St Michaels University School - Black Red and Blue Yearbook (Victoria, British Columbia Canada)

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Ladies and Gentlemen, Honored Guests, Mr. Headmaster, Staff, and fellow students. I have only now fttlly realized that myself and 98 of my classmates liatvc graduated. And practically, we have but one week ol'St. Micliacl's University School left to us. It is now, as we sit pondering the events ol' this morning that a common question arises: how cart time move so quickly? How is it that this band of stragglers, this group of anxious faces can be on the verge of the completion of their secondary school years irt such at short time? It was only a week ago that we were revelling in the acquisition ol a new common room. And only a month before tdiscounting sheets, slaves, and nubile goddessest TF' classes WERE progressing as usual. The event has arrived and I am certain that the entire class believes it to be shockingly immediate. In the words of the immortal bard tor one modest French teacherl, Tempus Fugit. But I should offer the past and present a little more respect than blind astonishment: I should dwell rather, on the events ofthe past year, for it is these recollections that help us all realize the importance of the present. The 1985! I986 school year was one of Ups and Downs tas can be expected at St. IVIichael'sl and the occasional sidew ay. tln the case of Mr. Piete's bus, out of the way.J First and foremost, it was a year of friendships - an important aspect ofliving at any age. The bases we have established here will remain with us in the future, whether the ties exist between students. students and teachers, students and foetal pigs la genuine asset in medical schooll .. .and who can forget the lov e4in . en masse. in the middle of the quad on Hippie day tand if ZI students in one station is not friendship, I don't know what islll. Whatever the case, in lending ourselves to each other, we have fully learned to appreciate the power and worth of friendship. In particular, we will never forget the friendships we shared with Christine and Reverend Davies, whose importance has been. and always will be, special to all of us. For the class, the year was, unfortunately, one of division. I cannot lie and say that amity was universal, nor can I say that we were the proverbial happy famiIy . We were not. Ultimately, however, a unity was established, and now any group or individual differences that still exist land they do in any crowdt coincide passively, without strain or bearing on the Grad class as a w-hole, It has been a valuable year in that we have all learned from our mistakes. Inevitably, it was also a year of disappointments. We have all wanted to do so much more than we attempted. tThe Kool-aid in Mr. Featherstone's pool on Skip Day, for instance, should have been greenerlll Yet in that which we did attempt, we have succeeded - whether on the court, on the field, academically, or in countless other of the St. lVIichaeI's school traditions. To provide you with several examples: Meg. wishing to remain respectable, graciously yielded a first place victory by two points, arriving at the runner-up position at the Canadian National debates. Bryan . . . well, take a guess ,... Gavin, on the rugby field, no longer maintains any excuse for giving the opponents an easy time. . . Joelle is still one of our better Grade I I singers, and Conrad, surreal to say the least, is undoubtedly planning a masterpiece this very moment. Yes we have all succeeded, in these instances and many more, to the best of our abilities. I cannot continue with the events and highlights of this year, for to do so would be to create an epic. Yet I can say that looking generally, in retrospect, at this past year, I do understand how the 99 of us have reached this plateau. It is by no means a singular accomplishment - I must extend my thanks to our teachers. for putting up with us, for their unlimited wit and know-how and for their priceless and endearing per- sonalities. And I must thank our individual families for helping us to this summit, for both their backing and their admonitions. lYes, even sisters and brotherslll Back to the French teacher - Tempus has Fugited. It is also said, and perhaps with greater clarity, that time swiftly passing is most often enjoyed. . . and remembered. We will never forget our hilarious, serious, eventful, and above all, prosperous Grade I2 year. We are the graduates of St. Michael's University School. May our respective futures be both successful and rewarding.

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Valedictory Addresses Mr. Schaffter, Honored Guests, Members of Staff, Parents and fellow students. It would be difficult to sum up in such a short speech all that we, the grad class of 86, have gained from our experience at SMU. Our education here has been complete in every respect and has prepared us well for the challenges ahead. .APN Our academic experience here has been outstanding due mainly to the dedication of a very talented teaching staff. Outside the classroom, our teachers were always willing to share their talentsg without them our countless successes in sports and music, our drama productions, our Mega Tour to the UK, and even our costume day would not have been possible. We will always remember our teachers' sometimes fanatic devotion and strange sense of humour. While, after only a short time, most of us were amazed to find that Mr. Greenwell's enthusiasm for math was actually equalled by his enthusiasm on the basketball court, many of us still wonder how many lives Mr. Richards thinks a cat really does have. For our teachers' extra effort which made all the difference - we thank them. What has made our education at St. Michael's so complete is that each day was an experience on both an academic and human level. Our class is highly diversified, yet in this diversity lies an incredible amount of talent. From the provincially and nationally renowned debaters to those who were more full time athletes than students, is found a wealth of scholars, tennis pros, rugby, basketball, and soccer stars, gifted artists and musicians, enthusiastic hippies, future race car drivers, highly controversial Cartoonists and math and physics geniuses. One of the most important lessons that we have learned over the last few years is that in each of us lie very different and equally worthwhile talents to be discovered and cultivated. As we realize what we have gained over the years, we must especially thank our families. Without your advice, understanding and constant love and support, the multi-faceted education we have received would not have been possible. Our last year at SMU has been an invaluable learning experience. During what was one of the most demanding years of our lives, we learned an expensive and valuable lesson: that each day is a gift which should be ap- preciated, not squandered. This year we lost a very close and much loved friend. Christine Duke's warmth and vitality were evident in everything she did. Christine was gifted in that she could see what was truly important in life. I know her sincere wish was that her friends be blessed with that gift. Christine's courage and optimism, her constant faith and love, and especially her smile, will always be remembered. The death later this year of our much loved and respected teacher and chaplain, Reverend Davies, was a great loss to the school and to every one of its members. His devotion to his students, to his hockey team, and to his services, his understanding, his wisdom and his sense of humour were appreciated by us all and will be greatly missed. To end my speech. l'd like to read a short poem which expresses the essence of the lives of both Christine and Rev. Davies: We journey through this world but once And have short time to stay. Whatever good we mean to do Had best be done today. For such another golden chance We may await in vain. Now is the time, Because we shall Not pass this way again. To all who have prepared us for the future we face - our sincerest thanks - and to my fellow graduates - I hope that you will find success and, most importantly, happiness in all that you do. Thank you

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