USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1951-1953 > Part 38
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The program of the elementary schools is designed to offer learning experiences in which the pupil masters the basic skills of each subject and then uses these skills for further learning. The faculty works in close cooperation between grade levels and meets often to establish close co- ordination within grade levels. Faculty meetings have been held with the Junior High School staff to develop improved coordination of the cur- riculum between the upper grades and the Junior High School.
All new teachers are given much assistance in clarifying the program and in directing their activities so as to insure maximum teaching efficiency.
Faculty meetings concern themselves will all school problems includ- ing curriculum developments. Experts in various fields of the curriculum have engaged in workshops with the faculties which has resulted in greater understanding of many specific professional problems.
REVISION OF REPORTING SYSTEM
A revised reporting system was established at the Center School after careful study by a parent teacher organization committee under the chair- manship of Mrs. Warren Olmsted. This system provides three ways of re- porting children's progress. Conferences by the parents and teachers are held to increase mutual understanding so that the parent can coordinate his efforts with those of the school and the teacher can provide a more pre- cisely developed individualized instruction program. These conferences
254
require much additional time on the part of the teaching staff. The teachers feel that the results make the effort worthwhile. A written report is sent to the parents regularly as a second method of communication. This re- port is designed to give information as to the pupil's progress. The mark- ing system provides for five grades - A, B, C, D and E instead of the four grades previously used. This factor and more precise definition of the meaning of each grade results in numerous marks being one grade lower than under the former system. It is believed that this more realistic grading will aid to stimulate learning by the students. As a third means of report- ing the teacher provides the pupil with a progress report as the need arises. The Report Card Committee of the Cochituate School has made its preliminary studies and plans to make a final report this spring. Parent teacher conferences are being held throughout the year in addition to reporting methods utilized in previous years.
GUIDANCE
The role of guidance services in the elementary level is felt to be highly significant with a three part program in effect:
a. Intelligence and achievement tests are given at regular intervals so that progress may be noted and so that the program may be more closely geared to the needs of the child.
b. The classroom teacher is recognized as the center of much guidance counseling in many phases of school and personal growth.
c. Professional clinical services are made available to those children who evidence personality problems which interfere with their own or their classmates' learning experiences. Many conferences are held with teachers, principals, the director of guidance, parents and the professional clinical staff to identify problems and to establish therapeutic measures.
HOT LUNCH PROGRAM
A welcome part of the school program is the lunch period. A hot lunch is served to all the children who desire it, which gives an opportunity for the teaching of health habits and table manners.
THE LIBRARY PROGRAM
The books in the inadequate central libraries in each school were distributed to classrooms where room libraries are organized with a result- ing greater use of reference and reading materials by pupils and teachers.
255
Several hundred new library books were purchased for the schools and are in daily use.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
The moving of the Cochituate branch of the Wayland Public Library to new quarters has served the Cochituate school children as a valuable source of reading and reference material. The school and the public library have cooperated in meeting the reading needs of the school students. The Center School fifth and sixth grades have made regular trips to the Way- land Library.
REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS
The Center School had several improvements made including the in- stallation of new classroom lighting, replacement of worn and discolored shades, and the painting of the exterior of the building. The unbalance the heating system in the two small rooms was corrected in connection with the renovation of the hot air portion of the heating system.
Improvements were also made at the Cochituate School including replacement of all shades in the eight rooms of the old wing. The audi- torium shades were re-hung and plywood shields were installed to pre- vent light seepage around the windows making it possible to completely darken the auditorium during the day for film programs. New lighting fixtures were installed in one room of the old wing. New bookcases and tack-boards were installed in each of the old wing rooms thereby enlarging display space and storage space for books and room libraries. Bookcases and a magazine rack for the professional library were installed in the faculty room.
FINE ARTS
As a result of increasing enrollments Mrs. Mildred Kingsbury was added to the staff to continue the development of the art program in the Center and Cochituate Schools.
The art program seeks to promote an appreciation of art, to develop the thrill of creating, and to use art as an aid to learning. Every class in the elementary schools receives a half hour instruction period from the art specialist each week. Between the specialist's visits the classroom teacher conducts the art program. The art specialist and classroom teachers have weekly conferences to discuss activities which are later expressed in murals, clay modeling, weaving, paper sculpture, and attractive sand table displays by the children. In these different ways learning is made exciting.
256
Some art periods take the form of discussions of great works of art. Sometimes the upper grades discuss the purchasing of their clothes and means of decorating their rooms at home. Trips to the Children's Museum and The Museum of Fine Arts often climax a unit of study. Excellent exhibits are borrowed from these museums.
The children learn to express themselves in many media such as tempera, water color, crayon and pastel. Weaving, textile painting, clay modeling and paper mache are added materials. The children feel the joy of creating their own work, and enjoy having their work exhibited in the school and in the Library.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The physical education program in the elementary schools includes every child regardless of his or her level of motor ability. While the "athlete" is encouraged to develop his or her skill the program is organized with the idea that there is room for everyone in physical education.
Good sportmanship, worthy use of leisure time, and a desire for health are emphasized as desirable attitudes. In the elementary grades basic rhythmical activities, fundamental body mechanics, stunts, simple team games, and dramatic creativeness through story plays are developed.
Visual aids are incorporated into the physical education program. Films, technique charts, and posters help to make the subject matter more meaningful. Although hygiene is not presented as a separate course, wholesome attitudes of healthful living are integrated into all physical education classess.
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
Jean Nelson, Director of Guidance, is serving the Wayland pupils throughout all schools, from grades one to twelve. The guidance functions of the school system have been more closely integrated with the adminis- trative functions, with greater coordination between the superintendent, principals and guidance director. This has made possible more extended service to the students, parents and the community.
Last summer individual intelligence tests were administered to most entering first grade children and conferences were held with parents. When school opened in September teachers knew from the first day who their children were, what the expected capacity of each child might be. where they could begin teaching skills, how fast a rate each child could
257
be expected to maintain, and what, if any, handicaps needed to be con- sidered.
Parents and the school desire what is best for each child and as the relationships between the homes and school are strengthened the needs of the children can better be met. Many parent-student conferences were held with principals and teachers and it is felt that this practice made possible better understanding between the home and school. This has been mutually beneficial.
The Pupil-Personnel Services Clinic has continued its activities during the year. Besides parent-student work, opportunity was given teachers to avail themselves of these services and have consultations regarding indivi- dual students. Mary S. Palmer, consulting physician, held these professional clinics on Thursday afternoons. Much use was made this year of the diag- nostic clinics and hospitals in greater Boston.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Mr. Lester MacArthur joined our staff last September to develop the expanding program in instrumental music. At present approximately twenty-five students are participating in the group activities of the instru- mental music program. Instruction is available on all brass and woodwind instruments as well as violin, drum, piano and recorder. In addition to regularly scheduled band and orchestra rehearsals, the brass, woodwind and string sections are rehearsed separately. The orchestra has been re- hearsing on a bi-weekly basis with Sudbury's school orchestra. Plans are being completed for marching rehearsals to be available to all instrumental students.
As a result of a demonstration of musical instruments given to the sixth through ninth grades in October, there was a registration of one hundred prospective instrumental students. Individual aptitude tests are being given in order to make sure that the student is musically and physically suited to the instrument of his choice. In many cases a student will be tested on several instruments in order to determine the one which is likely to work out best. This should result in a more stable and dependable program embracing a higher percentage of students.
A program soon to be initiated of instruction on tonettes will reach every student in the third and fourth grades. This pre-band instruction will be followed by recorder instruction as a stepping stone to other instruments.
A band concert was given in December which raised approximately two hundred fifty dollars to start a uniform fund. It is early to know how
258
rapidly groups will develop since five years is frequently required to develop a sound instrumental program. We hope to have an instrumental group available to play at football games by next fall. A small but fairly well balanced band should be ready by 1955. Our orchestra, which is larger and more advanced, may be ready for participation in state music festivals within two years.
VOCAL MUSIC
The two highlights of the vocal program this year were the Spring Music Festival and the High School graduation exercises. The festival was given in the auditorium of the Cochituate School where a demonstra- tion of vocal music from the first through the sixth grades was presented to a full house of parents and friends. An evening of singing, rhythm band work, early American songs and dances, and harmonic music ended with several selections of two part singing presented by the combined fifth grades of the Center and Cochituate elementary schools.
Mrs. Pauline Radford, Music Specialist, felt that the program pre- sented by the High School chorus at graduation time was much better than in previous years. Being assigned to the stage of the auditorium for rehearsal throughout the year greatly facilitated the working together of a large group.
In September Mrs. Radford's time was increased from three to four days a week permitting the music program to be increased. A course in music appreciation and history was made available to Junior and Senior students. During the first half of the year emphasis has been placed pri- marily on instrumental music and the musical instruments of the symphony orchestra. The second half of the year will be spent in the study of American music from its early beginnings to the present day. Considera- tion will be given to early Indian and Negro influence; to the ballads, folk songs, frontier and occupational work songs of the American white man; and to the more recent influences of the movies, theatre, radio and tele- vision: Developments will be traced in jazz and the art music of North and South America.
HEALTH SERVICES
Mrs. Mary McNeil, School and District Nurse, provides the nursing services in the schools.
The school program has been revised somewhat as a result of new state health regulations. The school physician examined children in grades three, five, seven, eleven and all participating in athletics.
259
The pre-school clinics were conducted in May. Weight and height measurements were recorded on the health cards once during the school year. The toxoid clinic, as in the past, was sponsored by the Wayland Board of Health. The Massachusetts vision test was given to pupils in grades one, three, five, seven and eleven. Parents of children having visual defects were notified. Local committees of the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and the Veterans of Foreign Wars assisted by providing glasses when necessary. The audiometer test was given to pupils in grades one and three, since the other grades were tested the previous year. Emergency aid was provided and when further treatment was necessary children were taken home. We find the great majority of the children to be in very good physical condition.
Dr. Charlotte A. Stewart was the school physician until June with Dr. David R. Corey assuming these duties for the present school year. Dr. Joseph P. Fournier has continued to carry out the work of the dental clinic one morning each week at the Center and Cochituate Schools.
ATTENDANCE SERVICES
During the year 1953, David J. Allen, the Attendance Officer, in- vestigated 123 cases of questionable absence.
Number of students accompanied to school 5
Number of truants 22
Number having no legitimate excuses 19
Number taken for medical attention 4
Number taken home due to illness
107
Respectfully submitted,
REXFORD S. SOUDER, Superintendent of Schools.
260
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1954
Schools reopen January 4
Winter Vacation February 22-26
Good Friday April 16
Spring Vacation April 19-23
Memorial Day 'Holiday May 31
Schools close June 18*
Schools open September 8
Columbus Day October 12
Armistice Day November 11
Thanksgiving Vacation November 25-26
(minimum day on November 24)
Christmas Vacation December 24-31 (minimum day on December 23)
* High School may close later depending upon the number of no-school days.
SCHOOL ENTRANCE
Any child who is five years and eight months of age on September first of the current school year may be admitted to the first grade, but in every case the admission of a child under six shall be dependent upon the fitness of the child to profit by the work of the school, such fitness to be determined by the Superintendent. Pupils under the age of seven years who have not previously attended school shall not be permitted to enter later than thirty days after the opening of school in September except by special permission of the Superintendent. Certificates of birth and vac- cination shall be required at the time of entrance.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL
In the event of exceptionally severe weather conditions or when the transportation system is disrupted, WBZ, WEEI, WNAC, and WKOX will broadcast the no-school announcements between 7:00 and 8:00 A. M. In addition, five blasts will be sounded on the fire alarm in Wayland and Cochituate at 7:00 A. M. for "no school, all schools" and 7:30 A. M. for "no school elementary schools only."
We feel these signals are clear and, therefore, urge parents to refrain from flooding the Telephone Office and homes of School Department personnel with telephone calls.
261
On days when the signal is not used weather conditions may warrant the non-attendance of certain children. Lack of normal health would tend to make it advisable for parents to keep the child at home. Since weather reports are not always reliable, and since the School Department desires to render maximum education service by having the schools open the greatest number of days, storm signals will not be used on ordinary rainy or snowy days or when there is reasonable doubt.
A good education can be built only on good health. Safeguard health by keeping your child home when, in your estimation as a parent, con- ditions warrant.
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE October 1, 1953
BOYS
Age Grade
5 6
7
8
9 10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19 Total
1
12
69
4
85
2
20
51
6
1
78
3
11
57
4
1
1
74
4
9
47
7
2
65
5
9
51
10
6
76
6
1 10
39
13
6
69
7
1
4
18
13
4
40
8
12
15
15
9
51
9
2
8
19
8
1
38
10
4
12
6
2
24
11
4
13
6
1
24
12
7
10
3
1
21
Total
12 89 66 72 62
70 56 51 42
42
33
27
18
4
1
645
GIRLS
Age Grade
5 6
7 8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19 Total
1
14
64
4
82
2
21
45
7
73
3
15
38
2
55
4
15
37
9
1
62
5
16
36
2
2
56
6
S
34
5
1
48
7
7
30
9
46
8
7
20
8
3
40
9
1
5
23
6
1
36
10
4
27
2
33
11
15
3
25
12
11
16
3
30
Total
14 85 64 60 55 53 44 47 35 35 43
29
19
3
536
Grand
Total
26 174 130 132 117 123 100
98 77
77 76
56
37
1 1231
262
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION, 1953 - 1954
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
HARVEY C. NEWTON, Chairman Term expires 1955
CORNELIUS J. MAGUIRE Term expires 1954
WILLIAM A. WALDRON
Term expires 1956
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AND SECRETARY TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
REXFORD S. SOUDER, Ed. D.
Office, High School Wayland 294 After dial, Elmwood 8-4351
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
DAVID R. COREY, M. D. Natick 2725
SCHOOL DENTIST
JOSEPH P. FOURNIER, D. D. S. Framingham 6211
SCHOOL NURSE
MARY E. McNEIL Wayland 555-2
After dial Elmwood 8-2946
ATTENDANCE OFFICER
DAVID ALLEN
Wayland 261
After dial Elmwood 8-2581
CUSTODIANS
GEORGE F. DICKEY
High School
FRANK J. KANE
Cochituate School
JAMES McDONALD Center School
JOHN MORAN High and Cochituate School
SECRETARIES
DOROTHY GRANNIS
Superintendent's Office
ARMANDO S. ROSSI Superintendent's Office
KATHARINE HODGES High School Office
263
ORGANIZATION OF TEACHING STAFF, JANUARY 1, 1954
Name
Position Elected
Junior-Senior High School
W. MAXWELL GRIFFIN
Headmaster
1952
DAVID J. ALLEN
Dean, Mathematics 1918
MAUDE E. MERRITHEW
Business 1921
A. MARION SIMPSON
Foreign Languages
1924
FRANCIS R. GLADU
Business, Mathematics
1928
JANIE C. FOSTER
Homemaking
1929
CLEMENT J. HASENFUS
English, Social Studies
1947
RALPH M. PEARSON
Industrial Arts
1949
RALPH S. SALVATI
Science, Football, Baseball 1949
ANN B. SHIELDS
English 1950
JAMES F. STRONG
Science 1950
JOSEPH BOOTHROYD
Mathematics, Science
1951
HELEN E. TIMSON
English, Social Studies
1952
LUCILLE G. CHAMPAGNE
Social Studies
1953
FRANCES M. FLYNN
Einglish, Library
1953
CLIFFORD H. HULBERT
Social Studies
1953
MARY G. KEENAN
English, Social Studies 1953
LEWIS A. OXFORD
Mathematics 1953
ARMANDO S. ROSSI
Business
1953
Center Elementary School
RETA HUBLER
Principal
1953
EVA M. GATELY
Fifth
1944
FLORENCE C. SHOHL
Sixth
1947
ANNE HALE, JR.
Second
1948
CHARLOTTE B. MODEST First
1952
DOROTHY BARBERIO
First
1953
DONALENE V. BRAINERD
Third
1953
ANNE S. CONCANNON
Second
1953
PATRICIA DALTON
Fifth
1953
ANNE L. DEMOREST
Fourth
1953
WILLIAM FRARY
Sixth
1953
I.EON GOULD
Sixth
1953
ALICE M. HALL
First
1953
ALBERT G. KOLODZIK
Fifth
1953
264
ARLINE C. PENNELL Third 1953
DORIS P. ROBINSON
Fifth
1953
ALICE TURNER
Fourth
1953
Cochituate Elementary School
ELMER R. KANE
Principal
1952
JANE N. CAMPBELL
Second
1916
ETHELYN M. MORRILL
First
1920
DORIS G. MAGUIRE
Fifth
1934
JACQUELINE E. DURBIN
Second
1949
ELIZABETH A. PHILLIPS
Third
1950
WALTER DOUCETTE
Fourth
1951
OLIVIA HILL
First
1951
MARY E. NEAL
Fourth
1951
JUSTINE CAVANAUGH
Third
1953
NANCY A. CHAMBERLAIN
Second
1953
ELIZABETH GLADU
First
1953
HARRIET MICHELSON
Fifth
1953
PRISCILLA TRIEBS
Third
1954
Specialists
SAMUEL P. STRICKLAND
Physical Education, Basketball
1946
PAULINE N. RADFORD
Choral Music 1947
JEAN T. NELSON
Director of Guidance
1949
LILLIAN M. JONES
Fine Arts
1950
MILDRED KINGSBURY
Fine Arts
1953
LESTER MACARTHUR
Instrumental Music
1953
MILDRED L. MARKELL
Physical Education
1953
LUCY D. PARKER
String Instruments
1953
265
INDEX
Animal Inspector, Report of 156
Board of Assessors, Report of the 126
Board of Fire Engineers, Report of the 171
Location of Fire Alarm Boxes 175
Board of Health, Report of the 157
Board of Public Welfare, Report of the 161
Board of Selectmen, Report of the
59
Building Inspector, Report of 178
Cemetery Commissioners, Report of the 153
Chief of Police, Report of 169
Civil Defense Director, Report of 164
Commissioners of Trust Funds, Report of
154
District Nurse, Report of the
159
Finance Committee, Report of the
25
Budget for 1954 30
Highway Commissioners, Report of
155
Report of the Department 155
Inspector of Plumbing, Report of 170
Jury List - 1953 180
Middlesex County Extension Service
167
Moth Superintendent, Report of
159
Officers of the Town of Wayland
3
Park Department, Report of 166
Planning Board, Report of
149
Special Report to November 30th Meeting 183
Public Library, Report of the 144
Results of Town Election, March 2, 1953 242
63
State Audit of Accounts ....
School Department Report:
School Organization, 1953-1954 263
School Committee 244
Calendar and Information 261
Membership by Age and Grade 262
Organization of Teaching Staff, January 1, 1954
264
Superintendent of Schools, Report of
245
Teaching Staff 246
School Facilities
246
Growth of Wayland Schools 247
School Tax Rate
2.48
Junior-Senior High Schools
248
Class of 1953
252
Commencement Symposium 252
Awards and Scholarships 253
Elementary Schools 253
Revision of Reporting System
254
Guidance 255
Hot Lunch Program
255
The Library Program 255
Community Resources
256
Repairs and Renovations 256
Fine Arts 256
Physical Education 257
Guidance Department 257
Instrumental Music 258
Vocal Music 259
Health Services 259
Attendance Services 260
Tax Collector, Report of the 124
Town Accountant, Report of the:
Receipts 66
Expenditures
72
Reserve Account
109
Excess and Deficiency 111
Water Available Surplus 110
Water Accounts Receivable 110
Balance Sheet
112
Town Clerk's Report:
Births
132
Deaths
135
Marriages 138
Dog Licenses - 1953
143
Town Treasurer, Report of 117
Trust Fund Accounts
118
Reserve Fund for Investment 120
Maturing Debt and Interest
121
Insurance
123
Tax Titles 123
Tree Warden, Report of 168
Veterans Services Department 152
Votes Enacted at the Annual Town Meeting 187
Votes Enacted at Special Town Meeting, November 30, 1953
229
Warrant for Annual Town Meeting ........... 10
Water Department, Report of 160
OCT
6 1954
Jun22'67
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