President's Report
RCI's 90th Birthday Party held at the school on
October 29th, 1997 was a very enjoyable afternoon for the 700
plus in attendance. The party was a great warm-up for the 100th
anniversary in 2007.
The old pictures and yearbooks were very popular.
Thanks to Tom Seymour and Mickey Spillane for an excellent display.
Etty (Vernon) Green did a great job organizing
the "sock-hop". The colourful socks were ideal
and sold out very quickly. Ralph Peters hasn't changed
and that's a good thing. The alumni choristers had a good
time thanks to Ralph's leadership. Jan Robinson noted that
even the old vocal chords she heard were still performing very
well.
On behalf of the alumni I would like to thank the
Principal, Linda Grieve, her staff and students for once again
giving their valuable time and effort into making the birthday
party a success. Linda took the initiative to look after
many of the details as well as complete all of our requests.
Peggy Karas with her assistants, Liz Stark, Aiko Morton, and Tammy
Greeley, who are always there to help, provided and served cake
and coffee to over 700 people. Emily Morino, Louis Papathanasakis
and their P & H.E. staff were there to open the area and allow
people to tour and participate. Even my long time PHE partner,
Jim McAdams, was there to help. Thanks to all Tom Seymour's
student helpers and the Student and Athletic Councils who proudly
presented the vibrant new school.
Bob Arnott and I would like to express our gratitude
to all the Alumni Council for the many hours of work they put
in to make the 90th party a roaring success.
Howard Birnie and Alex Fokine at the desk and Mickey
Spillane touring with his clipboard and membership applications
reported many new members. Well done!
As a final note, George Hayes tells me that this will be his final
newsletter. On behalf of all the alumni I would like to
express a tremendous thanks to George for all the excellent work
he has done as our newsletter editor.
I will close with a reminder that the 100th anniversary
is only 10 years away. It is time to start planning.
I urge all alumni to get involved now! Try to locate as
many of your classmates as possible. Keep in touch and plan
to come as a group to the 100th.
Peter Warren, Co-Chair
RCAA
Riverdale's 90th
I picked up Diane Courtney, (class of '61), who
lives just outside Newmarket. We assured each other just
how well we looked, backed by the good-natured confirmation of
her husband, Ralph Gibson. We headed down to the city with
some trepidation to meet first with Carol Martis; then with people
I hadn't seen for thirty-six years. The occasion?
It was the ninetieth birthday of our old Alma Mater, Riverdale
Collegiate.
My husband, Glen Newis, had placed three red corsages
in my jeep for each of us to wear which, for me, registered more
greatly the uncommon act of going to a school reunion .
We trekked about, our red corsages reflecting the controlled,
but escaping, blush of excitement as we examined very briefly
each face we saw, our eyes dropping to name tags to establish
that neither the face nor the name was recognizable. It
would be so embarrassing to know only the name and not the face.
Surely we hadn't changed that terribly much!\
Well I found the people from my old Class of
'61. Hands were shaken; hugs were exchanged; pictures were
taken. There we were: Carol Martis , Linda Hughes,
John Kinna, Dave Wookward, Manfred Rainer, Peter Konchak, and
Priit Pallopson.
Now I know what magic occurs at a school reunion.
Extremely strong memories were converging. Nostalgia reigned.
We had shared experiences in a class whose members hadn't varied
in a four year period. We had participated in the same class
discussions, school politics, and social events. We had
suffered through the same exams, difficult courses and teachers.
We had shared the tentative joys of youth, however critical we
had been of our own, and one another's adolescent defects.
We instinctively knew that teachers really cared. We got
to know us well as individuals, and as a group with its own very
unique, specific personality. We were fortunate to have
had that experience. I wonder if today's student who follows
an individual timetable bonds with his or her classmates as inextricably
as I discovered I had?
I like to think everyone there at the birthday party
felt the same happiness as I, as we caught up on marriages, separations,
children, professions, travels. I tried to hear all 'the
latest' meanwhile scanning those faces so familiar to me, loosening
memories buried for so many years-and trying to balance the present
with the past. How had I let these wonderful people slip
away from me?
When I looked at those interesting compassionate
faces of our Class of '61 who met on October 25th, 1997 emotions
of love and kinship surged in me-quite unmatched by anything before.
I felt pride and a primordial sense of belonging. For sure,
I'll see those great guys and gals again, at the 100th!-and I
hope even more friendly, familiar faces from the Class of '61
will appear!
Thank you Irene King, David Woodward, and George
Hayes for the work they do to keep us all in touch --and apologies
to the dear departed Miss Tolchard for this hastily-written-not
so-well-constructed essay!
Gail Carter '61
Report From The Principal
Our 1997-98 school year began with an enrolment
of 1250 student. We had huge waiting lists to get into Riverdale,
but we were only able to take students who live in our defined
Riverdale boundary area. In September we held our Grade
9 Welcome Day and over 270 Grade 9 students participated in a
wonderful integrated studies field trip to the Don Valley. The
BBQ luncheon both days was a great success.
In early October, Riverdale launched their new STUDENT
CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAM-an initiative of students, staff, and parents
aimed to support and foster our safe school plan. On October
17, we had our annual Scholarship and Appreciation Assembly which
recognized the academic achievements of last year's students.
As is the tradition, a former graduate is invited back to address
the student body. Our thanks to John Myers for an excellent
job! On October 25, we celebrated Riverdale's 90th Birthday.
We were thrilled to have over 700 former students and staff stop
by to share in the celebration. The tree planting organized
by the 1938-42 Rugby Alumni of Riverdale, in recognition of their
former coaches-J. Keffer, J.Willis, and C.H.King was a very special
part of the day. Thanks to all the alumni who worked so
hard to organize this event.
Monday, October 27 brought the start of a two week
province-wide work stoppage in response to Bill 160. Riverdale
staff, students, and parents united in their concerns about what
negative effects will be felt on the public education system with
the passage of this Bill. Members of our school community
walked the picket lines together. It was and continues
to be difficult time for all. We await with great fear the
impact we will begin to to see this spring on staffing, on program
cuts, on school budges. As a result of the work stoppage,
our December exams were held in mid-January.
As always, our athletic program has had a very busy
fall seasons with multitude of interschool and intramural teams.
the Arts continue to flourish. An evening of Holiday Music
took place in December. Our school play will be held March
4, 5 and 6; several Visual Art students showed their work recently
at Queen's Quay Gallery.
On December 18, Riverdale will host the final farewell
for the Toronto Board of Education. As of January 1, 1998,the
Toronto Board comes to an end after 150 years. All Metro
school boards will amalgamate into one new Toronto district School
Board with over 300 000 students. It certainly is a time
of uncertainty for all involved in education.
Linda Grieve
From Our Mailbag, we get letters....
Can You Help?
I have lost contact with two individuals.
The first is SHEILA ROWE. She left Riverdale for Teacher's
College in 1964 and then, in 1967, went to teach in Afghanistan.
My last contact with her was at an address in India. (she
was being a tourist) and planning to marry plus move to Cardiff,
Wales.
Although Sheila may have never been to a school
function, (i.e. reunion), her brother, Wayne Rowe, may have.
The other individual is YUMI MACHIDA, who also had a brother at
Riverdale, (grad 1964?). In the 1960's Yumi had lived at
9 Egan Avenue and Sheila at 13 Coady Avenue.
I would appreciate your help in any way.
Eunice (Hagen) Graham ('62)
30 Gondola Cres. Brampton, Ontario, L6S 1W6
Phone (905) 791-8126 (not LD from Toronto)
THE FIRST FEW MONTHS...
In all the confusion and excitement of taking on
the responsibilities of being a superintendent, one feeling
became more and more clear...I was homesick! I missed my school,
my office, my routine, my colleagues, my students. Even
thought everyone was very nice with me, I was a stranger... the
"new kid on the block". Instead of walking familiar
hallways, I was travelling from one end of the city to the other.
Instead of sitting down with people who had worked with me before.
I was meeting with people who didn't know my capabilities,
my style or my whacky sense of humor. Instead of being surrounded
by boisterous, enthusiastic teenagers, I found myself in the midst
of earnest, solemn adults.
Assimilating new information, making new decisions
and supervising Board-wide activities all added to the feeling
of uncertainty. I was determined to succeed, to fulfill
the trust others had in me, but it did seem a little overwhelming
to say the least. Visiting the secondary schools in my area,
and being invited to Commencement and Award Assemblies kept my
perspective...students were still the reason I was working for
the Board.
By May I was much more relaxed and by September
I was an "old hand." Now my efforts are being spent
in trying to make the transition to the new Toronto District School
Board as smooth as possible for students, parents, schools and
their communities.
While much is uncertain about funding, staffing
transportation and the like, one thing remains the same:
making it possible for all students to become proficient and capable
members of society is still the primary concern of all educators.
I am determined to meet this commitment.
Best wishes for a productive and satisfying new
year.
FRAN PAVKOVIC
Coordinating Superintendent
Toronto District School Board (North/East Community Education
Office)
Ed. Note: Fran is the Past Principal of Riverdale
Also From Our Mailbag...
Dear Fellow Graduates:
As a graduate of Riverdale in 1957 (its 50th Anniversary)
I have recently received the mailings regarding the 90th birthday
party and thought you might be interested in some news of my dad,
a graduate of 1930. W. Howard Rapson passed away March 16,
1997 after quite a career.
Dad intended to become a doctor until he became
fascinated by chemistry and took grade 12 chemistry in grade 11
and grade 13 chemistry in grade 12 at Riverdale. After completing
grade 13, he studied chemical engineering at U of T graduating
in 1934 with a B.A.Sc. degree. He became a demonstrator
and then lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering while
working on his M.A.Sc. (1935) and Ph.D.(1944) degrees.
In 1937 he married Mary Campbell who had attended Riverdale for
grades 9 and 10.
He joined the research division of Canadian International
Paper Company known as Industrial Cellulose Research Ltd. in Hawkesbury,
Ontario in 1940. Hawkesbury is on the Ottawa River between
Ottawa and Montreal and it is about 90% French-speaking.
As Chairman of the Public School Board, Howard was instrumental
in having conversational French taught in the public school in
the late 1940's. Eventually students started learning French
in Grade two at a time when most students started in grade 9.
In 1953. Dad returned to U. of T. as a full
professor while continuing his research on a consultant basis.
He held many patents on the bleaching of pulp and the production
of chemicals needed to facilitate the process.
Although he retired in 1977, he continued to be
involved with the research. People whom he had taught continued
to do the research at the Pulp and Paper Center at the U. of
T. It was to this centre that memorial donations were directed
following a memorial service held at Trinity College Chapel on
Friday, June 13 to celebrate Howard's life.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Brian A. (Margaret) Fox
Ed. Note: If any of our members has interesting
information about ex-students or grads please drop a note or letter
to the editor of the Riverdalian.
Dear Mr. Arnott:
I would like to thank you for generously spending
a great deal of time and personal expense in giving the Riverdale
Collegiate Institute Alumni Scholarship. The money that
you awarded me greatly helps me in tuition fees. Thank you
Mr. Arnott.
Truly,
Eric Hui ('97)
RCI STAFF RETIREMENTS
June 1997
RCI bade farewell to three Heads of Departments
who retired last June. The following is reprinted from the
Reveille:
Jim McAdams
- "He was a good role model who taught me the importance
of the word 'determination'. And because of that, everytime
I think of Riverdale, I think of Mr. McAdams." - Teiko
Reindorf
- "He really had a lot of school spirit, and since he left,
the school spirit has died. To me he will always be part
of Riverdale even though he's not here." - Sara Somerset
- "Most admired and respected teacher in the school who
was instrumental in setting up the best intramural program in
the city. He always had the students' interest at heart
and would always put them first before himself.: - Walter Filonowitz
Mati Sulev
- "Mr. Sulev was a easy-going teacher. He was supportive
and had a keen understanding of music and the people around
him. Whenever I needed to talk he would lend a caring
ear. His quiet and discreet nature was his style."
- Linda Chan
- "He was a very understanding man who put his students
before himself." - Betty Nguyen
- "One of the neatest guys; never anything out of place."
- Bonnie Penfound
- "I only knew him from staff meetings and I found that
he was one of the nicest, most friendly people. He was
easy to get along with and always willing to help others."
- Christopher Szydlowski
Margi Tonev
The following is excerpted from a farewell speech
for Mme Tonev in June of 1996.
"Recently Margi happened to mention that during
her career she had given out some 40 000 verb charts. We
found this bit of information irresistible. Just imagine
all those tenses of French verbs stored in the memory bank of
former students."
For example:
She made our passé so simple.
We all used to enjoy working together.
The plus-que-parfait describes precisely our
fearless leader and we will remember our friend,
teacher and mentor. Unfortunately, she did
retire. Finally in the subjunctive mood - Oh we wish that
she MIGHT HAVE STAYED! - The Moderns Department |
