Town annual report of Chelmsford 1950, Part 20

Author:
Publication date: 1950
Publisher: Town of Chelmsford
Number of Pages: 342


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1950 > Part 20


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329


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


ucation, I attended the Music Educators National Conference at St. Louis. I received many and valuable suggestions at the conference meetings.


In May the Music Department presented its annual festival. Repre- sentative groups from all the schools, the glee club, and the High School band participated. The entire festival was based on different types of American songs, such as; songs of devotion, work songs, sec- tional songs, etc. In addition to music provided by the glee club and the band, a May Queen, Jacqueline Sidelinger, was chosen by vote of the Senior Class. Her attendants were eight girls, two from each of the undergraduate classes.


A Christmas program of unusual interest was presented. As it was a stormy evening the audience was small, but those whot attended were favorably impressed by the work of the High School Glee Club. At this time I wish to express my appreciation to Miss Nelson, of the Art Department, Mr. Bernie Larkin and his band, and all others who in any way contributed to the success of the program.


ART Miss Nelson


This first year of art work has been an active one with art being taught in all grades and the high school.


Soon after the school year opened grades 6, 7, and 8 participated in a Fire Prevention Week poster contest sponsored by the Chelms- ford Fire Department.


In November the high school students had a poster contest to promote the tuberculosis x-ray campaign. The best posters in each contest brought the students generous awards.


December was an enjoyable month for art with Christmas and the children's enthusiasm for it. The high school art students worked in conjunction with the glee clubs making posters and the backdrop for their Christmas production. They also learned the art of linoleum block printing for use in making Christmas cards.


Fashion illustration and design has been of great interest to the high school girls. The boys are working on mechanical drawing problems.


An arts and crafts club is to be organized in the high schools and in the Spring there will be an exhibition of art from all the grades and the high school.


330


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


My immediate goal is to correlate the art work with other school subjects in order that the students will have a richer background.


My ultimate goal is to try to create an appreciation of the beau- tiful through close observation of nature; or, maybe, inspire a hobby to enrich the student's leisure time: or, help develop good taste; or, maybe, even develop the desire to create.


PHYSICAL EDUCATION


Boys -- Mr. Nolan


The general scope of physical education is the development of the young man physically, mentally and socially.


This is covered in the grammar schools through calisthenics, games, contests and hygiene.


There are basketball and baseball leagues, which run from De- cember to the end of May. Trophies are awarded to the champions and the "runners up." A field day is conducted for all the schools at the end of May.


High School pupils have two periods a week.


We urgently strive to have the young men of the High School participate in one of the varsity sports.


Special emphasis is placed upon the young men so that they will have proper organic growth, physical development and proper posture. Games, hygiene, calisthenics and rhythmics are utilized to attain these aims.


Girls - Miss McCue


Today, this chaotic world, tired of too many "man-made" wars, places upon physical education teachers a grave responsibility. We . must develop in each child a complete human personality. This is the main objective of physical education. In fact, it is the main objective of all education.


The challenge to "Change the World" faces the adults of tomor- row. If American youth is to meet this challenge successfully, we must be concerned with the education of the whole child-not merely a segment of his personality. Physical education, then, is the develop- ment of the complete human personality through, or by means of, the physical.


As supervisor, it is my duty to visit each grammar school once a week and the high school twice weekly for the purpose of teaching physical education. I teach boys and girls in grades one through four.


331


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


From the fifth through the senior high school, I teach only girls. The length of periods vary from twenty to forty-five minutes depending upon the school or situation. In most cases, I teach every grade each week.


In grades one and two, we play group games with the hope that each child will learn to play with other children in a happy and con- genial manner. There is a great adjustment to be made by the child coming from the home to school life. Through play, we try to help him find his place with the other boys and girls.


Simple forms of group competition are introduced in grades three and four. Through relay races and elementary team games, the child begins to gain an appreciation of the other players and realizes that each one is a necessary part of the whole team.


After the fourth grade, I have only the grls. Regular exercises with emphasis on posture are a large part of the program. In addi- tion, we have more complicated relays and team games of higher or- ganization.


The high school program carries on that which was started in the lower grades. We expect a higher degree of efficiency in perform- ance and an understanding of the reasons for various exercises. At- tention is given to individual problems of weight and posture.


Music, rhythmic activities, marching and singing games have their place to make a well-rounded program. No physical education program would be complete without trying to reveal some facts about health and hygiene. If enjoyment can be obtained from all phases of the program and boys and girls from grade one through high school are just a little happier because of physical education class the time and money expended has not been in vain.


In conclusion, may I take this opportunity to thank the many people who have given me such splendid cooperation this year. The kindness of the people of Chelmsford will long live in my memory.


HEALTH Helen M. Jewett, R. N.


The following is a report of my duties as school nurse from the date of my appointment at the beginning of the school term in Septem- ber through December 31, 1950. However, while acting in the absence of the school nurse from March through June the same procedure as outlined below, was followed.


All the schools are visited once a week, with the exception of the


332


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


McFarlin and Princeton schools which are visited twice a week and one full morning spent at the Westlands school. I am in the various schools from 9 to 12 and at my office in the McFarlin school front 1 to 3, where I can usually be contacted. I hope the parents will feel free to call me at any time.


Each pupil now has a Health Record that is kept up to date. This record will follow him through his grade and high school years and if transferred his health card goes with him.


Pupils in all schools were given physical examinations in Septem- ber by Drs. Blechman and Boucher. This, of course, is only a screen- ing and it is hoped before too many years to examine only every other grade but give a more complete examination.


The pupils in the grammar schools were given a Tuberculin Patch Test by me, in accordance with a request by the Middlesex Health Association, and the results were read by Dr. Blechman. All positive re-actions from this test were X-rayed.


In September we had a Supervised Vision Test done by Mrs. Milam. The vision machine was loaned to us by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Grades 1, 5, and 9 were done and those pupils failing the test were advised to be re-examined by an Eye Spe- cialist.


The following information is furnished :


Number of visits to schools 116


Number of visits to homes 50


First aid treatments 166


Examined by School Physician 1409


Talks on Health and Hygiene 42


Individual instructions to pupils 38


Number of pupils excluded on account of illness 25


Examination of eyes 358


Treatments secured :


X-Rays (Surgical) 4


X-Rays (Chest) 15


Eye clinic (St. John's Hospital) 1


Crippled Children's clinic 2


I earnestly hope that the parents will co-operate by trying to fol- low the recommendations of the Health program as set up in your schools. If your child is sent home with a slip recommending atten- tion to a certain condition, please follow it through. It is for your child's health that we strive for.


Please do not send your children to school ill. This seems to be


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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


a foolish request but never-the-less it happens often. No provision is made to take your child home if found ill in school. As this condition is on the increase, provisions, sooner or later will have to be made and as you well know at your expense as a tax payer. The answer is simple-take a little more interest in your child's health.


SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM Irene H. Emerson


During the year January 1950 to January 1951, 58,740 hot lunches and 75,430 bottles of milk were served in five of our Chelmsford Schools.


It has been possible to serve complete hot lunches for the last five school years without specific town appropriation of funds. For the past several years many towns participating in the School Lunch Program have appropriated funds to assist in operating expenses. Greatly increased food prices and a decrease of one cent per meal in the Government reimbursement have caused a deficit in operation during the present school year. It will therefore be necessary for the town to appropriate funds to maintain present prices to the children and to allow an increase in wages to lunchroom employees. The present hourly rate of pay to these employees which has not been changed since 1946, is below the legal minimum rate.


If sufficient funds are requested in the school budget it will allow for the continuation of hot lunches at the present prices. However, if an appropriation is not made, prices will have to be increased.


SCHOOL CALENDAR 1950 - 1951


Begin-September 6, 1950. End-December 22, 1950.


Days Out-October 12-Columbus Day. November 3-Teachers' Convention. November 23, 24-Thanksgiving.


Begin-January 2, 1951.


End-February 16, 1951.


Begin-February 26, 1951.


End-April 13, 1951.


Days Out-March 22-Holy Thursday. March 23-Good Friday.


Begin-April 23, 1951.


End-June 22, 1951.


Days Out-May 30-Memorial Day.


INDEX


Accountant's Report :


Page


Appropriations and Transfers


266


Balance Sheet


286


Payments 242


Recapitulation


280


Trust Funds


289


Custody of


289


Income and Payments of


290


Appeals, Board of 177


Assessors, Board of


156


Building Inspector 183


Cemetery Commissioners


181


Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds 140


Civil Defense; Reports of:


Civil Defense 291


Civil Defense Committee


2.92


Selectmen, Board of 291


Constable 194


Dog Officer 168


Fire Engineers 167


Forest Warden


189


Health Department:


Agent 172


Board of Health 174


Milk Inspector 169


Plumbing Inspector 171


Slaughtering Inspector


170


Assistant Slaughtering Inspector 170


Highway Department 190


Honor Roll Committee 175


Inspector of Animals 184


Library Department: Reports of:


A'dams Library, Librarian 180


Library Trustees, Secretary 165


Library Trustees, Treasurer 193


MacKay Memorial Library, Librarian 188


1


INDEX-Continued


Page


Middlesex County Extension Service


182


Park Commissioners 179


Planning Board 176


Police Department-Report of the Chief 186


School Department:


Art Supervisor 329


Federal Aided School Lunch Program 333


Financial Statement 324


Music Supervisor 327


Personnel 315


Physical Education, Boys 330


Physical Education, Girls 330


Principal of the High School 326


School Calendar 333


308


School Committee


School Nurse 331


School Superintendent 311


Statistics


313


Sealer of Weights and Measures 166


Sinking Fund Commissioners 185


Report of a State Audit 197


Tax Collector


137


Town Clerk:


Annual Town Meeting, March 13, 1950 38


Appointed Town Officers


3


Births


10


Deaths


22


Elected Town Officers


3


Election, State and National, Nov. 7, 1950


120


Election, Town, March 6, 1950


35


Financial Report


132


Jury List 133


Marriages 15


Primary. State and National, Sept. 19, 1950 110


Special Town Meeting, March 13, 1950 54


Special Town Meeting, April 10, 1950 74


Special Town Meeting, May 1, 1950 94


Special Town Meeting, July 31, 1950 100


Special Town Meeting, August 16, 1950 106


Special Town Meeting, December 11, 1950 129


INDEX-Continued


Town Clerk-Continued


Page


Warrant, Town Election and Annual Town Meeting,


March 6, and March 13, 1950 27


Warrant, Special Town Meeting, March 13, 1950 52


Warrant, Special Town Meeting, April 10, 1950 56


Warrant, Special Town Meeting, May 1, 1950 92


Warrant, Special Town Meeting, July 31, 1950 95


Warrant, Special Town Meeting, August 16, 1950 104


Warrant, Special Town Meeting, December 11, 1950 125


Warrant, State and National Primary, Sept. 19, 1950 108


Warrant, State and National Election, Nov. 7, 1950 115


Warrant, Town Election and Annual Town Meeting, March 5, and March 12, 1951 296


Town Treasurer


139


Varney Playground Commissioners


178


Veterans' Benefits Director


164


Veterans' Emergency Fund, Reports of


Secretary


195


Treasurer · 196


Welfare Agent


161


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