North Shore Country Day School - Mirror Yearbook (Winnetka, IL)

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LEICESTER HALL In the summer of 1941 a boarding department was set up at North Shore. Thus parents who were planning to leave the North Shore for an extended period of time, or parents from other states who had heard of North Shore ' s educational facilities, could enroll their children at Leicester Hall and consider their progenic problems over. Mr. French, head of the Middle School, was put in charge of the House as it is familiarly termed by its inmates. He and Mrs. French were charged with the duty of recreating as best they could the atmosphere of congeniality that pervades the home. In this way they have succeeded admirably to the point where they have become second parents to us, advising us socially and financially, reprimanding us when the need arises, and perform- ing ali those offices which have always been identified with parents and have endeared them to their offspring. The daily program of the House has been modeled as closely as possible on that of a private home. On school days breakfast is served at 7:30. After school we have tea around six and dinner at 6:30. Then the inmates journey upward to their rooms for their main study period which lasts from 7:30 to 9:00. Every other Sunday, we have visited a different church along the North Shore, so that we might get a basic understanding of the varied religions practiced in America. 16

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Patience , the opera chosen to be our 1944 production, is Gilbert and Sullivan at their satirical best. A take-off on the aesthetic trend of the Gilbertian period, the oper- etta is not as widely known as some, but the music, particularly, is unsurpassed. It has no tenor lead but an abundance of good major roles, points which were taken into consideration when making the choice. Opera-time, and the spirit that goes with it, is a North Shore tradition, the value of which cannot be overrated. That spirit ran high this year among all those industrious members of the stage crew, art department, costume committee, and make-up crew, not to mention the entire cast. Even had the production not been the triumphant success it was, the experience and pure fun derived from such complete cooperation would have been well worth the effort. A unique thing occurred this year — no epidemic broke out the week before March seventeenth. It ' s the first time in history! Both Friday and Saturday nights ' casts gave their best, unhandicapped by measles or mumps. Incidentally, both casts were superb, playing to houses packed with responsive audiences. The chorus also deserves praise, the boys for their well-drilled marching and the girls for their unaccustomed aestheticism. Many thanks to Miss Bacon for her effective coloring and scenery, to Mrs. Duff, Mrs. Graham, and Mr. Smith for their patient coaching, to Mrs. Brueggeman and her com- mittee of mothers for costuming us so beautifully, and to the business, stage and make- up crews. As for Mr. Duff himself, our director cannot help but know how grateful we are. 15

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CHRISTMAS The Christmas Season at North Shore is always memorable, and this year certainly was no exception. Here at North Shore we try to strike a happy medium by having a bit of gaiety plus some seriousness. The Christmas Party starts out the program and furnishes the gaiety. It is full of good humor and dancing, and is climaxed by the entrance of Santa himself. Usually this creator of good cheer enters by the medium of the conventional chimney. This year, however, his better judgment getting the better of him, he decided not chancing the chimney as he had gained a little extra weight. Instead he decided to sneak in through one of the gym windows. As it turned out he found himself locked into the balcony of the gym and had to be rescued by a group of the Lower School children. As soon as he had ascended his throne, all else was forgotten while he and Mr. Smith, a good friend of Santa ' s, launched themselves into a warm conversation. After this, followed a long and serious conference with the Lower School in which Santa received numerous, de- tailed suggestions as to properly enhance each family ' s hearth Christmas Eve. These requests usually accomapnied by eager affidavits of good intentions, and contracts for future behavior. After this, with occasional interruptions by various tots who wished to further impress Santa the exact nature or feasibilities of their suggestions, he was amused by the whole-hearted, if not expert prosecutions of dances by the members of the whole School. Completely filled with good intentions for the school, Santa then departed. To complete and add the necessary serious note, a number of tableaux were given representing famous paintings about the life of Christ. Then the Freshman class, under the able direction of Miss Radcliff, produced a simple but expressive pageant depicting the quest for and finding of the Christ Child. 17