Sheldon Williams Collegiate - Opus Yearbook (Regina, Saskatchewan Canada)

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Creative Writing Club REFLECTIONS Reflections: Drifting dreamily on the waters of time — Past life and dreams. They are tranquil now. Reflections: Erratic visions on the suffering seas — Hopes creased with fears. They are poised beyond. Reflections: Rest at last on a timeless calm — Living remained, Though the seas swell no more. Front Row: Elizabeth Lane, Marilyn Gillmore, Gail Evans, Pat McKay. Back Row: Rod Spooner, Mrs. Foss (Advisor), Sandra Johnson, Mary Ellen Fisher, Paul Viminitz. Can you see? Can you tell? What will be or if it’s well? Then you’ve gotta try to understand, And if you can’t then take my hand And I will show you the future. For I can see and I can tell. GAIL EVANS TREES In this world there’s but a few Of the kind I describe to you. For what’s going on in their minds, It’s like being guided by the blind. And maybe one day you might be Able to tell and to see. It’s spring. Your buds, open wide Your dainty flowers do not hide. Open your leaves, bring forth your green, Do not be fearful to be seen. Welcome the spring birds with open arms, Let their joyful tunes bring forth your charms. I ain ' t got no crystal ball But I can walk standing tall; Some say that you can’t live out Your lifespan in this world no more. But I’m against that, as you might know I professed that many years ago. It’s summer. Offer forth your shade And give us humans aid. Defy the sun with your shimmering leaves, Refuse to wilt in the hot summer’s breeze. Spread your boughs to protect the nests. And care for the birds who seek rest. It’s possible one day that it might fall But there’ll be no panic and no call To have any fear or to show Hatred, because it will come quickly On belchin’ flame and wings of steel, And a little heat is all you’ll feel. It’s fall. Change your green for gold. Display your glory as of old. From green to gold to orange to red Stand forth with all your beauty spread. Show forth your splendour on the hills And in the valleys and along the rills. It’s winter. Sharp against the skyline Bend to the wind’s whistle and whine. Outlined in the shimmering frost Forlorn, uninhabited and lost. Soon will come the warm spring breeze. But now — sleep, sleep dear trees. MARY ELLEN FISHER Some ffseople call it a killer bomb, O they will say that it ’s not wrong. But I still know that it won’t come For my common sense tells me that I’m right. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ll still fight For my country, and for my life. Although when I’m dead and in my grave I won’t have a life left to save. ’Cause I know that big bomb it ain’t gonna fall. My mind tells me so. And, if it does, you and I won’t hear ’Less we live for a few hundred years, or more. ROD SPOONER (lyrics to be accompanied by guitar) 53

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VALEDICTORY ADDRESS JACK THRASHER was chosen by his fellow classmates to make the valedictory address at the graduation exercises on Friday, May 6, 1966. We are here tonight to witness a significant turning point in the life of every member of the graduating class. For some, this event marks the end of twelve odd years of schooling. For others, it is only a milestone in their journey to higher education. For all, it marks the termination of one portion of their lives and the begin¬ ning of a new and startling experience. After four years of perseverance, hope, joy and tears, the members of this class are being thrust forth into a world of complex and frightening aspect. This ceremony here tonight is more than just an acknowledgement of the termination of four years of high school life. It is also a recognition of the work of two groups of people who have become an inherent part of the lives of each member of this graduating class. The first group that comes to mind when we recall with fondness our many happy experiences in this school are our teachers. Not only have they provided us with several years of learning and instruction, enabling us to better cope with the problems of a decidedly difficult world, but also they have, in a larger sense, instilled in us some of the enthusiasm and vigor so necessary for the enjoyment of a successful and- rewarding life. In the words of Emerson, “the things taught in colleges are not an education but the means to an education”. Our teachers have presented us with a great and noble gift. They have given us the keys with which to unlock the doors of life. We came to them as raw, unfinished works. In the past four years they have constantly endeavoured to polish off the rough edges and tonight we see the end results before us. We are leaving this school as young men and women and we face the future well equipped as a result of their skilful work. For this we offer our sincerest thanks. Only time will, show us how much we can never truly repay. There is another group here tonight to whom we will be forever indebted. As parents, they have shared in our every enterprise. Our joys have been their joys, our sorrows have been their sorrows and our triumphs have been their triumphs. In the words of Henry Ward Beecher, “There is no friendship, no love like that of the parent for the child”. May we never forget this. As we advance from one stage of life to the other they are content to sit quietly by and watch us with growing pride. Yet without their devotion, their understanding and their encouragement, without their unselfish acts of love and kindness, without their sacrifices for our sake, the road to this graduat oi would have been a bleak and foreboding one inde ;d May God grant us the ability to lead such lives so as tc reflect in some small measure the love and affect ot they have put into our upbringing. As we stand now together, on the eve of oui departure from the halls and classrooms of Sheld «■ Williams, we pause for a moment for a brief backw. n glance at the many happy times we have shared togetl er Through participation in the many activities which h. vt been opened to use, through our studies and our wo la in the classroom, through our parts in school governm ® and in the organization of school functions — throi gl all these things we have striven to better ourselves a citizens of our community and in a larger sense, a citizens of the world. Nor is this the end of our struggle. We mjsi continually seek a better and more bountiful existenct for ourselves and all mankind. This is but a milesti m in the journey to that end. As we step forward into the buffetings and puni ;h- ment of life in this world of ours we will be constar tl relying ton the knowledge and skills which we h. vt acquired during our stay here. It is up to ourselves t( decide best ways and means of using these tools. Il only, like Ulysses, we could “push off and sitting uei in order smite the sounding furrows”. But this is not to be. Separation is inevitable ant we must follow our individual paths along the road tc fulfillment. We will soon have parted, never again to have hi pleasure of a gathering such as we have here tonight We will, each of us, go on to make new acquaintance fulfill new ambitions and conquer new fields. We will suffer defeats, but let these defeats se vi only to spur us on to greater accomplishments. We will experience sorrows but let these sorrow serve only to remind us of life’s pains as well as its jc-ys We will achieve new honours but in the light ant glory of these honours may we remain ever mindful o! the work yet undone and of the plight of other mei and women less fortunate than ourselves. Here we stand untried, and untested, yet full oi hope and confidence. To Sheldon-Williams and it many memories we are saying goodbye. We are leavin: a part of ourselves behind. An unknown land, cloakec in silence, beckons us and we must follow. Thank vou 52

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