USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1953 > Part 7
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On March 13, 1953 the sixth, seventh and eighth grades enjoyed hearing Dr. Wroe Wolfe, professor of Ge- ology at Boston University.
On June 2nd the members of Mrs. Hume's fifth grade and Miss Woodman's fourth and fifth grades went to the Wildlife Sanctuary in Ipswich for a field trip. Miss Phoebe Arnold, nature teacher, took them on a tour of the Sanc- tuary while explaining the wildlife, trees and shrubs. Mrs. Hume's class was photographed while there for the Wild- life Magazine.
Grade six visited the birthplace of John Greenleaf Whittier, Wasmacco Dairy, Winikini Castle and the Hav- erhill Gazette printing plant on their class trip.
Grade seven had a day of fun at Canobie Lake Park, knowing that as eighth graders they would take a trip to Boston to see some of its historical and educational places as did the class of 1953.
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SCHOOL REPORT
Graduation was held on June 16, 1953 in the school auditorium. Rabbi Abraham Jacobson presented the grad- uation address "Onward Together". Mrs. Milton Webster presented the diplomas to the graduates.
We have grown to a sixteen class school which meant bringing in the platoon system. This enabled us to eliminate one double grade and to make smaller classes in the prim- ary department where it is of vital importance that each pupil be given as much individual attention as possible to assure his laying a good educational foundation.
Mrs. Miriam Felch reports that noticable progress is being made by the children in the primary and elementary grades taking Remedial Reading. The progress of each child is checked by the use of standardized tests and recor- ded on an individual graph.
Mrs. Ruth Parker, who has taken the task of school librarian, added to her duties of classroom teacher, reports the following. "Over 250 new books were added to the School Library this fall through the use of funds made available by the School Committee. Miss Evelyn R. Robin- son, State Consultant for School Libraries, visited the Li- brary and advised the school as to the best possible selec- tion. Many books of American history and social studies were added, both easy reading and books correlated with modern long-playing records. Geographical film strips and picture portfolios were purchased for the collection. Through the generosity of the P. T. A. money was given to buy juvenile magazine subscriptions. Many Merrimac citizens donated lovely and useful books. The Library has made tremendous strides this year. The collection numbers almost 1000 books of the newest and best quality as set
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TOWN OF MERRIMAC
forth by the State and the American Library Association standards. The P. T. A. Reading and Library Committee with Mrs. Clay Boone and Mrs. Chester Allen as co-chair- men have given their time three days a week so that the children could use these excellent facilities. The children have not only enjoyed their Library periods but have prof- ited by them."
Mrs. Felch and I attended the New England Reading Conference at Providence, R. I. on October 9th and 10th.
On November 12th Miss Bajek, Miss Pooler and Mrs. Rau attended a conference on Arithmetic Methods at Salem Teachers College.
A permanent folder for each child that was being planned last year is now completed and has been printed. This folder will contain facts to help in the study of the child's educational and social growth during his elemen- tary school years. The results of the yearly Achievement test will be kept here as will the results of the California Mental Maturity Test which was given in October. Plans are made to give a Personality Test in grades four through eight and an Occupational Test in the eighth grade soon.
I should like to take this opportunity to express thanks to the following gifts to our school, The Merrimac Parent- Teacher Association, The Boosters Club, The Merrimac First National Bank, Mrs. Harriet Bigelow and Mr. Ralph Buzzell. I should like also to add my thanks and appreci- ation to Dr. Page and the School Committee for their in- terest and co-operation during the past year.
HELEN R. DONAGHUE
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SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
My report is herewith submitted, dating from Janu- ary 1, 1953 to December 31, 1953.
Number of school visits 135
Number of home visits 150
Children in the first grade (who did not attend the Pre-school clinic) the fifth grade and the ninth grade were given a complete physical examination. This included ur- inalysis for sugar and a blood hemoglobin. Parents of the first and fifth grades were invited to come.
Number examined 133
Children in grades seven and eight and the High School were examined by Dr. Davis.
All children were weighed and measured at the be- ginning and end of the school year.
The Pre-school Clinic was held on May 11th and 15th.
Number registered 51
Number given physical examination at that time 49
The Patch Test for Tuberculosis was held at the High School on October 19th, 21st and 23rd.
Number tested 105
The Diptheria Clinic was held on March 12th, April 9th, May 7th and May 18th.
Pre-school children receiving 3 shots of Diptheria,
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TOWN OF MERRIMAC
Tetanus and Whooping Cough serum 8
Number receiving Booster shot 23
School children, 3 shots
23
Booster shots
147
The children in the first, fourth and eighth grades and any other child whom the teachers thought necessary had their eyes tested with the Massachusetts Visual Testing machine.
Number tested 159
The same grades were tested with the Audiometer for hearing.
Number tested 373
ANNIE L. GLEED, R. N.
REPORT OF COACHES OF JUNIOR HIGH SPORTS
The 1953 basketball season got off to a successful start with a boy's victory at the new gym. The following schedule was played with the accompanying results.
Boys
Girls
Merrimac vs Newbury
here
34 - 5
Merrimac vs West Newbury
here
17 - 12
15 - 11
Merrimac vs Salisbury
there
12 - 25
12 - 22
Merrimac vs West Newbury
there
16 - 12
19 - 8
Merrimac vs Freshmen
here
16 - 51
12 - 14
Merrimac vs Salisbury
here
20 - 35
22 - 14
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SCHOOL REPORT
Following the end of the scheduled season an inter- class tournament was held. All boys and girls desiring to play were placed on teams. The tournament was enjoyed by both participants and non-participants.
In the spring an interclass baseball schedule was de- veloped and all boys desiring to participate were given a chance to play. The games were played on a specially laid out field in a corner of the town ballfield.
Largely because of the response to the interclass tour- nament and also because the gym is unavailable to use be- fore 4:15 this year, we have withdrawn from scheduled games with surrounding communities and devoted our- selves to interclass competition.
CORNELIA WOLFE
MILLARD NUTE
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ART
Art is of vital importance in our lives. Why is it im- portant to us? Why do we bother studying art?
It is first of all a visual experience without parallel in any of the other arts. It brings unending delight to the one who can see beauty, who is sensitive to color, rhythm, line. For this person there is a deep unique satisfaction in the study of paintings from the past and present age.
However, this is not the only reason for our art pro- gram. Paintings and sculpture provide a link with the past, present and the future. It allows us to share the experience
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TOWN OF MERRIMAC
of creating with the artist whether or not we are capable of it ourselves.
Art is, today, a functional part of the life which sur- rounds us. We see this in our modern buildings, bridges, household furnishings, books, advertisements. Everywhere we look beauty of line, color, form meets our eye, but we do not always see it.
This art program is designed so that all may see this beauty, to be sensitive to color, line form, space. Uncon- sciously through varied experiences with paint, paper, clay, cloth and many other materials, the children are be- ginning to feel the importance of a visual experience. Many need more time than others, however. I feel that longer more frequent art periods would leave much more of a lasting impression of their learning experiences.
ADA PASQUINI
REPORT OF SCHOOL LUNCH MANAGER
The following is a report of the Merrimac School Lunch Program for the year of 1953.
From January to June, we continued to serve an aver- age of 260 Type A lunches and 30 Type C lunches daily.
Starting September 9, 1953, the first day of school, the Lunch Program was again resumed. Because of the neces- sity to platoon eight rooms, it was very unfortunate that many of the pupils were unable to participate in the pro-
38
SCHOOL REPORT
gram. However, with this decrease in number of Elemen- tary pupils it became possible for the High School to take advantage of the Hot Lunch Program. Also, some pupils of the afternoon session come early to eat lunch. Free lunches have been provided in all necessary cases that were brought to our attention.
From September through December, our daily aver- age has been 207 Type A. lunches and 140 Type C. lunches We also serve lunches to eighteen teachers daily.
The cost of the lunch is the same as last year, twenty- five cents for a Type A. lunch which is one third of the daily nutritional requirements, or better of each pupil. The State reimburses us nine cents per meal for this type lunch. Type C. lunch is one half pint of milk, which the children can have in the middle of the morning or afternoon session. Each pupil pays four cents for this type lunch and the State reimburses us two cents.
I wish to thank all of the teachers, members of the School Committee and others who have helped make this program a success.
ISABEL L. TAYLOR, B.S.
GRADUATES, 1953
Merrimac High School: Howard Earl Anderson, Jr., John Leonard Bachelder, Gary Evans Bertram, Beverly Elaine Blackden, Shirley Jane Hart, Lawrence Wayne Har- dy, Natalie Haskell, Stephen Gale Hoppe, Aleta Margaret Hurley, Marie Annette Jacques, Joan Marilyn Keller,
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TOWN OF MERRIMAC
James Robert Kimbrell, Ruth Elizabeth Lord, Bethel Jean Nicol, Dennis John Reilly, Mildred Florence Schiller, David Alan Scott, Donald Whitman Spofford, Richard William Sharkey, Elizabeth Ida Weigel.
Grade 8: Aldora Mary Bisson, Clifton Eugene Bixby, Patricia Ellen Cahill, Joyce Silvia Comley, Joyce Isabelle Craig, George Albert Denault*, Helena Marie Dressler ** , Carlene Marie Frame, Joyce Roberta Frye, Robert Hirst Fryer ** , Charles Lawrence Getchell ** , Michael Lewis T. Goodrich, Nancy Harrington, John Alan Hawes ** , Peter Joseph Ingraham, Mary Louise Kimbrell ** , Susan Gert- rud Lund*, Robert Wayne Merritt*, David Michael Noon- an, Richard William Pearson, Gordon Keith Quimby*, Donald Reginald Rawding, Francis Eugene Reilly, Byron Sargent Reynolds, Paul David Ross, Carole Ann Sharp*, Lester Perley Smith, Phillip Colby Smith, Robert Phillips Souther ** , Patricia Ellen Sweeney, Francis Earl Sweet, Gary Lee Trefethen, Caleb Wroe Wolfe, Jr .**.
Honors
High Honors
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Appropriations Made 1953
13
Fire Alarm
9
In Memoriam
123
Jury List
11
Town Officers
3
Town Warrant
113
Reports of-
Assessors
23
Board of Public Welfare .... 43
Cemetery Trustees
41
Dog Officer
.
39
Finance Committee
17
Fire Engineers
20
Inspector of Wires
45.
Inspector of Milk, Animals and Slaughtering 38
Municipal Light Board 35
Playground Commissioners
29
Police Department
21
Public Health Nurse
44
Public Library
31
School Committee
125
Sealer of Weights and Measures
40
Selectmen
12
State Auditor
99
Tax Collector
26
Town Accountant
46
Town Clerk
30
Town Forest Committee
45
Town Treasurer 22
Trustees of Kimball Park 42
Water Commissioners 33
Vote for Town Officers 109
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