USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1955 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
An assembly program has been initiated this year with each class being responsible for one assembly.
As the school year 1955-56 began en- rollment increased from 97 in 1954-55 to 230 during the current school year. At present there are three sixth grades and four seventh grades on afternoon session. This influx presented many problems, namely storage, lockers and dual use of rooms.
The sixth grade classes are not depart- mentalized, one teacher remains with each class throughout the entire day the problem of fitting grade six children into high school furniture was partially overcome by using footstools for the smaller children.
Since no lockers were available for after- noon students, the music room was made into a cloak room by lining the walls with racks and providing hangers.
The adoption of parent conferences has aided both teachers and parents in gaining newer insight into school and home relation- ship as well as a better understanding of the child.
Teachers are devoting time to regular faculty meetings, professional meetings as parents conferences, and are spending much time in helping sessions which are held in
the morning for those pupils needing addi- tional help.
Again, I reiterate that while everything possible is being done to provide the best education for the children on afternoon session, there is much to be desired.
A LOOK AHEAD
The present sixth and seventh grades will remain on afternoon sessions next year as grades 7 and 8. The grades will become fully departmentalized which creates the need for more teachers. Basically the pro- gram will consist of Language, Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, Art, Music, Domes- tic Science, Industrial Arts, and Physical Education. It is hoped that an intramural sports program as well as an inter school athletics can be arranged.
A more concentrated effort is being made and will continue to increase the number of parent conferences to bring the parent closer to the school situation. Curriculum im- provement through revision determined through need is now taking place and will continue during the coming school year.
Much is to be said for the excellent faculty who are providing our pupils with the best possible education under most trying cir- cumstances. A school program can only be as successful as those who administer, par- ticipate and help in the program and so many thanks to our supervisors, principal and superintendent.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH R. ROGERS High School Administrative Assistant
REPORT OF THE BURLEY AND SHATSWELL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent, to the School Committee, and to the Town of Ipswich:
As Principal of the Burley and Shatswell Schools, I herewith submit a report of Prog- ress in the elementary schools under my direction:
A Look Backward - Curriculum Development
A study group continued to look at the area of Science with a goal of making rec- ommendations to the school committee for
44
the adoption of texts and materials and a grade level program by early spring.
A good precentage of the teachers are working with the Reading Supervisor as a study group toward betterment of the read- ing and language arts program in the ele- mentary schools.
We continued to fill out textbook needs in the areas of Social Studies and arith- metic according to plans developed and re- ported in past reports.
The use of Audio Visual aids has shown a remarkable increase in the past year. This means that through the use of film strips and films, classroom discussions can be centered around an aid that has been tested and found to be full of informative teach- ing material.
Our testing program followed the plans as developed in conjuction with the Guid- ance Director. The results of these tests give to each teacher some of the desired informa- tion that allows class adjustments to be made that insure our teaching to take care of the individual progress of pupils. A comparison of the various Mental Abilities obtained from our first grade pupils tested in September would seem to indicate that for the most part the pupils were ready to embark on their education trail.
A Look Ahead - Curriculum Development
We should finish the study of science this year. The area of reading will be a two year project and will reach far into the language arts area. The fourth grade teachers are planning to enrich their Social Studies program with teacher-pupil booklets similiar to the one on Ipswich now in use. These added booklets will help this program in years to come.
A Look Backward - Physical Plant
We continued to improve the appearance of the Shatswell School this past summer, by finishing the painting project started last year. The Burley school windows were gone over this past summer and many other projects were completed. The Nurse's and Reading alcoves were enclosed.
Through the effort of the Burley School Trust Fund, equipment was provided which
certainly goes a long way toward supply- ing this school with needed material. Eight bookcases, eight round tables, eight file cabinets, 50 folding chairs, a new movie projector and screen, an outside play unit consisting of swings, slide and see-saw were purchased. Perhaps the one big item that all schools will benefit from was the ac- quisition of a reading device plus a large supply of film strips on reading and arith- metic. The reading supervisor will have the use of these for all schools.
A Look Ahead - Physical Plant
We will start the redecoration of the Bur- ley School this summer along with some out- side painting.
The Shatswell school heating system will have to have some attention focused on it in the near future. The coal burning boilers have served us extremely well in the past 22 years. With the opening of the new Winthrop School the Shatswell will be the sole coal burning school. The use of oil certainly is one that must be considered when one compares the hours spent by the custodian in firing a coal boiler during the winter months.
A Look Backward - Public Relations
The school associations in both schools con- tinue to be very active and provide an ex- cellent opportunity for parents and teachers to get to know each other. The Shatswell group held a very successful fair as a fund raising project. The Burley school had a Father-Son supper which was extremely successful and they plan to make it an annual affair. During Education week, each school had a window display in one of the down town stores which received may fine reports. Each parent group contributed to the success of the Community Conference on Education and have pledged their con- tinued support. Teacher-parent conference in the classroom, after school hours con- tinued to be successful and should be con- tinued.
Once again, no report would be complete without expressing the thanks to all who make our schools possible, the townspeople, the school committee, the superintendent, the teachers and finally the pupils. Each in
45
their own way have made many contribu- tions to the success of the past year and each play an important part in the hopes and desires for the year to come.
It is considered an extreme pleasure to work each day with and for such a loyal group.
Respectfully submitted BERTRAM H. BENNETT Burley - Shatswell, Principal
REPORT OF THE WINTHROP SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent, to the School Committee, and to the Town of Ipswich:
I hereby submit my report concerning activities in the Winthrop School during the year that has just passed, and a hope for successful accomplishments in the present school year.
A LOOK BACKWARD
Prescribed routine was followed as usual, patterned on the regular scheduled outlines of work for each particular grade. The spe- cific aim has been to place each child within his own particular level, educationally, ad- vancing him when completing the require- ments of one level, and placing him in an- other group in accordance with his ability. This procedure has allowed for the pupil's constant progress in every possible area of work.
The past year the Winthrop School has been divided into eight regular classrooms, with one room reserved for the Special Ed- ucation Class. The enrollment therefore has been slightly less than in former years, as there were only seventeen pupils in the Special Education Class.
The Special Education Class, directed by Mrs. Mary L. Williams, was the most out- standing change in our regular procedure. The pupils in this class, range in grades from one through six and it has been the aim of all Winthrop teachers to give each and every member of the Special Class as much help as possible whenever they were assigned to spend periods in the regular school grades. A detailed account of the
excellent work accomplished in this class instructor, Mrs. Williams.
Mrs. Evans, our Reading Supervisor, has will be found in an article written by the given much time and effort to improving the reading techniques of the individual pupils. Many conferences have been held with teachers and supervisors joining in friendly discussions concerning improved methods in the subject of proper develop- ment of reading skills. .
Another accomplishment of the year has been the final development of a new report card for the first six grades. A committee of teachers and parents, meeting at stated periods with Mr. McKenna, our guidance director, has finally submitted a method of marking, which all hope will prove to be both simple to understand and sufficiently informative.
Audio visual aids of every description have been used whenever our cramped facilities would allow. We are greatly in- debted to our Winthrop School Association for the purchase of a considerable num- ber of film strips especially adapted to the needs of Primary Grades.
All Supervisors have co-operated in their usual professional manner giving help wher- ever requested to do so. Methods of pro- ' cedure have been carefully explained to new teachers, and requested help given to those who have been here a longer periods of time.
The new penmanship system, accepted a year ago, has been introduced in the fifth grade this year, carrying on the teachings of the fourth grade. Whenever possible, field trips have received careful consider- ation, mostly locally.
Teachers and pupils alike regretted that our school nurse, Miss Richardson, who for many years had watched over the health of all, decided not to return in September. We have all missed her very much, but in turn have enjoyed working with her succes- sor, Miss DeMille who like Miss Richard- son, has been very co-operative and helpful in all of our health problems.
The Winthrop School has managed to survive without any great amount of finan- cial aid from the town in the matter of repairs. A few emergencies have arisen which the custodian, for the most part,
46
The old and new Winthrop Schools
has been able to handle. The expenditure of any great amount would have been rather wasteful if the building is to be vacated at the close of school in June.
The lunch room is still an important factor in the Winthrop School child life. An average of 150 children received well balanced hot lunches daily and were taught courtesy and consideration for the rights of other people. A word of thanks to the lunch room workers, who have been the means of keeping a smoothly run depart- ment.
A LOOK FORWARD
It is with a feeling of wishful hoping that the Winthrop staff glances through the windows toward the new construction now in progress at the rear of our school-a hope that possibly at this time next year we will be enjoying the advantages of nice new up-to-date building.
The staff present and past, has done its best to progress under rather adverse cir- cumstances, but we do feel that a new building, with all its new equipment, will present a very great challenge for the future success of the Educational System of Ipswich. However let it never be for-
gotten that a good teacher can teach any- where.
The progress made on the new building. as of the present, is unbelievable and it seems more than merely a hope that all will be ready for a new beginning in the Fall. That is the greatest wish of all who have been fortunate enough to receive an assign- ment to the "new Winthrop School".
In closing the principal extends sincere appreciation to all who have in any way helped to make the school year successful and especially to the School Committee and Superintendent sincere thanks for their assistance.
Respectfully submitted, LENA J. ATHERLEY Principal
REPORT OF THE GUIDANCE DIRECTOR
To the Superintendent of Schools, to the School Committee, and the Town of Ipswich:
Guidance does not actually begin or end at any one point nor is it confined to any one place. Guidance is concerned with
47
every phase of life which modifies the citi- zens of a community. Guidance is helping people to understand. Guidance promotes self understanding in the individual and betters understanding of other people and the individual's environment. Guidance is the respect for the dignity and worth of the individual with the understanding that every person should be given every oppor- tunity to develop to the limit of his capa- bilities.
Guidance is helping individuals help themselves by providing facts and informa- tion about the individual, the forces which modify him and the proceedures in making a decision to enable him to adjust to educa- tional, occupational, social, emotional, men- tal, moral and physical problems now and in the future.
A LOOK BACKWARD
The counseling interview, the most im- portant phase of guidance, was carried out as in the past and practically every student from the seventh grade through the twelfth grade was interviewed at least once.
Approximately sixty-five elementary pu- pils and their parents were interviewed in an attempt to understand the pupils his environment and the forces influencing him. About seventy or eighty per cent of the parents of seventh, eighth, and twelfth grade students were also interviewed. It is through this tremendous co-operation that the guidance program in Ipswich has been so successful.
The same tests used last year were again utilized and interpreted to those parents in- terested in the results and to those students in the high school who were interested in the results (approximately seventy-five per cent ) .
One part of a program to acquaint stu- dents not only with their abilities but also to acquaint them with the requirements of various careers is a planned series of speakers. The guidance department sponsors at least four speakers a month on a great variety of career fields.
As part of this program to better acquaint students with occupations and further training, trips have been taken to colleges, trade schools, nursing schools and industries.
A guidance record system has been kept
up-to-date to present each succeeding teacher and the guidance director with practically a case history of each youngster from grades one through twelve. Using these records, other counseling techniques, ob- servations, and most important of all the information given by the student himself, the student usually is capable of looking at his problem more objectively and makes a good decision based on known facts. These records are also of utmost value in working with parents and students in planning a long range high school academic program. Each student's high school academic program is carefully tailored to fit his goals in life. Each year this program is carefully evaluated again and revised if neccessary in light of changed goals or unexpected achievement.
This interest in each student does not cease at graduation but continues indefi- nitely. The guidance department carries out a follow up each year of those graduates who have been out of school one, three, and five years. In addition to this, another method was initiated this year. During Christmas vacation, letters were sent out to those who have graduated in the past two years to ascertain whether we could be of any further assistance and also to dis- cover if we could better prepare our present students for life. This was most successful, The guidance office is open all year round to give any information of assistance to any citizen of Ipswich and an average of two adults each week take advantage of this service.
The placement of graduates in the proper job and assisting them to get the proper future education and training is also an important phase of guidance. Everyone of last years' graduates, available for employ- ment, had a job they were satisfied with by the end of the summer. Some through their own efforts or the efforts of friends and cthers through the guidance department. Over fifty percent of last years' graduating class entered upon further education or training and these students received a total $18.410.00 worth of scholarships.
The placing in suitable jobs of the stu- dents who dropped out of school last year (about two percent), was more difficult and some still do not have suitable jobs. Placement for those students searching part
48
Community leaders of today and tomorrow
time employment was continued through the year. The guidance office in the high school received more calls last year than the year before and one hundred and ten stu- dents received placement in this manner.
The guidance office was open last sum- mer except for one month to give help to those searching permanent jobs, part time summer jobs, final admission to schcols and colleges and to continue to help some few students with personal problems through out the summer.
The Youth-Adult Community Council which was initiated last year became active and some of its accomplishments have been:
1. The setting up of some common sense suggestions for parents and youth in regard to accepted standards of behavior.
2. The setting up of some common sense suggestions for organizations con- ducting affairs for youth.
3. The setting up of over two hundred vocational and educational advisors from among the citizens of Ipswich to help students in their vocational and educational plans. A list of citi- zens representing many varied occu- pations and a list of graduates from practically every college in New England and a few major colleges
outside of New England are included. These people have volunteered to help students interested in their particular occupation or Alma Mater.
4. The organizing and sponsoring of a Youth Day in Ipswich in which the students take over the Town affairs for a day and learn how the Town operates.
5. In progress now is an attempt to see if more scholarships from local In- dustries and citizens can be obtained for Ipswich high graduates.
Some plans for the future are:
1. To organize work-exploratory experi- ences for youth with the co-opera- tion of business and Industry.
2. To hold additional open forums for public discussion of the needs and problems of the youth of Ipswich.
The guidance department sponsored an orientation program the last day of school in which all students went through a pro- gram similar to the one they would go through the first day of school the following September.
A survey has been made of all the refferal agencies available to the citizens of Ips- wich and a listing was compiled with name, service rendered, intake person, procedure and telephone number.
49
A LOOK AHEAD
A career planning night will be held to help the parents of eighth grade students plan their son or daughter's high school academic program in light of their career goals, the careers' requirements and their child's ability.
The possibility of cooperating with sev- eral other communities and setting up a Regional Mental Health Center is now un- der a study.
Conferences will continue as before and with the guidance director available every school day from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. and every evening from 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. to speak with parents, former students or any- one in the community.
The guidance program in Ipswich can be definitely termed a community guidance program. Take advantage of information we may have concerning Adult education courses, concerning qualified professional or business people who may be of help to you or testing which may help you in your career plans.
The support given the guidance program by the citizens of Ipswich, students, teachers, administrators and school com- mittee is greatly appreciated.
Respectively submitted, JAMES W. MCKENNA Guidance Director
REPORT OF THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools, to the School Committee, and the Town of Ipswich:
, A LOOK BACKWARD
In Grades I through V the vocal program following the unit approach as described in last year's report is proving very satisfac- tory. The outlines have been constantly evaluated and improved upon by the Super- visor, and the classroom teachers have been most cooperative in their efforts to assure steady progress in this phase of the Music Program.
Due to the unfortunate and inadequate circumstances which have prevailed since the start of the school year in September, it is regrettable to report that very little progress has been accomplished in the vocal
program in Grades VI through XII. The time element is the big stumbling block for those children on afternoon sessions in Grade VI. While this condition exists, it is im- practical to revise their vocal program and establish a standardized curriculum as sug- gested in last year's report. However, the new books and albums purchased last year for this grade have provided enthusiasm and incentive, and this, combined with the efforts of the classroom teachers, has greatly aided in making the Grade VI weekly vocal music period interesting and musically in- structive for the children at this age level. Although the new general music books pur- chased for Grades VII and VIII supplied the material equipment necessary to initiate a well-integrated junior high music pro- gram, the tight schedule would not permit the time for the introduction of such a broad and cultural program. However, these books have been utilized during the weekly music periods and they have certainly pro- vided the pupils with a new insight into musical education at this level. Vocal music in the High School is still very limited. Since September, we do have three segre- grated groups scheduled to meet once a week during the school day, but this is most unsatisfactory as these students can never meet as a group ; thus, the choral activities in these groups are restricted both in their stimulating and musical experiences.
During the past year, the instrumental program continued to expand in participa- tion, stimulating experiences and toward its eventual goal - a sound musical and educational organization. We now have three established instrumental groups par- ticipating at different levels of learning - the Beginning or Pre-Band, the Junior Band and the Senior Band. There are approxi- mately 170 children actively engaged in this program, and of this number, nearly 75 pupils are taking advantage of the pri- vate or semi-private instruction available at a minimum cost to the student.
Uniforms were purchased during the past year, and the Senior Band made its initial appearance as a uniformed organization at the annual Spring Festival. The opening of school in September presented the problem of developing a marching band to perform at the football games. It must be remem- bered that a band is first and foremost a
50
musical organization regardless of where it happens to be performing, and an adequate rehearsal schedule must be provided which will allow enough time to devote at least equal parts to marching and playing. The Senior Band has two rehearsal periods a week scheduled after school hours, and this is by no means adequate. Due to this handi- cap and because it is a difficult task for a large group of children to learn to march and perform even the most simple ma- neuvers while playing their instruments, your Supervisor wishes to commend the members of the Senior Band for their re- markable achievements during this past football season.
It would be impossible to turn our backs on the past year and go on to the future without first mentioning our highly suc- cessful Music Festival held for the first time in the Italian Gardens at Castle Hill. More than 400 pupils from Grades I through XII participated in this event, and these children should be commended for their excellent performance. At this time, we also wish to extend a special note of thanks to the administration and the staff members who cooperated so willingly in order to insure the success of this Festival. .
A LOOK FORWARD
During the coming year, we hope to see Grade VI back on regular session, and as soon as this becomes a reality, a standardized vocal curriculum will be established at this level. We are planning to introduce auto- harps in Grades I through XII. These are stringed instruments, which can be played by either the teachers or the students. If properly utilized, they can be used for solo or accompaniment and they will serve as aids in teaching songs to the children. After the autoharps are made available, there should be a marked improvement in the elementary vocal program. In the coming months, every effort will be made to effect improvements in the music program for those pupils in Grades VII and VIII, but we cannot develop a sound Junior High program until the conditions are more suita- ble. Music, other than instrumental, in the High School is practically a nonentity. Your Supervisor is very much concerned with the existing conditions, and something must be done about this problem in the very near future.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.