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COQUALEETZA RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL \ \

Valedictory Address

The time has come, all too soon, for us to bid farewell to our Principal and
staff who will always fill an important place in our memories. We are young men
and women now and we are determined that our education shall not end when we
leave Coqualeetza nor the desire to win which has been formed here. We will never
forget our school motto, “No Backward Step” or our class motto,, “Enthusiasm
is the greatest asset in the World.” Enthusiasm has helped us to advance beyond
our primitive native state. Make use of it and you will, some day, be rewarded by
your efforts. In all things have courage and live manfully. Let us do and dare like
the English Nation in the past.

Walter de la Mare says:

“Look thy last on all things lovely every hour:
Let no night seal thy sense in deathly slumber.”

Coqualeetza is a beauty spot on whose vine-covered walls we may be looking
for the last time.

There are many easy paths to tread in this life but the path of duty is an
ever rugged one. With courage and enthusiasm to spur us on, we will find it much
easier to travel.

So that you, of Coqualeetza, our school comrades whom we are leaving behind,
may keep our memory green we, the Graduation Class of 1932, are presenting vou
with an oak reading desk which we desire to have placed in the new chapel when
it is built.

Signed, WILLIAMSON WALKEM.,
Valedictorian, President, Class ’32.

The Rev. J. Williams Ogden, D.D., gives the address this year to the Graduation Class.

Merit Clubs

The majority of Indian Residential Schools are offering the equipment necessary for
character building although in some cases the student refuses to reach out and take it. They
are not only offering the student a way to realize himself intellectually and to develop his
personality but also a way to realize his place in the development of his school and later his
village life regardless of tribe or crest.

In the past he was not forced to see the necessity for development along such lines and
was content to isit back at ease upon obtaining a goodly share of that which he personally
desired. Since such seemed to be the case, we wondered if some scheme of, shall we say, self-
character examination could not be introduced into schoo! life and so automatically eliminate
from school privileges etc., students who had not obtained a certain standard of team work.

With this in mind the boys over twelve years’ of age were encouraged to organize into
three Clubs; Reds, Whites and Blues. The Captains with leadership ability were: Fred Wilson,
(Reds), George Brown (Whites) and Oliver Adams (Blues). Keen competition was provided
each month for the teams by the awarding of a banquet to the team with the biggest merit
mark balance at the end of the month.

At the first banquet awarded the Reds, Rev. J. H. White, D.D., gave a general talk which
was keenly appreciated by the boys. On another banquet occasion the Rev. The Hon. T. H.
Heneage, one of Coqualeetza’s most highly regarded friends, was the speaker. The Club
members were indeed fortunate and highly favoured by the presence and addresses of two
such esteemed friends.

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