Norwood annual report 1936-1938, Part 42

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1936
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1104


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1936-1938 > Part 42


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By reason of the complexity of this tremendous problem, our progress must, of necessity, be slow. However, it will be certain, and those of us most closely in touch with the work of the Child Guidance Department are most hopeful as to results.


Conclusion


May I express to you, members of the Norwood School Committee, to all my fellow-workers in the Norwood School Department and to the other Town officials upon whom I have to call for help and advice, my feelings of deep gratitude for the kind and considerate manner in which you have - aided and supported me in my work.


LINCOLN D. LYNCH


REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL


I am pleased to submit to you herewith my second annual report as principal of the Norwood High School.


The first portion of this report will deal with some statistical tables in order that some comparison may be made with the reports of other years and from which some predictions may be made for the future:


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Table I Enrollment October 1, 1937


Class


Boys


Girls


Total


Sophomore


128


137


265


Junior.


111


117


228


Senior


94


117


211


P.G.


6


2


8


Totals


339


373


712


The figures in Table I show that there were 11 more pupils in the Senior High School on October 1, 1937 than were enrolled at the same time last year.


Predictions for September 1938


In the school report of 1936, it was estimated that there would be 690 pupils in the school in September. The facts show that this prediction was in error by 22 pupils. This is a fairly close approximation and one which is close enough to justify the estimate of books and supplies for the following year. On the same basis the following prediction may be made for September, 1938:


Table II


Class


Enrollment


Sophomore


250


Junior


264


Senior


212


Total


726


The figures in Table II are on the basis that all the pupils now in school will earn promotion in June, 1938, and that they will all return in Septem- ber, 1938. This assumption is, of course, not valid and if the same figures for elimination are used as were used a year ago, then 7% of this total will not be in school in September, 1938. If this percentage is subtracted from the total of 726, then it would seem that the total number of pupils who may be expected to enroll in September would be in the vicinity of 680, even with the Post Graduate pupils who may appear but whose numbers, at the moment, ean be only a matter of guess work.


Table III Enrollment by Curricula College


Class


Preparatory


Commercial


General


Sophomore


32%


29%


39%


Junior


20%


25%


55%


Senior.


21%


29%


50%


Average


24.3%


27.6%


48%


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During the past school year, some changes were inade in our program of studies with the advice and consent of the Superintendent of Schools.


The five distinct curricula which were listed as the offerings of the school in 1936-1937 were consolidated into three. The two chief reasons for this move were-first, very little difference was evident among somne of the original five; second, much less confusion would seem to exist in the minds of the pupils, especially the entering class, if choices of electives could be made from only three types of program. From our experience of last spring and fall, this confusion was reduced to a minimum and actually the pupils had a wider choice of subject matter on the basis of the new plan, because of its flexibility, than would have been possible under the old scheme. The percentages of the entire school as shown by Table III, correspond very closely to the figures for the country as a whole. Our own figures (sce Table IV) show that less than 30% of our graduates of June, 1937 are in schools of any sort so that it is not sur- prising that about 75% of all our pupils are enrolled in either Commercial or General Curricula.


Table IV Activities of the Graduates of 1937


A rather careful inventory of the present occupations of the graduates of June, 1937 has been made with the following result:


Total number of graduates. .172


Continuing their education 49 or 28% of the class


(This group includes: P.G. pupils, Prep School, Colleges, Hos- pitals, etc.)


At work. SS or 51% of the class


At Home 28 or 16% of the class


Unaccounted for 7


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A complete copy of the graduation program of June, 1937, appears at the end of this report.


Changes in the High School Teaching Staff


During the school year 1936-1937 Mr. John Kelley was a member of the faculty as a temporary teacher. The enrollment of the school in September showed a total of 11 pupils in excess of the enrollment of one year ago, so that more pupils have been taken care of in the year 1937- 1938 than in the previous year, with one less teacher. Some rearrange- ment of the subjects taught among the several teachers was brought about so that there was no subject removed from the curriculum of the school.


In August, 1937, Miss Helen Paul resigned to be married. Miss Paul had been in the Home Economics Department of the school for a period of


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three years and was a very popular and efficient teacher. During the inonth of October, 1937, the Committee elected Miss Ruth Goddard to fill the vacancy left by Miss Paul. Miss Goddard is a graduate of the Fram- ingham Teachers' College in the class of 1934 and has had three years ex- perience in the Home Economics Department of the Franklin Junior High School before coming to Norwood. During the month that Miss Goddard has been in Norwood, she has entered into our organization with fine spirit.


On December 13, 1937, Miss Loretta Burke, for six years a teacher in our Commercial Department, resigned to accept a position in the Boston School system. Miss Burke was a very capable instructor of commercial subjects and all the pupils who passed through her classes while she was here, will doubtless wish her a great deal of success in her new field of labor. This vacancy in the Commerical Department was filled by the School Committee by the election of Mr. Felix Babel, a grad- uate of the Norwood High School in the class of 1927, and of Boston University in the class of 1931. Mr. Babel has done a considerable amount of graduate work in History at Boston University and has had five years teaching experience in the High School at Wethersfield, Connecticut. He has gone about his new assignments in our High School in a very efficient and businesslike manner.


The High School Library


In the High School of twenty-five years ago, if a library existed at all it was usually a room set apart for the storage of textbooks, together with such other books as might have been given to the school from time to time. Some of these books were occasionally loaned to the pupils, but the library was not used as a place of study and research as it should be, nor was there any instruction given in its use.


During the past few years, with the rise of what might be called the Modern High School, there has grown up the idea that the library should be an integral part of the school, that definite instruction in its use should be given, that a teacher should spend part, or all, of her time there, de- pending, of course, on the size of the school, and that definite amounts of money should be set aside each year for the equipment and upkeep of a library as is done at present for a Science laboratory or a Practical Arts Department.


We have in the Norwood High School, a very good library, and, arranged as it is, between two large study rooms, it is well situated to afford the maximum amount of use to the pupils in the school. On the other hand, the equipment in the library is not at all comparable to the amount of thought and money which must have gone into its construction. During the ten years that this school has been built, it is quite probable that a sum of money has been set aside each year for library books and other equipment; it is also quite probable that when the financial pressure for


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other types of equipment became pressing, the needs of the library were allowed to be postponed.


Beginning next September, it seems desirable to incorporate into our English course a considerable amount of instruction in Library procedure and technique, which cannot be done at present with the rather limited equipment available.


High School Athletics


With the beginning of school last September, an attempt was made to start an Athletic Association with the idea that all pupils in the sehool ought to belong. The membership fee would entitle all members to ad- mission to all athletic contests. During the football season just closed, there were 120 pupils who joined. This represents about 17% of the school.


Our athletic teams have been reasonably successful during the past 12 months and for this reason our financial condition is somewhat better than it was a year ago. The public is always willing to support a winning team, which is a good argument for our association in that the fees of the pupils will be available when the teams are not as successful as they have been this year. An association such as we are trying to build up here is something which cannot be brought about in any one year, but it is a system which will probably take several years to build. There are some pupils who without doubt cannot afford to join, but ample provision is made for this group of pupils to earn their own way in the association.


Safety Education


During the past year or two there has grown up a decided interest on the part of many groups of people in Safety Education. This interest has been started largely by the automobile but it has branched out into many other phases of life, so that some form of this type of education is now being given in many of our High School subjects. To cite a few of these subjects one might mention Practical Arts, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The rifle team conducted by Mr. Wheeler during each school year plays a very large part in this program.


In addition to these facts, there have been many assemblies given during the past year by Insurance Companies, Railroad Executives and others, in which this phase of education has been stressed.


Assemblies


During the school year 1936-1937 there was a total of thirty assemblies, or almost one during each week of the school year, held for the entire school. These assemblies were very varied in their character but most of them were worthwhile and undoubtedly contributed something to the education of the pupils. All of these were carried out at no cost to the school or to the pupils. With the beginning of school in September, 1937, the fact was pointed out to the pupils that many more varied types of assembly


127


could be put on at the school if a small sum of money was available for this purpose, and the pupils contributed voluntarily a total of $31.88. There have been added to this fund various class balances which have accumulated over the years, so that the total amount in the fund at present is $51.78. It is hoped that some use of this fund may be made during the present school year, and it is also hoped that additional contributions may be made with the beginning of school each September so that a per- manent assembly fund may be built up.


The Quest Club


As this report is being written, the 14th Quest Club party has just taken place in the gymnasium of the Senior High School for the benefit of some young children in the town of Norwood. This custom is so far reaching in its effects, not only upon the children who are the guests, but upon the High School boys and girls who make the party possible, that it seems to deserve some mention in this report.


The Club began with the class of 1925 who banded themselves together for the purpose of gaining some education which was not listed in the curriculum of the school, and for some time before the automobiles were as numerous as they are now, many of the activities of the Club consisted of making various educational trips around Boston, such as to the Art Museum. As the years went by, this custom ceased to function and the party of the present day, run by the pupils, which is aimed to bring the spirit of Christmas into the lives of some children, has grown up.


At the beginning of school in September, the various teachers in the elementary grades keep an eye on the children and at the appropriate time these teachers report certain ehildren to the school nurses as meriting an invitation to this party. These children are checked up by the nurses and as a result of this checkup, between 85 and 100 ehildren are invited each year. The funds to make the party possible are derived from many activities, among which are private subscription, the sale of candy at foot- ball games, the sponsoring of a moving picture. Approximately 80% of the student body participates in some way and it is quite amazing to find that the interest in this party continues among the alumni. This state- ment is borne out by the fact that the class of 1932 recently made a sub- stantial contribution to the Club from a fund which they had left over from a recent banquet.


Another activity of this Club which is not generally known by the public is the administration of a fund, portions of which are set aside each year and which is used throughout the year to supplement the work of the school nurse. This fund is used to supply transportation for pupils in the school who become ill during the school day or as an aid in furnish- ing glasses to pupils who otherwise might not be able to buy them, and for other equally worthy purposes.


This organization, as far as is known, is unique among High Schools and it is probable that its effects here would not be as far reaching as they


128


are if it were not for the member of our faculty, Miss Ruth M. Gow, who is the guiding genius of the Club and who is known to every pupil who has ever been in Norwood High School. Pupils who are associated with this group undoubtedly learn the lesson that it is more blessed to give than to receive.


Use of Caps and Gowns at Graduation


The Senior class of last June used caps and gowns at their graduation exercises for the first time in the history of the school. So far as can be learned, the general concensus of opinion was favorable both among the members of the class and among the parents. When the idea was first presented to the class there was some opposition, as there would be to any new plan, but when the economy of the plan was fully outlined to the pupils, they realized that it would mean some saving to them and the majority agreed. Whether the class of 1938 will use the gowns will remain for them to decide.


A complete program of the Graduation Exercises of the class of 1937 will close this report.


The following pupils were awarded Lane Medals in June, 1937:


Mildred Adametz


Lillian Karki


Priscilla Atwood


Einari Kinnunen


Priscilla Badger


Wanda Kotak


Olive Boyd


Dorothy McDermott


William Chase


Gertrude Minkevitch


Elsie Daniels


Joseph Pazniokas


Virginia Dauderis


William Shyne


Phyllis Evans


Dorothy Tweddle


Beatrice Johnson


Anna Zimlicki


Robert Zoboli


The following pupils were awarded scholarships in June, 1937:


Teachers' Club Scholarship


Williamn Shyne, Jr.


Woman's Club Scholarship.


Robert Zoboli


Mothers' Club Scholarship


Louise Balboni


School Scholarships


Priscilla Badger


Elsie Daniels Charles Diggs Lillian Karki


Joseph Pazniokas


Dorothy Tweddle


Berwick English Prize


William Shyne, Jr.


Ralph Surette


Athletic Cup Plimpton Art Prizes.


Dorothy O'Kane


Harold Margeson


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This report would be incomplete without recording the fine spirit of cooperation which exists among the teachers on the faculty and also the friendly advice which has been given in many matters by the Superin- tendent of Schools.


LEIGHTON S. THOMPSON


Graduation Exercises of Norwood High School Class of 1937 Tuesday Evening, June 8, 1937 Norwood Junior High School Gymnasium Program


Processional-"Festival March" F. Mendelssohn Invocation


Rev. Marinus James, S.T.D.


"The House by the Side of the Road" Mrs. M. H. Gulesian Chorus and Orchestra There are hermit souls that live withdrawn


In the peace of their self-content;


There are souls like stars that dwell apart


In a fellowless firmament.


There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths,


Where highways never ran;


But let me live by the side of the road,


And be a friend to man, a friend to man.


Let me live in a house by the side of the road, Where the race of men go by,


The men who are good, the men who are bad, As good and as bad as I.


I would not sit in the scorner's seat


Or hurl the cynic's ban;


Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man.


I see from my house by the side of the road By the side of the highway of life,


The men who press with the ardor of hope, The men who are faint with the strife. But still I rejoice when the trav'lers rejoice, And weep with the strangers that moan, Nor live in iny house by the side of the road, Like a man who dwells alone.


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Let me live in a house by the side of the road, Where the race of men go by,


The men who are good, the men who are bad,


As good and as bad as I.


I would not sit in the scorner's seat


Or hurl the cynic's ban;


Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man!


Essay-"Looking Ahead"


Phyllis A. Evans


Solo-"Starlight" A. Rubinstein


Wanda M. Kotak


Essay-"Today and Tomorrow"


William V. Shyne, Jr.


"Spring Equinox"


Chorus and Orchestra J. V. Dethier


Turbulant gale, flood-tide unbound, mutinous surge of rushing sound, North wind with mighty steady roar, hurling a paean to the ocean floor. Turbulent gale, flood-tide unbound, mutinous surge of rushing sound North wind with mighty steady roar, hurling a paean to the ocean floor. Waking the sea things clustering, clinging coral and wrack


Down where the dance of life is flinging coral and wrack and purple grasses


Down where the finny pageant passes


And sleepy mollusks thrust out, thrust out to say, to say:


Who blusters here, who blusters here, where the sea folks play?


Whistling, whirling, roaring.


The soul of the wind's great urge is


Pouring wave upon wave in an endless flashing,


Sweeping, swelling, tumbling, flashing,


Sweeping, swelling, tumbling, crashing


From weeping clouds, a wraith-like form,


In rain, surrenders to the storm, From weeping clouds, a wraith-like form,


In rain, surrenders to the storm,


The earth is trembling, the buds are shaking,


The roots of the mighty trees are waking.


Once more they stir from their frozen sleep,


Tho' their hopes were numb and their dreams were deep.


Building new the nests, prepare the brides,


A rude and passionate husbandman rides.


The air, the spirit, well he plows: the turning sod, the stubble bows.


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He stirs it deep, turns old things under, reanimates them with his thunder. The world a seed in his cosmic fields, its innate life to the master yields, A God is calling, His voice is spring; A God is calling. A God is calling, His voice is spring,


With music soon each grove shall ring.


Then lift your heart in gladsome praise, to Him who rounds the budding days.


A God is calling, His voice is spring,


With music soon each grove shall ring.


Then lift your heart in gladsome praise, to Him who rounds the budding days.


Then lift your heart in gladsome praise, to Him who rounds the budding days.


Graduation Address


Rev. Garfield Morgan


Gift of the Class of 1937


John J. Mulvehill


Acceptance of the Gift for the School


Carroll H. Woods


Year's Honor Roll of the Class of 1937 Mr. L. D. Lynch, Superintendent of Schools


Award of Medals and Prizes:


Lane Medals Washington and Franklin History Medal


John F. Murray Athletic Cup


Plimpton Art Prize


Teachers' Club Scholarship


Berwick English Prize


Norwood Woman's Club Scholarship Norwood Mothers' Club Home Economics Award Mr. Lincoln D. Lynch, Superintendent of Schools


Presentation of Diplomas


Mrs. Harold R. Probert, Chairman of School Committee


"Norwood".


Wheelock, '13 Arranged by Walsh, '13


Chorus and Orchestra (The audience is invited to join)


"America" (first and last stanzas)


Smith


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Recessional-March C. H. Vance The audience will kindly remain seated during the entire recessional.


Orchestra


First Violin


Lillian Karki


Jeanette Geroso


Sylvia Gleichauf


Roger Flaherty


Magda Larson Cecile Langlois


Veronica Riley


Marjorie Donlan


Clifford McLatchey


Michael Triventi


Dennis Murphy


Salvatore Ferrara


Clarinet Helen Glancy Julius Kauffman


Oboe Margaret McDonagh


Alto Saxophone Duncan Cushing William Merrill


Baritone Saxophone Norman Berezin


Second Trumpet Aarne Ikkela Ruth Svibergson


First Trumpet J. Elston Burnham Lawrence Hayes Edward Mattson


Horn Joseph Riley


Trombone Kauko Kahila


Tuba


David Anthony


Piano Elizabeth Glancy Martha Taylor


Drums Catherine McLean Robert Zoboli


Graduates


Mildred Elizabeth Adametz Jean T. Adamonis


Elinor Teresa Adelmann


Richard Francis Adelmann Peter Zacharie Amirault Philip Anderson Priscilla Atwood


Ellen Priscilla Badger Louise Marie Balboni Francis W. Barrett


Clare Marie Barron Martin Francis Barylak


Stanley Rudolph Barylak


John J. Bayer


Norman Lawrence Berezin Joseph A. Bilotta Howard Blasenak


Ruth Rose Boulis Helen M. Bowles Olive C. Boyd


Second Violin Helen Cleary


Lucile Riemer


Margaret Ahearn


Marion Hartshorn


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Minnie V. Braverman J. Elston Burnham John Charles Burns Hazel Cecilia Burton Allen A. Carlson


Clare R. Harrington Mary T. Hayes Dorothy G. Heikkila Leah Heikkinen Geraldine A. Henry


William Chase


Johnston Hepburn


Bernard John Chubet


Eva M. Holden


Marie Louise Clapp


William Joseph Cobb


Robert Carpenter Holman Thomas Michael Hopkins


Ralph Stanley Conrad


Ensio Alvar Hurma


Bernard Stanley Cornelia


Thomas John Hynes


Helen Marie Costello


Marion Louise Ivatts


Cornelius Frederick Coughlin


Ellen G. Jacobsen


Bartley Joseph Curran


Alfonse William Janavich


Marie Teresa Curran


Eleanor Jankoski


Charles Patrick Daly


Anne Constance Javasaitis


Elsie Jean Daniels .


Beatrice Ellen Johnson


Harold A. Johnson


Virginia Ida Dauderis Henry DeFlaminio Alfred Carmine DeFlaminis


. Roy Johnson


Charles Edward Jones Lily Birgitta Karki


Mary Ellen Devine


Charles Winston Diggs


Barbara Marie Keady


John Dunean Kelley


John Roswell Donnell Lucy Mary Dowidauskis


Mary Louise Drummey


Dorothea Helen Duffy


Mary Elizabeth Dwane


Einari Kinnunen


Ann Julia Kodis


Wanda Maryana Kotak


Edna S. Laffey


Heimo Robert Lammi


Max M. Lechter


George Theodore Lce


Gladys Marie Lindblom Anna H. Lindfors


Angeline Margaret Lorusso


Frederick George Frueh, Jr.


Joseph John Gallagher Jeanette P. Geroso Margaret Louise Gilson Elizabeth C. Glancy Nellie M. Glebus


Frederiek Francis Grosso


Ernest Gustafson William P. Harding


Sarah Kelley William Marty Kelley Joan Rose Kelly Vineent Paul King


Arthur James Early Grace Olive Elisher Phyllis Ann Evans Alice Elizabeth Feaver


Mary Ellen Flaherty


Mary Margaret Flaherty


Roger Paul Flaherty


Thomas Peter Flaherty Catherine Helen Folan Dorothy J. Franklin


Mary Agnes Lydon James Joseph Lynch Harold Arthur Margeson Barbara Elizabeth Marvas


Francis Allan Masscy . Louise Susanne Mazzola Dorothy Orannc MeDermott Philip Francis MeKeown Catherine Margaret MeLean


134


Anne Constance Medvesky Richard Preston Merrill Anne E. Mike


Nicholas George Mike


Helen Rilda Sanborne


Kathryn Margaret Saulen


Gertrude C. Minkevitch


Rita Elizabeth Monbouquette


Ernest Joseph Muehlberger


John Joseph Mulvehill


Anthony Francis Smith


Lloyd Allen Murray, Jr.


Robert James Nelson


Amelia J. Stankiewicz


Henry Edwin Nordblom


Jennie Lillian Starta


Julia Lena Notarangelo


Nancy Stone


Ruth H. Nutter


Barbara T. Stonis


Robert E. O'Brien


Ralph James Surette


Sadie M. Thomas


Stella Theresa Okulovich


Samuel John Thompson


Mae Frances O'Leary


Caroline M. Tomm


Anne Shirley Orent Ann Ritta O'Toole Emily Joan Padduck


. George Emery Tomm, Jr. Ellen Patricia Torpey Helen N. Treciokas


Edward Vincent Paduck


Edward Joseph Trusevitch


Joseph J. Pazniokas


Robert S. Plummer


Henry Richard Uservich Ellen Elizabeth Welch


Everett W. Pyne


Anna Joanna Radzwill


Edward F. Wenzel Martha Joan Wozniak


Leon Rasanen


Ruth Alyce Reynolds


John A. Zabrowski


Joseph P. Roslauskas


Anna E. Zimlicki


Kenneth R. Ross


Robert Arnold Zoboli


REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL


I herewith submit my annual report as Principal of the Norwood Junior High School.


Dramatics


During the past school year pupils from our school broadcasts two fifteen minute radio plays, "Turkey Magic" and "The White King Rides" through the cooperation of Station WAAB. This opportunity for enrich- ing one of our extra curricular activities was received by pupils witlı un- usual enthusiasm. The casts were complimented by authorities of the broadcasting station for their fine presentations.


Early in May the pupils presented "Rendezvous Revue", a dramatic production, embodying the efforts of four hundred students. This show,


Bronsie Rose Rudvilovitch John Ruggiero


Mary Anne Russetti


Thomas Joseph Millin


Dorothy Clara Sherman


William Vincent Shyne, Jr. Helen T. Simaski


Edward H. Smith


Dorothy Adrienne O'Kane


Dorothy Moore Tweddle


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under the direction of Miss Kathryn R. Byrne and Mrs. Marie S. Brown, assisted by all members of the faculty was supported unusually well by capacity audiences of children, parents, and friends. A presentation of this kind is a splendid testimonial of the fine cooperative spirit which exists between the various departments within the school. The annual Christmas Play "Why the Chimes Rang", was typical of the true spirit of the time. The stained glass windows constructed by the ninth grade art classes attracted many visitors. The scenic effects made by pupils in the Manual Training Departments were excellent.




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