USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1950 > Part 6
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The Audiometer will be used on all the pupils throughout the schools this year.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNIE L. GLEED
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC
From November 1, 1950 through January 10, 1951, Dr. J. A. Hawes examined the teeth of 421 pupils at the Merrimac Schools-166 pupils were given dental certifi- cates as they were found to need no dental work at the time.
A notice was sent home to each child's parent or guardian stating the condition of the child's teeth at the time of examination.
Respectfully submitted, CLARA T. ANDERSON,
Dental Assistant
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ART
The current aims of art education have been growing gradually over the years. Its philosophy is not without sincere foundations, proven into existence. Just as design and architecture have changed and been proven more functional, so has art education. These changes are the result of awakening to the dangerous consequences of dictated lessons, copying adult work, filling in patterns and ignoring individuality. Children subject to these in-
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fluences soon lost their inborn creative attitude and the emotional zest to express themselves through art.
The art program in Merrimac attempts to encourage the desire to create, the natural gift to each child, through guiding and drawing out what is already within. How- ever, many factors prevent the possibility of fullest de- velopment. Among others, are, an alternating schedule affording the majority of children one period for art once every other week and short periods of time to work in. Under these conditions, the educational values of group projects are seldom afforded them. Working areas are confined to desk tops. In some instances, arrangement of exhibits is not possible due to the antiquated plan of the room.
The art program must attempt to be on par with other communities in achievement. It must constantly improve and not settle down to a complacent routine at the expense of all involved. The necessary improvements will require coordination, cooperation, time and modification of physi- cal surroundings.
By last June the enrollment in the high school art classes had dropped to a faithful few. Those who fell out knew that the periods were too short, work space in- adequate and uncomfortable, and as a result, felt more benefit would be derived from study periods. This year more are enrolled and attending regularly.
The high school must become the polishing-up phase of their collective understandings. Clarified thoughts and good work procedures are essential to them as they pre- pare to step into a world of competition. At present, in art, the students are not provided this right as fully as possible. However, constant planning and observation of their needs, keeping improvement in sight, will produce the desired results.
Since the report of last year, I have noticed the
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growth of understanding in the lower grades. They have received a series of varied lessons using such materials as clay, water color, colored paper, mural paper and crayons. Familiar surroundings and seasonal decorations are the main activities. Enthusiasm seems to be constant.
The upper grades receive more of an appreciation of art through projects which touch upon planning and con- struction of model homes, interior coloring, clothing and accessories design, decorative scrapbooks, seasonal decor- ating in groups, and other such activities to awaken them to more practical applications of art in the home and community.
Respectfully,
Richard J. Herman
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Dr. John C. Page, Superintendent of Schools and Members of the School Committee :
The promotion of the former principal, Mr. Hamilton Bailey, to the superintendency at Seekonk, Massachu- setts, and my election to the principalship of Merrimac High School on November 20, 1950 necessarily limits what I am able to report.
From the records I find that sixteen seniors were graduated on June 22nd., 1950. Those having honor parts in the graduation program included: Valedictory, William L. Andrews, Jr .; Salutatory, Donald C. Cell; Class His- tory, Charlotte E. Black; Class Prophecy, Yvonne N. Ayer; Class Poem, Betty Ann Williams; Class Gifts, Leo E. Duprey, Jr .; and Class Will, Daniel S. Gulezian. It is noted that these seniors were able to have such a worth-
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while experience last year as a trip to New York City. They were chaperoned on that trip by Mr. and Mrs. Roland Morin. It is the opinion of many people that such trips are of great importance in the broadening of one's educa- tion.
Our records show that our athletic activities during 1950 were outstanding. The boys' basketball team, coach- ed by Mr. Donald MacAusland, had a league record by winning eight games and only losing two, thus winning the league championship. The girls' team, coached by Miss Isabelle Phelan, finished with the same record, also winning eight games and losing two in league competition. At the Merrimac Valley Small Schools' Tournament held at Georgetown, both the boys' and the girls' teams won the tournament championship. This was the first time in the history of this tournament that a double champion- ship was awarded to one school.
In baseball our boys became league champions with a record of winning nine games and losing only one.
Although there is no organized softball league our girls played four games and won them all.
The Federal Milk Luncheon Program was given last year and is being continued.
Our enrollment on October 1 consisted of 46 boys and 57 girls, making a total of 103 pupils, of which there were 35 in the freshman class, 29 in the sophomore class, 25 in the junior class and 14 in the senior class.
It is a pleasure to report that two of the rooms in our school building have recently been equipped with modern fluorescent lighting. This was a much needed improvement and we hope that the budget for the coming year will allow for further improved lighting in the four other rooms of the building as well as in the principal's
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office. An automatic bell system has also been installed to mark the time of class periods. This too was a much needed addition since this system automatically times each class period to be of equal length thus eliminating the probability of having class periods of varied duration.
Thought is being given to other ways of improving and modernizing our school building. It is hoped that a relatively inexpensive way may be found to revamp our science laboratory in order to make it adequate for the teaching of general science, biology, chemistry and phy- sics. It is also hoped that a change can be made in our heating system so that the building can be more evenly heated than it is at the present time.
At this time I should like to express my sincere ap- preciation to Dr. Page and to the members of the high school faculty for the kind cooperation and helpfulness which they have given to me since coming to Merrimac High School.
Respectfully submitted,
Ashlyn N. Huyck
GRADUATES, 1950
High School: William Leslie Andrews, Jr., Yvonne Ninette Ayer, Charlotte Eileen Black, Helen Louise Bradley, Don- ald Croft Cell, Clara Shirley Craig, Leo Edgar Duprey, Jr., Daniel Sarkis Gulezian, Donald Smith Kimball, Jr., John Patrick Murphy, Jr., Russell Edwin O'Brien, Jean Marilyn Ogden, William Vasily Scherbon, Jacqueline Celine Jean Vanhouwe, Charles Augustus Smith, 3rd, Betty-Ann Wil- liams.
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HIGH SCHOOL HONOR ROLL
The following pupils attained averages in academic subjects during the school year of 1949-1950 that placed them on either the high honor roll or on the honor roll :-
Class of 1950
High: William Andrews, Jr., Donald C. Cell
Honor: Ninette Y. Ayer, C. Eileen Black, Daniel S. Gule- zian
Class of 1951
High: Shirley A. Kneeland, Richard W. Taylor, Phyllis A. Wechezak
Honor: Earle G. Brooks, Jr., Patricia A. Lambert
Class of 1952
High: George Larkin, Charlotte E. Powers, Margaret Weigel.
Honor: Richard Emery, Natalie Johnson, Thomas Lund, Noreen I. Quimby
Class of 1953
High: Gary Bertram, Natalie Haskell, Stephen Hoppe, Beverly Blackden, Elizabeth Weigel
Honor: Joan Keller, Ruth Lord
Grade 8: * Florence Priscilla Bixby, Sandra Ann Brennan, Christine Dorothy Chase, David Alan Crafts, Bernard Hughes Connor, Patricia Anne Doyle, Bernard Carleton Dwinnells, Barbara Louise Gillen, *Judith Hilbourn
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Hamm, June Marcine Hartwell, Joyce Virginia Heath, *Elsie Marion Hoyt, Albert Joseph Hutchins, Richard Ralph Kimball, Priscilla Ruth Lovell, Ronald Wayne Mac- Gown, Elizabeth May McCarron, Florence Evelyn Mears, Marie Suzanne Morrell, *William Murphy, *Dorothy Margaret Reynolds, Shirley Elizebeth Rines, Virginia Thelma Seymour, Shirley Marie St. Jean, *Sally Ann Stuart, *John Edward Swenson, *Leonard Alvin Tilton, Olive May Watson, *Dorothy Roberta Wechezak, *Mari- lyn Roberta Wolfe.
.* Honor Pupils.
Craft Class: Charles Keeler Annon, Jr., Meady J. Blais- dell.
ATTENDANCE HONOR ROLL
High School-
John Beauvais, Charles Bisson, George Buzzell, Barbara Dudley, *Robert Emery, ** Pearl Knight, Ruth Lord Richard Emery,
Prospect Street School-
Grade 8: ** Florence Bixby, Florence Mears, Leon- ard Tilton, Marilyn Wolfe
Grade 7: Raymond Crossman, Walter Currier, Fred Gurley, Lynne Hayward, Barbara Howe, Robert Keller, David Sharkey
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SCHOOL REPORT
Centre. : School-
Grade 6: Jeannette Larkin, Carol Joan Nicol
Grade 5: ** Clifton Bixby, Joyce Frye
Grade 4: Jack Maynard, Ann Reed, Lillian Smith
Grade 3: ** Bertha Haskell
Grade 2: Robert Gillen, Catherine Gaudreau
Grade 1: None
Merrimacport School-
Grade 4: Richard Danforth, Sally Ann McCoubrie, Dudley Sargent
Grade 3: none
Grade 2: Norman Armstrong, Sandra Armstrong, * Dianne Staples
Grade 1: none
Craft Class: ** Charles Annon, Jr., ** Richard Knight
The name of Richard Knight should be added to the Centre School, Grade 6, attendance list in the 1949 Town Report.
T
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Appropriations Made 1950
13
Fire Alarm
7
In Memoriam , 103
Jury List
10
Town Officers
3
Town Warrant
90
Reports of-
Assessors 27
Board of Public Welfare
26
Cemetery Commissioners
20
Dog Officer
18
Finance Committee
32
Fire Engineers
19
Inspector of Wires
31
Inspector of Milk, Animals and Slaughtering 41
Municipal Light Board 28
Playground Commissioners
16
Police Department
21
Public Health Nurse
25
Public Library
23
School Committee
107
Sealer of Weights and Measures
24
Selectmen
9
Tax Collector
37
Town Accountant
43
Town Clerk
11
Town Forest Committee
17
Town Treasurer
22
Trustees of Kimball Park 40
Water Commissioners 34
Vote for Town Officers
98
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