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

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Chapel Report The program this year has followed the course of the past two years, indeed the last few years, quite distinctly. The Saturday morning services of Morning Prayer and Holy Communion continued week in week out, as did the early morning services of Communion on Sundays. The Tuesday and Thursday services of Evening Prayer also continued. Attendance at these services was dependent on many factors: if the weather was too bad or too good ; if the Chaplain had been around the houses applying pressure or not. Special services also cropped up throughout the school year. On March 19 Bishop Gartrell confirmed the following in an impressive service: R. Carruthers R. Hope M. Springford D. Consta ble J. Innis B.Terry T. Fairbank A. Keate G. Thompson A. Forster A. Kelman R. Vierra R. Goody J. Reuss M.White W. Richards After the service Bishop Gartrell met with parents and relatives of the boys. The Founders Day service on April 31st. was unique in the year of chapel services. The guest speaker for that morning was Mr. T.E. Ladner, an old boy of the school (1928-31). His address on life at Shawnigan 50 years ago was so well liked that he was applauded as he stepped down from the pulpit. After such a speech all that could be said of the clapping was Why Not? This year, the Chaplain was aided by some 15 boys who acted as servers or sacristans. The highlight of their year in the chapel came at the end of the year when all were invited to the McClelland ' s for an excellent meal, thanks to Mrs. McClelland. Mrs. McClelland is also in line for thanks for the work she and her helpers did with the flowers in the chapel. D. Watt 17

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Photo J. Gotthardt There is one particular facet of our lives here that calls for special mention today, and particularly now that it is coming to an end. I am referring to the relationship that we have had with Strathcona — this to be our answer to the modern trend towards co-education. I am sure that there is a lot to be said for co-education. I know that there is much to be said against it. While it might be a challenge for some boys to be in competition in the classroom with girls, who mature faster and are very often more industrious, for others this can be a real burden. We and Strathcona have developed a relationship that I like to think of as a happy marriage based on (1) similar standards and values. In our two schools we have insisted that teachers use the authority vested in them, that students do what they are told, that they do homework, that they compete and that they cultivate interests outside the classroom — in fact, we have both been stressing many of the things that some public schools have been drifting away from in recent years. (2) We have respect for one another and confidence in one another, sharing with one another and not using one a nother. I would like to say that I have had the greatest respect for, and complete confidence in, Miss Brown, the Headmistress of Strathcona. Overall it has been a very happy marriage and a lot of fun, but now it has come to an end. Strathcona is closing for financial reasons, which is sad and tragic, especially as it has happened at a time when the school has been, from every other point of view, at its healthiest and strongest. We are going to miss Strathcona. I hate to admit this, particularly with a number of Strathcona girls present today, but like many a man who has been widowed, we too, with almost indecent haste, have been on the look-out and we have in fact proposed marriage, and Miss Glide, on behalf of Queen Margaret ' s School, has accepted our proposal. We are now officially engaged. What I am saying is that we have agreed that there should be, and can be, a co-ordinated programme between our two schools. We have had groups in both schools studying the proposal, with the guidance of a member of staff in each school, and many details have been worked out. If we remember the ingredients of a happy marriage that I mentioned earlier, I am confident that this will lead to a happy relationship for our two schools. Going back to this year that has just finished, which I have described as a very good year and a very stable year, I am stating the obvious when I say that this does not just happen. It could never have happened without the hard work and dedication of so many in so many different areas, not just the academic staff, but I am thinking of them in particular, who are at Shawnigan because they are interested and concerned about young people, who are dedicated to their work and who, by being forgetful of themselves, are demonstrating in the most practical way the value of service. On behalf of the School I thank you, one and all; to those of you who are leaving I wish good fortune, and I would like to thank too the graduating class, in particular the School Prefects. They play a vital role in setting the tone of the School. We have been well served by them at this School and again, on behalf of the School, I thank you, and wish you well. The Headmaster then introduced the School Jazz Orchestra, which had completed a very enjoyable and successful tour of the west coast as far south as Los Angeles, and they played a few selections from their recent record. Dr. Arrott ' s address. Prize Distribution. After the prize distribution, the Headmaster presented an inscribed tray to Matthew Arrott, the Head of School, with the thanks of the School, particularly for what he has been — a good influence, a great sportsman but, above all, a tower of moral strength. The Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. Anderson, thanked the guest speaker and the staff. In conclusion, the Headmaster stated, Up to this point we have been thinking of the year that has passed and, in particular, of the graduating class of 1977. In a few weeks those of us who will be returning will be thinking of next year. Looming large in our thoughts will be our leaders for next year. Already I am excited about the prospects as those Heads of Houses have been named. The Headmaster then announced the appointments of Head of House and School Prefect: Copeman ' s Andrew Balshaw Groves ' Richard Jacobs Lake ' s Patrick Halls Lonsdale ' s Peter Olesen Ripley ' s Shannon McMullen School Prefect in Lonsdale ' s Frost Prioleau and, to head the team, as Head of School for the year 1977-78, Peter Olesen. 16

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Head of School ' s Address By some kindly act of fate my classmates and I are, after twelve years, graduating today. The last five of those twelve years I have spent at Shawnigan and I can honestly say foi myself and I think for most of the graduating class that these years rould not have been more profitable and more enjoyable for lis. When I came to this school as a giade 8, Shawnigan was a school of 165 with a new headmaster and it had many financial problems. Since that tune I have seen Shawnigan grow every year to where next year the school will be filled to capacity at 245 and will have eveiy bit of the spirit and the moiale the school has known in the past. You, the parents of all the students, I think, have played a very important role in the re-yitali ation of this valuable community. You have fulfilled this role through your profound foresight in seeing and in trusting in the value of this school. To the staff of Shawnigan words are not enough for the thanks which you deserve. For you are the men and women who have, because of youi dedication and devotion to the spirit of education and die-hard attitude, always given Shawnigan Lake School its potential to be a great school. My greatest amount of thanks though, goes to you, the boys, for you have had the maturity to take advantage of your parents ' foresight and the staff ' s unquestionable ability and made this school the great school that it is. On behalf of the class of 77 I would like to say that we see strength in Shawnigan in the years to come and we wish you, the boys who are returning, and the ever present staff, the best of luck, though we know you will not need it.