Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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Year Book, 1968 Page 31

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Page 30 The Branksome Slogan Opheleo Report The first campaign of the Opheleo Committee was raising money during Ramabai Week. The School ' s enthusiasm made this year ' s effort unique. The class competition thrived on a variety of original ideas which demanded the support of every girl in the school. The entire week was filled with bake sales, beanies, Hawaiian chicken, hot dog sales and the teachers ' relay race. The climax of the week was, by the united effort of the Opheleo and Beta Kappa Committees, the Ramabai Rout. This dance was a perfect conclusion to one of the most enjoyable and successful weeks in Branksome ' s history. This campaign raised over one thousand, five hundred dollars. This money was distributed among the Ramabai Mukti Mission, the United Appeal, the Nazareth, Bethlehem and Ludhiana Hospitals and several other charity organizations. For this year ' s Christmas project the girls collected used toys and skates. These were given to the Little Trinity Church where they were sold at a very low price to many needy families. Undoubtedly this cheered up Christmas for many children. In the spring the girls voluntarily donated to Lent. This money was sent to help old Branksome Girls who are living in foreign countries and devoting their lives to Christian work. All my thanks to the Branksome girls for their support during the year and also to the Opheleo Committee and Miss Forsyth. Deborah Gibson, President Senior Choir As the strains of the mighty hymn resounded through St. Andrew ' s Presbyterian Church, the Senior Choir, consisting of eighty girls, started down the aisle singing the processional written especially for the Jubilee Service in 1963. After taking their places on the steps of the chancel, they sang the three remaining carols from A Christmas Garland by Richard Johnston and Margaret Mackay, a former graduate of the school. While filing to the back of the chancel for the Senior School Carols we thought, with a sense of joy and relief, that our carols had been successful. It is now nearing the end of January, and the choir has begun practis- ing for the annual Spring Concert in April. The selection includes a medley of songs by Benjamin Britten. The madrigals, we expect, will return from their special setting for Centennial to the original Elizabethan stage. On behalf of the choir, I would like to express our appreciation to Mrs.

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Page 32 The Branksome Slogan Coutts for her patience, understanding, and inspiring leadership. We are also greatly indebted to Mrs. Simmons for her fine accompaniment. I would also like to thank my executive for their great help and support throughout the year. The members are: Ruth Tow, Vice-President, Julie Wildgoose, Secretary, Elizabeth Dechert, Chief Librarian, and a Commit- tee consisting of Susan Dewar, Cathy Gartha, Cindy Gracey, Alison Green- away, Elizabeth McCutcheon, and Sheila Scott. The executive and I have really enjoyed working with the choir this year and we hope that the future leaders will have as much pleasure as we have had Margaret Ann Mar chant, President Beta Kappa This year our social season commenced earlier than usual with the Rambai Rout which combined the Boarders ' Dance and a charity drive for Ramabai. Held Friday, October 27th, it climaxed Ramabai week and heralded Hallowe ' en. At $2 a couple, we raised, together with the artful aid of the Opheleo, an extra $400 for Ramabai. The Rising Moons played free of charge while Telia Fortune and her witty Head read palms in the 13E classroom. Apple bobbing contests were held in 13P and the whole evening was wickedly wonderful! Then winter set in and on December 15th we presented A Christmas Kaleidoscope (alias the Fourth and Fifth) in the cafeteria to the music of the Group Therapy. Our hippie snowman, flashing Christmas lights, and silver foil created a dizzy, but colourful atmosphere. Then ten days after returning from the Christmas holidays we had Miss MacNeill ' s Formal. There was much flurry of paint brushes, pencils, and paper, not to mention scissors and tape, as we hurried to try and trans- form the gymnasium into a Wonderland(?)! Ten days and nights later, as we stepped through the keyhole, we couldn ' t help but feel like Alice, as the Card Soldiers painted white roses red, as the Cheshire Cat grinned superciliously from behind a live branch (a momento of the ice storm earlier that week) and as the Red Queen shouted Off with your head. Then there were also the Giant Flowers blooming from the ceiling and the moving colours on the screen which suggested the modern interpre- tation of Alice ' s journey. The Straw and the Grad Dance have yet to come and we know that Grade Twelve and the Arts classes will provide some colourful transfor- mations for everyone. The basement of Sherb is where it all starts — and it never ends. Just ask any girl with Prefects ' Hours! Nancy Falconer, President