Glebe Report

SCHOOL NEWS
Mutchmor celebrates 90th anniversary
By LIZ McCRACKEN
Mutchmor School's 90th Anniversary
celebrations are
now just a wonderful memory
for staff, students, parents
and alumni!
The celebrations took
place at Mutchmor school on
May 30th. At 1:15 pm, all
staff, students and some
parents congregated in the
playing field on Fourth Ave.
to send off approximately
500 colourful helium balloons.
The strong wind
blowing carried the balloons
with our messages, names and
the school address attached,
swiftly off to the
East. We are hopefully
anticipating replies to our
messages when the balloons
arrive at their destinations.
With our adrenalin flowing
after this event, we
were treated to a Concert
by the Primary and Junior
Choirs, directed by Frances
Pike and Liz McCracken respectively,
and accompanied
by Sandy Martin at the
piano. The opening number
"School Days" got us all
into the mood for a 90th
Anniversary celebration.
Mr Dick Zadow and Mr.
Jack Donaldson, former Principals
at Mutchmor, spoke
fondly of their memories
of their days at Mutchmor.
Dick remembered the large
social gatherings for bean
suppers in the mid-70s, and
the tremendous attendance at
the many concerts held in
the "old" gym. Jack reminisced
about the wonderful
Science Fairs, the musical
production of "Tom Sawyer",
and the Junior Choirs,
directed by Liz McCracken,
excellent standards over
the years when he was Principal
from 1979 to 1984.
He also remembered the excellent
Math standards we
achieved in the National
Mathematics League Contests,
and the highly respected
core French programme and
varied Sports programmes.
He also reminded us of the
construction of the new
gymnasium and all it entailed.
Following the afternoon
programme, each class enjoyed
a birthday party
with cakes donated by class
parents.
The evening Anniversary
programme began at 7:30
with "School Days" being
sung by both choirs and
audience alike. Mr. Doug
Coodier, the present principal,
introduced Exton
Varty, the Area 5 Superintendent
of Schools, who
Drought birthday greetings
from the Ottawa Board of
Education, and Mr. Howard
Smith, Alderman for Capital
Ward, who brought us greetings
from the City of
Ottawa.
Special guest
Following these speakers
and a variety of songs from
the decades between 1890
and 1980 such as"High Hopes",
"Bibbidy,Bobbity Boo","Coodnight
Irene" ,,and "I Want. to
Live", aspecial guest was
introduced. Miss Frances
Iveson, who still lives in
the Glebe taught at Mutchmor
School from 1925 to
1931. She recounted many
humourous anecdotes about
her teaching years at Mutchmor
and Hopewell Schools,
and she presented us with
a wonderful insight into
the 1920s and 30s. Some of
her former Mutchmor pupils
were in the audience, and
indeed one was on stage
with her - Mr. Jack Donaldson!
Needless to say, she
had a few stories about
Jack and he admitted in his
presentation afterwards
that he squirmed in his
seat more than once at the
thought of the stories she
might relate about him!
Once again, Dick Zadow
and Jack Donaldson took us
down memory lane with their
accounts of the many experiences
they had had
while they were Principals
at Mutchmor School.
Following the speeches,
the 90th birthday cake was
cut by Miss Iveson and Mr.
Goodier while everyone
harmonized "Happy Birthday"
to Mutchmor.
The Primary and Junior
Choirs presented a rousing
3-part Massed Choir number
called "Don't Let the Music
Stop" which seemed appropriate
to the theme of
Mutchmor's continuing endurance
over the past 90
years and looking towards
the 100th Anniversary in
1995. The Junior Choir
aroused everyone to song
with its rendition of the
old favourite "We'll Meet
Photos
Liz McCracken
Again" and that provided
the finale for the Concert.
Following the Concert,
the hundreds of visitors
were invited to travel
back through time in the
memorabilia room and the
Photo
Meredith Olson
appropriately decorated
classrooms as they enjoyed
birthday cake and
other refreshments which
had been beautifully set
up by the Mutchmor Parents'
90th Anniversary Committee
under the very capable
direction of Mrs. Anne
Hargadon.
One other very special
feature, other than the
90th Anniversary buttons,
tee shirts, balloons,
concerts and parties, was
the installation in the
Mutchmor's main entrance
hall of a huge time capsule
in the shape of a rocket
ship. This was built by
the Vice Principal, Mr.
Peter Thomas, and contains
1985 memorabilia from every
class and tape recordings,
and photographs from the
Concerts and the balloon
release. The brass plate
on the time capsule indicates
that the capsule
is to be opened during the
100th Anniversary of
Mutchmor School in 1995.
On to 100
Everyone enjoyed a
wonderful birthday reunion
at Mutchmor. Now on to
our 100th! Hope to meet
you again in 1995!
June 14, 1985, GLEBE REPORT - 17