Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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26 The Branksome Slogan Branksome Notes Readacres REPORT ON READACRES The First and Second Forms have shaa: ' ed the privilege of completing the 1949-510 school year at Read Acres — the newest addition to Brank- some ' s spreading: campus . Since her initiation into the Branksome SOirocrity, Read Acres has taken to her heart the traditional Scottish kilts of her new wards, and proudly watches them fly on the game field below. Ne v:ly-decorated classrooms beckon from both sides of a wide hall, and already the ground floor has that familiar smell of chalk-dust and Wet rubber boots. Every thirty minutes clanging bells echo in the halls. And aboiUt those bells — the stately, old house seems to be stubbornly convinced that the electric bells detract from the dignified atmosphere. More often than not, she proves how insistent she can be, by refusing to let that electric bell ring. Out comes the old hand bell , and that seems tb satisfy her, because as yet the clapper has not disappeared. All ihembers of the staff should be ready to enter the Marathon. How they manage to get over to Read Acres with anything left of the peHod, is a mystery to the whole student body, which struggles vainly to get from gym to classrooms in time for the first morning class. But ' ' Read has taken good care of her wards, and they in turn have grown fond of their guardian. Branksome proudly marks; the first anni- versary of Readacres, and predicts great success for her future. WE ' LL GET USED TO IT Yes, we ' ll get used tc it — the Clifton Road Extension. Any incon- venience caused in the name of progress this year will soon be forgotten when the convenience by which we hope to benefit is established. But before we embark on a rosy dream of buses on Huntley Street and a subway shuttling us to our homes in a fraction of the original time, let

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The Branksome Slogan 25 faithful members of the 12.30 Bridge Club, however, seem to battle through with regular meetings, rain or shine, Beta Kappa meetings or no. Despite this degrading influence many things are accomplished. We remember especially the effort made by the ' ' Drama Club to scrape together a cast and a script for the form play. Their ambitious plans were well rewarded with perhaps the best minor performance of the year. The plot was original, and the acting, accomplished. Joyce Dibblee, in the leading role, was supported by Wendy Aitken, Ann Sutherland, Joan Somerville and others who gave a finished staging of a comedy, ' ' Yes and No . On the subject of drama, Wendy Aitken not only won in a school Verse Speaking Competition, but placed first in Dramatic Poetry in the provincial contest, and carried the coveted cup to Branksome for a year. Miss Shirton is at her post outside the library every Monday morning methodically checking on law-breakers, who have an aversion for gym. From this you would never deduce that fifth form is sports-minded, but our basketball team worked up to the finals in the form competition. Since we have carefully checked, we can truthfully say that every Branksome team has a suporter from Fifth — and Branksome has played well in the sports field this year ! This is only a brief resume of the year ' s activities. It would be impossible to give you an idea of the character of the forms : of the intimate chatter, of the hum of activity and of the sweeping movement that shapes the events of the school year. It is said that in future years, one remembers only the finest threads of the last year in high school. We are sure that oar threads, if fine, will be colourf ul and vivid. That book? Oh, that ' s a French text book — for Author ' s study. I guess it ' s time we got back to work. ODE TO OUR EXODUS Stand up, girls ! Here ' s a teacher, girls ! — No more we ' ll hear that call — Instead there ' ll be professors in an awesome lecture hall. No more will boarders worry that they ' re going to be late For study, or for morning walk, or special Wednesday Date With Visitors — Ah, no ! — and here we heave a mournful sigih — We ' ve come to the last outpost of Scholastic Training, High. No more will Fergie hitch a ride along with Lloyd and Mann ; No more we ' ll hear the ravings of B. Shaw, a hockey fan — No more will Cooling cast a sigh dramatic, at a worm. Nor certain unknown people give a French unfinished squirm. The Bridge Fiends ' game is ended, and the final card is down — And some may win with Honours, and some with less renown — But as we wave our last Goodbye , and see the closing door, We think back over Branksome days — and start to cry some more ! ANON.

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The Branksome Slogan 27 us look back upon this year of construction, this year in which we have added a demonstration course in road engineering to our curriculum. May we not feel a certain nostalgia for the exciting state of things as they used to be ? Won ' t some of us miss the novelty of following a new and tortuous path each day between Main and Readacres ? Of romanti- cally walking the plank ? Shall we not miss the cheerful gangs of men and the mysterious machines ? Who has not stopped to watch the prehistoric monster on the corner, as it chewed rock only to pour forth pavement? When we spoke of machines, did someone mention noise? Ah, the noise. At times, both staff and girls thought the noise would drive them crazy. Often one would feel the perfidious stillness of the classroom making itself conspicuous. With her eyes, everyone said, ' ' This is too good to last. And then, eh-eh-eh-eh-eh , the drills exploded into action, digging their way into the hot cement. The sweet calm was shat- tered, and the battle to be heard began again. All that is in the past now, and the new street stretches broad and white past our grounds. When the Clifton Road Extension is completed, it will alleviate many traffic problems, and will be as welcome addition to Toronto ' s Rapid Transit system. The conclusion of this project will mark the end of four years of planning and construction at a estimated cost of $4,000,000. Although we can see matty changes coming, our school has always been on the side of progress, and we can see no reason why changes should affect Branksome ' s traditional tranquillity. A Section of the Clifton Road