Shawnigan Lake School - Yearbook (Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia Canada)

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The Housemaster, a Groves production, s J arring Dryvynsyde, Brooks, Smith II, Madden and a supporting cast, provided many amusing situations and ably portrayed the trials and problems of community life within the House. The highlight of the evening was supplied by the Quartet from Rigoletto, by Verdi, directed by Mr. Kilpatrick. With Berg as the stunning soprano, Schaefer an adorable contralto, Banks as basso-profundo, and Macaya as operatic tenor, the cast was admirably chosen. In the role of the great Caruso, Macaya ' s performance was outstanding. In all it was a superb production which had the audience reeling with laughter throughout. Mr. Knighton, as the M.C. kept the programme moving smoothly, and his amusing stories told in the French-Canadian dialect lacked nothing in the telling. While behind the scenes the Music Room looked like a combination style show and rogues gallery where Miss Clunas and Miss Ruth Solly put the finishing touches to the costuming and deftly applied the make-up necessary to convert sturdy youths into winsome young ladies. f- ancake Cji reaAe The traditional Pancake Grease was held on Tuesday, February 17th. There were 18 contestants representing 9 forms. Amid great spectator interest and excitement, Cooper and Stewart I were successful on behalf of the IVth Form, who subsequently enjoyed the attractions of a visit to the village at the Head Master ' s expense. htooou kop The activity in the Hobby Shop this year has been very intense and the results have been very pleasing, especially for those boys who completed projects in time to take the articles home. A great variety of articles have been made including tables, bowls, lamps, book- shelves, boats, gun racks and cupboards. Three boys were awarded prizes in the Village Flower Show and many more entries were complimented. Even the Staff enjoyed an evening each week in the Shop and produced many useful articles of which they are justly proud. We anticipate even greater activity during the coming year and hope to widen our scope to produce more and better articles. oalA The waterfront has been a hive of activity this summer term; paint, sails, boats and boys formed a seething industrial mass on floats whenever there was a moment to spare. Last Easter term Nash decided to repair the delapidated old rowing four which belongs to the School. He did a r emarkably good job on it and the spirit of enthusiasm soon permeated the School. Boys adopted boals and were provided with the necessary equipment by the School. The results are very satisfactory — we now have six seaworthy •school boats as well as the whaler and the four. Graham Anderson, an Old Boy of the School, has recently presented us with another sail boat which is now in the Hobby Shop awaiting the attention of Nash and other experts. The weather and time have checked our waterfront activities during the past term, but a start has been made in the reconstruction of the Shawnigan fleet and it is hoped that rowing and sailing will find a permanent place in the School activities of the future. y° armerd CU This Club was inaugurated during the Lent Term in response to the desires of a number of boys who are interested in agriculture and forestry. The sixteen members took over the management of fifty chickens and four pigs at the School and the production of eggs and the progress of the pigs was very encouraging, especially as all eggs were used in the kitchen and the bacon will be ready for use in September next. Through the co-operation of the District Agricultural Officer, a number of visits were arranged to various farms and the boys saw the results of various fertilising schemes and tried their hand at stock judging. It is hoped that next year a more ambitious programme will be arranged with lectures, demonstrations and visits touching all phases of farming and forestry. Page Ten

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The Summer Term saw a great deal of outdoor activity, with games, treasure hunts, trailing, cooking, swimming and life saving. While few boys managed to complete the 2nd Class Tests, most of the troop were ready for the tests at the end of the term. Other activities during the year were the provision of refreshments at half-term in November, and assisting as traffic guides and first aid squads at half-term in May. Of the four patrols, Otters, Beavers, Woodpeckers and Cougars, the Peckers were overall the most efficient and proficient patrol. It is hoped for a more successful year in 1953-54. The 2nd Shawnigan Lake Boys School Pack has had a happy first year. An hour or a little more has been spent each week on games and play designed to encourage the cub, while enjoying life, to learn to be a more useful member of the community. Extra time has been given by the boys to working for badges, and while three first Stars have been awarded, most boys have almost concluded first Star tests and a good proportion well on the way to Second Star. Activities throughout the year included the selling of sandwiches, etc., to promote funds, during November, 1952; a picnic in December of the same year when two of the Scouts kindly lent their services as fire-lighters; a joint Church Parade at the School Chapel with the 1st Shawnigan Lake group in February, 1953; distributing programmes for the Sea Cadets during their parade in May, and an outing to the beach on Coronation Day. The Shield has been held by the Six (S. Sixer P. Tressler) who maintained the highest standard. R. Svendsen, P. Mcintosh and F. Ford were promoted to the Scouts in March. Pen friendship has been promoted with a Pack in Chester. England, and the Cubs exchange letters, postage stamps and snapshots. lK.ua Concert An air of excitement bordering on mass panic pervaded the dining-room (temporary changing quarters) as the zero hour for the School ' s annual entertainment approached. But as the curtain rose for the opening performance the chaotic condition subsided, the players steeled themselves for the occasion, and the show proceeded with clock-like precision. The opener found the School Prefects playing the role of themselves in a state of conversational relaxation during the evening preparation period. Inasmuch as they were truly playing themselves the play required little practice on their part, and so it was performed in a very realistic manner. Many theories on the virtues of prefectorial privileges rather than duties were freely expounded, and more light might have been shed on attitudes of study and methods of upholding discipline had it not been for the untimely entry of the Head Master himself, which immediately resulted in a restoration of assumed loyalty to office. The Second Form followed with their own interpretation of life in England during the Early Briton period. Barring a certain language handicap the life of the times was ably depicted, and many of the habits and customs truly revealed. . Remove A contributed a skit on parents ' reactions to their sons ' reports, v hich culminated in said parents ' decision to visit the school in order that certain misunderstandings be clarified. However, their vehicle of transportation, being something unique in that it consisted of a car made up entirely of boys, failed to respond to orthodox treatment, and the trip had to be cancelled. Messrs. Louis, Armstrong, Kaye II, Knight II, Greenwood, and Robertson III then regaled the audience with a Gee Mom, Gosh Mom, I want to go Home song which was greatly enjoyed. It was an ori- ginal composed entirely by the boys themselves, and it threw a new light on some of the activities of school life (we understand that some censorship was imposed, so that the final was an abridged edition). In quick succession followed The Hotel Guest, The Poison Lick (a Madden pro- duction), and The Night Before Christmas. a comedy, with Wilson playing the leading role of Father Christmas. This latter evoked considerable laughter and allayed any doubt as to the ruddy old gentleman ' s interpretation of the spirit of Christmas. A note of seriousness was then introduced when Knight II in his own inimitable style presented the Hon. Dr. Simon Janke, who enthralled the audience with his oratory, and spoke with the ease and fluency of a seasoned statesman — the topic, These Cata- clysmic Times. This was followed by a tragedy — Astute Maharajah Kyles, aware that an incurable illness left him little time to prepare a defence against enemies plotting the overthrow of his Princedom, cleverly devised a plan whereby both he and the leaders of the plot would pass into eternity together, thus guaranteeing the rightful succession to his realm. Page Nine

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Cjarden Club During the winter months Mr. Dinter, the school gardener, was able to construct a small greenhouse as a lean-to from the power house. This was done substantially with lumber from the old tennis courts and gave rise to the formation of a small but enthusiastic group known as the Garden Club. They were wont to pursue their many activities on free afternoons, when they were summoned to a meeting by small notices on the school notice board, from one of which the following is an extract: The Garden Club will graft Italian prunes at 1:45 p.m. in the horse pasture. It is hoped that these diverse activities will lead to much useful occupation at home and in the future. (proved rroude r lotes As the year progressed, House consciousness and spirit grew to healthy proportions, and did much toward gaining us a goodly number of prizes in several fields of School life. The two awards of the Efficiency Cup made this year went to Groves House boys, B. Dryvynsyde and D. Brooks, and the latter also received the Sportsmanship Cup. The majority of Form prize-winners were not from Groves, but Gerald McGavin took an excellent second in the Upper Fifth. After a somewhat ominous first day ' s play, the final outcome in the House cricket match was a decisive victory for Groves. In track and field events also, Groves scored by a wide margin, gaining most of its advantage in the under fourteen age group, as more fully reported elsewhere in these pages. -JLahe 5 rtoude I toted The House can look back upon a well spent year in the academic and sporting fields. Though beaten in the track sports by Groves, the Victor Ludorum winner was Coates, with Maclnnes close behind. It can safely be said that these sports were lost by the lack of support shown by the under-fourteen age group. They should remember that only a combined House effort can bring success in any activity. All school teams contained their fair share of Lake ' s members. The inter-House cricket game was played over two separate days on a two innings basis and provided plenty of excitement. Groves won after receiving a severe fright on the first day, when the Colt members of the team left the House with a three run lead contrary to all the experts ' forecasts. The House loses several senior members this year and all our best wishes go with them. The loss of the House Captain, W. J. Liaskas, after a year of valuable, cheerful and conscientious leadership will be keenly felt. I .ipteu 5 rrouSe I lotes Ripley ' s House has had a change of face this year; since the Easter term it has become a large house of small boys instead of a small house with large boys. This formation of a junior house with age limits between eight and twelve has reduced the chances of Ripley ' s name being to the fore in the academic or athletic sphere. It has, however, givin rise to a junior school spirit and a strong sense of loyalty to the House. We were sorry to lose Mr. Kilpatrick, the first junior house master, and we all extend to him our best wishes for a speedy recovery from his recent illness. Cricket has become a great sport for many Ripley ' s boys. The smallest enjoy a leisurely game in the long grass; the dull moments between overs provide an excellent opportunity for gymnastic displays by the fielders. The older boys have taken the game very seriously and Ripley ' s is represented by Freeman Ford in the Colts game. A few non-cricketers indulge in the less restrained game of soft ball. In the academic world the two Mcintosh boys deserve a mention in despatches. They both came top of their respective forms. A keen interest in Natural History has recently developed, but it is not without its hazards — a snake appeared in a dormitory locker, the house master ' s room sometimes assumed the appearance of a laboratory and at the end of term the washroom basins became the easiest exit for unwanted tadpoles. Page Eleven