Ontario High School - Echo Yearbook (Ontario, NY)

Page 27 text:

VALEDICTORY--Continued Classmates, the time has come when we too must bid each other a last farewell, for after tonight we shall no longer be stu- dents of O. H. S. Our four years together have united us in all our pursuits. We have assisted each other in daily intercourse and have enjoyed many good times together. Our friendship has grown into mutual affection and this makes our tie harder to sever. We are conscious as we go out into the world that the hardest lessons are yet to be learned and the most important ones are not in text books. But if we keep our motto, May Knowledge lncreasen forever in our memories we shall certainely make our mark in this world. And now we must say farewell but as Edith Paintor's poem suggests. Farewell, no, no! On that far shore, Where friends shall meet to part no more, We'il bridge once more earth's farthest space, And stand united face to face. There memory will assert its power Till we recall this parting hour, And say 'neath heavens' blissful spell, lt was 'goodbye, but not farewell'. SALUTATORY Members of the faculty, the Board of Education, parents and friends: We, the class of nineteen hundred and twenty-seven, of Ontario High School welcome you here tonight. We, who have been in this high school life for the past four years greatly ap- preciate the irredeemable aid rendered by you all. We are moved by mingled joy and sadness. joy because we have attained the goal at which we aimed and sadness because we now have to leave this enjoyable high school life. We hope we have acquired the virtues that distinguish real men and women-honesty, truthfulness and broad-mindedness. Be- sides mental culture we have acquired moral culture in our high school which is due largely to the efforts of our teachers and parents. We tremble a little at the thought of leaving high school and enter- ing another phase of life. To you who are experienced this prob- ably seems naive but to us it is indeed a great step in our lives. Now to redeem the efforts of the Board of Education, the mem- bers of the faculty and our parents, let us finally resolve that these efforts shall not have been made in vain, but keep them ever pres- ent with us throughout life. Then, friends, we do truly thank you most humbly for coming this evening and we extend our most hearty welcome to you all. Lester H. Ameele. i231

Page 26 text:

VALEDICTORY By Anna lVloque Members of the Board of Education, members of the faculty, parents, relatives and friends: Duty bids us to say farewell to you so that we may take our places in a larger world for which you have all helped to prepare us. Tonight we are commemorating one of the most important events of our lives-the completion of our high school course. When we entered school as Freshmen, we adopted the motto, May Knowledge lncreasef' That we have lived up to it is shown by the fact that we are about to depart from our beloved school. We thought of graduation as some future goal to be reached only after four long years of study. The road to graduation seemed long indeed. As Freshmen our minds were immature and it was long before we could see that we were making any progress. But as the days went on our lessons grew easier and when Regents came we tried and passed them. So in the remaining three years, we found that our knowledge had broadened and our minds were better able to cope with the more difficult problems. Now, when we look back, we realize how pitiably short the road was after all. So much of this success we owe to our teachers that we are unable to properly express our thanks to them. They were al- ways so kind and patient with us that without them we would have fallen by the wayside. If in later life our class becomes a credit to the school, which we hope it will, we shall think of our teachers as being first to give us a start on the road to success. lt is with much sadness that we part from them tonight and in bidding them farewell we hope that their memory of us will always be as pleasant as ours will be of them. Members of the Board of Education, you have an even greater claim on our gratitude. We realize that we have had more acl- vantages than any of the classes before us and we certainly ap- preciate them. That you are interested in the welfare of the students can be shown by the interest you have always taken in us. A fine example bf this interest is this new school building with its wonderful facilities. We acknowledge the debt that we owe to you, and as a class pledge ourselves to help knowledge increase in our community. We bid you farewell with the hope that when you look for the advancement of those who have been enrolled in this noble institution, you will not be disappointed in the class of '2 7. Under classmen, we must leave you also. You have made our school life very pleasant for us. No longer will you hear our voices in the school rooms. Hereafter they will ring with the sounds of other voices. We are leaving you in capable hands and trust you will gain much from your high school education. Use your time profitably for we who are leaving know only too well the values of lost time. When we think of you, we are mingled with different emotions-sad to think that after we are gone, you will not miss us-but glad that we are leaving behind us classes whose school spirit is as great as ours. E221

Page 28 text:

n u l THE SENIOR CLASS HISTORY By Ethel R. Leenhouts Should you ask me, whence these stories? Whence these legends and traditions, l should answer, l should tell you, Of the history of the Seniors. Four long years ago they settled, Near the shining gleaming waters Of the beautiful Lake Ontario. There they came all strong and sturdy They whose minds were fresh and simple, There they lived, and toiled and studied, That they might advance their people, Through the darknesses of learning and the councils The councils of their elders and the teachers To the kingdom of the Seniors. Listen to the words of wisdom From the great lips of Mr. Lewis, You will choose a president For you a deliverer of the nations, Who will guide you and will teach you. lf you listen to his council You will reach ahead and prosper, lf his warnings pass unheeded, You will fail and you will perish. And they looked to Rexford Ransley Witlm a wise look and benignant. I-241