Feb 1957

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL The start of the Christmas Term is always rather an upheaval, for there are over fifty new boys to learn our ways and, although the majority settle down quickly to the life of their new school, there are always one or two who find it difficult to adjust themselves to somewhat unfamiliar conditions. The whole social structure alters too, for last year's seniors may become monitors, and those who for years have been smaller fry find themselves seniors with a more important role to play. The fact that we did not have to change the form of a single boy after the first order shows that we were rather more fortunate in placing boys than is generally the case. We did, in fact, get off to a cracking start, and the very fine weather played no small part in our success. One dark shadow, however, was cast by the death of Ian Bytheway, an Old Olavite of whom we were proud, and we should like to record our heartfelt sympathy to his family on their bereavement.

The only main change in the landscape has been the building of an excellent new Scouts Room, which should help Scouting and Cubbing very considerably. We had, indeed, a most successful "camp fire" at the end of term which would have been impossible to run without a suitable room. At the start of the term, some of our P.T. periods had to be given in the open, and it is indeed fortunate that these forms may seek sanctuary in the Scout Room during bad weather. j1 have been given a new set of desks, of which they are still justly proud. It is clear that there are a few boys in the School who have too little respect for School property, and there have been cases of needless damage through sheer carelessness and ragging. There is, however, a steady improvement in this respect and, though we have some of us a long way to go, we are tidier and less rowdy than we were.

This term has seen the foundation of an Archaeological Society, as previously foreshadowed. It has been started on a businesslike footing, with J. R. Shannon as Secretary and M. R. Wroe as Treasurer. The only meeting so far has been a lecture on Hadrian's Wall given by Mr. Cooper. The lecturer had some difficulty in delivering his oration, as he himself walked the Wall from West to East with the wind at his back, whilst most mistakenly all the guide books (and the Romans themselves) started on the East coast and worked to the West. It is hoped to have three meetings each term, one of them being a visit to a local place of interest.

Work has progressed steadily, and the ultimate destination of the Work Shield was always in doubt. By doing very well in the exams., Alcuin managed to secure a convincing lead for the term, but all four houses are so close that anything may happen.

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