THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
After the long summer holiday (some boys think it is too long and others that it is not long enough !) and at the beginning of a new School year, we generally seem to take a little time to settle in and get used to the various rearrangements. And we had to get the fiftythree new boys settled in, too ! There were 186 boys in the Junior School for this term. Then there was the new form room for J.I, conjured by the Headmaster out of the air-raid shelter near St. Olave's lawn. With its new windows and electrical heating it has made a most useful and compact little form room. In fact we have almost beaten a sword into a ploughshare—as one really bright person remarked. We welcomed Mr. P. Penniston to the Junior School staff. As an Old Boy of St. Peter's he already knew something about St. Olave's, but we make bold to say he knows a good deal more at the end of his first term with us ! However, we have got on very happily together, and we are grateful for what Mr. Penniston has taught us in the form room and on the rugger field. On Friday, 22nd October, the whole of the Junior School listened to a very enjoyable Musical Recital given by Miss Guelda Waller in Big Hall. Miss Waller gave a very varied programme of musical items in costume, the concluding item being "Cryes of Old London", which was loudly applauded. The service in School Chapel on Sunday mornings especially for boys of the Junior School (and their parents) has been continued, and we feel sure is greatly appreciated by all who attend. We very much enjoyed two whole holidays this term. Monday, 1st November, was All Saints' Day and also about the time of half-term, so that a very pleasant break was enjoyed by all. The second whole holiday was given by the Headmaster to celebrate the birth of a son to the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, and we all made the best of a very pleasant day. A telegram of loyal congratulations was sent on behalf of the School, and in due course an acknowledgment was received. During the term interest has been shown in the nature study specimens brought in from time to time, not the least being varieties of edible fungi which Mr. Ping tells us he has enjoyed for breakfast. He seems to live to tell the tale, and some very few of us have been converted sufficiently to sample some of the nicer looking ones—and we also live to tell the tale ! We confess there is something in what Mr. Ping says, sometimes ! Other interesting things we have examined are :—a green woodpecker, a magpie, a mole, an enormous brown rat, and several mice. It was decided to hold our annual Gym. Display in the very last week of term after our exams were over, and we think it proved a very suitable time to have it. Two days were again occupied, Wednesday and Thursday, 8th and 9th December, and the details of the programmes are given below. 52
