Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Page 11 text:

Well Branksome, here we are again, together as a school, but this time in a book, and here I am in this picture, once again looking totally Scottish (my one claim to fame). I believe that the most terrifying experience of my life was the first time I ever rang the bell in Prayers; to my terror, everyone was actually Quiet! Little faces were smiling at me and watching every move I made. I sat through Prayers, literally scared to death, with a smile on my face. Once I got over the initial shock of Prayers and the first couple of weeks of school, I began to relax, but just a little. After a few adjustments and changes, I developed a personal organization system and began to enjoy and really appreciate life at school. One question which I was asked many times this year was how well do the prefects get along? . Personally, I think that we got along very well, which was probably because of the variety of personalities within the prefect body, ranging from sophisticated and witty to wild and crazy. As a group, we tried to accomplish a wide variety of things, and to bring new ideas into the school. Three main goals were concentrated upon: First of all, we tried to encourage more teacher-student par- ticipation; for what better way is there to generate school spirit than through the co-operation of its members? Secondly, we wanted to fill the gap bet- ween the Prefects and the rest of the student body, especially the grads. And thirdly, we wanted to create a stronger feeling of school unity, for after all, we are the best-looking school around. Branksome ' s Beauty Salon , the Father-Daughter Dance, and grade responsibility for Prayers helped further our aims. In closing, I ' d just like to say that my remarks at the Installation were sincere, and I hope that the other Prefects and I have lived up to your expectations. If not, I ' ll just have to remember that I was elected for who I am, and that I was elected to do my best, and my best as all I can offer. Tricia Purks. 7

Page 10 text:

1 1 his year we have moved into a new I decade. Just what the next few years W will bring for Canada, let alone Branksome, we cannot say for sure. We do know that our students will have many problems, the nature of which will change so rapidly that it is difficult to know how to prepare for the 80 ' s. One temptation might be to have as good a time at school for tomorrow will be tough. Why work hard in class or at home when jobs are scarce? And anyway, what have Keats and Shakespeare or the Greek Civilization to do with earning a living, inflation, nuclear power, pollution or the shortage of food and fuel? Perhaps we worry too much about the relevance of content in our courses. Obviously students must have strong, up-to-date math and science programmes and certainly they must learn about the contemporary world and its problems. But the world is going to demand not only knowledge (most of which will be acquired after graduation anyway), but also many skills: the ability to think quickly and ac- curately, the ability to define problems and work out solutions, the ability to attack new experiences and problems with energy, commitment and tenacity and the imagination to respect and understand others — their individual needs, differences and ways of life. These things can be learned at school. A continuous striving for excellence in everything we undertake, whether it be in the classroom, on the basketball court or in your relationships with other people will best prepare us. High marks or an athletic award will not ensure a bright or satisfying future, but the constant giving of one ' s best will go a long way towards it. 6

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PREFECTS 1979-1980 Head Girl -Tricia Purks Sports Captain - Sheila Buchanan Junior School Liaison - Anne Clements Grade 9 - Andrea Hector Grade 10 - Joanne Stinson Grade 11 - Kathleen Martin Grade 12 - Kathryn Campbell Residence Prefect - Jacqueline Fitzgibbon Communications - Victoria Pinnington Head of Beta Kappa Catherine Le Feuvre Head of Opheleo Jacqueline Atkin Editor-in-Chief of the Sloga n Suzanne Dingwall I •