USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1955 > Part 7
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TOWN OF MERRIMAC
1 minute to clear the building of 375 to 400 persons, the variation being caused by the time of day and the acti- vities taking place in the building at the time.
Two Civil Defense drills are held each year. This type drill was described in the 1954 town report.
One of the days which children of the various rooms plan and look forward to, is the class day trip. Last spring the days were varied and included a trip to the Haverhill Gazette and Whittier's Birthplace, a picnic on a farm, a trip to a forest lookout, an old fashioned hay ride and horse back riding.
Open house, during National Education week, was held again this year. During this day many parents and friends watched the daily school routine and class room procedures.
This year each class has enjoyed the privilege of in- viting their mothers and fathers to be guests at lunch. The mothers and fathers responded very nicely and enjoy- ed following the routine with their children during lunch period.
The observance of Memorial Day was held on the Playground baseball field, in which all schools participat- ed. It was a sight that would fill one's eyes with tears and one's heart with pride to look upon the school children of this town joined together on that field for appropriate exercises and prayers to revere and commemorate those who fought and died that we might live in this democratic nation. It would make one feel secure that this group would have the ability to carry on the ideals which our nation holds.
On December 16th our school presented Berta El- smith's operetta arrangement of the opera, "Hansel and Gretel," which kept the opera sequence, procedure, music and story as far as practicable. The children gained in the knowledge and understanding of the work of production ;
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in cooperative working with others, individually and in groups ; in the requirement of self direction and self con- trol in the times of rehearsals and production and received great stimulation for appreciation of fine music. Their memories of this music and story and their participation in its actual production is something they will long remember.
Mrs. Doris Currier supervised the entire production and was aided by each member of the School faculty in various ways. We wish to extend thanks to:
Mr. Kenneth Haskell - who worked many extra hours for us.
Mr. James Howe - who gave of his time to help a great deal with the scenery and properties.
Mr. Richard Beckford - who produced the lighting effects which were so important to the success of the oper- etta .
Mrs. Gita Webster - who was a patient and excellent accompanist for rehearsals and performance.
The Massachusetts Northeastern Bus Co. for provid- ing buses to and from the Grange Hall for rehearsals.
Each year we look forward to the privilege of some children representing our school in the Santa Claus parade. This year our float presented "Hansel & Gretel."
It has again been my privilege to attend the Mass- achussetts Elementary School Principals' Conference in Amherst in the spring and at Swampscott last fall; also, with Mrs. Felch and Mr. Jakobek, to attend the three-day conference of the New England Reading Association for Administrators and Supervisors. This is a comparatively new association which studies, in small groups, many specific problems of the over-all reading problem concern- ed with the improvement of reading. During 1957 the association plans to hold state-wide conferences for the
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classroom teachers to enable them to receive direct report of the work of the larger conference and also to study the reading problems.
My sincere thanks to the Merrimac Parent-Teacher Association for the privilege of attending the State Fall Conference with Mrs. J. Arthur Burns, President. I heartily recommend this conference to any parent who can possibly attend. The fellowship one enjoyes and the messages one hears are inspiring, and the basis of it all is THE CHILD.
Helen R. Donaghue
Elementary School Principal
REPORT OF THE MERRIMAC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
I herewith submit my first annual report as Principal of the Merrimac Junior High School.
The activities of the Junior High School for the past year, January to December 1955, have been many and varied. The following report includes some of the changes and advancements made in our organization, some of the academic achievements fulfilled within the school, and some of the outstanding student activities.
Several changes were made in staff personnel. When Mr. Louis Blais resigned in February, we were very fort- unate in obtaining Mr. Everett Ryerson as a science and geography teacher. In June Mrs. Annette Palmer joined our faculty as an additional full-time teacher. This gave me more time in my office for guidance and clerical work. In the fall the curriculum was rounded out considerably with the addition of art and physical education courses.
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Mr. Joseph Aliquo, the art instructor, is giving an ex- ploratory course to the boys in lettering and mechanical drawing, and a course in creative art to the girls. In November Mr. Harold Ford, a student of Salem Teacher's College, started an eight weeks practice teaching course in our system under the guidance of my staff and myself. The courses of study and program organization were altered for the fall term to meet the needs arising from these changes and further reorganization is being planned for the coming year.
During the year the Kuhlman-Finch Intelligence Test and the California Mental Maturity Test were administer- ed. Those records were added to the permanent folder of each child to help in the study of the educational, physical and social growth of our students.
To encourage a keener interest in the reading of good books, the library and the Teen Age Book Club again have been made available to our students. The school library is now under the management of Miss Regina McIntyre. Over fifty percent of the student body are active members of the T. A. B. Club which makes available to each member good books at a moderate price.
At the graduation exercises on June 21st, thirty-four students received diplomas, presented by Mr. Kenneth Fowle. The guest speaker was Rev. Donald Tatro of Groveland. The graduation festivities were ended that evening by a dance given as a farewell party for the eighth graders.
In the spring, our eighth grade boys, accompanied by Mr. Frederick Noone, went by Ramsey Bus to the Essex County Agriculturel School, to spend a typical day with the students as guests. Several boys spent the week of their spring vacation there and from this group, Robert Lee enrolled as a student. During "Homemaker's Week" several of our girls visited this same school and from this
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group, Phyllis Craig, Judith Thompson and Priscilla Woodard enrolled as Freshmen.
Several boys from grade eight took the Haverhill Trade School exams and three from this group are now attending: David Cummings, George Martin and John Thompson. This brings the total number of Merrimac boys enrolled at the Trade School to seven. After counsel- ing with parents and checking their records, these boys and girls were given the opportunity to locate in schools where their potential abilities can be best developed.
During January and February 1955, our girls and boys basketball teams, coached by Mr. Frederick Noone and me, played games with Groveland, Seabrook, Salis- bury, Amesbury and the Merrimac Freshmen. Our boys team was undefeated and our girls team won six out of nine games. Under the leadership of Miss McIntyre, a newly organized group of cheerleaders helped lead our teams to victory. To end the season, intra-murals were run off with practically every student in the school participat- ing. In December of this same year, an unusually large number of students again turned out for basketball prac- tice. This is largely due to the added interest given our girls by Mr. Everett Ryerson and our boys by Mr. Fred- erick Noone in the physical education classes.
In June two bus loads of students left for a day's trip to Boston to visit places of historical and education- al interest. In the afternoon, the eighth grade took a boat trip to Nantasket while the seventh grade attended "Cinerama". Teachers and parents went as chaperones.
On November 17th, members of the seventh grade conducted the business meeting of our P. T. A. while the eighth grade widened their horizons by entertaining twenty students from Ipswich, helping to prepare for them a dinner at the home of Mrs. John Chipman. Patricia Pierce, acting as program chairman, introduced Mr. Rogers, Assistant Principal of the Ipswich Junior High
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School, who showed colored slides of his educational pro- gram in the out of doors. A picked group of Junior High School students sang under the able leadership of Mrs. Doris Currier.
Our school activities of 1955 closed with a group of happy, enthusiastic Junior High students taking part in three Christmas programs. First they decorated a float and costumed students to depict "Christmas in Many Lands". On December 12th, committees from the eighth grade decorated the Elementary School gym for a delight- ful party at which parents assisted the teachers as chap- erones. On December 20th we entertained ninety parents in the Junior High School main room with a program of community caroling and a costumed Christmas pageant "O Holy Night". A chorus of eighty students sang during the pageant.
During my first year as principal of the Merrimac Junior High School, I have received much helpful guid- ance from Dr. Page, our retiring Superintendent and Mr. Jakobek, our incoming Superintendent. It is with grate- ful recognition of the understanding and interest which they, the Merrimac School Committee, and the parents of our Junior High School students have shown to my school that I bring this to a close. The year 1954 - 1955 has been one rich in challenge as my staff and I have worked with these young people, trying to guide them as they learn to work collectively and individually in their de- velopment toward responsible, self-governing citizens.
Cornelia Wolfe
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
My report is herewith submitted dating from Jan. 1, 1955 to Dec. 31. 1955.
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Number of schools visits 138
Number of home visits 302
The Pre-school clinic was held on May 16, and 17.
Number of children examined at Pre-school clinic 48
The Diptheria Clinic was held on March 18, April 15 and May 13.
Number receiving 3 doses 19
Number receiving Booster shots 126
The Polio Clinic was held for the first time on May 23 and May 31.
Number receiving the Salk Vaccine in the first and second grades 86
Dr. Frederick Sweetsir and Mrs. Cecile Sargent helped with this clinic.
A complete physical examination was given to child- ren in the first and fifth grades who were not examined by their own family doctor.
A complete physical was given to the freshman class. Junior High and all other high school students were given physical check-ups by Dr. Davis.
Number of urine tests for sugar 139
Number of children tested with the Massachusette Vision Test 504
Number of children tested with the Audiometer for hearing 516
ANNIE L. GLEED
School Nurse
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REPORT OF SCHOOL LUNCH
The following is a report of the Merrimac School Lunch Program for the year 1955.
From January through June we served 23,000 Type A lunches and 4,833 Type C.
In June Mrs. Isabelle Taylor, B. S., left our school to manage the School Lunch Program in Bedford, Mass.
From September through December we have served 16,438 Type A lunches and 4,551 bottles of milk under the Special Milk Program.
The Type A lunch contains 1/2 pint unflavored milk, 2 oz. protein, (either meat, fish, cheese, egg, 1/2 cup dried beans or 4 tablespoons peanut butter), 1 slice bread, 2 teaspoons butter, 3/4 cup vegetable or fruit. This lunch has to meet one third of the daily nutritional requirements. For this each child pays 25¢ and the State and U. S. Government together reimburse us 9¢.
The Special Milk Program consists of 1/2 pint of milk for the children that bring their lunch from home. The child pays 3¢ per bottle, and may buy one or more daily. The State and U. S. Government together reimburse us 4¢ on each bottle purchased. This is to encourage the child- ren to drink more milk.
Mrs. Annie Gleed, School Nurse, has brought some needy cases to our attention and we have served free meals as needed.
I wish to thank the Junior High students that come early to help serve lunch before they attend their classes in the afternoon, and the 6th grade students who give up their lunch period to help us.
I would also like to thank Mrs. Donaghue, the teach-
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ers, and all others who helped me with their cooperation. Especially do I thank Mrs. Taylor, under whose super- vision I had the pleasure and privilege of working for the past three years. Her help in getting organized this fall is deeply appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGARET S. MARTIN
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools and the Merrimac School Committee.
I hereby submit my report as high school principal.
In doing this report I shall divide it into two main divisions, the first part dealing with the events for the past school year, and the second with projected plans for the school year in September of 1956.
Changes in our curriculum for this past September showed the addition of a course in Health and Hygiene which will include instruction in First Aid in conjuction with the needs for Civil Defence Instruction. Not offered last year because of insufficient student enrollment, solid and trigonometry were returned to our curriculum this year.
Three changes were made in our teaching staff at the beginning of the year. Mr. Frederick Bardsley, science instructor, resigned to accept the position of Bi- ology Department head at Chelmsford High School. Mr. Joseph Medolo, a graduate of American International College, was named to succeed Mr. Bardsley. The resigna- tion of Mr. Rodney Mansfield was received and he accept-
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ed a position in his hometown of New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Mr. Joseph Sheehan, a graduate of Merri- mack College, was elected to fill the vacancy. Miss Isabelle Phelan resigned her position as head of the English department to accept a position at Punchard High School in Andover. Elected to fill the position was Mrs. Margaret Brown, a graduate of Boston University.
The testing program was expanded this past year to include the California Test of Mental Maturity. Along with the Kuhlman-Finch, it provides for desired validity in determining intelligence factors. The prime concern of these tests is to determine the correlation between ability and grade achievement. This information is of vital assistance in aiding the guidance program.
Through the cooperation of the Massachusetts Divis- ion of Employment Security, the General Aptitude testing for seniors was continued. Aptitude testing provides for a means of determining several types of abilities that may allow the individual to do well in various occupations. This information, along with other information gathered, assists in guiding the individual into a field of work in which his qualifications compare favorably with the occu- pational requirements It also provides for an added ad- vantage, in that their special abilities are on record at the local office in the event that they are needed for future possible employment.
It has been my desire to make students as conscious of scholarships as possible. Lacking the availability of local scholarships, our students have been referred to regional and direct college scholarship grants. For the past three years one of our students has been the recipient of the Pomona Grange annual scholarship award. Also, through the efforts of Mrs. Harriet Bigelow, scholarship chairman of the Women's Club, information pertaining to many specialized schools has been made available.
An excellent source for a competitive scholarship
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was made available with the origination of the National Merit Scholarship Program. Two of our seniors were selected to take the examination, with one making a very creditable showing and the other a very exceptional one. The first student finished in the 54th percentile which means that 54 per cent of the students taking the test scored lower on the test. The other student received a score that put him in the 99th percentile which, accord- ing to the previous explanation, means that this Merrimac High School student was in the distinguished position of having 99 per cent of the total students taking the ex- amination receiving a lower score. The results of the 58,158 students taking the National Merit scholarship in- dicate that the State of Massachusetts ranked above the national average and, even more important to the local community, that our students exceeded the national average. This was not just an example of our exceptional students competing against non-selected students but, rather, that our students were competing against the top scholastic students of the high schools throughout the country.
In covering the second phase of my report, it is de- sirous to be aware of the regional program as the most important aim toward the solution of existing problems. However, realizing that our immediate needs should not be sacrificed in terms of future planning, it was necessary to recognize these needs and provide for them.
Projected enrollment figures indicate that the high school enrollment will increase from 104 to approxi- mately 135. This would mean that some classes would be in excess of 40 students. Therefore, it is educationally sound to divide these groups, which results in additional sections and the need for additional teaching personnel. With the adding of a teacher to the staff it will be poss- ible to realize the additional sections along with providing for homogeneous grouping. The English classes in particular will be most greatly affected, with two sections
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being provided for in each of the four years.
In addition to the advantage that will be gained by homogeneous grouping, an additional teacher will allow for enrichment of the curriculum. Although the program is still in the development stages, it is anticipated that a complete program in guidance will be offered for the four years. It will include such items as Living in the Home, Use of Leisure Time, Citizenship, Organized Social Life, Consumption and Production, and College Orientation.
The subject matter included in our curriculum is in- tended to meet four criteria: (1) Significance to con- temporary life; (2) Adult use; (3) Student interest and use; (4) Flexibility. The importance of meeting these requirements is quite obvious. Only by building a curric- ulum out of subject matter so determined, can we have a school capable of meeting the changing demands of our society.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD MORROW, Principal
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1954 - 1955 HONOR ROLL
Seniors
High Honor Virginia Kneeland
Honor
Wallace Furber
Lynn Hayward
Juniors
High Honor
Eugene Getchell
Barbara Sargent
Honor
Richard Fowler
Sophomeres
High Honor
Marie Dressler
Charles Getchell
Honor
Patricia Cahill
Mary Kimbrell
Caleb Wolfe
Freshman
High Honor
Lloyd Crossman
Honor Joanne Donaghue Sheela Fowler
Marsha Hargraves
Margaret Staples
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Appropriations Made 1955
14
Fire Alarm
9
In Memoriam
122
Jury List
11
Town Officers
3
Town Warrant
111
Reports of-
Assessors 23
Board of Public Welfare
41
Cemetery Trustees
39
Dog Officer 37
Finance Committee
18
Fire Engineers
. 22
Inspector of Wires
23
Inspector of Milk, Animals and Slaughtering
36
Municipal Light Board
34
Playground Commissioners
28
Police Department
20
Public Health Nurse
40
Public Library
31
School Committee
125
Sealer of Weights and Measures
38
Selectmen
13
State Auditor
96
Tax Collector
25
Town Accountant
44
Town Clerk
29
Town Forest Committee
43
Town Treasurer
43
Trustees of Kimball Park
42
Water Commissioners 32
Vote for Town Officers
107
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