Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN 17 For a number of years, it has been the custom of our Editors to concern themselves with nation-wide problems. The Immig-ration Question, Prohibition, and The Future of Canada have all been ably discussed, but this year our interest and our energies have been turned from world-wide problems to those here in School. Since the School has been permanently established in Rose- dale, and even before that time, it has been the ambition of every true Branksomite that we would one day be fully equipped with an up-to-date Gymnasium. This seemed almost an impossibility until last year when we were able, with the assistance of the Alumnae, to erect a building which included, not only a Gymnasium, but six class rooms, a dining-room, day girls ' cloak room, an art studio, and quarters for the housekeeping staflf. Branksome has always had reason to feel proud of her school spirit, and this year, it has been more evident than ever. Daily, girls who have been away from the School, five, ten, even twenty, years come to see Miss Read and to inspect the new building. They say school days are the happiest days, but when they are over, new in- terests enter the lives of the Old Girls. The old school is forced into the background unless some definite purpose draws them back. The drive for the new building furnished the definite purpose in our case, and we find that we now have both past and present girls united into a strong body, whose strength is steadily increasing. On the opposite page, we have reproduced the interior of the Gymnasium, which also serves as an assembly hall. The stage has been equipped with red, blue, yellow and white lights, which enable us to produce some splendid lighting efifects. These new fe atures have created great interest among the girls and we have encoun- tered no trouble in finding some who are always enthusiastic about putting on a play or providing an evening ' s entertainment. A basket- ball court, with removable baskets, and two badminton courts have been installed, besides rings, ropes and the usual gymnasium equip- ment. A new Prefect Board occupies almost one side of the right wall, and has proved much more practical than the half dozen pre- viously employed.

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16 Photo by w. F. Moore. Gymnasium

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18 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN The passage way from the gymnasium leads either down stairs to the dining-room and cloak-room or to the class rooms, which occupy the first and second floors. The third floor is entirely devoted to the maids. At the beginning of this year, we found the girls returning to school with greater enthusiasm than ever and it might have been a pro])lem to know how to use this enthusiasm to advantage. The School has supplied the needed inspiration, and the girls have realized that now that the School itself has been so greatly improved, they must try to make themselves better women to live up to Brank- some ' s new standard. JESSIE WRIGHT. The purpose for which we attend Branksome Hall is twofold: first, to receive an education from books and the knowledge which our teachers impart to us ; and, second, to acquire those habits which go to make up character. Every one of us is acquainted with our school — the Branksome which we can see. How familiar its buildings and how dear ! Let us consider now the Branksome which we can not see — the intangible Branksome which yet leaves the greatest mark upon our characters and which irrevocably must live for always in the hearts of us all. Twenty-two years ago the invisible Branksome was constructed upon these four great cornerstones — Truth, Honesty, Justice and Purity. As it was Miss Scott ' s supreme effort during her principal- ship, so it has been Miss Read ' s, to maintain upon these famous cornerstones the high standard of reputation and scholarship for which Branksome Hall has always been noted. All will understand the force and importance of Truth — not only Truth as uttered in language, but Truth as it is shown by living up to the highest ideals. Honesty is a duty towards one ' s self and towards others, because one w ho is dishonest loses the confidence and respect of his associates and creates a state of mind in himself which makes his conscience an accuser. Justice establishes the basis as regards square dealings with our fellow beings. Purity in thought and deed is absolutely essential for one ' s happiness. These four qual- ities are ingrained in us during our school days, and upon them depends the happiness and pleasures of our future lives. In our daily contact with each other and with our teachers we form habits in which these four cornerstones have a most important place. Indeed, it is these habits which shape our after life, because as the twig is bent, the tree is inclined ; so habits we form in school develop as we grow older and make our lives joyous to ourselves and others. On the contrary, if these habits are not the proper ones ,our lives after leaving school do not attain the fullest development that they might.