Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

Page 27 text:

Sports Notes This year once again sports played an important role in the school activities. Although we did not enter the interschool Volleyball and Basketball Leagues, we did compete in the interschool ski n.eet at Camp Forture for the Ann Heggtveit trophy. As this was Elmwood ' s first ski team, we did not win, but the team did their best. The interhouse sports were a great success. Keller came out in full force to capture the title of Volleyball and Basketball champions. However, Fry and Nightingale gave them a battle, proving themselves worthy of their opponents. I would like to thank the Sports Captains of each house - Laura Waddell of Nightingale, Diane Nancekivell of Fry, and Wendy Foote of Keller, for making the House sports possible with their hard work and enthusiasm. Jane Rodger School Sports Captain Interhouse Volleyball Keller Interhouse Basketball Keller Interhouse Softball Keller mterhous.e Sports Cup Keller Senior Sports Cup Laura Waddell Intermediate Sports Cup Fiona MacDonald Junior Sports Cup Harriet Ellicott Badminton Singles, Senior Barbara Fletcher Intermediate Barbara Watson Badminton Doubles, Senior Elizabeth Raymont Margaret Watson Intermediate Katie Scott Barbara Watson Tennis Singles, Senior Elizabeth Raymont Intermediate Debbie Monk Tennis Doubles, Senior Laura Waddell Jane Rodger Intermediate Debbie Monk Katie Scott Physical Education Gold Medal Katie Scott Maynard Sportsmanship Cup Barbara Fletcher SKIING This year for the first time we had our own ski team. Laura Waddell organized the team and we entered the Ann Heggtveit Inter-school Competition. Our team consisted of Laura Waddell, Barbara Fletcher, Susan Cruikshank, Pamela Foote, Lynn Lazarovitz, and Sandra Radcliff. As we had had very little practice, we did not place, but the team captain Laura Waddell placed third in the giant Slalom. The boarders, and a few enthusiastic day-girls left school every Saturday at nine o ' clock for Camp Fortune. After a long day of skiing, eating and sitting in the Lodge, they returned exhausted. I hope that next year Elmwood ' s ski team will win the Ann Heggtveit Trophy, Susan Cruikshank We would like to thank all those who have helped with the sports activities during the year, and we hope that next year an inter-school Basketball and Volleyball team will be formed which will (as in 1958) win the Ottawa Inter-school Volleyball and Basketball Championship.

Page 29 text:

History of the School Twenty-five years ago a gracious lady came to Ottawa with her husband and two sons, and found in Rockliffe, then an almost pastoral spot - cows grazed in Buena Vista - a rambling old homestead, part timber and part stucco, surrounded by leafy elms and grounds that trailed away into swamp, the latter a veritable paradise for small boys and mosquitoes. Here she had a vision, a dream, or what you will. It was a lovely one, anyway, as all her dreams were. She visualized in that very spot a band of carefree happy children, who would play in merry groups in those grounds; a place where they would learn about pixies and fairies, and fare forth in a world of their own making on adventures like Arthur ' s knights of old, learning the while of those lovely gracious qualities which little children must practice as grown knights who go in quest of the Holy Grail. The lady was Mrs. Philpot. The shady grounds were those which surround our school today. Thus Elmwood came into being. You all know why it was that we were at first known as the Rockliffe Preparatory School. The oldest pupil was not more than fourteen. In speaking of those days, Mrs, Philpot pays tribute to the generous in- terest of Mr. and Mrs. Ch arles Keefer. A warm sponsor, too, who must be mentioned in connection with this period of the school ' s history, was Admiral Sir Charles Kingsmill, who was largely instrumental in inter- esting our present governors, and it was through him also that the now famous barn was converted and in- corporated • in the school buildings. Mr. Norman Guthrie and other parents were also most generous in helping to establish the school. Here, however, I want to dwell upon what I believe to be the main charac- teristics that the school has developed during the first quarter of a century, and try to show how even in the beginning, in spite of badly- constructed and ill-equipped buildings, many lovely things were planted, took root, and grew, inspired by the vital force of Mrs. Philpot ' s personality. To those days we owe our school colours and our emblem flower, the daffodil. In connection with this I should like to quote Mrs. Philpot ' s own words: The daffodil became to me a symbol in its happy way of growing in merry companies and open spaces, joyous, strong, companionable and free. Later when she presented the Philpot Token, which many of you have worn with pride, she said: I ask that the Token may emphasize for you this way of living, and that its spirit may foster an open, kind and generous influence in the school .... and, if you will, let it be called the daffodil spirit. I offer the Token to be awarded each year to the girl who best maintains the spirit and the ideals, which, as well as a high standard in scholarship, achievement in games, and charm of manner, I have always hoped may set their mark upon the school, i.e. the spirit of SERVICE, FELLOWSHIP, FREEDOM, FAIR-PLAY. It was in this manner that we had our beginnings. One of my first impressions of the school was that atmosphere of joyous companionship, both in work and in play, and I should like to think that the spirit of friendliness and comradeship still characterizes the school and impresses itself on all who come within its portals, for our of friendliness comes fellowship, the desire to serve, and many good things that this sadly torn world of today needs. Steadily the school grew. A bit was added here, and a bit was added there, to house our growing numbers - one bit a barn! Some of the old parts were very shaky. I remember on one occasion when the Duchess of Devonshire (then residing at Government House) visited the school. So many people climbed the rather uncertain and creaky staircase in the old section of the house that we held our breath for fear the worst would happen and the vice-regal foot go through the stairs! However all went well then, but later a less august foot, of the primary mistress, went through the boards of her classroom floor, and Mrs. Harry Southam said, That decides it, or words to that effect. We must. have a new building. And we did. And so in 1940 we look back over a quarter of a century, and we see in retrospect the Elmwood pageant, girls in green tunics filing into the Hall for morning prayers, flying as if on winged feet to tennis courts and playing-fields, cheering themselves hoarse for Fry, Keller and Nightingale, assembling for Speech Day in white and yellow, with some assumption of the dignity that the Day demands, the keen, eager faces and smiling eyes growing a little more serious year by year as the purpose of School as a preparation for life unfolds itself. At the end of twenty-five years we find Elmwoodians in every part of the globe, carrying with them we hope and believe, like the winged fruit of the elm tree, samara, something of the lessons we have tried to teach during their school days, the spirit of service, the beauty of usefulness, a readiness to meet whatever testing times may come with a serene courage, going forth with fellowship and kindliness and a true sense of fair play, so that wherever they may be they will work for the common good. And it is thus I would have you salute the past with reverence, as you march beyond it to the future. Edith B. Buck 27