Edmund Partridge Junior High School - Banner Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 10 text:

VALEDICTORY Mr. Partridge, Mrs. Joyce, Honoured Guests, Parents, Members of the Teaching Staff, and Fellow Graduates. Today marks an important milestone for the graduating class, for we are formally bidding farewell to Edmund Partridge Junior High, our second home for the past three years. I deeply appreciate the honour of having been chosen to speak on behalf of my classmates on this significant occasion. To some of us, “graduating” simply means a new school to look forward to after a two month summer vacation. This, in a sense, is true but the real meaning of graduation lies deeper. It means that we have finished a challenge that was before us and now we must again walk another mile on the highway of life and face but another challenge. We will be expected to accept newer and greater responsibilities and we must be prepared to throw off our sometimes childish ways and become mature young adults able to meet the never ceasing demands of the modern world. If I may, I would like to quote a few lines from a poem wri tten by a great American poet, the late Robert Frost. “The woods are lovely, dark and deep But I have promises to keep And miles to go before I sleep And miles to go before I sleep.” We, too, have promises to keep and miles to go before our sleep. Our journey has just begun. We will be entering high school — a very important step in our education. Our success at this level can determine what our next steps will be. For some it will be the end of their formal education. Others, however, will continue on to higher forms of education, such as university or college. Then, we must enter some field where we are able to prove ourselves and bring honour to those who helped us. Canada, as well as other countries of the world, is growing in population. With the decreasing demand for employ¬ ment, only the best educated and well trained will get the jobs. Fellow graduates, it is important for us to realize right now that the world we shall control demands quality — quality brought about through education. Only when we have completed our schooling will we be able to say that we have walked a few more miles on that rough and some¬ times rocky highway of life. Today we are graduating from junior high school. Yesterday it was elementary and tomorrow senior high school. Let this be a beginning to better work habits and even higher marks. Let us set our future goals high and aim for the stars. As this progression through life is occurring we will have to leave many things which have become a part of us. It is very difficult to say good-bye to something of which we have become fond. But as we do say farewell to Edmund Partridge it is with deep gratitude. We will be forever greatful to our parents, teachers, counsellors and our principals — Mr. Dwyer and Mr. Partridge for their guidance and never ending patience during this very impressionable part of our lives. We hope that we, the graduating class of 1964-65 will never be forgotten here, just as we, too, will always treasure the fond memories of Edmund Partridge and be a credit to it. In closing, I would like to say to my fellow graduates: Amor Doctrinae Floreat — Let the love of learning flourish.

Page 12 text:

Class Historian Mr. Partridge, Mrs. Joyce, Honoured Guests, Parents, Members of the Teaching Staff, and Fellow Graduates: We have for the entire fifteen years of our lives been following a course already well navigated by our elders. At times we may resent this leadership but if we would stop and review our actions though limited by this predetermined course, we would quickly realize that it is not such a hard lot after all. With a willingness to learn and a zest for new experiences, we entered grade seven just three years ago. Shy, but eager to take our stand in the student body we elected to the student council Pat Marych and Phyllis Chuly as our repre¬ sentatives. For our benefit a “Getting-To-Know-You” dance was held with entertainment supplied by the Devrons, who were then an up and coming band. November took us to a Symphony Concert at the Playhouse Theatre for just a small dash of intellectuality which trustingly developed in us — something! November also housed our first chocolate bar sale which was a great success probably due to the tremendous amount of spirit as portrayed in Mr. Shulz’s “Romper Room” exhibited in our first chocolate bar pep rally. It may be said that a school thrives on its extra-curricular activities — and so it was. The clubs this year flourished and few clubs have ever had such large memberships. The Chess Club under Mr. Penner and the Drama Club under Miss Chapman has a most successful year. Under the direction of Mrs. Krysjanson, Miss Murray, and Miss Walters the classroom choirs did well in the Mani¬ toba Music Festival and the Glee Club placed second for the Logan Trophy. The year was marked by various programs and events such as the Christmas Concert and Spring Tea. But, one of the most outstanding things which occurred was the formation of the band which was then comprised mostly of grade sevens and was directed by Mr. White. The annual Sweetheart Ball was held in February. Through our choice Paul Martin and Leah Orvis were crowned king and queen. Ron Wallis and Audrey Marych came in as prince and princess. The year also held excitement in the sports field. Room 21 rose triumphantly in the volleyball, speedball, and soccer tournaments. Girls were also greatly involved and sports were well proportioned to our academic studies. Perhaps before moving on, we should make some mention of exams — there, that should be sufficient! To bring a close to an enjoyable year, the 1962-1963 edition of the “Banner” was handed out to all students. Its editor was Dianna Gutkin and she did a wonderful job in bringing the years events to a conclusion. Refreshed and looking forward to a successful and interesting school year, we returned to crowd the halls of E.P. as grade eights. The first thing at hand was elections. Brian Giesbrecht was elected president and our representatives were Pat Marych and Adelle Hawkins. The first dance sponsored by the new council was held in November. The Ramblers, a folk-music group provided the entertainment. Once again we began with great enthusiasm to sell our chocolate bars, but we were dismayed at the discovery of foreign debris amongst the “World’s Finest Chocolate.” Nevertheless put to a halt, our sale provided sufficient funds to purchase band uniforms. The Drama Club under the direction of Miss Chapman sponsored their drama festival also in November. The win¬ ners of this event entertained at the Christmas Concert held later in December. Again as in previous years, much enthusiasm was shown in our Chess Club, faithfully guided by Mr. Penner. The Debating Club also enjoyed a successful season and two top debaters were selected. The social event of the year was the annual Sweetheart Ball. As usual a king and queen were chosen, in the persons of Gerry Mills and Bill Foye. Prince and princess were Gary O’Shaughnesy and Bonita Hunter. “April showers bring May flowers,” was the theme of our anual spring tea in 1964. Top ticket sellers was our own little breath of spring, Betty Eisenstadt. April was also entertainment month at E.P. On April 10th, we were visited by a choir from Mound, Minnesota. A week later our friends from across the border visited us again. This time a high school band from Grand Rapids. It was then our band’s turn for travelling. On May 12, sixty students and about a thousand pounds of baggage were loaded on two buses. Destination — Moose Jaw, where they spent three fun-filled days at an International Band Institute. 1963 - 1964 was a big year for sports. The girls of Room 14 won the volleyball and basketball championships while Rose Marie Sysa won the tennis tournament. The boys of Room 12 won the flag-football championship and the boys of Room 8 won the volleyball and basketball championships. As in previous years an edition of the “Banner” came out on schedule. It was one of the best ever published and on that note grade eight came to an end. And now perhaps, after straining our memories to remember the incidents just reviewed, the haze is removed and the events of 1964 - 1965 our last year in Edmund Partridge reoccur as if it were only yesterday that we lived through them. September saw us beginning the year as the eager students we are known to be. All was routine but not boring for actually it was a new year of learning and prosperity. We were the senior class. We were looked up to. Shortly after the opening day, elections were held and the sight of the halls will probably never be forgotten. Pat Marych was elected president, and yours truly, vice-president. The grade nine representatives were Adelle Hawkins and Bonnie Hallas. We chose as a theme “Superstitions” for our opening dance. The decorations consisted of masks and question marks although we still haven’t come to a conclusion as to what the question marks represented. Almost immediately the clubs began functioning. The old reliables such as the Drama Club, the Chess Club and Debating Club were already planning their successful seasons. We saw the beginning of two new clubs: the Science Club and the Stamp Club. This year can truly be called a new frontier for the school newspaper was revived and renamed “E.P.’s Pepper” and production was in the capable hands of Holly Solomon. Forgetting our unfortunate experience of the previous year we showed our renewed faith in the World’s Finest Chocolate Bar Company by sponsoring another chocolate bar sale. The drive was given a tremendous boost by the P ep Rally held on October 30th. The teachers provided an entertaining skit. December marked a very enjoyable Christmas Concert planned by Miss Murray and Mr. Redekopp. February was Sweetheart month and at the dance on February 14th, Karen Patch and Bill Pratt were chosen king and queen. Prince and princess were Bob Daptil and Sharon Heather. A successful Drama Night and school Tea were part of this years schedule of activities. We can well be proud of our band for this year they made their first tour to the United States. They played to a welcoming crowd in Minneapolis and enjoyed their excursion greatly. The student council this year exhibited their fine work by making available to the students for the first time in Edmund Partridge, school sweatshirts which went over great with the students and helped to bring about more school spirit. Over the past three years we have seen the coming and going of many teachers including vice-principals and principal. This summation of the past three years would not be complete without expressing ouf gratitude to Miss Busch who set the scene and enhanced every moment with her beautifully created decorations. Perhaps not all of you know Mrs. Freeman as well as I do, but her constant interest in each individual student and her willingness to help will always be remembered. In conclusion, I would like to mention something that is very dear to my heart, I wish to mention the hours and the patience that were laid down in the pages of the “Banner ’65.” More than any other year, as you shall see at the end of this month, has such skill and knowledge been acquired to prepare a yearbook. I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Editor, Barbara Kaplan on a job that was wonderfully done. And I’m sure I’m speaking on her behalf as well as my own when I thank the Yearbook staff which worked under us so diligently. I wish to thank also, those teachers who were responsible for choosing me for this position although it was only yesterday. But I am afraid I am not entirely worthy of all your praise. No mention has been made of Barbara Kaplan and Phyllis Wasserman who stayed with me yesterday afternoon from 1:30 till 6:00 and helped and encouraged me along with this oration. Over the last three years the teaching staff has given me a tremendous amount of encouragement which I have val¬ ued so much. To all of them, I give my heartiest thanks. The year is over and we are leaving Edmund Partridge. Look back and remember all those wonderful days, all those happy hours an E.P. Look back and see dances and basketball games. Look back and look ahead to improve the future by your past experiences. Class Historian