Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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YEAR BOOK, 1965 Page 27 SENIOR CHOm REPORT 1964-1965 September heralded the Branksome Hall senior choir into the music room to begin preparations for the thirty-ninth annual carol service to be held at Saint Andrew ' s Presbyterian Church. After weeks of ardent anti- cipation, Sunday December thirteenth arrived, a perfect winter afternoon to set the Christmas spirit. Sue Craig was equipped with smelling salts which prevented several fainting catastrophes in the chancel, but in all, I felt our Branksome carol service left everyone in the traditional Christ- mas mood. The following Tuesday we were honoured by an invitation to sing at the Canadian Institute for the Blind. We enjoyed every minute of our visit, especially when we were able to meet and talk with the patients. As we near the end of January, the choir is busily preparing for the annual Spring Concert, which will be our ' ' grand etalage . Our concert, The Music Makers , will consist of several folk songs from the four sea- sons, and a special group of songs by the small ensemble. This year we are fortunate to be able to include a short recital by Erica Goodman. These accomplishments have only been possible through the efforts and leadership of our devoted mistress, Mrs. Coutts, and our able accompanist. Miss Cryesdale. The executive and I have really enjoyed working with the choir and we CHOIR EXECUTIVE Back Row: Mary Percival (Vice-President), Susan Craig (Secretary-Treasurer), Janet Mowat ( President of Junior Choir ) . Front Row: Seated — Mary Ruse (President).

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Page 26 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN DRAMA CLUB REPORT Last June the Drama Club wound up the year of ' 63- ' 64 by throwing a terrific party for itself at the home of Mrs. Jones (our instructress). On this ever popular note of food and fun, we closed. We united again in September and set out under the somewhat hesitant commands of myself, Cynne Lines (our villainous vice) and Ann Tward- owski (the financial expert). The first few meetings proceeded in a gently hilarious uproar. However, since business (alas) was business we settled down to work on our Christmas play. It was a melodrama of one act (but many scenes) and of one main purpose — to entertain the school on the last morning before the hohdays. Despite certain mishaps such as ' the carpet and the lack of curtains, it went off quite well. I should at this time like to specially thank those who toiled behind the scenes or rather, on the scenes. We couldn ' t have done without them. As for future plans, we are going to perform again in April and there is a slight possibility of an informal Shakespe arean night. However, next year ' s report will tell you about it. ' Til then thanks everybody for your co-operation in helping the Drama Club ' ' keep well the road on the stage. ELSPETH MACINTOSH SHERBORNE REPRESENTATIVE REPORT When I thought of a representative going from Sherborne to Brank- some, I always used to imagine a lone Sherbonian disappearing into a flurry of snow and ice. Well, this year I came to see for myself, and among other things I went skiing and managed to get the fullest possible benefit of that ice and snow and I even acquired a sprained knee, just as if the impression was meant to be an especially unforgettable one. Anxious questions have come from England about me, strange as it may seem. Perhaps that accounts for my almost incessant flow of mail which never ceases to disgust my fellow boarders. Questions include, ' ' Are you going to marry a Mounted Policeman? and Have you bought a ten gallon yet? I ' m afraid that I have to disappoint them because I have not even set eyes on a Mounty, and although I have seen a ten gallon, how could I fit it into an EngHsh car? This exchange provides an experience which I have thoroughly enjoyed, and I am truly thankful to those who have given me this chance to meet you all. If any of you come to England or even London, I would love to see you. After all, when I am meeting a Canadian for a cup of tea, what is twenty miles to an English girl like me? Keep up that great school spirit, kids, and keep well the road. Best of luck to you all. WENDY

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Page 28 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN hope that next year ' s leaders will have as much pleasure as we have had. President: Mary Ruse. Vice-President: Mary Percival. Secretary-Treas- urer: Susan Craig. Committee: Marg Anne West, Jean Willet, Patricia Michie, Shelagh Maclntyre, Valerie Kinsella, Martha McDonic, Marg Anne Graham. LIBRARY REPORT The interest wh ich has been drawn to the library in previous years has again been maintained and we hope, increased during this year. Two repre- sentatives were chosen from each class and together the committee worked enthusiastically at keeping an organized system for withdrawing and re- turning the books. Meetings were often held, at which time problems were discussed and fine lists were distributed to the class representatives. New books were added during the year and these have already been appreciated by many of the girls. We hope also that all the interesting older books on the shelves have been discovered by some of you and have provided many hours of enjoyment. We would like to thank Mrs. Johnson for all her support and work once again in the library. Without her tremendous help, we, the committee, would hardly be a committee. ELIZABETH MORRISON MARTHA KILGOUR BETA KAPPA REPORT The last Christmas exam was hardly over when mistletoe, poster paints, and popcorn appeared; the Beta Kappa began its first project, the Fourth and Fifth Forms ' Dance. The theme — Dickens: A Christmas Carol. Two days and several painty fingernails later, we stood in the cafeteria and surveyed our efforts. Mr. Pickwick, Little Nell, Scrooge, and various cohorts pranced about the walls; popcorn-and-cranberry strings and the warm, red glow of a huge corner fireplace suggested Christmas merrymaking. Swinging from the ceihng were mistletoe kissing balls ( ' 0h, the morals of these times, Cicero once said). Yet no Major Mistletonian Episodes were reported, and the dance was caried on in the true Olde Englande Christmas spirit. From English tradition to French for Miss MacNeill ' s formal dance in January: ' ' Allons Enfants de la Patrie! , or, less euphemistically, ' ' The French Revolution. The gym was decorated like a French square on Bas- tille Day: red, white, and blue streamers, banners, balloons, and drapeaux. The shadow of our bloody, black guillotine fell over a mural of La Place de la Concorde, scene of the 1789 guillotinings in Paris. A delicious supper was prepared by Mrs. Watters and served by colourful Revolutionaries (ahas Sherb boarders) in the MacNeill dining-room. This also was the night of the initiation of dance programmes at Branksome. I