Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

Page 14 text:

EDITORIAL THE SCHOOL YEAR of 1955-56 has meant for Trafalgar the fulfilment of years of speculation, dreaming and planning. Our school was forced to keep up with the constant progress of modern civilization and met the challenge with all the calm courage that Trafalgar tradition stands for. McGregor Street now runs through the Laboratory, Art room and class-rooms used by students since 1915, but a sparkling, up-to-date wing adjoining the original heart of Trafalgar serves to remind the world that old traditions together with new equipment can produce a better balanced and improved standard of education. Change is good for any institution provided that it is change for the better, and, throughout this year ' , it has been proved that change was good for Tra- falgar. However, I am sure that there were many occasions during the cons- truction and adjustment periods that left those most concerned a little uncertain as to the desirability of this upset and confusion. Such incidents as the ceiling of Dr. Foster ' s office being propped up with a pole to prevent the plaster from falling, or the suffering of a Prefect stumbling through the morning lesson, with various hammerings and hangings as serious competition, may be smiled about now, but at the time they were neither convenient nor amusing. Who of us will forget prayers being held in the middle corridor for the first week of the year because the varni sh on the Gym floor was not dry, or the appear- ance of a workman through the back wall of the Gym during a Folk Dancing rehearsal for the Gym Demonstration? Life at Trafalgar this year has been a busy and exciting affair. New was the key word. Upon returning in September we faced not only a new school building, but also the realization that there were a great many new girls to get to know. In the days that followed, the latest items of school gossip concerned the new desks that arrived for the new classrooms, or the new family that had moved into the new superintendent ' s apartment. The old Trafalgar spirit was still there, though, apparent to old and new girls alike. The same familiar routine was followed each day, and the events by which the school is known to parents and friends arrived one by one to remind us that last year was not so far away as it might seem. The Trafalgar Tea offered an added attraction — a tour of the new school guided by some of the senior girls. The Carol Singing, the Grad Dance and the Gym Dem, all of which took place in the old Gym, made us turn from the new to consider for a moment past editions of these events and the girls and staff members who made them a reality then. The high point of the year was, of course, the presence of His Excellency, the Governor-General, at the official opening of the new wing. We were indeed happy to have such a distinguished guest, and his visit will long be remembered by Trafalgar girls. As this magazine goes to print, we at Trafalgar are eagerly awaiting another new addition to the social life of the school — the musical evening to take place in May. We hope that its success will establish it as a permanent and well loved part of the Trafalgar year. As the year draws to a close, I believe it may truly be called a successful one, recalling our motto, Spem successus alit — Success nourishes hope . [14]

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HIS EXCELLENCY, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE VINCENT MASSEY GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA Trafalgar was honoured by a visit from His Excellency, the Governor-General, this year on February 10th, the day of the official opening of the new wing of the school. Mr. Massey ' s speech, which was extremely well suited to the mixed audience to which he spoke, dealt with the building of a Canadian tradition from the contributions of the peoples of many countries which make up the Canadian nation. He particularly stressed the British tradition which, he said, has been most closely followed and adapted to life on this side of the world. Mr. Massey won the hearts of the students by turning to Dr. Foster and declaring, I am really going to ask you to be so kind as to give the girls, on whatever day seems convenient, a full holiday, which I have the honour to request as the Queen ' s representative, on my first visit to this school. Mr. Massey ' s visit was an event that will long be remem- bered by every girl in the school, from the youngest Pre- paratory to the members of the Graduating Class. tl3]

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FORM OFFICERS CHRISTMAS TERM Form Arts VI Science VI Form Vb Form Va Form IVb Form IVa Form IIIb Form IIIa Upper II Presidents Margaret Clegg Carol Clark Jane Walker Elizabeth Biggs Elizabeth Brooks Margaret MacLean Bette Shannon Marion Ballantyne Sheena Brydon Vice-Presidents Elizabeth Corken Gail Fitzpatrick BoGNA Pasierbinska Anne Murray Jean Mason Anne Bergithon Barbara Stanfield Linda Guthrie Sybil Dexter SPRING TERM Form Arts VI Science VI Form Vb Form Va Form IVb Form IVa Form IIIb Form IIIa Upper II Presidents Naomi Curry Carol Clark Jane Walker Elizabeth Biggs Elizabeth Brooks Margaret MacLean Bette Shannon Wendy Laws Barbara Rowat Vice-Presidents Penny Farndale Gail Fitzpatrick BoGNA Pasierbinska Sydney Colpitts Jean Mason Anne Bergithon Glee Willows Susan Eraser Beverley Rowat Form Arts VI Science VI Form Vb Form Va Form IVb Form IVa Form IIIb Form IIIa Upper II Form II Boarders Library Representatives Naomi Curry Sandra Sloan Phyllis Weldon Sydney Colpitts Anne Begor Judy Irwin Elaine Speirs Heather Kool Lynne McLay YOLANDA JaNUSZ Margaret MacLean Treasurers Margaret Morton Marjorie Cape Beverley Smith LuciLE Robert Laureen Hicks Heather Truran Glee Willows Sandra Baly Karen Molyneux [15]