Bowmanville High School - Screech Owl Yearbook (Bowmanville, Ontario Canada)

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Today Well here we are And time is now Elusive time How quickly you Don't leave now For when you do Our thoughts die And our smiles Turn awry . . . l'LlI1

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The formal opening of the important addition to the forty year old school failed to generate the excitement so evident back in 1890. In the Canadian Statesman of the thirteenth a description of the new facilities includes this paragraph - The pride of the school is the splendid, spacious auditorium, with seating capacity of five hundred, which occupies the main floor at the front of the building. Gone now are the days when students and teachers had to migrate to the Opera House to hold Com- mencement Exercises, plays, concerts, etc. Gone, too, are the days of endless climbing up the creaking stairs to the place which might best be designated as next to the roof for morning assembly, physical exercises, literary meetings where the stage was hardly discer- nable from the floor below. The following weekis Statesman had the full coverage of the official opening headlined HBOWMANVILLE NOW POSSESSES ONE OF THE BEST EQUIPPED HIGH SCHOOL'S IN ONTARIO. Mr. W.B. Couch presided, sharing the platform with other Board members, the staff in gowns and hoods, Mr. David Keith, nonagenarian townsman, Mr. J.F. Rogers, Chief Inspector of Ontario High Schools. The program opened with O CANADA, followed by the first public performance of the new High School orchestra, directed by Francis Sutton. Other participation by students, interspersed throughout the evening, included a vocal solo by Bernice Bellman, two violin solos by Wallace Horn, accompanied by Helen Argue, A Highland Fling, danced by Marion Slemon, and Yvonne Tighe. Mr. Couch, in the chairman's address, reviewed the development of the school from 18 90 to the time the number of students' began to outgrow the space. The old building was utilized to its fullest extent, for not only the Assembly Room but some of the cloakrooms were turned into classrooms. He thanked the Architect, Mr. G.R. Gouinlock, Toronto, the contractors, Herod Construction Co. of Mimico, the building committee chaired by Dr. Bon- nycastle, and the public spirited town council which placed the necessary funds at the Board's disposal. Mr. David Keith, now ninety-six years old spoke a few words about his school days and of- fered his congratulations. Dr. Bonnycastle ex- plained the financial details, saying that of the 898,000.00 supplied by the town, he hoped to have substantial balance. Mayor M.J. Elliott added congratulatpons in a brief speech. The main address was given by Chief In- spector J.F. Rogers. He began by referring to his experiences teaching in B.H.S. in 1894. He complimented the Board for making provision for commercial courses, since he felt more at- tention should be paid to individual idiosyn- cracies of the pupils laying more emphasis on subjects for which each is particularly adap- ted. He declared that the south wall of the auditorium was one of the best situations that could be found for an art gallery and suggested that each graduating class present the school with an ORIGINAL painting by a Canadian ar- tist. Cthe italics are your scribe'sJ. For many years thereafter each class DID present a pic- ture, the first one being THE ANGELUS, given by the 1930 graduating class. The assembly wall was slowly filled, mainly with prints of Canadian artists' pictures, though the Screech Owl failed to record any further gifts. To return to the opening, a letter was read from ex-principal John Elliott who was unable to attend. Seven of the happiest years of my teaching career were spent in the beautiful old school overlooking the lake and many lasting friendships were formed in the good town of Bowmanville. For student quality and school spirit no school in my experience surpassed B.H.S. The next night, February 14, Commencement was held in the new assembly. Mr. Couch again presided and complimented Mr. Dippell, staff and students for carrying on under the con- ditions of noise and crowding caused by the construction. Ex-principal Morrison was present to give out diplomas to his former students. He reviewed the activities of the school in the twenties, singling out the great debating prowess shown and attributing the success to Miss I.K. Smith's enthusiasm and coaching. CDuring the presentation of prizes, the Jury and Lovell Debating Shield had become the permanent possession of B.H.S., which had won ten out of thirteen debates in nine years.J CCon't. on page 1681

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Principal's Message It is in a mood of reflection that this preface is written, since it is the forward for the final edition of the Screech Owl to be compiled at the present location of Bowmanville High School. The building, which for so many generations has provided secondary schooling for the families of Bowmanville and surrounding areas, is to gain respite from the tumult of the past ninety years. The history of Bowmanville High School reaches back to pioneer Canada. Since its opening in 1890, through its por- tals have passed many who wishes wished to gain the advantages of a post elementary education or at least to reach the age of legal retirement. The school added to its size by the way of additions in 1928 and again in 1954, but with the increasing population and the flood of sociological and technological changes the present accommodation no longer proves adequate. Consequently, the present building gives way to its successor on a more expansive site. At the new location the school will include well equipped shops and commercial facilities, so that courses of a practical nature will be offered. The building will be ready for occupation in September 1972. May I express appreciation to the editorial staff who through their planning and endeavour have made this publication available, may it find a cherished spot on your library shelf. For all, I hope the perusal of these pages will prove interesting and enjoyable. May it recall for you those exciting days when beyond the halls of this institution lay the future, a future which for many is now included in the experience of the past. 50