USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1960-1962 > Part 72
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BUSINESS COURSES-Strong business courses are presently offered at the School with advanced majors in Stenography, Bookkeeping, and Type- writing. These courses will be further strengthened when next month a fully equipped classroom for instruction in Business Machines is ready for use.
GUIDANCE-With four full-time guidance counselors plus a guidance secretary, it is possible to tailor each student's program to meet that stu- dent's individual needs. In virtually every area homogeneous grouping equals or exceeds the standards recommended in the Conant Report. During the year Guidance made for the first time a formal and detailed follow-up study of each member of the graduating class. This practice will continue.
OPPORTUNITY STUDYHALL-Recently Mr. John F. Monbouquette, Vice Principal of the School, organized for the first time a voluntary after- noon special-help studyhall. This opportunity studyhall is designed 'to pro- vide expert assistance three afternoons a week for those students who, disappointed in their school achievement, want direction and advice in order to improve their study skills. The serious attitude of the young people presently attendng this special studyhall in our judgment augurs well for its success.
CLASSROOM DRIVER TRAINING-Classroom Driver Training has been moved to regularly scheduled after-school classes. We are now able to meet in every particular the State Registry requirement for the classroom phase of this valuable instruction. More than 125 young people are enrolled.
PREVOCATIONAL CURRICULUM-This year for the first time we have gathered together selected students-all of them potential drop-outs and for all of whom it would be not merely difficult but will-nigh impos- sible to meet usual classroom standards. With the assistance of Miss Ann Lanoue of the Special Services Division and of Miss Kathryn Paige of the High School Guidance Staff, we have set up for these students a curriculum of adapted course content. Equally important we have scheduled theni
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throughout the day to exceptionally able and understanding teachers. The results of this venture have thus far been most gratifying. Young people who previously met only with repeated failure are now experiencing the exhilarating effect of accomplishment. In prospect for these students is a part-time on-the-job supervised training program and a Senior High School diploma for those who over the normal period of high school attendance both in school and on the job demonstrate their worthiness.
GYMNASTIC TEAM-Our newly formed gymnastic team is coached by faculty member, Mr. Benjamin Malvinni, a Springfield College graduate and former Springfield gyinnast. Practice sessions are hield not only in the after- noon but frequently in the morning before school and on Saturdays. This year for the first time a regular schedule of gymnastic meets has been ar- ranged for the team through the office of the Director of Athletics. With the best of equipment plus skilled leadership, student interest in Gymnastics is at a high level. This interest is reflected in all our regular physical training classes.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE PROGRAM -- For the seventh consecutive year the School has participated in the American Field Service Foreign Exchange program. Attending classes at Norwood High this year is Nuning Wirjo- atmodjo of Java, Indonesian Islands. We are grateful to Mr. and Mrs. John B. Kelley of 83 Saunders Road who graciously volunteered to provide a home for Nuning during her stay in Norwood. In the reciprocal phase of the program, Robert Holman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Holman of 295 Winter Street, spent last summer in Italy.
New Experiences in Music
In September Mr. Ralph E. Forsman took over his new assignment as Director of Music for the Norwood Public Schools. Among his other duties, Mr. Forsman at this time is particularly concerned with developing at the High School botlı Marching and Concert Bands. Starting with a rela- tively few stalwarts, the Band has during the fall grown steadily and noticeably in numbers and in competence. Band members are practicing with their director before, during, and after school.
In the matter of choral music, our young people continue to maintain a high level of competence and participation. This year we have two hundred and ninety students scheduled twice weekly to choral work in twelve different groups plus an acapella choir of forty-five voices which meets four times each week after school. Interestingly enough, almost one-half of those who elect choral music at the High School are boys.
During the coming spring our Music Department plans to present for the first time in the history of the school a combined program of instru- mental and choral music performed exclusively by Senior High School students. This presentation to be known as "Music Night" is scheduled for two performances in the new auditorium on successive evenings. This, we anticipate, will be an enjoyable and cultural experience for capacity audiences.
New Ethics Committee
Perhaps the most promising and certainly the most idealistic of the many Student Council activities of the year has been the formation
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this fall for the first time of a Student Council Ethics Committee. Through this committee the Council is attempting to develop better school citizen- ship by promoting a reasoned understanding among students of the true purposes of the school. School spirit, personal behavior in school, the ethics of the test situation, and care of school property are some of the topics which the Ethics Committee and the Student Council without adult prompting have asked permission to consider. In these days when ethical behavior is so conspicuously needed in adult life, we watch with interest this unique student approach to their own related problem.
A New Evaluation
Every graduate of the Class of 1962 who did satisfactory college pre- paratory work in high school and who applied for college was successful in gaining admission - many with substantial scholarship awards. We are proud of the strong college preparatory curriculum at the school. Earlier in this report we mentioned similar strengths in our Business Department and in other curricular areas.
As another indication of adequacy, we should perhaps again underline the remarkable holding power of the school. For the year just past the drop-out rate for Norwood High School was again close to 6 per cent. This figure may be compared with the State drop-out rate of 18 per cent and with the National rate of almost 40 per cent.
In our Democracy, it is, we believe the unique function of the public comprehensive high school to educate all the children of all the people. The foregoing is, we submit, indicative of our commitment in this particular.
In Conclusion
The writer came to Norwood High School as a tecaher of Latin and Coach of Debate thirty-three years ago. For twenty-seven of those years we have been concerned with school administration. Few have been privi- leged so long to work so closely with so many young people. It is indeed a happy journey.
My report for this year will close with a list of the names of those who received special honors at graduation last June and with a copy of the program followed on that occasion.
CHARLES A. HAYDEN, Principal Norwood High School
GRADUATION HONOR AWARDS
Lane Medal Awards
John H. D'Espinosa
Christie J. Tragakis
Beverly D. Rodgers
Charlotte C. Clem
Susan M. Carolan
Carol E. Haggett
Sandra L. Nordstrom
Kathryn A. Boulis
Donna L. Danieli
Kathleen A. Maloney
Mary M. McAuliffe Elizabeth A. Dempsey
Roger B. Wallace
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Berwick English Prize Charlotte C. Clem
Junior Chamber of Commerce Scholarship John H. D'Espinosa
Teachers' Club Scholarship Sandra L. Nordstrom
J. E. Margolis Scholarship Mary M. McAuliffe
Norwood P. T. A. Council Scholarships
Christie J. Tragakis Elizabeth A. Dempsey
Rotary Club Scholarship Norwood Women's Club Scholarship
Martha A. Everett Beverly D. Rodgers ,
Norwood Band Parents Music Scholarship Pamela W. Childs
Norwood Mothers' Club Scholarships
Roger B. Wallace Kathleen P. McAuliffe
Women's Community Committee Awards Beauty Culture - Janet R. Grzybowski Business - Claire A. Aukstolis Fashion -- Martha A. Everett Food Service Program - William A. MacDonald
Norwood Italian Social Club Scholarships
Mary E. Simoni Joseph R. Savina
Norwood Kiwanis Club Scholarship Charlotte C. Clem
Norwood Business and Professional Women's Club Scholarship Carol E. Haggett
High School Scholarship Awards
Kathryn A. Boulis Susan M. Carolan Paul F. Karshis Frederick Purnell, Jr. Robert A. Baxter, Jr.
Lorna J. Thompson
Norwood Mothers' Club Home Economics Award Mary A. Rideout
Mathematics Award Marguerite Krupp
Science Awards
Paul F. Karshis Sandra L. Nordstrom
Nicholson Memorial Award In English
John H. D'Espinosa Beverly D. Rodgers
Sons of Italy Scholarship Carole A. Silvestri
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REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HENRY 0. PEABODY SCHOOL
At the close of the second decade of its existence, it is very evident that the Henry O. Peabody School has established its roots and tradi- tions with sound concepts of vocational education. Its primary purpose has been the preparation of youth for profitable employment and a full and better life. The existing course offerings are successfully fulfilling their purposes, graduating into the widely expanded industrial and tech- nological community young people well prepared to meet the challenges presented.
We have a fine loyal and well-trained group of successful graduates who are a credit to the School and the community. They now exert a strong influence on those young people who can best be served by our school.
The next ten years will bring a myriad of job opportunities requiring diverse skills. We can face with surety a demand for training for strange and different fields. I firmly believe that this School because of our ex- perience in vocational education will be prepared to meet any demand which may arise. The extra monies which come to us from the Henry O. Peabody Fund will also be a great asset in exploring new possibilities of training which have been heretofore untried.
As technological changes and population growth occur, committees should be appointed to study newer concepts in education to gear it to more consideration of the individual. The fundamental principles upon which the Peabody School was founded have made a small but significant contribution in this direction. I feel confident that the foundations have been soundly laid for the future. I know that the School has the potential to be developed.
We are going to be called upon almost immediately to further develop our program to meet new needs. It is our obligation to do so in light of the monies received from the Peabody Fund and other funds available to us.
New kinds of services will be needed in the complexity of modern society, but we must continue to prepare that great middle group of students educationally and professionally to meet their needs and capaci- ties and to guide their desires toward better living.
The Henry O. Peabody School is fast becoming a school for post high school students. I regret the fact that more students of secondary school age are not being served. I have found the real challenge and interest of our school to be the education, training, and successful place- ment of this age student.
With national interest focused on school dropouts and on the hosts of young people who are graduates of four-year academic high schools with no specific training to enter the field of employment, the public is suddenly being forced to see the potential and urgent need for vocational training. As a result of this recognition, we may expect to be overwhelmed by the numbers seeking admission to our school. Although only one third
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of our present students come from Norwood, it is within the realm of possibility that with so many Norwood people having a full realization of the School's potential it will become difficult for us to maintain our bal- ance and identity as an area school for the surrounding communities.
As an example of the type of retaining we may expect to be asked to provide, I should like to mention the several short-unit courses in electronics which have just been completed in our evening school program. These courses were given at the request of local industry for the retraining of mature women. Seventy-five percent of those trained were immediately employed.
Our educational program, with a controlled enrollment, now fits snugly into the present physical facilities of the school. Demands for new offerings can only be met by building an addition to the school. Immediate considera- tion should be given to a building program for the school, since expand we must-if by sheer increase in numbers alone.
Our Business Department which has been doing an outstanding job of training and placement for twenty years, is making plans for offering courses in conjunction with the new Health Services offerings. These courses for medical and dental assistant and medical secretary could well fit into our present facilities and hold a fine possibility for establishing a pilot program in this area.
At the present time, a few of our graduates from the secretarial program are working in such positions, having developed their basic skills in school and refined them by experience on the job. Others have gone on for technical training after graduation from the general secretarial program.
This year, our Business Department was placed exclusively on the post high school level for the first time. Previously, we had accepted seniors and/or post-graduate students. We had also maintained a class for high school seniors on a half-day basis. Since this could not be strictly vocational training, we decided to restrict our enrollment to graduates of high school and to begin to plan for our business Health Services courses.
If the recommendation is made to include more business education courses under Vocational Education, we may have to give our offerings for undergraduates another long, hard look, for it is questionable that Norwood would wish to give up the Federal funds which would be made available for teachers' salaries and equipment.
The Practical Nursing program is an example of one new development at the School which came about because of a demand to fill the need for nursing care throughout this area.
At present, there are two nurse-instructors employed for this program, with a possibility of the appointment of an additional instructor in the near future for clinical supervision. Basic instruction in the preclinical period, which is taught at the school by highly qualified nurse-instructors, and the excellent cooperation received through our affiliation with the Norwood Hospital are strong contributing factors to the growth and progress of this program.
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The first graduation for students of this program was held on Febru- ary 28, 1962. The following Practical Nurses were graduated :
Jane Buckley
Carol Gilman
Mary Burr
Catherine Johnson
Robertina Cherella
Grace Kerns
Josephine Cimeno
Mary Luciano
Dorothy Conger
Agnes McIntosh
Patricia Costello
Kathryn Simpson
Mary Galvin
The results of the State Board Examination for Licensed Practical Nurses showed a very high average for these students. The placement for this class was 100 per cent, with seven of the graduates being employed at the Norwood Hospital.
The second class has completed training and will be graduated on January 17, 1963. Two undergraduate classes remain in the program.
Several applicants have already been accepted for the February, 1963, and September, 1963 classes. All candidates have been carefully screened by the Admission's Committee in an endeavor to maintain the high standards of this program.
The popularity of the Beauty Culture program fills to capacity classes in both private and public schools, with many new private schools being established. Enrollment in this course at the Henry O. Peabody School is controlled by testing and carefully screening all candidates. Through the use of these procedures, our graduates obtain a high standard of proficiency, as shown by our continuing excellent placement record. Several graduates now own and operate very well-patronized shops in Norwood, having the unique feature of employing many other gradutes from this course.
The continued success of the graduates of the Fashion Department, and the potential this course offers for placement in varied fields, justifies its continuance on a limited basis. The present approach with training in a variety of basic skills and the close co-operation of the Art and Craft Classes provides greater placement opportunities. For those well trained in the crafts, there is a new job opportunity in work as assistants in occupational therapy or in producing and selling their products, as in weaving.
Once again one of our graduates of the Fashion course is continuing her training at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Two previous graduates have attended the Institute. Another graduate of this department is attending the Modern School of Fashion and Design in Boston.
The Food Service Industry offers attractive and varied employment op- portunities for young people. The present class of forty students is equally divided between boys and girls. This year there has been a growing interest on the part of Norwood High School students. Graduates of our June, 1962, class filled satisfying positions because our training meets the requirements of industry for positions of assistant cook, bakers, and general food worker.
The necessary replacement of equipment to modernize the food labora- tories is a continuing program, and all equipment is of the size and model
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used in hotel and restaurant operation. This year a double-deck gas broiler, a hotel range, and a double-deck electric bake oven were replaced. In addi- tion, the dishroom was remodeled and equipped with a new and larger dishwashing machine.
Our Food Service Program placed an exhibit in the Culinary Salon held at the Hotel and Restaurant Show in Boston last spring, and the exhibit was awarded second prize.
Two recent graduates of this department are enrolled in the Food Management Course at the University of Massachusetts this year.
A well chosen and interested Advisory Committee has been very helpful in the continued development and success of this department.
The evening school program for adults is very popular, with all courses well attended. All available facilities in the Henry O. Peabody School are utilized, and space in the new building of Norwood High School has made it possible to re-establish the upholstery course this year. I feel that the evening school program is very worthwhile and is greatly appreciated by the residents of Norwood. With the exception of a few non-residents, the enrollment of 350 consists of Norwood residents.
The following faculty changes have taken place this year: In January, 1962, Miss Maureen O'Brien joined the faculty as a nurse-instructor in the Practical Nursing Program. Miss O'Brien is a graduate of St. Elizabeth's School of Nursing and is continuing her graduate work at Boston College. Miss O'Brien was formerly employed at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital as a nurse-instructor in the Practical Nursing Program.
In June, 1962, Miss Veronica Riley retired from her position as an English instructor in the academic program. Miss Riley was a dedicated and conscientious teacher, admired by all; and she will be missed by the faculty and students of the School.
Mrs. Zaila Souther was appointed as an instructor of English in the academic department on September 1, 1962. Mrs. Souther is a graduate of Smith College and continued her graduate work at Wisconsin State College.
On November 30, 1962, Mrs. Helen Beardsell, instructor of related science for four departments of the School, retired from active service. Mrs. Beard- sell has given many years of excellent service as a teacher, with special at- tention to the individual and his needs. Mrs. Beardsell will be long remem- bered with respect and affection.
Mrs. Judith Micelotta joined the faculty as an instructor of related science on December 1, 1962. Mrs. Micelotta is a graduate of Simmons Col- lege and was formerly employed as a Therapeutic Dietician at the Deaconess Hospital.
I am happy to say that the twenty years since the inception of the School have been very satisfying and rewarding ones. I am proud of the School and of the competent and dedicated faculty which I place in the hands of the new Director. I feel that botli are great assets in the future of Norwood's educational system.
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In closing my final report, I wish to pay tribute to the original founders of the School, in particular to the late Dr. Frederick A. Cleveland of Nor- wood, to the trustees of the Henry O. Peabody Corporation, and to the Town of Norwood who were responsible for making the school a reality. Special commendation should be given to Mr. Lincoln D. Lynch, whose vision and foresight are reflected in the total plan and operation of the School. I wish to express my deep appreciation for the privilege of associating with so many fine young people over the years and of working together with so excellent and professional a faculty, whose assistance has been invaluable to me in shaping the character of the school.
To the members of the Norwood School Committees past and present, I express my appreciation for their active interest and good will. To the many citizens of Norwood who have shown a friendly and personal interest in the School, I wish to say thank you.
It has been a distinct privilege to be associated with Dr. Philip O. Coakley, who has given enthusiastic support to our program. I feel certain that his philosophy of education encompasses those principles which would offer the best possible education for the individual. He has appreciation of the fundamentals of vocational education and faith in its objectives.
To the new director, Miss Ann E. Donovan, I extend my best wishes for happiness and success in the future development of the School.
BLANCHE M. KINGSBURY, Director
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
I herewith submit my twenty-third annual report as principal of the Norwood Junior High School.
As a two-year school, housing grades seven and eight, Norwood Junior High School is now in its second year. Class sizes average slightly below thirty, thus permitting improved educational opportunity for our pupils. Enrollment will be nearly the same next September, but in the following year a substantial increase will occur, necessitating the use of the band room and an adjoining room as classrooms. The latter is at present used for instruction by the special services and as a workshop for our pupils who publish the school newspaper.
Our school day has been changed from two sessions to a single session which extends from 8:20 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Although dismissal is now twenty minutes earlier, classroom time for pupils, exclusive of the lunch period, has been increased by more than one half hour. A forty-five minute period each day replaces a short homeroom period, and this additional time has been gained by reducing the long lunch period to three quarters of an hour.
The increased time of our homeroom period will eventually be used for enrichment in certain areas of our curriculum. In preparation for this, groups of teachers have met almost daily in each of the major subject areas. They have planned together both for present improvement of teaching pro- cedures and for curriculum development within the subject area so that
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they can better meet the needs of pupils. During this period our club pro- gram operates once a week, our assemblies take place twice a month, and the French teacher meets with groups which need an extra period each week for their language study.
Our regular testing program indicates that satisfactory results are being achieved, but we are not complacent because we realize that still more must be done in the education of our pupils. Not only must we continue our efforts for the academically talented and those with very little ability in academic work, but also for the average pupils, since all need the maximum development of their potential to participate in our democratic society.
Our French program has been again modified so that French I is offered as a major subject to selected eighth graders. It is also a major subject for two groups of selected pupils in grade seven, and is studied three periods each week by another group in that grade. Our French course, the modern aural-oral method of teaching, will be offered to more pupils next year in grade seven, while those who presently take the language in grade seven will continue it in grade eight.
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