Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Page 5 text:

The Branksome Slogan 3 The Installation of Prefects On December the first, 1949, we were honoured with the presence of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir Andrew Murray, at our annual instal- lation of prefects. This ceremony is of greatest importance because it does, in reality, lay the cornerstone of student conduct during the year. The new prefects are appointed by Miss Read, and are selected in their fifth form year, according to their qualifications of lead- ership, popularity and co-operative spirit. Early in the fall, the appoint- ments are announced to the school assembly, and the tasks of these girls begin immediately. They handle school activities capably and eflfici- ciently; they organize; societies and participate in the sports programmes, and they apply in their school life a practical form of modern democracy. This year at the formal ceremony, the prefects were installed in traditional fashion before a large audience of parents and friends. The sub-prefects and clan chieftains wore red bands; the prefects, the Dress Stewart kilts. These uniforms are the original clan tartans of Brank- some Castle in Scotland, and with the Hunting Stewart worn by the main student body, they add much to the Scottish atmosphere of our school. The procession passed through a guard of honour formed by officers of the fifth form, and mounted the platform. The eight clan chieftainis with their colourful Scottish banners formed the background of an im- pressive picture. Miss Read ' s introductory address was followed by the formal cere- mony of installing the new officers of the school. Each girl mounted the platform to be congratulated, and to be presented to Sir Andrew Murray. Then the prefects who were being retired presented the school flags to the new prefects, who were asked to maintain the standards of Branksome HaJl. The Head Girl pledged to make this the main object of the school year. Sir Andrew Murray, in his address, expressed great interest in our ceremony, and told us how glad he was to find a school in Canada with Scottish customs. He said that the close harmony between Canada and the Old Country was being maintained by the kind of tradition established in our school. He told us of the happy experiences he had had in our country, expressly pointing out Miss Read as a fine example of Canadian hospitality. It was Sir Andrew ' s first visit to a girls ' school, and he expressed his dehght in the opportunity to participate in one of the most interesting ceremonies of our school calendar. We were indeed fortunate in having such a distinguished guest as Sir Andrew Murray at our Installation, for not only did he impress us with his address, but won for himself a very special place in the heart of every Branksome girl.

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The Branksome Slogan 5 Editorial ' ' Hands across the sea, always a phrase with a deep meaning for Branksome HaJl School, has once again been our theme during the year 1949-50. We were first made conscious of this at the traditional cere- mony of the Installation of Prefects, when we were honoured by the presence of Sir Andrew Murray, Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Sir Andrew ' s visit, and his speech on that memorable occasion, did much to strengthen the bond between our school and the land from which it sprang. It is expected that very soon a Scottish girl will join our students from other lands. In the spring of 1950 Miss Read further strengthened ties between the School and the Old Country when she visited Sherborne in England. This large and beautiful school sent a group of forty-seven girls to live at Brank- some Hall during the war. While on her visit. Miss Read saw many of those girls who had sojourned with us, many Enghsh Branksome Old Girls, and many of our Canadian Old Girls who are now living in England, Shortly after the war two Sherborne girls came to Branksome from England as representatives of their school. Now definite plans have been completed for an exchange student to come out from Sherborne every year, and in the autumn a Branksome girl will sail from Canada to take the Third Form Course at Sherborne School. This may seem, a small thing in itself, but as it affects the lives of two schools, so does it affect the lives of two nations. We are playing our small part in national affairs. While in Holland, Miss Read saw many indications of the strong regard the Dutch people have for Canadians. On her return, she urged us to work hard to strengthen this regard in the hearts of Europeans, in any small way that may offer. With relations between nations as insecure as they are today, any help is drastically needed. How often, in these days, we wonder how the world can untangle the web of events that has caught us all in its meshes. What part has ' ' the average man in a world of complicated diplomatic negotiations? And where do we, as High School students, come in? We are privileged, here at Branksome — privileged because we have the security of good homes and good educations, because we have friends and joy and laughter. Every Branksomite shares with her neighbours the responsibility of finding, the answers tO ' many perplexing questions, and of shaping the future of the world. The most important part of our education lies in learning to accept these responsibilities. We must understand in our hearts the T uth that will equip us with the moral weapons to fight the frightening storm of materialism. Then, with God ' s help, our service will be of some use. THE EDITORS.