USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1953 > Part 6
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ENROLLMENTS
On the first of October the enrollment of the Merrimac public schools was 544, which was an increase of 26 over a year ago, an increase of 110 over five years ago, an increase of 177 over seven years ago. According to a study made by the state department, and published at the end of 1953, the total enrollments of schools containing grades one to eight will continue to climb until 1960.
At the Merrimac Elementary School there were 439; at the High School 105. The distributation of Merrimac en- rollments by grades on October 1, 1953, was as follows: Grade I, 74, Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Whiting, Mrs. Edgerly ; Grade II, 59, Mrs. Verrette, Mrs. Squires; Grade III, 48, Mrs. Davis, Miss Cronin; Grade IV, 50, Miss Bajek, Mrs. Rau; Grade V, 54, Mrs. Higginbotham, Mrs. Rau; Grade VI, 60, Mrs. Hume, Miss Pooler; Grade VII, 48, homeroom teachers Mr. Nute, Mrs. Parker; Grade VIII, 46, homeroom teachers Mrs. Wolfe, and Mr. Noone. Mrs. Donaghue, Prin- cipal, and Mrs. Felch, Vice-principal and teacher of rem- edial reading. At High School : Grade IX, 34; X, 23; XI, 26; XII, 22. Total High School 105, Mr. Morrow, Principal; Miss Phelan, Vice-principal and Dean of Girls; Mr. Mans- field; Miss Kenney; Mr. Bardsley ; Miss O'Riordan.
TEACHING STAFF
In the fall of 1953 there were nine new members on the regular teaching staff of Merrimac, besides a new su- pervisior of art and a new fifth grade instructor in Nature
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Study and Conservation. From the first of January until the end of June, Mrs. Gertrude M. Laurin of Exeter, New Hampshire (a graduate of Bridgewater Normal School, summer work at Plymouth Normal, and teaching experi- ence in Methuen) completed the school year in the sixth grade, following the resignation of Mr. Patchett.
At the high school Miss Joan M. Gullage resigned after nearly three years to become Mrs. Robert Driscoll. The French-Latin position was filled by the appointment of Miss Mary L. Kenny of Brockton. Miss Kenny is a graduate of Brockton High and of Regis College, 1953, with the A. B. degree. At Merrimac Miss Kenny was also appointed coach of girls' basketball, a position that was held for many successful years by Miss Phelan. In the fall Miss Phelan, in addition to teaching English, became assistant principal and dean of girls. In the summer Mr. Rene Bernasconi re- signed, after a year and a half in Merrimac, to accept a po- sition at better salary in Lee, Massachusetts. The position in biology and other subjects was filled by appointment of Mr. Frederick G. Bardsley of Lawrence. Mr. Bardsley is a grad- uate of Suffolk University, with the bachelor's degree, 1952 and the Master's degree, 1953. His practice teaching in bi- ology and other subjects had been at Dracut High School. In the commercial department, Miss Joan Webster resign- ed in June to accept a position at Hamilton, Massachusetts. For September Miss Margaret O'Riordan of Lawrence was appointed. Miss O'Riordan is a graduate of St. Mary's High School in Lawrence and of Salem Teachers College, 1953, with the bachelor's degree in Education (commercial de- partment). At Salem Miss O'Riordan was business mana- ger of the teachers college newspaper for two years, and was delegate last April to the Columbia Scholastic Press Conference in New York. She has been a typist at the Reg- istry of Deeds at the Essex County Court House in Law- rence, and served on week-ends for more than a year and
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a half as a nurses' aide. At Merrimac High School Miss O'Riordan coaches girls' softball.
At the Merrimac Elementary School in September Mrs. Ruth N. Parker was appointed a regular homeroom teach- er of a seventh grade section. Mrs. Parker had been a part -time helper in this grade since September 22, 1952. On September 17, 1953, Mrs. Parker, with Mrs. Donaghue and Mrs. Felch, worked at the Merrimac Elementary School with Miss Evelyn R. Robinson, State Consultant in School Libraries, to survey the library situation in the Merri- mac Elementary School and to recommend desirable new books and school library methods. Mrs. Parker had been working on the project during the spring. A good start was made during the year.
In the sixth grade, for the opening of school, Miss Alice M. Pooler of Hamilton was appointed, to share with Mrs. Hume the sixth grade of sixty pupils. She replaced Mrs. Gertrude Laurin. Miss Pooler is a graduate of Hamilton High School and of Salem Teachers College, 1953, with the bachelor's degree in Education. Her practice teaching at S. T. C. was in the upper grades. She was very well recom- mended.
In September Mrs. Higginbotham was given a straight fifth grade. For the overflow of fifth and fourth grades, Mrs. Jean W. Rau of Hampton Falls was appointed. Mrs. Rau is a graduate of East High, Columbus, Ohio, and of the Ohio State University, 1933, with the B. A. degree. During the summers of both 1952 and 1953 she studied Elementary Education in the workshop at the University of New Hamp- shire. Mrs. Rau worked six years as a geologist. Recently she has substituted in the Hampton school union.
For the fourth grade position, left vacant by the res- ignation of Mrs. Gertrude A. Dowd, Miss Michalina Bajek
.
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of Haverhill was appointed. Miss Bajek is a graduate of Haverhill High School and of Regis College, 1949, with the B. S. degree. She has worked with the F. B. I. During the summer of 1953 she took the graduate workshop in Ele- mentary Education at Boston University. Early in 1953 Miss Bajek substituted for about a month in Newburyport.
For the third grade position, left vacant by the year's leave of absence granted to Mrs. Frances H. O'Connor, Miss Cathleen H. Cronin of Haverhill was appointed. Miss Cronin is a graduate of Haverhill High School and of Our Lady of the Elms, 1951, with the A. B. degree. Since her graduation she has taught in Sacred Hearts Academy, Fall River. In June she had taken at Bridgewater Teachers Col- lege twenty-three credits towards a Master's degree.
For the second grade position, left vacant by the trans- fer of Mrs. Ethel Davis to full time with the other section of the third grade, Mrs. Leila E. Squires of Bradford was ap- pointed. Mrs. Squires is a graduate of Haverhill High School, and of Salem Normal School,1923. She taught the elementary grades in Collinsville, Connecticut, and for four years the second grade in Amesbury. From 1945 to 19- 52 Mrs. Squires was a substitute in the elementary grades in Quincy.
For the extra teacher in the third section of the first grade, Mrs. Dorothy K. Edgerly of West Newbury was ap- pointed. Mrs. Edgerly is a graduate of Wakefield High School and of Salem Normal School, 1926. She has taught in Martha's Vineyard, Stoneham, and Rowley. For the last three years she taught first grade in West Newbury and Byfield. Mrs. Edgerly has studied Education five summers at Boston University; the last was in 1952 when she took the refresher course in Primary Methods with Miss Jenkins.
During the year preceding September, 1953, eleven
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members of the staff earned at least one credit by taking a course or courses approved in advance for that purpose. Nine Merrimac Teachers took a course in school art given by Wilma Geer at the Merrimac Elementary School begin- ning May 5 (afternoons in the all-purpose room). The nine Merrimac teachers who completed the course for one credit each are: Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Donaghue, Mrs. Felch, Mrs. Higginbotham, Mrs. Hume, Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Verrette, Mrs. Whiting, and Mrs .. Wolfe. The following three mem- bers of the staff earned credits as indicated in prior-approv- ed work in college or extension courses during the year pre- ceding September,1953: Mr. Morrow 3, Mr. Mansfield 3, Mrs. Verrette 9.
Beginning in the fall Miss Ada Pasquini of Ludlow, Massachusetts, became supervisior of art for the union. She replaced Mr. Richard J. Herman, who held the position for four years and then resigned. Miss Pasquini studied art for three years at the Pratt Institute, New York, worked for a year and a half as a commercial artist in Holyoke and Springfield, then went to Springfield College, from which she received her bachelor's degree in June, 1953. In Merri- mac she spends one and one half days a week, Thursdays all day and Friday forenoons.
Mrs. Ellen F. Bennett of Cambridge, a Vassar gradu- ate, under the auspices of the Massachusetts Audubon So- ciety, replaced Miss Phoebe Arnold as teacher of Nature Study and Conservation in the fifth grade sections. Mrs. Bennett, in the summer of 1953, covered 9000 miles in a camping trip in the national parks and national forests. She is at the Merrimac Elementary School from 9:30 to 11:30 a. m. every other Tuesday.
Mrs. Printon had six violin pupils in the spring; she continued throughout the year.
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On May 14 the teachers of the first three grades throughout the union met with the superintendent at the Memorial School, Salisbury, for the purpose of discussing report cards in the elementary grades.
An adjustment of $200 was voted on Merrimac salary scale for regular full-time teachers, effective in September, 1954.
Graduations
On Tuesday evening June 16, at the Elementary School Auditorium, a class of thirty-one pupils, consisting of nine- teen boys and twelve girls, graduated from the eighth grade. Seven were high honor pupils: Helena Dressler, Robert Fryer, Charles Getchell, John Hawes, Mary Kim- brell, Robert Souther, and Caleb Wolfe, Jr .; five were hon- or pupils: George Denault, Susan Lund, Robert Merritt, Gordon Quimby, and Carole Sharp. The class gift, funds for a Schwedler maple, was presented by Lester Smith and accepted by Wayne Noke. The welcome was by Mary Kim- brell, and the address "Onward Together" by Rabbi Abra- ham Jacobson of Temple Emmanuel, Haverhill. Diplomas were presented by Mrs. Milton Webster.
On Thursday evening, June 18, at the Elementary School Auditorium, a class of twenty pupils, consisting of ten boys and ten girls, graduated from the Merrimac High School. The valedictory was by Elizabeth Weigel, who had been awarded the Pomona Grange Scholarship, in competition with several local cities and towns. She was given also the award for excellence in history. The award for excellence in commercial subjects went to Joan Keller.
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The D. A. R. Good Citizenship Award went to Ruth Lord who had been elected representative for March 13 Good Government Day. The Varsity Club Award for good sports- manship and athletic ability, with scholarship, went to Gary Bertram. Principal Morrow, after announcing awards said that over half the graduates had definite arrangements for continuing their education beyond high school. Diplo- mas were presented by Mr. Russell B. Kelly, Chairman of the School Committee.
GENERAL SCHOOL NOTES
On October 1 Principal Morrow of the high school received the following unsolicited message from Mr. C. William Reiley, Director of Admissions, Northwestern Un- iversity, Evanston, Illinois: "Congratulations to your Eng- lish Department because Stephen Hoppe was exempted from Freshman English because he was among the highest 11% of entering pupils."
During 1953 the high school building was painted out- side and the commercial department was improved by the polishing and sanding of the floors, the purchase of twenty- five new Universal Units, of three new typewriter tables, an electric typewriter, and the replacal of four more old typewriters by new ones. A report of the high school prin- cipal is included in this report, following the Vocational item.
At Merrimac Elementary School the beauty of the future appearance of the grounds should be improved greatly by the landscape plantings in 1953 by Cherry Hill Nurseries of various shrubs and trees. As one approaches
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the school from Main Street by Union Street there are four Norway maples, with a Schwedler maple, given by the class of 1953, at the driveway corner. Bordering the curved drive there are Hetz junipers, terminated at each end by an Eley crab. In the oval driveway island is a River's purple beech, with Van Houtte spiraeas in front of the hydrant. As found- ation plantings on the Union Street side there are yews (spreading and upright), with two Douglas arborvitae at the south end. At the southeast corner and also at the south- west corner there is a white dogwood, and various found- ation plantings on the south side of cotoneaster, pink honey- suckle, strawberry bush (Evonymus), beauty bush (Kolk- witzia), and deutzia. Close to the building on this side, eight Boston ivies are planted. As foundation plantings on the side facing Locust Street there are red weigela, red honeysuckle, mock orange, forsythia and lilac, and fur- ther, beyond the door, there are yew and Japanese and- romeda. On the north side, facing Main Street, there are Japanese quince, Manchu cherry, forsythia, and red honeysuckle. The small foundation shrubs can be moved easily if a wing were ever built on the school.
Thanks are here expressed for the yews donated by the Merrimac Garden Exchange.
The approved cost of the Merrimac Elementary School and its original equipment is $439,708.28, fifty percent re- imbursable by twenty annual payments of $10,992,71, due from the state each April from 1952 to 1971 inclusive.
The fire drills, which were made at least once a month during the school year, struck an average of 1 minute 24 seconds for the year ending in June, 1953. The longest time for complete clearance was the drill of September 10, 19- 52, which took 1 minute 47 seconds| the shortest one was on June 11, 1953, which took just one minute.
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A report of the principal of the elementary school is included in this report, following that of the high school principal.
Thanks is extended to citizens, to parents, and to the many patrons and well-wishers of the Merrimac schools. Among others, the Boosters' Club gave 4 aluminum pitch- ers to the school, Mr. Ralph Buzzell gave one dozen serv- ing trays and two loads of loam to the school, and the Lions Club equipped the pupils bicycles with safety tape. Mr. Maurice Carey and Mr. Kenneth Haskell have coordinated their services with the safety patrol of the school and have given interest and time beyond the call of duty to the safety of the children. The children themselves should not be overlooked. Through candy sales under the management of Mrs. Felch they bought a $53 film-strip machine, a $10 screen, $13 worth of lumber and incidentals, and contrib- uted $10.50 for subscriptions to two magazines for profes- sional improvement of teachers.
TRANSPORTATION
On the first of October 335 of the 544 Merrimac public school pupils (61.6%) were transported regularly by the Massachusetts Northeastern Transportation Company. 133 pupils rode an average of at least one and one-half miles each way each school day. The 335 transported pupils in- cluded 41 of the 105 high school pupils and 294 of the 439 elementary pupils. From Birchmeadow there were 63, from Bear Hill 57, from Lake Attitash 50, from Merrimacport 74, from Main Street east 39. from Main Street west 52. Most of the increase, it can be seen, came from service to the younger pupils because of extended hours under plat- ooning.
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Beginning September an extra delivery TO school has been required for those attending afternoon session (12: 15), and two extra deliveries FROM school,-one at the end of the morning session (12:00) and one at the end of the afternoon session (4:15). For high school pupils and for elementary school pupils not on platoon there was the main delivery from school at 1:45. During the school year beginning in September, 1953, all schools started at 8:00 a. m., except for four sections on the afternoon shift.
"NO SCHOOL" announcements for Merrimac schools have been arranged with Station WBZ, Boston, but it was voted that school shall be attempted whenever school buses are able to get through. If weather conditions are bad, but buses are apparently able to get through, parents must de- cide whether they desire their children to attempt to go to school on that day. It was voted that perfect attendance records will not be published in the school report.
VOCATIONAL
In the fall of 1953 there were seven Merrimac pupils in the Haverhill Trade School,-four in general vocational, one in printing, one in machine shop, one in auto repair. The tuition is $290 a year for which Merrimac is liable if the pupil is a resident, whether sufficient appropriation has been made or not. As to transportation costs, arrangements may be made whereby a pupil (or his parent in case of a minor) may be reimbursed this cost. If such reimburse- ment is expected, the method of transportation should be approved in advance by the school committee, and the trade school which gives the desired course should be as near Merrimac as such course may be found. Bills for such
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reimbursement should be presented within the school and fiscal year. They should indicate specifically the dates of attendance which are included. Both tuition and transport- ation payments are reimbursable fifty-percent to Merrimac from the state for the days of actual attendance. Claims, like those for reimbursements for expenditures from the school budget, are filed with the state, in behalf of the town, by the office of the superintendent of schools. There is no reimbursement for transportation to part-time or evening trade or extension courses, but payments by the town for tuition are reimbursed one-half, after application to the state from the superintendent's office. The procurement of data for filing the claim is one reason why the superinten- dent's signature is required before the pupil is accepted at any vocational or trade school in an outside town. The us- ual cost of evening or extension courses is twenty cents per pupil per hour.
Merrimac has one pupil in the Essex County Agricul- tural School at Hathorne. There is no liability of the town for tuition or transportation to Hathorne. The county school has a fund that pays for transportation tickets for residents except for ninety cents a week, provided the pupil applies for it. As for tuition the school is supported by the county of which Merrimac is a part.
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
The winter season of 1953 was, as usual, featured by the activities of the girls' and boys' basketball teams. The girls' under the capable leadership of Miss Isabelle Phelan finished second in the league play but came through in the tournament by winning their fourth straight Championship
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-a feat not even closely reached by any of the schools, girls or boys. Mr. Fred Noone initiated his first year of coaching the Merrimac High School squad by finishing third in the league and then going on to be runner-up in the tournament. Merrimac was also honored in the tournament by having Gary Bertram win the individual foul-shooting contest. ,
Senior members of the Girls Championship team
Elizabeth Weigel Bethel Nicol
Natalie Haskell
Ruth Lord - Captain
Joan Keller
Senior members of the Boys Championship team
Richard Sharkey
David Scott
Howard Anderson
Robert Kimbrell
Gary Bertram and Lawrence Hardy - Co-Captains
The Senior Class presented, under the leadership of Miss Joan Gullage, a comedy in three acts entitled, "Dear Papa." It was given before a large audience at the Grange Hall. Proceeds of the play aided considerably in financing the Senior Class trip to Washington.
Members of the cast included:
Bernard Connor
Dennis Reilly
Bethel Nicol
Lawrence Hardy
Marie Jacques
Donald Spofford
Robert Kimbrell
Ruth Lord
Richard Sharkey
Shirley Hart
LeAnn Dressler Natalie Haskell
Elizabeth Weigel
Beverly Blackden
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Stage Crew
Leonard Bachelder David Scott
Reinitiated into the High School program was the use of standardized testing. Administered to all grades was the new Kuhlman-Finch Intelligence Test. The results of this test are used to aid teachers to gauge the quality of school work a pupil does. It facilitates a greater possible of more worthwhile guidance to the graduating students. It is an- ticipated that it will also be a continuation of the testing program initiated this year in the elementary school.
The seniors went on their senior class trip in April chaperoned by Mr. & Mrs. Edward Morrow. While in New York City they visited numerous television shows, Radio City, the Statue of Liberty and other New York wonders. In Washington they visited the Capitol, Smithsonian Insti- tute, the White House the Washington, Lincoln, and Jef- erson Memorials, the Library of Congress and other famous Shrines of American History.
The baseball team was coached by Mr. Millard Nute and captained by Gary Bertram. The softball team carried out its informal league program under the coaching of Miss Isabelle Phelan and captained by Ruth Lord.
The Glee club again presented a spring concert under the able leadership of Mrs. Doris Currier. A silver collec- tion was taken with the purpose being to start a special glee club fund. This fund is to purchase new music and sup- ply other needs for the group.
Fall brought approximately the same number of stu- dents from the elementary school except that it replenish- ed the number of boys as the two upper classes only had a total of eleven in them. The early social program was high- lighted by the annual initiation of the freshmen.
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Merrimac High has added a Science Club to its extra- curriculum activities. Under the direction of Mr. Frederick Bardsley and Mr. Rodney Mansfield, the Science Club meets every second week, on Tuesday, during activity period. Each student is working on an individual project, many of which are expected to be entered in the spring Science Fair. At each meeting, help is given on these projects and stu- dents enjoy scientific discussions, occasionally movies or colored slides are shown.
The Commercial Department has been expanded and improved by the addition of new materials. A new ditto machine has been added to replace the ancient model that we had. Old typewriters have been replaced to the extent that we now have seventeen newer models and one new Un- derwood electric typewriter. It is expected that possible in- struction on the dictograph and electric adding machine may be possible through a rental basis with one of the com- mercial enterprises. These additions were needed to facil- itate a larger department, to handle the increased number of students taking the commercial course and seniors desiring to take one year of typing for college. The depart- ment is under the direction of Miss Margaret O'Riordan, a graduate of Salem Teachers' College.
The class of 1954 presented their senior class play early. It was given in November under the leadership of Mr. Rodney Mansfield. The play was a mystery-comedy en- titled "Hobgoblin House". It was a job well done by the class and certainly a great help financially for their trip to Washington in the Spring.
Mrs. Doris Currier closed our social calendar for the year 1953 by presenting, along with her Glee Club, a Xmas concert for the Merrimac Women's Club and repeating later for the public. Such traditional music as selections from the "Messiah," "Carole of the Bells," and "Cantique
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de Noel" stirred the many listeners. Soloists were Marilyn Wolfe, Marie Fowle, Fern Corson, John Wholley, and Mr. Rodney Mansfield. Sally Stuart was the accompanist.
I wish to close my report by listing my department heads and expressing appreciation for their fine coopera- tion.
English Department Miss Isabelle Phelan
Mathematics Department
Commercial Department
Languages
Science
Mr. Rodney Mansfield Miss Margaret O'Riordan Miss Mary L. Kenney Mr. Frederick Bardsley
My deepest appreciation to Dr. Page and tne Merri- mac School Committee for their wonderful cooperation and understanding. Through their efforts, our students have been given the advantage of many worthwhile improve- ments, including, new desks in the commercial and English rooms and painting of the building. Also, it goes without saying, that our janitor, Arthur D. Clark, has been of tre- mendous help in keeping matters in good working order. It has been a pleasue to serve the citizens of Merrimac as their high school principal this past year.
EDWARD MORROW
1952 - 1953 Honor Roll
Seniors
High Honor
John Leonard Bachelder Elizabeth Weigel
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SCHOOL REPORT
Honor
Beverly Blackden
Natalie Haskell
Stephen Hoppe Joan Keller Bethel Nicol
Juniors
High Honor
Sally Stuart
Dorothy Wechezak
Marilyn Wolfe
Honor
Florence Bixby
Sandra Brennan
Dorothy Reynolds
Sophomores High Honor
Virginia Kneeland
Honor
Patricia Flynn
Marie Fowle
Lynn Hayward .
Marilyn Trenholm
Freshmen High Honor
Richard Fowler
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Eugene Getchell
Barbara Sargent
Honor Joan Atwood Constance Hoyt
REPORT OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
The past year has been an extremely busy one at the Elementary School. I am pleased to report some of its ac- tivities.
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