Hatfield Annual Town Report 1951-1957, Part 24

Author: Hatfield (Mass)
Publication date: 1951
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 956


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During this past September all of the fire fighting equipment of the school system was thoroughly checked. Fire Chief Michael Yarrows inspected each piece of equip-


77


ment and made recommendations which were followed by the committee. All soda acid type extinguishers were emptied and recharged. Two 50-foot lengths of fire hose in the Center School were replaced, the old hose being badly deteriorated. Two 5-pound carbon dioxide extin- guishers were purchased for installation in Smith Acad- emy, one for the chemistry laboratory and one for the Home Economics room. One new water type extinguish- er using a carbon dioxide cartridge for pressure was pur- chased for the vocational agriculture shop. These im- provements have made your schools a safer place to be in and serve also to protect the townspeople's investment in their public buildings.


With increased enrollments from certain sections of the town it was found necessary to provide additional transportation. The Elm Street section now is served by two trips each morning and afternoon rather than one. Overloading of school buses presents both legal and safe- ty problems which could only be solved through addi- tional service.


In compliance with State laws relating to children physically unable to attend school, home instruction is being given to two of our less fortunate children. This program is supervised by Mr. Jenness and has proven to be very effective. Mrs. Mary Lou (Charles) Belden was retained as the instructor.


As in previous years released time for religious in- struction is again offered. The following times are set aside each week so that pupils may benefit from religious instruction in denominations of their own choosing:


Wednesdays 10:45 - 11:30 High School Pupils


Wednesdays 1:00 - 1:50 Pupils of grades 3, 4, 5


Wednesdays 1:55 - 2:45 Pupils of grades 6, 7, 8


The entrance age of children to first grade is the same as announced in the 1954 school committee report.


78


A child must be six years old by January 1 of the school year in which entrance is sought.


Some additional teaching aids were purchased dur- ing December; namely, maps, globes, and encyclopedias. We now have graded maps and globes for classroom use from grade four to eight. Grade four maps and globes are simplified for beginners and as the pupil progresses through grade eight additional material and explanations are provided so that the pupil by the end of grade eight should have acquired an excellent knowledge of the use and meanings of these materials.


Two additional sets of encyclopedias were purchased for the intermediate grades five through eight. Up-to- date reference material is now available to pupils of these grades. It is my hope that additional reference material will be purchased during the ensuing year.


I have found the present staff of the Hatfield school system to be very capable and congenial people. The staff through their cooperative effort, professional atti- tudes and ability are rendering excellent educational serv- ices to the pupils and the community. It has, indeed, been a pleasure for me to work with them during the past four months.


After viewing the projected enrollment figures for the coming years, I am sure that the members of this community will heartily agree with me that we are facing a pressing need for additional classrooms and facilities in order to properly house these pupils. The projected en- rollment represents pupils that must be housed in the school system. They are not imaginary persons, they have been born and will enter into the public schools of Hatfield during the ensuing years. You are urged to favorably consider the proposals of your School Building Committee.


Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR G. SCOTT, JR.


79


FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 1955 Regular Day School


Regular Day School


Appropriation for Support $99,319.00


Unexpended Balance- Returned to Surplus Cash 856.39


Total Expenditures $98,462.61


Credits : Reimbursements Received


General School Fund (Chap. 70) $18,950.00


Transportation (Chap. 71) 4,506.00


Vocational Agriculture


(High School) 2,377.94


Total Reimbursement for


Regular Day School $25,833.94


Vocational Tuition and Transportation


Vocational Tuition and Transportation


Appropriation for Support


$ 2,500.00


Unexpended Balance-


Returned to Surplus Cash


198.00


Total Expenditures $ 2,301.10


Credits: Reimbursements Received


Vocational Tuition


$


702.73


Vocational School Pupil Trans.


282.40


Total Reimbursements for


Vocational Tuition and Trans.


$


985.13


80


ESTIMATES OF REIMBURSEMENT DUE TOWN OF HATFIELD ACCOUNT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS


1956


From Commonwealth of Massachusetts:


Regular Day Schools


Chapter 70


$18,000.00


Chapter 71


4,500,00


Vocational Agriculture


2,500.00


Total Estimated Reimbursements


Regular Day Schools $25,000.00


From Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Vocational Tuition and Trans.


800.00


Total Estimated Reimbursement All Education


$25,800.00


SCHOOL BUDGET OF 1956


1955


1955


1956


Approp.


Expended


Classification


Approp.


Salaries


$39,203.00


$38,335.09


Elementary


$ 42,500.00


25,185.00


25,271.84


Secondary 26,405.00


2,325.00


2,474.92


Music, Art, Penman- ship 2,850.00


4,300.00


3,631.34


Vocational


4,300.00


$71,013.00


$69,713.19


$ 76,055.00


81


Textbooks and Supplies


$ 3,000.00


$3,894.18 Elementary $ 3,000.00 1,000.00


1,000.00


1,752.83


250.00


272.55


Secondary Vocational, High School


250.00


$ 4,250.00


$ 5,919.56


$ 4,250.00


Custodians' Salaries


$ 2,800.00


$ 2,810.80 Elementary


$ 2,900.00


2,600.00


2,609.92


Secondary 2,700.00


$ 5,400.00


$ 5,420.72


$ 5,600.00


Fuel


$ 1,700.00


$ 2,244.36


900.00


895.50


Elementary Secondary


$ 1,900.00 900.00


$ 2,600.00


$ 3,139.86


$ 2,800.00


Miscellaneous Operational


Light, Janitorial Supplies)


$ 1,000.00


$ 846.43 Elementary


400.00


520.87


Secondary


$ 1,000.00 400.00


$ 1,400.00


$ 1,367.30


$ 1,400.00


Plant Maintenance


$ 700.00 $ 400.42


Center School


$ 700.00


300.00


85.45


School Street School


100.00


$ 1,000.00 $ 485.87


$ 800.00


82


School Health


$ 1,400.00


$ 1,400.00 Salary


150.00


48.58


Supplies (expense)


$ 1,500.00 100.00


$ 1,550.00


$ 1,448.58


$ 1,600.00


Transportation


$ 6,426.00


$ 6,486.25


Regular


500.00


92.23


Other


$ 7,000.00 500.00


$ 6,926.00


$ 6,578.58


$ 7,500.00


Physical Education


$


200.00 $ 107.55


Towels


$ 200.00


150.00


14.00


Supplies


75.00


$ 350.00


$ 121.55


$ 275.00


Miscellaneous


$


500.00


$ 498.25


Education of Crip- pled Children $ 1,100.00


420.00


412.30


Athletic Insurance General Insurance


420.00


40.00


109.83


140.00


$


960.00


$ 1,020.38


$ 1,660.00


Vo-Ag Power


$ 70.00 $ 40.50


$ 70.00


83


Administration


$ 1,900.00


$ 1,899.96


Supt.'s Salary $ 2,100.00 200.00


200.00


111.49


Expenses


350.00


346.93


Postage, Tel., Office Supplies


400.00


200.00


273.75


Clerk


400.00


50.00


50.00


Census


50.00


200.00


200.00


Work Certificates


200.00


$ 2,900.00


$ 2,882.13


$ 3,350.00


New Equipment ยท


$ 750.00 $ 206.82


$


750.00


Graduations


$ 150.00 $ 117.57


$


150.00


$99,319.00


$98,462.61 TOTAL


$106,260.00


84


SCHOOL CALENDAR


1955 - 1956


Sept. 6 Tuesday-Staff meeting, 10:00 A.M., High School Auditorium.


Sept. 7 Wednesday-Schools open with full sessions.


Oct. 7 Friday-Schools closed - Teachers' Conven- tion.


Oct. 12 Wednesday-Schools closed-Columbus Day.


Nov. 11 Friday-Schools closed-Veteran's Day.


Nov. 23 Wednesday-Schools close at noon for Thanksgiving holidays.


Nov. 28 Monday-Schools open.


Dec. 22 Thursday-Schools closed for Christmas holi- days.


1956


Jan. 3 Tuesday-Schools open.


Feb. 20


Monday-Schools closed-beginning of winter vacation.


Feb. 27


Monday-Schools open.


March 30 Friday-Schools closed-Good Friday.


April 16 Monday-Schools closed-beginning of spring vacation.


April 23 Monday-Schools open.


Sunday-Memorial Day Exercises-Bus to be provided.


May 30 Wednesday-Schools closed-Memorial Day.


June 15 Friday-Elementary School Graduation. Cafe- teria closes.


June 19 Tuesday-High School Graduation.


Elementary School Days-178


High School Days-180


Approved by the Committee July 11, 1955


85


SCHOOL ENROLLMENT


Center School Enrollment - October 1, 1955


Grade


I


II


III


IV


V


VI


VII VIII


1952


48


38


32


31


40


26


20


21


1953


54


44


29


38


31


35


25


21


1954


38


54


42


32


38


34


38


26


1955


49


33


51


41


29


37


32


36


Comparative Totals for the Center School


Year


1949


1950


1951


1952


1953


1954


1955


Total Pupils 243


233


234


256


277


302


308


Smith Academy Enrollment by Classes


Freshmen Sophomores Juniors


Seniors


Totals


1952


18


25


21


20


84


1953


20


16


26


19


81


1954


21


20


16


23


80


1955


24


21


18


15


78


Totals for Hatfield Schools


Year


1949


1950


1951


1952


1953


1954


.1955


Totals


317


311


322


340


358


382


386


SCHOOL CENSUS - OCTOBER 1, 1955


Boys


Girls


Total


From age 5 to 7


39


51


90


From age 7 to 16


168


151


319


207


202


409


Comparative Totals for Seven-Year Period


1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955


From age 5 to 7


81


62


68


88


115


109


90


From age 7 to 16


257


255


259


266


259


291


319


338 317


327


354


374


400


409


PRECIDET ENROLLMENT CHART - OCTOBER 1, 1955 (Only children residing in Town accounted for)


Total


GRADE


Grades


Grades


1


2


3


4


5


6 7


8


9


10


11


12


1-8


9-12


1956


41


50


33


52


40


28


38


32


36


23


21


17


314


97


1957


51


41


50


33


52


40


28


38


32


36


23


21


333


112


1958


42


51


41


50


33


52


40


28


38


32


36


23


337


129


1959


40


42


51


41


50


33


52


40


22


38


32


36


349


134


1960


39


40


42


51


41


50


33


52


40


28


38


32


348


138


1961


*46


39


40


42


51


41


50


33


52


40


28


38


** 342


158


*December 31, 1955 census to date-births registered in Hatfield for the year.


** Includes *


86


87


Principal of Center School


To the Superintendent of School and the School Commit- tee of Hatfield :


For the last two years we have been reporting study on report cards. The first phase of the study is over, and we have issued new cards to your children this fall. The follow up will be a continuous endeavor to improve on what we have.


The card issued children in grades one through three is an excellent means of reporting the child's growth. This is particularly true in the reading field for the mark is not so much a teacher's evaluation of the child's ability but an actual report on the grade level at which the child is reading.


The card used for upper grades tries to report the reasons for the marks received by the child in each sub- ject. This is not as complete a manner of grading as used in the lower grades, but the subject matter here cannot be arranged as well at this level. The initial building processes are over and value must be given to more than mechanical performance.


We have returned to the A. B. C. form of scholarship on this card. This should please most parents for it is the form of marking for which you have asked.


Previous reports have described trips taken by grades six and eight to Boston and New York. We believe the values in social and human relationships gained by meet- ing people in all walks of life,plus visiting people in sur-


88


roundings other than those we see each day, to be of great benefit. A new set of experiences was added to the New York trip this year. Mr. and Mrs. George Zgrodnik generously added one hundred dollars to the fund that the students might divide the trip into two days and spend a night in New York. Miss Kempisty and Mrs. Breor again handled all phases of both trips. The extended New York trip of last year pointed up the fact that while our pupils exhibited the very best of behavior enroute, a guidance program would be of benefit to them. Mrs Spakowski has begun such a program with the eighth grade, meeting with boys and girls separately. Her intent is to have twenty meetings with each group covering such personal and social relationships as good grooming, clothes, first aid and good manners.


The present day emphasis on the guidence role of the school plus better understanding by teachers of evaluation techniques have resulted in a greater use of standardized tests. A full program of achievement, grade placement; and aptitude tests has been worked out for your schools and is being administered on schedule.


Standard tests are not perfect, and teachers who use them are keenly aware of this. The greatest value from such tests has been in the recognition of individual differ- ences in achievement and in general ability.


Our trips this year will again be financed from pro- ceeds gained by our magazine subscription drive. The townspeople have been most kind with their support and the School Committee understanding in allowing us to carry out these projects.


Respectfully submitted,


RAYMOND N. JENNESS


Principal, Center School


89


CENTER ELEMENTARY GRADUATION --- 1955


-


Program


A Good Thought


Mary Ryan


Welcome


George Poirier


Our Early School Years


Catherine Pickett


Our Eighth Grade Year


Louise Zembiski


Our Future


Judy Mullany Sally Kubosiak


Presentation of Class Gift


Selection from Cantata Childhood of Hiawatha


Grades 5, 6, 7, 8


Presentation of Library Awards


Mrs. Theresa Godin


Presentation of Scholastic Awards


Principal Raymond Jenness


Presentation of Diplomas Superintendent John Jakobek


Class Song


Class of '55


Star Spangled Banner


All


Graduates


Beattie, Joan


Pickett, Catherine


Buckman, Lester


Poirier, George


Dorsch, Henry


Punska, David


Karakula, John


Ryan, Mary


Kempisty, Sandra


Slysz, William


Kubosiak, Sally


Start, Shirley


Kuchyt, Arlene


Stefancik, Sylvia


Maslanka, Mitchel


Mullany, Judith


Wilkes, Bernard Yarrows, Basil Zack, Roberta


Pelc, Peter


Pelis, Walter


Zembiski, Louise


Pfeiffer, Dorothy


Zgrodnik, George


90


The School Building Committee


The School Building Commitee was established Feb- ruary 21, 1955, as a result of the study and recommenda- tions of the School Building Needs Committee which was established February 15, 1954. The School Building Needs Committee drew from its studies the following opinions and recommendations :


1. This committee goes on record as favoring im- mediate action to relieve the future housing needs for the children of Hatfield.


2. That an absolute minimun of five additional classrooms will be necessary by 1959 to adequate- ly house the classes at that time.


3. That the Annual Town Meeting accept the rec- ommendations of this committee. The School Building Committee held eleven regular meetings during the past year as well as numerous con- ferences and inquiries in pursuit of its objective.


On April 18, 1955, the Committee held its organiza- tional meeting and elected Mr. John Osley, Jr., as chair- man and Mrs. Dorothy Boyle, Secretary. At this meet- ing the objective of the committee was defined as follows: To formulate building plans in view of needed educational facilities in keeping with the best interests of the pupils and the community.


One of the first actions of the committee was to ac- quaint the members with the facilities of the school sys- tem as it exists. The Center School building and site were inspected to determine how these facilities could fit into the over-all educational needs.


91


The committee investigated the regional school plan. In its May 5 Meeting, Mr. George Bell, Chairman of the Regional School District Planning Board of Deerfield met with the Committee and explained in detail the Regional School District plan.


On May 21 members of the Building Committee met with Mr. William Black, School Plant Specialist of the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commission, at Boston to discuss aid which the Commission would pro- vide and to discuss the first of two sets of Educational Specifications which the Hatfield committee submitted to the Commission.


Mr. John Marshall, Administrator of the M. S. B. A. C., visited the community to view possible building sites which would receive approval from the Commission. Of the sites view only one would meet with approval. That site will be recommended by the committee.


Mrs. Eva Shea was approached as to her willingness to sell her property adjoining the south end of the present Center School. Mrs. Shea indicated to the committee that she would sell and on this basis three separate ap- praisals of her property were made.


Mr. Giles Kellogg and Mrs. Mary Robinson were also approached by the committee to see if additional site could be purchased from them. It was agreed that if the committee needed this additional land to meet the Massa- chusetts School Building Assistance Commissions specifi- cations for increased site area that it would be available to the community.


Before formulating the second set of Educational Specifications, the committee spent November 18 visiting newer elementary schools in the area. Four schools were visited : one at Williamsburg, one at Northampton, two at


92


Greenfield. The committee was cordially received at each school and gained much valuable information from the visits.


The educational specifications call for a six-class- room, grades one through three, addition to the present Center School. Other facilities included are a multi-pur- pose room to serve as a gymnasium, visual aids and audi- torium area; this room also includes a stage. Locker rooms for boys and girls. A teachers' room for guid- ance and conference use. An athletic equipment stor- age room. A cafeteria and kitchen for the lunch pro- gram. A stage properties and chair storage area is also included.


During the latter half of December the committee interviewed architects and after reviewing the qualifi- cations of each chose Mr. James A. Britton, A.I.A., of Greenfield, to serve as architect for the committee and to prepare preliminary plans.


Mr. Britton has begun the preliminary planning of the addition and should, within a short time, have speci- fic building proposals to make to the committee. The proposals of the architect include room arrangement. general design, cost estimates, etc. All proposals of the architect will be subject to the approval of your commit- tee and the M. S. B. A. C .. If financial assistance from the Commonwealth is desired, no building plan can be submitted until this approval is forthcoming.


In a letter dated November 18, 1954, Mr John Mar- shall pointed out that as of that date the town could re- ceive 27.62 per cent reimbursement from the M. S. B. A. C. on new construction if the specifications and plans meet with the Commission's approval. The Building Committee wishes to point out that, by law, no reim- bursment can be paid by the Commission for repairs or alterations to existing facilities nor for acquisition of site.


93


It is with the best interests for the educational wel- fare of the pupils of this community and the townspeople that your committee is dedicated.


Your committee does not intend to make proposals in haste nor without knowing all of the facts available to it. The committee is still working to bring all of the de- tails of its work into their correct relationship. The closing of the year 1955 finds the committee desirous of an extension of time to complete its work properly.


The committee wishes to express its appreciation to the various town and state officials and to all other per- sons who have given freely of their time and knowledge in assisting the committee in its work.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN OSLEY, JR., Chairman DOROTHY G. BOYLE, Secretary MRS. JOHN BURDA GEORGE ZGRODNIK


THADDEUS KABOT


L. A. BELDEN BERNARD DONNIS


94


CORPS OF TEACHERS 1955-1956 Superintendent of Schools


Arthur G. Scott, Jr.


Smith Academy


John Skarzynski, Assistant Principal: Algebra I and II,


Plane Geometry, Solid and Trigonometry, Physics, Driver Education


George Feiker: Agriculture


Florence Muller : French I, II, & III, Latin 1 & II, World History


Margaret Pruzynski: Typing I & II, Shorthand I & II, Bookkeeping, Secretarial Practice


Mary E. Ryan: English


Mary Spakowski: Home Economics, Biology, General Math, Home and Family


John F. Symanczyk: General Science, United States History, Problems of Democracy, Physical Education


Center School


Raymond N Jenness, Principal: General Science, Grades 6, 7 and 8


Dorothy Breor: Grade 8, English, Grades 6, 7 and 8


Sarah Kiley : Grade 7, History and Geography, Grades 6, 7 and 8


Jean Kempisty: Grade 6, Arithmetic, Grades 6, 7 and 8 Frances Celatka: Grade 5


Hilda Fortsch : Grade 4


Norma Gates: Grade 4


Jane Blauvelt: Grade 3


Moira Callahan: Grade 3


Martha Boyle: Grade 2


Helen Kostek: Grade 1


Lena Fitzgerald: Grade.1


95


Supervisors


Music-Maude E. Boyle Art-Mrs. Eric Lampard Penmanship-William J. Rinehart Co.


Custodians


Elementary-Chester Celatka High School-Stanley Piankowski


Transporter Henry Labbee Bus Co.


School Lunch Workers


Anna Mullins


Irene Labbee


Hazel Roberts


Susan Zima


Christine O'Dea


96


School Nurse


To the Superintendent and School Committee of Hatfield:


The protection of the health of children in the schools is a cooperative responsibility of the parent and the de- partments of Health and Education.


The parents play an important role on the school health team. It is only through their understanding and cooperation that the needs of their child can be met and a successful program brought about. In planning for the care of their child, they must provide for physical ap- praisal at regular intervals, not only during acute illness. The parents must be ready to recognize and be willing to seek correction of physical defects that may be discover- ed. Parents must also provide for the maintenance of good habits of rest, nutrition, cleanliness and for the emotional guidance that will guarantee and minimize frustrations and tensions. The parents should always be aware of any signs of illness of their child and exclude him from school so that others will not be exposed.


The school accepts the responsibility for providing a safe and healthful environment for learning and teaching healthful living as a part of the total education of the student. The responsibilities of the school nurse include: provision of emergency care, health guidance to individual students and their parents, assistance at physical examin- ations and the interpretation of the findings and carrying out diagnostic proceedings such as vision and hearing testing.


97


The health department is in turn obligated to protect the health of its school age citizens. It is concerned with the preventative measures for communicable disease con- trol by sponsoring Immunization clinics for the pre-school as well as the school child. The health department pro- vides funds for the Dental and Well Child clinics.


The following activities were carried on by your school nurse during the year 1955:


Emergency first aid was provided for all minor in- juries


An immunization clinic was held in the spring. Nine children received the series of injections of the triple antigen, while 248 children received the Booster injection.


A dental clinic was held in the spring under the direc- tion of Dr. Glade P. Hall, of Florence. A total of 173 operations were completed.


Physical examinations have been completed; special attention being given to those who participate in competi- tive athletics. Again this year parents of children of grades one and four were invited to be present during the examination of their child. Several parents availed themselves of the opportunity of discussing their child's health and habits with the physician. Defects that were found were reported to the parent through a home visit to those of the other grades.


The following is a summarized report on our Hearing program: Total number of students that were tested via the pure tone audiometer was 348. Of this unmber 9 pupils failed the final individual test. Five of this num- ber were seen by an ear specialist.


The following in a report on our vision testing pro- gram: Total number that were tested via the Massachu-


98


setts Vision Test was 378. There were 25 students who failed the retest. Ot this number 21 were seen by an eye specialist and received correction.


Keeping in step with other communities within the State and Nation, the town of Hatfield has cooperated with the State Health Department in administering a Salk Vaccine clinic as a preventative measure against Polio. With parental permission, 70 pupils of grades one and two received one injection in May.


Four students were recommended and accepted to at- tend Camp Hodgkins for four weeks during the summer.


Registration for pre-school children was held in May Forty-nine children were enrolled for entrance into first grade.


Communicable diseases reported during the year are as follows :


Chicken Pox 2


Measles


57


Polio-non paralytic 1


My sincere appreciation is extended to the school of- ficials, physicians, teachers and parents for their under- standing and cooperation.


Respectfully submitted,


LUCILLE H. GODEK, R. N.


99


Visiting Nurse


To the Citizens of Hatfield:


During the past eight years the services of the visit- ing nurse have become an integral part of the community. She is more than a Visiting Nurse, she is a Public Health Nurse, watching over the health of our community.


Due to the fact that the Visiting Nurse Association is receiving full financial aid from Town funds, no charge can be made for visits made to recipients of any type of welfare. Thus, at the Annual meeting of the Board of Directors it was voted to raise the fee of $1.00 to $1.50 per visit, beginning April 1. We were one of the few re- maining communities of the State charging only $1.00 per visit.




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