Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute - Acta Nostra Yearbook (Guelph, Ontario Canada)

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12 ACTA NOSTRA, 1926 JTTMYXX. . P-X .e Xf'0g.-27,1 A. a V3 rptmfffe 4 XS'7SQ, Xa zypsff Pax Qsz hi g, ' yfihetw NW? W ie-QN f Q 1 T l Q f , f X Alle am' awk Am. -I 1 'ZXX 1 f X .S 'XX4 - X if 6 ' - e An Appreciation In this, our first issue of Acta Nostra, we wish to express ou-r sincere thanks to all those who have helped to make the paper a success. Some helped very much: others did not do quite so muchg but it goes Without say- ing that this paper would have been a miserable failure if the school at large had not stood behind the venture. Is the paper a success? We should say it is. And this success is due largely to the great school spirit that has come to reside within our halls. More especially recognition is due to Miss E. Sinclair and Mr. Dixon, who were ably assisted by our energetic Editor, Milton Watson. Of Miss Sinclair, the founder of our paper, nothing more can be said to heighten her in the affections of the students. To Mr. Dixon is due the pictorial supremacy of Acta Nostra, and it is to Mr. Dixon's untiring efforts that the obstacles that have come in Acta Nostra's path have been so cleverly overcome. DONALD DAVISON, Editor. Qi Our Name and Its Origin CBy Fred w. Dixonl Since this is our first publication a few words regarding the name Acta Nostra fLatin, Our Doingsul will not be -amiss. Picture in your mind the room on the west side of the building, adja- cent to the stage. It is a small room with ceiling probably twenty-five feet in height. One lone electric light at a rather high altitude sends forth its feeble glow. Only a few straggling rays of outside light penetrate through the glass panel in the door. The room is dlismal. Here, however, the mind has no distractions-outside sounds do not penetrate-a veritable silence of the tomb prevails except for a slight reverberation of sound between the high walls. Here mental concentration is a p-ossibility. Sitting around a small ta.ble or pacing the floor, the committee may be seen. Their appearance is ordinarily one of serious contemplation as suits their task, but at times a wistful smile breaks over one of the faces as if to say: Eureka! I have found it. Shall this be the chosen name? This suggestion is then marked down for further discussion. Numerous lexicons and reference books of Latin, French and Greek are strewn over the table and are referred to continually.

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ACTA NOSTRA, 1926 11 Principals Message Know not for knowing's sake. But to lmecmne a star forever: Know for the gain it gets. the praise it brings The wonder it inspires. the love it breeds. Look one step ahead and secure that step. -Browning. Principal J. F. ROSS, M For the Hrst time Acta Nostra appears before the public, and it Will, we hope, meet with the appreciation and interest that it merits. It represents untiring zeal and energy on the part of the editorial staff, aided by Miss Sinclair and Mr. Dixon. To them is due a deep sense of gratitude. Also to those who assist- ed financially or otherwise. While looking over some of the proofs the thought came to me: Are some of these young writers and editors the writers in em- bryo ofthe future. VVill the time come when we shall poin-t with lnuch pride to some of these signatures? It has been sa.id that min- isters and teachers will receive their reward in Heaven. But. speaking from the standpoint of the teachers I think I may say that there is, aside from the monetary consideration. a cer- tain compensation in teaching in the subse- quent success of our scholars since in a school such as ours we have our future citizens. All will, I hope, be successful. and I conddently ex- pect that we shall give to the world our quota of writers. orators, outstanding surgeons. men of law, statesmen who will help in building up the country. If we teachers can think that we have. in any slight measure been successful in cultivating the seeds of future success in our pupils, there is in this thought a compensation for many of the trials and perplexities of teaching. I know with what keen plea- sure and interest my esteemed predecessor, Mr. Davison, follows the career of his ex-pupils. and what an enviable richness this has added to his life. As my teaching experience has been limited to some twelve years I have not as yet been able to contemplate tl1e ultimate achievements of my former pupils. But many I have seen launching out on the sea of life in a manner that bespoke an eventful voyage. One conclusion I have formed from observation of former students and their subsequent careers is that it is not always the most brilliant student who develops into the most successful man or woman. I.t is very often the student who has to apply himself earnestly, learning thereby lessons of perseverance. punctuality. and assiduiity. who ultimately forges to the front, while the more brilliant scholar to whom all things come easily will fall by the wayside. These years of secondary training are the formative period in the character building of our students. Upon the habits and tastes formed at this time depend their future success and happiness. But not alone upon success in their chosen career depends their ultimate happiness. It should not be forgotten that our young people are also prepar- ing for future leisure. No one expects to work all the time, and the mind well stored with interesting knowledge, is always going to find entertainment in times of leisure. The man or woman with such a mind does not need to go abroad for entertainment. The entertainment of such a student is self-cont-ained.

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ACTA NOSTRA, 1926 13 As an incentive to the necessary profound meditation, some of the Com- mittee can be seen indulging in the products of onie Mr. Wrigley, whose fame is nation wide, and whose products have been the cause of considerable chew- ing in the world. Dis-card-ed papers are strewn on the iioor. Wrinkled brows are much in evidence, and from the appearance of abject despair on some of the faces it might seem as if a jury were deciding the fate of a criminal. It is. however, only the committee at work who are trying to decide upon the name for the G. C.-V. I. Year Book. The choosing of a name for a school publication is a task which, from a superficial glance, might appear very easy. So many names are used now in publications that it behooves us. in selecting a new one. to be at. least o1'iginal. Our task, then, was to select a name which in some measure would indicate the purpose of the Year Book-would be simple and catchy. incap- able of much mispronunciation. and acceptable to the majority. For some reason or other English names did not seem to meet with very much approval. Several French names were submitted, which were short and catchy, but liable to mispronunciation, and we did not wish to feel morally responsible for any possible corruption of the French tongue. Some Latin names were either second hand or did not carry much appeal with them, but when Acta Nostra was suggested each one of the committee grasped at it ea.gerly. Some may say that, having pondered so long and laboriously, we were mentally fatigued and so incapacitated for using our best judgment. Probably so-however, the name has continued to grow steadily in popularity and has made many friends. Our hope is that we may be vindicated by posterity-that Acta Nostra may be perpetuated and live as a dear remem- brance in the hearts of future students so that all may look back with fond 1'eminiscences upon their Alma Mater and be linked to her more strongly even in those years when we of 1926 shall have become part of the dim distant past. , .N l ? '67 fix I . . Nostifd? , 595' U , io fig We 1 . -W- rev-5' i ' ea 03.3,-as.i.A . if'f?,.1,-,Ak 0 I p , 1 ! - Q 'lbggvevsvaie Q 1 71 1 ,X ,f , Y .Y 1 ' AC ef , I V' I . ma qoavokgp 4' G 94 5'-oma emitter f I ,Ei - fin X 4 . 1 dawn r -ax Yipmodcpn Zo ,I , J X 4: hesfl 5 it H vi ,fs vt' - X O fig' 4. T. o 0 cp Q N Q f' vi1'1W:i'4 fer - - Q A Jiiiiif JK gy ' 2 l oi ,gin .A'a 'fiT-fffntr ' 7 - s S 7 1' , fe -i'f 'fF-Qtyui -fe' 1- '-' I 111111411424 I -- if-1 awszgf Laawzifa ai if sen N' 11111111111, 540, 'f ' - . V17 ac, P .: 1 , ff- W 'i ,.f... if Tutu ile. e ff ' Q.. f' ff i - Jg,,f- J' Jag ' ,rw 3 X I Y Q' .r:3 5 e' 'f - ,fm I - , 3,5 A The Committee, D. Davison, Miss Sinclair, Mr. Dixon and M. Watson, at work selecting the name.