Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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S A jM A R A 3 Dear Elmwoodians: iVIy first year as your Headmistress is drawing to a close. As I look back upon it, I am full of gratitude for the challenge it has brought and for the wonderful spirit of co-operation that has been developing among the staff, the officers and the students of Elmwood. What has been accomplished has been due, in no small measure, to this. The support and encouragement of all my former students who have written this year have been much appreciated. I think particularly of Gillian Neville and Bobby Bradshaw in England, the former showing talent and promise at the Douglas-Webster School of Dramatic Art and the latter at Veterinary College. I think, too, of Alary Fisher-Rowe at the University of Rome, Sheila McCormick excelling at McGill and Jennifer Woollcombe at Queen ' s, as well as of the many others who are carrying on their Elmwood training at institutes of higher learning. It is my sincere wish that Elmwood Old Girls will become a more active group for they can contribute much to their Alma Mater. If Elmwood students are to make their mark in the world, it ill be because they have learned to put first things first, to give rather than to expect from life and to develop those intangible integrities that characterize a purposeful existence. It has been rewarding to watch you this year as you accepted responsibility and learned to make the sacrifices that develop character. I have been proud of you as you struggled to work consistently and discovered that hard-earned accomplishment was a much more satisfying experience than merely being- entertained. I have been proud of you as you struggled to live up to your ideals, and I am convinced, noting these things, that Elmwood must and will go forward and that the finest elements of her spirit will never die. You may not always succeed in the way that the world counts success. Does this really matter? Robert Browning has said, What I aspire to be and am not comforts me , and again, A man ' s grasp must exceed his reach, else what ' s a heaven for? Our school motto puts it this way, Success is naught, endeavour ' s all. Our Lord taught us to remember that iMan looketh on the outside but God looketh on the heart. Live to glorify God and everything in your life will fit into place like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. You must do this, for You are not your own. You are bought with a price. If you keep these things in mind, you will live happily and have true success, for you will be given the strength to overcome your difficulties and reach eternity, which is your goal. A ' lay I offer you my best wishes and those of the staff in all your future endeavours. Sincerely and affectionately.

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MRS. BRUCE WITH CO-HEAD BOARDERS - l ONTON DARRICADES, BARBARA KENNEDY, AND HEAD GIRL - FRANCES WOOD.

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4 S A A R A S€Ut ntal ALL that remains of this eventful school year are schoolbooks, empty desks, report cards, and most important — memories of many happy days, • echoes of school lessons, and .Mrs. Bruce ' s guiding talks at Prayers. Among the memories are the excitement and gaiety of spooky ghosts at the House Dance, La Splendeur de Paris at the formal, and the tension at basketball, soccer, and volleyball games which provided such exciting moments to cheering on-lookers. This year will prove to have been a year of happy welcomes and sad farewells. Mrs. Bruce was welcomed by all to her difficult role of replacing Airs. Graham as headmistress. We also greeted many new teachers and sadly said good-bye to those who are not returning next term. We thank them all for having been so patient with us. While we go to school, we think it unnecessary and hope for the time to pass quickly; but when we have graduated and have passed to other institutions, we shall remember the little things we have learned both morally and scholastically. Perhaps it is only then that we shall realize how lucky we were as Canadians, to grow in a healthy atmosphere of freedom and prosperity, to have the right to think, feel and act as we desire. These rights could be dangerous. They are like a dangerous weapon which does not become safe until the possessor learns how to handle it correctly and even then it has to be handled with care. At home, church, and school we are trained to use these liberties properly. As Elmwoodians we shall realize how helpful our headmistress, teachers, and parents have been. They all realize that we are the future citizens and, because of liberty, have a responsibility. Upon what we are like depends the future of this resourceful young nation of Canada. Let us all strive to learn what Elmwood offers us so that we may fulfil our role as future citizens. This year we were grieved to hear of the tragic death of Mrs. Cornelius Laderoute, nee Myrna Badham. She attended Elmwood from 1952 to 1954 and was liked by everyone. Aiyrna was a cheerful young person who was full of fun. The boarders knew her best and remember her better as Myrt . She was always seen helping other people rather than burdening them with her own problems. Alvrna was down to earth but, nevertheless, always ready with a playful quip. We all feel the loss and extend our sympathy to Alyrna ' s husband and family.