Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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SAMARA 21 ON THE evening of September 18th the Assembly Hall found itself the gathering-place of all the 1931-1932 boarders, both old and new. The object of our inspection was the new radio, which ha? proved a constant source of enter- tainment during the winter months. This year there are fourteen new boarders, making a total of thirty. In consequence of the extra numbers, Miss Green ' s room has been made into a senior bedroom adjoining Afterglow, and Miss Woolcott ' s room is now used as the prefects ' sitting-room. Several of the Staff are domiciled in a delightful apartment on Buena Vista Road, where they can go into peaceful retirement if they wish ! A great change came at the beginning of the 2nd term, when Mrs. Buck introduced a modified form of self-government among the boarders, hoping later to extend it to the rest of the school. This meant the establishment of a boarders ' council: as at present arranged, it consists of twelve senior girls, and a representative voted monthly by the boarders to represent them at meetings. Certain privileges are available, at any time for counsellors, and for boarders if they can manage to get three weeks clear of marks. This system is proving a really practical success. On Saturday mornings we have had Handicraft classes, under Miss Gale; this year we have been learning weaving, and this novel and useful pastime has proved very popular; many different articles are being worn among us, woven by our own fair hands! The M ' into proved as attractive as ever, but unfortunately the date of the Carnival fell on the half-yearly week-end, so we did not take part this year in that dazzling entertainment.

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20 SAMARA February 27th.- — Intermediate Drama League presented As You Like It at the Little Theatre. February 29th. — Kathryn Meisle (singer) gave a charming recital at the Glebe Collegiate. March tji.- — Old Girls ' Play, ' ' A Domestic Entanglement and At Mrs. Beam ' s. March 4lh-6th.— Old Girls ' Week-end. March 5th.— ha dy Moyra ' s birthday party at Government House, to which all the boarders were invited. March 7th.- — Musikonsky, a remarkable boy- violinist, at the Glebe Collegiate. March 9th.- — Miss Smith ' s lecture on Russia at the Chateau. March 10th. — Florence Hood, violinist, and Harriett Prutsman who accompanied her, and explained the items, gave a delightful musical afternoon at Elmwood. March 11th. — Miss Smith ' s lecture on Russia at school. March 12th.— hshhiiYy Play The Merchant of Venice at the Little Theatre. March 15th. — Confirmation. March 16th.- — Florence Austral, world-famous singer, at the Chateau. March 19th. — Ethel Dawson, a pupil of Mr. Puddicombe, gave a brilliant recital at Elmwood. March 22nd.- — Closing for Easter Holidays. April 7th.- — Return after Easter. April 9th. ' The School for Scandal at the Little Theatre. April Dulcy at the Little Theatre. April 16th: — Boarders wejit to a swimming party at the Cha- teau, through the kindness of Mrs. Robert Loring, of Montreal. March 5 .— Intermediate Plays Land of Heart ' s Desire and The Rivals . April 29th. —Senior Play Saint Joan . May 10th. — Dancin Recital. May 23rd.- — Music and Singing Recital. May 24th. — School Holiday. May 27th: — Intermediate Dramatics classes present Scenes from Shakespeare. May 31st. — Joan and Betty Raynor, Strolling Players, per- formance at Elmwood. June l th.—CXosiag Day. June 20th. — Toronto Matriculation Exams, commence.

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22 SAMARA To cheer our lighter moments some enterprising spirits among us formed a Dance Chorus under the direction of Miss Green, and their varied stunts , especially the contortions of our prize acrobat, Rosa Johnson, were quite wonderful to watch. During the month of February we had in our midst a menacing gang which called itself The Red Vampires . Different boarders would find themselves the targets of threatening notes, pinned to their pyjamas, or stuck in their toothbrush glasses. Notes also appeared daily , pinned to the senior bathroom cupboard, always signed by the same device. We have never discovered the identity of these blackmailers , though we have our suspicions! Mention must also be made of the sojourn among us of a certain white mouse, in a green steel cage, brought back by one of our more nature-loving comrades, Catherine Irwin. For the first term Micky made his home in the boarders ' cloak-room, where the wailful squeak of his tread-mill punctuated the Dean ' s Scripture classes in the dining-room adjoining. During the Christmas holidays, however, much to our relief, the small rodent demised, whether through accident, or malice we do not enquire! From start tp finish this school year has been most exciting and interesting, as so many new ideas have been introduced, both in tjhe day school, and among the boarders; it is thrilling to take part in carrying them out. Three cheers for Mrs. Buck, and the Staff, for this best year yet!