Tillsonburg District High School - Tatler Yearbook (Tillsonburg, Ontario Canada)

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VAHLEDICTORY' tT.D.H.S. Commencement, December, 19495 By N. Rokeby Mr, Kirkwood, fellow-graduates,x hon- ourable gentlement of the board, members of the faculty, ladies and gentlemen: It is my privilege and honour to be here this evening to take leave of you on behalf of the graduates of 1949. It is with considerable diffidence that I am present here this evening. 1 find 1ny emotions stirred to pride and thankfulness, but yet a note of sadness permeates my mind. VVe are proud of having been part of T.H.S. and of taking our place beside the other graduates with whom we began public school, and among them we issue from T.l-1.5. About 60 years ago, those first graduates of 1886 attended classes in part of the public school and among them we find two particularly outstanding citizens: V. A. Sinclair, who was for many years chairman of the VVorkmen's Compensation .lloard of Ontario, and Brig. Gen. Mitchell, former principal of the School of ,l'1'actical Science of Toronto. ln 1908 and again in 1922 increased en- rolments necessitated additions to the orig- inal T.H.S. which was built in 1893. From this newly modernized building Mr. Dalton Dean graduated. The graduates of 1949 feel honoured to be numbered with this Rhodes Scholarship winner and outstanding lawyer. These are but few of the many graduates of T.H.S. who have become doc- tors, lawyers, engineers, university profes- sors, teachers and ministers, filling impor- tant roles in the cities, towns and villages across Canada. To this distinguished group we are proud to be added as the graduates of 1949. We are fortunate to become part of the colourful history of. our school whose graduates have always been characterized by high scholastic attainments. The graduates of 1949 are thankful for the very' capable teaching staff whose untir- ing efforts have helped us start up the lad- der toward success. We have all been en- couraged by their excellent leadership and fine example. NVe owe a debt of gratitude to our parents and the people of this prov- ince for making our attendance at T.H.S. possible. VVe would also like toeexpress our appreciation to the members of the board 22 who so successfully conduct the business of the school and so carefully select the teach- ing staff. lYe are sad because this evening marks the end of our careers at T.H.S. Perhaps only now when we find ourselves beyond the classroom door do we consciously realize the rich full life we enjoyed within T.l'l.S. XVhen we met as a group for the last time in june, few of us realized how completely we would be scattered in six months' time. The absence of many class- mates silently bespeaks the utter finality of that dispersal. We have gone forth to the universities, trade schools and the school of life. Our happy memories of life at T.H.S. take ona melancholy aspect as we realize it is over forever. Happy memories of foot- ball games, commencement exercises, bas- ketball games and championships won still glimmer in the mist that is past. There were memories of hard work, examinations and sacrifices but they have long been for- gotten. In considering this latter group we should like to quote from a member of the staff: 'Six months from now you people won't remember anything about the game you might have missed so you could do all your homework, but you will remember your final standingf Tonight we received official recognition of that final standing. These diplomas are our tickets to the game of life. Looking back we realize that these are the most valuable tickets we ever held. These di- plomas signify that we have been trained i11 the principles of that game that everyone plays. lt is now our duty to make the most of our entrance into a new game. lt is our duty to indicate the efforts of the faculty who prepared us. lt is our duty to our par- ents to prove the success of that training. lt is our duty to ourselves to employ that training toward becoming responsible citi- zens. ln short, we must adhere to our alma Il1ZltCI'lS principles which form the nucleus of the traditions surrounding T.H.S. This evening we see T.H.S. standing on the threshold of a new adventure. In about one yearls time classes will be called to order in the new school. The new building will allow additional courses as well as ac- commodation for more pupils. You who enter that building should regard yourselves as very fortunate. You will probably see definite changes in your programs as educa- tion in Ontario undergoes a reformation. In THE TATLER

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have more rooms, more teachers, more stu- dents. I am sure that it is the wish of everyone during our last year in the old school that the new may flourish as the old has done. To the T.H.S. which we shall soon leave forever, I may say, in the words of the vale- dictorian of a recent graduating class. 1Vhate'er our destinies may be, we shall remember you. Richard Jones, XII. l 0ll. Thank You The Tatler staff wishes to thank the teachers and the School Board for their valuable assistance and all those students who helped by contributing material for this magazine. Even the unpublished work was appreciated. Special thanks go to the Commercial form for their secretarial aid, and to the publisher for their important part. The work of jerry, our faithful photographer, has been invaluable. And our deepest thanks to our advertisers without whose valuable ffinancialj aid this Tatler would have been impossible. Tatler Staff, 1949-1950 ITS. We must not forget the diligence of our industrious UQ ad collectors, Ken Wlebster, Dick Gibson, Lois Law and .Iane McQueen, and that genius who was the brain behind the bankbookf' Robert Heckadon. Dear Editor: Being an active student of T.D.H.S., I am taking the liberty ofwriting to you con- cerning the matter of homework. I, along with many others, believe too much home- work is handed out, especially just before examinations. We understand that the teachers have to cover a certain amount of their course in time for the examinations, and so at the end of the term when we should, and want to study, we find ourselves laden with homework. I realize this is rather late in the year to discuss this prob- lem, but I hope that it may be rectified in some way next year. Yours sincerely, G. I. H. THE TATLER Ein Memoriam It is with deep regret that we record the death during the past year of Mr. VValter XVright. At his retirement in 1945 Mr. Wiright had been caretaker of Tillson- burg High School for nearly a quarter of a century. Although of the pupils now attending this school only the few who were in attendance in 1945 re- member him as a part of the school life, 1'Valt is recalled by a host of former students as a person who help- ed to make many school activities a success through his co-operation. Mr. XVright gave a great deal of at- tention to the basketball teams and rifle team and, being an ardent fan, was usually on hand to watch their performances. His popularity was expressed by a student in the 1931 Tatler in which VValt was praised for his ready in- terest in the pupils and sympathy with their problems. Even after his retirement Mr. Nkright showed enthusiasm for the High School and he often used to visit the site of our new school to watch its progress. To the relatives of Mr. Wright, the High School staff and students express sincere sympathy. To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die. A -Campbell. On january 15, 1950, a banquet was given at Michigan State College, honouring stu- dents achieving an All A academic record. Among these was a former T.H.S. student, Harley N. Hotchkiss of Straffordville, a ,Iunior in Science and Arts. Z1

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fact, you are bound to feel changes, even our motto says 'Non Progredi est Regredi' which l will translate very freely as 'You can't stand still.' So, through the years that lie ahead, we entrust to your care and pro- tection the spirit of our alma mater. May you with it advance as it has always done. To my fellow graduates I merely say, 'Farewellf but this simple word means 'May you do well.' Friends, school-mates, fellow-graduates, 'May you keep on doing well'. ,0l? Scholarship Winner Last year's valedictorian, Noel Rokeby, was awarded a Dominion-Provincial Schol- arship, valued at four hundred dollars. We wish to congratulate Noel on winning the award and to express our sincere hope that the scholarship and industry that earned him this reward may bring him even great- er success as he continues his studies at uni- versity. . Taller Prizes This year's Tatler contests were judged by groups consisting of teachers. XVe are grateful for their valuable service, and for the generosity of the Literary Society who donated the prizes. - T..Q T Farewell tSchool Life . . . Honourable Mentionj Farewell old school with barren walls, And stuffy rooms and crowded halls, With .shaky desks and squeaky floorsg In June, for good, we close your doors. Memories here are soft and sweet. Around the fountains some do meet. Stead'les in the corners stand, While others dream of distant land. But now we leave you once for all. We enter our new school this fall, And you, old school, retire at last! You've done your job and now you're past. B. Truefitt, XIB. THE TATLER Alumni Many of the former students of our be- loved school have stepped out into the world, and with them goes our wish for their every success in the future. A great number of last year's Grade XIII have con- tinued their studies in higher institutes of learning. Those attending London Normal School are the following: Ronald McCurdy, Don- ald Neale, Eleanor Tait, Beatrice Thompson and Leone Turner. ' Two of our former boys are in Toronto. Douglas Ashman is taking Industrial Chem- istry at Ryerson Institute of Technology, and Anthony tTonyj Slama is taking Social and Philosophical Studies at 'Toronto Uni- versity. Marjorie Howey is also in Toronto attending Bible College. XVilliam Fletcher QHonor Sciencej, Mary Lou Grass tLaboratory Technicianj, Noel Rokeby tl-listoryj, and Ted Tillson are try- ing their luck at the University of Westerii Ontario. Westervelt has claimed both Marie Scan- lan and Helen Spanics. Residing at present at McMaster Univer- sity, Hamilton, are Reg. Mason fLawJ and Eric Steele fBiological Sciencej. There ought to be several fine nurses in the future, for five of last year's girls are training for nurses. They are Helen Brown Qlirantford Generalj, Eleanor Collings tlrlamilton Generalj, Marilyn Milmine tVic- toria Hospital, Londonj, Margaret Sand- ham twindsor, Grace Hospitalj, and Donna Wickham QHamilton Generalj. Those continuing Grade XIII are john lippel, joe Longstaff, Nick More, George Teall, and Ken VVebster. Betty Burnett and Faye Hall considered married life a good career. A few students have found it necessary to turn to the more laborious side of life. Faye Scott is working at a local garage. joe Sal- cak is clerking in the Tillsonburg A. and P. store. Donald O. Dean has turned to farm- ing. Marguerite Heibert is teaching school and john Nichols joined the Air Force last autumn. DONALD SYKES, XIII. 23