Letter from Michael Cornelissen

Dear Headmaster,

For your archives, I attach four photographs for Standards 3a through 6a from 1953 to 1956. (See below)

I have been trying to get in touch with my classmates over the last year, successful in locating only 7.

We all treasure the memories of the outstanding education we received from the educational cornerstones of the school:
Mr Wilkinson in Carpentry, Miss Edgerton for Latin and English, Mrs Campbell for Arithmetic, Mrs Tungay who gave us such an amazing grounding in the songs of the world, Mr Walshaw the PT Master, who taught us not to be ninnies, and would deal with misbehaviour by placing the miscreant inside the wooden horse while others vaulted over it.

Mr Lumsden, the Vice Principal, who once returned a note my mother had written to him, with a red circle pointing out a spelling error in her note, and Tug Wilson, the Headmaster. Mr Lumsden administered my first caning (two strokes), for allegedly talking during assembly, which aggrieved me somewhat, as it was actually the boy standing next to me.

As I know from Princeton University, where both my sons were fortunate enough to receive their undergraduate education, ongoing a vigorous contact with alumni is an extremely important part of the long-term success and endowment of the institution.

Michael Cornelissen
Vancouver BC