Kelvin High School - Kelvin Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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hKs on the staff of the Household Arts De¬ partment. In September her marriage took place to Mr. Julian Maxson. Mr. and Mrs. Maxson are making their home in Westerly, Rhode Island, U.S.A. AN EXCHANGE TEACHER HIS year it has been Kelvin’s good fortune to welcome to its staff one of the Overseas Exchange Teachers. Miss Duhig came to Winnipeg from Sidney, Australia. Teachers and stu¬ dents of Kelvin have enjoyed her visit. We wish to express our appreciation of the talks which we mentioned among the Auditorium events, and also to thank Miss Duhig for the very inter¬ esting article which we are printing in this section. We wish her all happi¬ ness and success in her future work. c An Australian Qirls’ ACigh School A Sketch T HE school is the Sydney Girls’ High School, Moore Park, an E-shaped, two-storey brick building, situated in the midst of attractive grounds—green lawns, shaded by tall trees, flowering shrubs, hedges, and flower beds. All the year round the sight is delighted with the softening effect of the green grass and trees, for the native trees are evergreen, and no frosts blight the tender grass, nor snow cover it from sight. The great bell rings, and the pupils, about 780 in all, ranging’from first to fifth year students (grades seven to eleven) form in classes in the qua¬ drangle. They sing a hymn, and the national anthem, salute the Australian flag, and pass then to class rooms. For the first three years of the high school course, the subjects studied are English, French, Latin, mathematics, science (physics, chemistry, botany), history, music appreciation, and sing¬ ing. As well as these, one or two of the following optional subjects may be taken: German, geography, sewing, art and the theory of music. A public examination, the Intermediate Certifi¬ cate, is held at the end of the third year course, and successful pupils pass then to fourth and fifth year work. In the fourth year, a slight modification or var¬ iation of subjects is allowed: for in¬ stance, Latin may be dropped if the pupil does not intend entering upon a university course. It happens often that at the end of first year, Latin is dropped by pupils showing no aptitude for it, and two of the following substi¬ tuted instead: sewing, music, art. Some beautiful work is done in art, both applied and commercial, but the artists cannot eclipse those who ply the needle. The latter hold a display of their work at the end of the year, and the racks of dresses—day, evening, party, housefrocks and aprons, and all articles of apparel, present a most in¬ teresting array. The pupils design the dress, then draft the pattern, then make up the material. The students preparing for advanced work, select at the end of the fourth year course, the subjects they intend to specialize in, so in fifth year they pursue an honour course in such sub¬ jects. Another public examination, the Leaving Certificate, is held at the com¬ pletion of the high school work, but before pupils can be accredited with the result of honour work, a pass of 75 to 80% must be gained in that subject on the pass paper. The student has to work very dili¬ gently all the years of his school life to be sure of reaping some decent reward. 10

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in the greater opportunity opening out before him. We miss his genial pres¬ ence on the third floor, but wish him every success in his new work. MISS F. E. HARPER In June of this year Miss F. E. Har¬ per retired from the Household Arts Department. For many years Miss Harper had guided the tastes and abil¬ ities of our girls in the making of smart clothes and in the intelligent study of textiles. We wish her happiness in the new life of leisure which will give her an opportunity to enjoy her many and varied interests. MISS AILEEN GARLAND It was with feelings of regret for ourselves and pleasure in her deserved promotion that we bade farewell to Miss Garland this year. In September, 1938, she assumed the principalship of the William Whyte School. Her contri¬ bution to Kelvin in the field of History and Dramatics and her friendly under¬ standing of her students made her an invaluable asset to our school. We miss her very much but we wish her every success in her new field of work. MISS E. THOMPSON Miss Thompson came to Kelvin from the Earl Grey Junior High and spent five years with us as a member of the English Department. She was particu¬ larly interested in dramatics and pro¬ duced several fine plays, both for public and for school presentation. Miss Thompson retirement last June gives her leisure for the pursuit of her many interests and we wish her happiness in them. MR. C. A. E. HENSLEY In September, 1938, Mr. Hensley be¬ came principal of the Riverview School. We know that success and happiness will continue to follow him in this new work. His place at Kelvin is a hard one to fill. His quiet enthusiasm for his favorite biology inspired his pupils. He was ever ready to help, advise and encourage those under his care. MRS. JULIAN MAXSON (nee Schwalm) Miss Kathleen Schwalm resigned in June, 1938, after spending one year 9

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hKs The school day commences at 9.00 o’clock. After three forty-minute les ¬ sons, a quarter of an hour recess is in¬ dulged in. Everybody loves this respite, teachers and girls alike. In the staff room, the urn bubbles, and the aroma of tea pervades the atmosphere, while the girls strengthen themselves with “play-lunch.” Back in school once more, lessons continue until 12.35. As everybody travels some conisderable distance to school, everyone lunches on the premises. Again the bell sum¬ mons each one to duty at 1.20, and after ten minutes, roll-call, the afternoon lessons go on until 3.30, when all scat¬ ter- their several ways for home, ex¬ cept the delinquents, who are punished with a half hour’s detention. Sport occupies a fairly prominent part in the curriculum. Every Wednes¬ day afternoon is entirely devoted to or¬ ganized sport of some kind. In sum¬ mer, swimming, tennis and vigoro are pursued: in winter it is ground hockey, tennis, basket-ball, table tennis and circlos. A carnival between pupils of the several high schools marks the con¬ clusion of the swimming season. Dur¬ ing winter, inter-high school matches are held in hockey, tennis and basket¬ ball. The routine of school life is enlivened by a great many activities, which pro¬ vide scope for individual talent or in¬ terest. The dramatic club, the orches¬ tra, the glee club, the historical society the verse-speaking choir, the debating society, the Christian union students’ movement, the social service club, all have their devotees, and all work in connection with these clubs is done after school hours. Such activities are greatly appreciated by the girls, and in many instances interesting contacts out¬ side the school are made. The school community is actively controlled by the girls themselves, for the senior girls elect a captain and prefects, who have definite duties to perform in maintaining orderliness and a well disciplined effect. From time to time they hold a uniform parade of all the students, to see that every girl is dressed in full uniform, which consists of a brown pleated tunic, white shirt blouse with long sleeves, brown tie, shoes and cotton stockings, both in brown. In winter a brown blazer is worn as well. The summer hat ' is white panama, and the winter, brown felt. The hat band is of brown bearing the school crest woven in gold. The school colours are brown and gold, and the motto —“Labor omnia vincit.” Eva Duhig. 11