USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1957-1961 > Part 30
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Since these pupils are all of high ability, there is inherent in the situation a high degree of competition which we antici- pate will result in a deeper knowledge of all subjects. The four years of English, for example, should effect far better prepara- tion than can be procured in classes composed of pupils with mixed abilities. If colleges are going to be faced with a short- age of space and if the numbers seeking entrance will be so great that colleges will have to be more selective, then we must prepare for that challenge.
Preparation for education beyond high school is not lim- ited to this group. In all, 102 of 150 freshmen are in the college preparatory division.
Slow Learners
Pupils who find it difficult to maintain the pace of a regu-
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lar class have been given special consideration by laws passed by the General Court in the last five years. Those with in- telligence quotients of 50-79 are classified as retarded but educable, while those whose tests indicate an intelligence quo- tient of 20-49 are considered retarded but trainable. Children who register below the 20 mark are custodial cases and are the responsibility of the State Department of Health rather than that of a local school system.
The Southbridge school system uses the following proce- dure: If a child shows through achievement and group testing that he may belong to either of the retarded groups and if his adjustment to his situation in a regular class seems to coincide with the testing results, the case is brought to the attention of the principal of the building who, in turn, requests that the pupil be given an individual test.
Information on general testing, class achievement, social adjustment, and individual testing are then brought to the at- tention of the Superintendent of Schools who, with the assist- ance of the Guidance Director, makes the final decision on class assignment. This decision must stand because every precau- tion will have been taken to protect the welfare of the child in question and the group of which he has been a member.
There are two classes for slow learners in Southbridge, both in the retarded but educable classification. Eighteen pu- pils whose ages range from 7-12 form one group, and thirteen whose ages range from 13-16 form the second. The law limits membership in such a class to eighteen.
According to the latest census, there are seven children in the trainable classification in Southbridge, and attempts are being made constantly to obtain a teacher for this group. Of twenty-one graduate students preparing for this special type of work at Fitchburg State Teachers College, only three are planning to teach pupils in the trainable category. Since Fitchburg is the chief source of supply of such teachers, the three preparing to teach next September will have numerous offers; but the Southbridge School Committee is determined to do all it can to interest a qualified teacher in the Southbridge opportunity.
Renovations and New Furniture
The following renovations and purchases of new furniture were made during the year:
1. During the past summer the last of four sanitary rooms planned for the high school was completed. This project has been in progress for four years, and the antiquated, dingy facilities that were in use at that time have been re- placed by modern, newly painted and well-lighted rest rooms, two for boys and two for girls.
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2. The large room on the third floor of Mary E. Wells High School, previously known as the Study Hall, has been par- titioned so that we now have an adequate room for visual aids as well as ample space for a library. The proposed library is furnished for the purpose. Unfortunately, it must still be used as a homeroom and as a study hall because of crowded conditions.
3. The Chemistry and Physics Laboratory has been renovated and furnished with the most modern equipment. This was a long step forward.
4. A new small room with a seating capacity for twenty pupils has been created in the rear of the typing room, thereby lessening scheduling difficulties.
5. New lights have been installed in five rooms bringing the total for the project begun two years ago to ten. It is planned to make similar improvements in four rooms this year and to continue until the building is properly equipped with lighting facilities throughout.
6. Three classrooms were refurnished this year. In all, includ- ing the proposed library and the science laboratory, thir- teen rooms now have furniture purchased during the past four years.
7. A piano was purchased for the auditorium. The old piano is being repaired for supplementary use, and a new curtain has been ordered for the stage. The Class of 1958 donated $100 toward the new curtain.
8. The refurnishing of Charlton Street School was completed with the purchase of two rooms of furniture.
9. The inside of Eastford Road School was weather-proofed, bringing to an end the seepage of moisture during bad weather, which was a troublesome problem. More work was done to extend the playing surface in the yard of this school.
10. Fire escapes have been installed in the basement of Mech- anic Street School in accordance with a request made by the Chief of the Fire Department.
School Safety
As this report is being written, recommendations from the State Building Inspector are being prepared as a result of a two-day visit paid by him to the Southbridge school buildings. Preliminary conversations with him indicate that considerable changes within our buildings will have to be undertaken if we are to meet state safety requirements. These changes will in- clude the construction of fire screens in some buildings, the re- placement of fire screens in others, the installation of screen glass in classroom doors to replace plain glass, and the provision of a fire-proof storage space under Charlton Street School. It is
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impossible to estimate costs at this time, but the work will have to be done, or the buildings will not be licensed for school purposes.
Teacher Recruitment
The acquisition of teachers to replace those who resign or retire is becoming increasingly difficult. At the moment, we know that there will be six vacancies at the end of this year and have, at this time, succeeded in filling but two of them. This is a serious matter because most college seniors interested in teaching are committed before February first. We have two teachers on leave working with army children in Europe, and their return in the fall will be most welcome. With the usual number of resignations anticipated at the close of the school year, however, the problem must be obvious to everyone.
REPORT OF MARY E. WELLS HIGH SCHOOL
DR. JAMES M. ROBERTSON, Principal
In accordance with your request, my twenty-second annual report as Principal of the Mary E. Wells High School is hereby submitted.
The enrollment for the year 1958-1959, as of October, is divided as follows: Seniors-99, Juniors-127, Sophomores- 156, Freshmen-151, Eighth Graders-132, Veterans-2, making a total of 667 students.
Program of Studies
Diplomas are granted upon completion of three different courses; namely, Academic, Commercial, and Civic-Social.
Seventy-three pupils were graduated on June 15, 1958, and their names are included in this report for the information of interested citizens.
Class of 1958
*Joseph Frank Adamick
*Jean Phyllis Anderson ¡Vivian Theresa Anderson ¡Alice Thomas Bellos *Carol Elaine Bernard +Chrisanthe Billis ¡Marjorie Bliss
+Alanson Gray Bowen, Jr. ¡Richard Kenneth Bozzo ¡Marilyn Anne Bucknam ¡Madeleine L. Caplette ¡Rita Ann Carmel
George James Chicoloff Stefanos Chrisikos
*Jacalyn Andrea Collette
*Judith Ann Collette
*Susan Kathleen Colognesi
*Marvin Fred Cook
*Ronald Melvin Cotton John Michael H. Curboy
+Walter Edward Damian Judith Mary Davis James Louis Diorio
*Mary Blanche Dragon
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John Francis Farland ¡Joseph W. Fitzpatrick, Jr. ¿Kathleen Ann Gallery *Susanne Yvonne Girard David Franklin Harrald
*Maryellen Elizabeth Higgins Carol Joyce A. Jankowski
*Joan Sandra Jolda John Dimitri Jovan Thomas Edwin Knowles
*Rona Louise Kress Raymond Roch Lafleche
*Carol Ann Lamontagne
*Karen Madeline Lavoie Christie Dhosi Lazo
*Victor Adelard Lefebvre Rose Emma Leveille *Wanda Victoria Liro ¡Curtis Charles Litchfield
¿Susan Ellen McMaster
*Gilbert Monroe Martin
*Richard Henry Mathews Noella Clair Miller Rebecca Louise Miller Pauline Rose Millette
*Dorothy Ann Orlowski *Linda Gertrude Powers
*Dorothy Ann Remian Michael Kenneth Ryan *Joseph A. J. Salviuolo John Francis Serleto, Jr. Sharon-Lee Simpson
+Helen Ann Skarani Patricia Louise Smith ¡Marion Snow
*Carol Ann Soldani
*Florence Jennie Steplowski
¿Sandra Ann Strenk Robert Joseph Sullivan Sylvia Muriel Sweet
*Jeanine Patricia Tetreault Paul Noe Tetreault Constance R. Tremblay ¡Jean Edith Undergraves Frank Anthony Utakis Anne Judith Volpini
¡Judith Paine Wood
*Harold John Xanthakos
*Philip Roman Zelazo
*General Average of 80% or above for four years ¡Members of the National Honor Society
The Southbridge Plan
An enriched program for rapid learners was inaugurated this year. The plan calls for a careful screening of ninth grade pupils. I. Q. tests, aptitude and achievement tests, and out- standing ability in all elementary school subjects were the fac- tors used in selecting twenty-four students to undertake the program. Each pupil carries five major subjects each year while in high school and adds more advanced studies than usual in the senior year. The program is as follows:
9th Grade
English I Algebra I College Science Latin I Plane Geometry
10th Grade
English II Algebra II Biology
Latin II French I
11th Grade
English III
Trigonometry (1/2 yr.) Solid Geometry (1/2 yr.)
Chemistry
French II World History
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12th Grade English IV Advanced Mathematics (Calculus and
Differential Equations) French III United States History Physics
Twenty-four pupils were selected with the approval of the parents of these pupils. One pupil was dropped from the pro- gram in December 1958, but all other pupils are carrying the program successfully at the present time.
Improvements in the School Plant
There have been several major improvements in the school building. These include:
1. A second girls' lavatory installed on the basement floor.
2. Additional lockers purchased and installed on the second floor, bringing the total number of lockers to 330, affording locker space for 660 students.
3. Three additional rooms equipped with modern movable furniture; namely, rooms 110, 112, and 216.
4. The installation of modern lights in five rooms.
5. A remodeled science laboratory.
6. New furniture for the library.
Junior Red Cross
The Junior Red Cross is a service organization. This group, under the supervision of Miss Shirley Demerjian, gives aid and cheer to the destitute, the ill, and the unfortunate.
The work of this group with the veterans' organizations supplements the tremendous tasks carried on by the local, state, and national patriotic and philanthropic groups. In addi- tion, the work of the Junior Red Cross is concerned with prob- lems other than those of a local or national level. They have filled chests with supplies and have sent them to needy indi- viduals of other nations.
Guidance Department
The work of the Guidance Department will be covered in the report of the Guidance Director, Mr. Gilbert Lamarre.
The Commercial Course
The commercial program includes: typewriting, bookkeep- ing, comptometry, filing, office practice, and all general busi- ness courses. The cooperative program with industry is still in operation. The course takes place in the last semester of the senior year and permits pupils to alternate work weeks with instruction weeks. The girls, four units of them, take places in reliable business institutions and have found this program most beneficial.
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The equipment of the Commercial Department is kept at maximum efficiency. This year one IBM Key Punch Type 26 was rented and installed in the calculating room so that a limited number of business students can be trained to meet the needs of local industry. Each pupil has training for one period a day for five weeks which is equivalent to twenty-five hours. A total of fifteen pupils are able to receive this min- imum amount of training this year.
The College Preparatory Course
The college preparatory course prepares students for all leading universities and colleges in the country. Many of the pupils receive large scholarships, a tribute to their own indus- try and a tribute to the excellent instruction of their teachers. Students from this course have entered such leading institu- tions as: Cornell, Connecticut College for Women, Brown Uni- versity, College of the Holy Cross, Tufts, Dartmouth, Uni- versity of Massachusetts, Boston University, University of Michigan, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clark University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Smith College, Mount Holyoke, Welles- ley College, Simmons College, Columbia University, University of Connecticut, University of New Hampshire, Williams Col- lege, Colorado College, Ohio State University, The College of New Rochelle, California Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State College, North- eastern University, Westminster College, Bates, Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Colby College, Purdue Uni- versity, Carnegie Institute of Technology, plus most of the leading business colleges and nursing schools.
The Eighth Grade
The eighth grades of the school system are still housed in the high school building. This year it has been necessary, be- cause of increased enrollment, to have four eighth grade homerooms in the Wells High School building plus one class of eighth graders housed at Charlton Street School. The pupils receive the program opportunities of the high school, and they are eligible for all high school activities, including sports.
Student Council Activities
The Student Council of the Mary E. Wells High School plays an important part between students and administration. This organization is under the direction of Miss Rose Brodeur. The values of the organization are manifold.
1. Pupils participate in or manage extra-curricular affairs.
2. Responsibility, initiative, and leadership are developed.
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3. Proper student-faculty relations are promoted.
4. Training in worthy citizenship is furnished.
5. The general welfare of the school is promoted.
6. The internal administration of the school is aided.
The Fred E. Corbin Chapter of the National Honor Society
The local chapter of the National Honor Society, named in honor of the late Mr. Fred E. Corbin, inducted thirty-one mem- bers during the past year. The most recent induction was hon- ored by Mr. Weldon Schumacher, President of the American Optical Company, who spoke at the ceremonies.
The following young people have been inducted into the society during the past year:
March 1958
Seniors Joseph Adamick Richard Bozzo
Rita Carmel
Marilyn Bucknam
Maryellen Higgins
Curtis Litchfield Joseph Salviuolo
Marion Snow Jean Undergraves
November 1958 Seniors Leo Boucher Gordon Hackett
Juniors
Kathryn Berry Margaret Bumpus Elisabeth Coderre Patricia Duclos Jacqueline Lapointe Elaine Robida
Joan Rubenstein
Peter Ryan
Juniors Linda Ashton Rita Belanger Stuart Bowen Dorothy Damian Bruce Guardiani Margaret Hughes Susan Koprowski Dolores Lach Judith Page Nancy Palmerino Marion Postemski Ursula Szydlik
Assemblies
Assemblies are held every other week. These assemblies are of immense value to any student body inasmuch as they are not only educational but explore the various phases of school life. Furthermore, they widen and deepen the interest of the pupils and serve as a means of developing public opinion and appreciation. The types of assemblies fall into many cate- gories, such as:
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1. Education
2. Music
3. Rallies
4. Drama
5. Club Programs
6. Movies
7. Entertainment
8. Honor Society Installation
9. Science
10. Commerce and Business
11. Observance of Special Days
12. Guidance
The assemblies are held in the auditorium of the high school.
Recommendations
There are several recommendations I would like to make at this time:
1. That the town look to the future and purchase land for the erection of a six-year high school. Suitable sites for such a school are being sold and developed for other purposes.
2. That a teacher-librarian be appointed.
3. That more lockers be installed until enough are fur- nished to take care of all pupils' personal belongings, coats, rubbers, etc.
4. That the industrial arts program be expanded in order that those pupils who are not interested in a trade education may have the benefit from allied courses.
5. That a biology laboratory be installed so that pupils may conduct experiments to increase their interest in the subject.
6. That money be appropriated for assembly programs.
7. That after ten years of consecutive service, teachers and administrators be given a sabbatical leave at full pay for professional study or travel.
8. That a yearly allotment of not less than $1,500 be appropriated for the band-an unusually worthy group which has been forced to be self-supporting.
I wish to express my appreciation to the townspeople for their continued efforts in behalf of the Mary E. Wells High School, and I extend my thanks to the School Department for support.
*
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY EXTENSION AND EVENING VOCATIONAL COURSES
DR. JAMES M. ROBERTSON, Director
Classes in evening vocational subjects were offered again
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this year and proved to be very well attended. The following vocational classes were started in November:
Elementary Sewing Two classes
Children's Clothing One class
Advanced Dressmaking
One class
Tailoring
One class
Cooking
One class
University Extension classes were offered in the commer- cial and academic fields:
Elementary Typewriting
Parts I and II One class
Elementary Russian
Part I One class
These classes were conducted under the supervision of the State Department of Education and were instructed by ac- credited teachers.
Other classes in the vocational, commercial, and academic fields will be offered when the demand for them is sufficient to form such classes.
REPORT OF COLE TRADE HIGH SCHOOL
RAYMOND L. W. BENOIT, Director
The problem of space, which would meet the needs of the evergrowing list of candidates who wish to enter the Cole Trade High School, still remains to be solved. We again invited the building specialist from the Boston Office of Vocational Education to assist us with this problem. We have submitted a plan which has been approved by the State Department and will satisfy the needs of the Townspeople. This plan is being submitted for the approval of the Townspeople.
This school year we complied with the wishes of the School Committee and made sure that any qualified local boys were given preference. In spite of this, we still had a "waiting list" of boys, all of whom have been absorbed at this time.
We were given permission by the Department of Voca- tional Education to substitute Academic Algebra I for Indus- trial History. This change means that we are now offering Academic Algebra I, Plane Geometry and Trigonometry, as well as Related Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry.
Cabinetmakers George Edward Butler Joseph Edward Gauthier Russell Arthur Marand Joseph Andrew Perron
Draftsmen
George Alfred Beaupre
Richard D. Courtemanche Alfred R. DiBonaventura Bernard Paul Karbowski
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Arthur Donald Lafortune Ronald Eugene Tremblay
Electricians
Febo Ciccotelli
Raymond Leo Freniere Richard Victor Garceau Edwin Charles Griggs
Joseph Normand Prunier
Machinists
Kenneth Wilfred Comeau Paul Gervasi, Jr.
John Vincent Kopas, III Edward Allen Partlow Lee Armand Partlow
Metalsmiths
Bernard M. Beauregard Carl Edward Buckner Douglas Curt Detarando Roger Ludger Larochelle
Class Officers
President
Alfred DiBonaventura
Vice President
Ronald Tremblay
Treasurer
Lee Armand Partlow
Secretary Carl Buckner
Class Advisor
Mr. Robert V. Beals
Awards
American Legion Post 31 Award (Good Citizenship)
Director's Gold "C"
Lee Armand Partlow Joseph Gauthier
English
Bernard Karbowski
History Bernard Karbowski
Mathematics Alfred DiBonaventura
Science
Alfred DiBonaventura
Cole Trade High Evening School Division
Woodworking
Mr. David F. Knight 21
Drafting
Mr. George H. Braman 28
Machine
Mr. Edwin J. Waskiewicz 13
Furniture Refinishing
Mrs. Margaret B. Baybutt
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Mr. Antonio Orsini 15
Apprentices
Mr. Frank P. Skinyon 11
120
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In conclusion, I thank the Townspeople, the School Com- mittee, the Advisory Board, the Superintendent of Schools, the Faculty, the Office Staffs, and our Custodian for their valuable aid in helping to make the Vocational Education program a success in the Town of Southbridge.
* *
REPORT OF SCHOOL HEALTH DEPARTMENT LOTTIE A. LE BLANC, R. N. Public School Nurse I herewith submit the report of the School Health Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1958.
Nine hundred and seven physical examinations were given to public school children. As a result, one hundred and four defects were found and notices were mailed to parents for their immediate attention. The reasons for these defects were: teeth, feet, throat, skin, hernia, obesity, eyes, ears, heart, and posture.
There were three hundred and seventy-nine visits made to the various public schools. On these visits many activities are performed, such as physical examinations, vision tests, hearing tests, first aid, conferences with school personnel, in- spection of heads, conferences with students, and accurate recordings on Health Records. The Massachusetts Vision Test, required under the State Law, was completed in all schools. One thousand three hundred and twenty-four pupils were screened and eighty-two notices were mailed to parents inform- ing them of their failures in passing the vision test. The Massa- chusetts Hearing machine which is the group, pure-tone test instrument was used in testing one thousand six hundred and sixty-five pupils. Seventy-three who failed to make a perfect score were retested individually, and seventy-three notices were mailed to parents informing them of their child's failing the hearing test. First Aid was rendered to two hundred and fifty pupils. Two hundred and thirty-seven home visits were made and two thousand nine hundred and eighteen confer- ences were held in reference to school health problems.
One hundred and sixty-nine pupils received dental care at the Dental Clinic. Three hundred and sixty-four children re- ceived regular inoculations, and four hundred and eighty-three received booster doses at the Toxoid Clinics given at the Town Hall. Parents are now aware of the value of this treatment for the prevention of diphtheria, and each year we find that more children have been immunized before they enter school. Regis- tration of pre-school children was conducted by the Board of Health and the School Health Department. A total of two hun- dred and thirty-eight children registered for the first grade, plus twenty-five more who registered at a later date.
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The State Law, prohibiting the employment in schools of persons with tuberculosis, made it necessary to have the paro- chial and public school personnel X-Rayed. A mobile unit pro- vided by the Southern Worcester County Health Association rendered this service for two hundred and forty-four persons on December 19 in the Town Hall. This included school per- sonnel from Sturbridge and Charlton.
The Salvation Army made it possible to send three needy children to Camp Wonderland, Sharon, Massachusetts, and a prominent club in Southbridge, Massachusetts, sponsored a needy child to attend Camp Lemieux for a week in Leicester, Massachusetts.
Also through this office, our needy children were cared for. Clothing was furnished to fifteen children during the year; lenses were secured for four; hot lunches were provided for four; five were seen by an eye specialist; eight were referred for dental care; one was seen by an ear specialist; and a ton- sillectomy was performed by one of our local physicians, who donated his services. Two children were referred to the State Crippled Children's Clinic; one was provided with a hearing aid and referred to the Worcester Hearing League for Lip Read- ing Classes.
The Census of the Blind and the Census of the Physically Handicapped Children were completed and forwarded to the Board of Education. The report of the Hearing Conservation Program, and the report of the Vision Conservation Program were forwarded to the Department of Public Health. Six home teachers were provided for physically handicapped children unable to attend school. Clear Type books were ordered from the Massachusetts Division of the Blind for two children. A Talking-Book machine was ordered from the Department of Education for a child, and an appointment was made for a child to be tested at the Belchertown State School.
Students, in grades five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve were given the opportunity to particpate in the diabetic survey. A total of two thousand and fifty-six students took advantage of this service. One thousand three hundred and twelve students from the public schools, and seven hun- dred and forty-four students from the parochial schools parti- cipated. Two children were referred to their family physician for further study.
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