R. PLETT Chairman MR. JACOB D. K. PLETT T rustee 5

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Teacher’s Report ROOM TWO “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 We have almost unconsciously emerged from the atomic age and have entered the sputnik age. A simple invention like a ship that can penetrate into the initial edges of the erstwhile prohibited territory of space is more or less secondary In the light of possibilities such as a realization of probing into the secrets of the moon, Mars, etc., from an intimate distance. With the coming of machines that make colossal things seem slight and make miles shrink we must come to a realization that, as people who retain this knowledge, and especially as Christian men and women whom God has given the wisdom to understand the import of this knowledge, we bear responsibilities that are greater than we can comprehend all at once. We are responsible not only for our neighbor who is ten or a hundred miles neighbor on the other side of the world. “Go ye into all the world and preach the gos¬ pel ...” I do not say that we have not always had this responsibility, but the dev¬ eloping events and the ' increased knowledge of man in the past fifty years have multi¬ plied this responsibility so that it is now greater than it has been in centuries before. But the immediate responsibilities so vital and pertinent to us all weigh heavily on us, and we dare not disregard or ignore them. Whom will God hold responsible for our coming generation ? Who will answer for the quality of our tomorrow ' s young people? On whom will future prodigal sons lay the blame for their waywardness? How could we face God with only the one talent that hasn’t multiplied to offer him when we stand before him? JOHN KORNELSEN Teaches Grades 4-8 Can a person, with a Grade VIII stand¬ ing, who tries to fulfill God’s will as well as he can, honestly say “I have done my best” if he could have done much better with either more secular or Bible Study? I believe that we are not responsible for what we know, but for what we could have known. Let us renew our aim, and put fresh fuel to the fire. Let us not hinder anything that will help in the right development of the young mind. Let us choose our educators with care, because the Influence they exert is far-reaching. Let us stay close to God, and regard His Son, Jesus Christ, not only as our Saviour, but as the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Master that has domin¬ ion over us, and whom we have the privilege to serve. “Looking unto Jesus the author and fin¬ isher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 John P. Kornelsen 7