USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1945-1949 > Part 24
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12. Presentation of Diplomas Mr. A. Philip Erbeck Chairman of School Committee
13. Class Ode Norma Canzano
Class of 1947
14. Benediction Reverend Edward C. McClurg
15. Recessional-Memories L. Kenneth Manzer-Francis Hoyt
GRADUATES
Robert William Almquist Billino William D'Ambrosio
Gladys Elizabeth Ambrose
Robert Carroll Daley
Robert Wesley Anderson Ruth Emma Badger
Theresa Jule Dillenschneider
Harold Leroy Dunn, Jr.
Charles Elwood Baker Claire Adele Bemis
David Millet Emerson Natalie Irene Gummow
* Esther Mae Black Barbara Lucille Bourne Dorothy Pearl Byron Norma Teresa Canzano William Curtis Carrigan Jean Therese Craddock Rita Mae Crowley
Ilene Alice Gaffney Madeline Louise Grippen
* Robert William Hagglund
* Elizabeth Jane Hardinger Malcolm Henry Haskins, Jr. Dorothy Evelyn Hunter Janet Evelyn Johnson
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Myron Robert Lawson Francis Xavier MacHardy *Shirley Macomber Marjorie Louise MacTighe James Marzelli, Jr. Alfred Richard Michalowski Thomas Boardman Miles, Jr.
Clara Belle Moore
Helen Alberta Nickerson
Lance Richard Ohlson
Bernice May Pratt Elizabeth Lou Pross Lillian Marie Reid
*Gilbert Parker Robery Donald Randall Sherburne, Jr. William Stephen Twomey
*Shirley Wilbur Ruth Ellen Wood William Charles Rolfe
* Honor Students
CLASS ODE
Tune: "The Things We Did Last Summer" Words by Norma Canzano
The four years have been fun,
With honors that we've won,
But now the time has come to say goodbye.
Seems funny, but we'll miss you,
Because you're our Dear Howard High.
The joys that we have shared Can never be compared With those that we shall find within the new.
Because you see Dear Howard
We have to find them all without you.
We'll miss our teachers, too, And as we bid adieu, We'll ne'er forget our days with you.
Our hopes, our dreams, our life- You'll help us through this strife. From you we've learned to see them through.
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And so dear Howard High,
Now as we say goodbye, Our eyes are filled with fond and tender tears. And in our hearts we'll treasure-
These mem'ries all through the year.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Robert W. Hagglund Elizabeth Jane Hardinger Shirley Macomber Gilbert Parker Robery
Shirley Wilbur
Class of 1946 Kay Jewelry Knights of Pythias
Wm. J. and Anna Clifford Howard Parent-Teachers' Association
Mr. Arthur B. Lord, Jr. Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Mass.
Dear Mr. Lord:
I herewith submit my report as Principal of Howard High School for the calendar year of 1947.
A major change of far reaching importance took place late in September when the grade seven pupils of the Center School moved into the high school building. An undesirable teaching situation in the first grade of two grades and two teachers in the same room prompted the change. It was quite apparent from the beginning that such a move could not be made without loss to the high school pupils. The most serious of these result from the use of the library and chemical laboratory for regular classes and also the closing of the science lecture room to high school students. The seventh grade, on the other hand, has probably gained more than they have lost.
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In the following paragraphs are presented the reports of the many and varied activities of the school. In the main, these state- ments have been written by the teachers who are directly res- ponsible for them.
Assembly Programs
As a rule, the pupils of Howard High School initiate, plan, and execute assembly programs under faculty supervision. At the present time, there is an assembly committee consisting of two representatives from each grade. The committee plans the schedule which is developed and co-ordinated by various groups in the school, as the student council, classes, clubs, departments, etc.
The purpose of the assembly program is a meeting of the school pupils to work on common problems and to share mutual interest and experiences. Hence, group and school consciousness is developed as pupils have an opportunity to create, direct and participate. In this way, extra-curricular and curricular activities are integrated into the programs, which are fitted into the regular schedule of the school, usually once a week.
Class time is taken for the preparation only if a class is in- volved. Otherwise, the groups plan and rehearse during study time or after school.
Athletics
BOYS-The athletic program encourages as many boys as possible to participate on teams that represent the school in sports.
For example, sixty candidates came out for the Junior Var- sity Basketball squad. With few exceptions this squad is com- posed of the younger boys of the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades.
Started last year, this squad plays similar squads of neigh- boring schools. The boys learn in their impressionable years, the
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first fundamentals of team play, school spirit, competitive spirit, the correct ideas of sportmanship, and the will to win that are invaluable in later life.
Meanwhile thirty-five candidates tried out for the varsity squad. Those who lacked the ability to remain on the varsity squad were allowed to join the Junior Varsity Squad. These squads are flexible. The boy showing marked improvement in Junior Varsity play is moved up to the Varsity squad; while any boy on the Varsity squad not living up to expectations is moved down to the Junior Varsity squad for further development. This keeps the Varsity members on their toes and leaves a definite incentive for Junior Varsity members to work hard to make these Varsity Squads. With this plan in action. a larger number of boys were interested in trying out for our teams. Similar programs will be added for football and baseball. This winter a football clinic will be carried on for the younger boys.
GIRLS-Approximately 35 girls came out for the Girl's Bas- ketball team. From this number, two squads of ten each were selected to play a schedule of ten games with Avon, Holbrook, Middleboro, Oliver Ames, and Norton. With three veterans of last years' Varsity team and six veterans of the Jay-Vee squad, prospects look good for a successful season.
This program, although dependent on a minimum of funds obtained from football, basketball, and none from baseball, and in spite of the limited facilities of our gymnasium, is in the infant stage and some day with the program expanded to all sports as. well as a supervised intramural program, we hope that every boy and girl in the West Bridgewater School system will participate in some phase of the athletic program.
Cheerleading
The cheerleaders have a long season, serving both football and basketball games, and, in addition, they organize pep rallies
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and cheering practice sessions, so that the letters awarded to seven girls last June were well earned. The cheerleaders were to be commended, as are the girls this year, not only for their en- thusiastic contribution to morale, but also for the fact that they bought their costumes with their own money. It is the hope of the faculty sponsor that sometime soon the school or some inter- ested outside organization will help them financially.
Girls' League
The Girls' League sponsors a number of the school's social activities, the main events being a Halloween Party in the fall, and a Spring Dance.
The Halloween Party consists of a ghost walk, dancing, games, and refreshments. In the spring each girl invites a boy to the Spring Dance. The dance consists of the crowning of a queen, a grand march and dancing and refreshments.
Guidance
The present guidance program was organized to help the student in the recognition of his vocational, educational, avoca- tional, and personal problems and the planning of possible solu- tions to them. Every teacher in the school participates in the pro- gram during a period regularly scheduled once a week. The ac- tivities include counselor-directed group discussions, individual conferences between pupil and counselor, job information, and a diversified testing program. For the coming year a Career Day and a Guidance Library are being planned.
The Honor Society
In May, the Howard High School Chapter of the National Honor Society of the Secondary Schools was formed through the efforts of a committee of interested teachers. The object of this organization is "to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to sti-
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mulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in pupils of How- ard High School."
Household Arts
The Household Arts Department has had a most successful and productive year.
The ultimate goal of the girls is quite specific. They must understand the fundamentals of clothing selection, care, and con- struction. This means choosing a garment pattern with becoming lines and material appropriate. to the garment. They must be able to understand thoroughly the pattern directions given for put- ting the garment together and all the construction techniques necessary for a good-looking, well-fitting product. They must understand the proper care of clothing; that is, the repairing and altering, laundering and simple cleaning, necessary for good grooming.
Upon the completion of the advanced foods course, each girl must have a thorough knowledge of reading recipes intelligently, and preparing from them successful products with accuracy, neat- ness, and speed. Luncheon units are stressed. Each week from April to June a luncheon is put on with a faculty or parent guest. Each girl has an opportunity to act as hostess and as waitress. The duties of hostess involve planning the menu; doing all the marketing necessary; assigning the recipes each girl is to prepare for the luncheon, and checking on this preparation; writing the invitation to the guest, and looking out for her comfort; and keeping the table conversation going. The hostess is completely responsible for the success of the luncheon. The duties of the waitress are the cleaning of the silver; the correct setting of the table; and the proper techniques involved in both formal and semi-formal table service. Such experiences as these prove inval- uable to the girls.
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Each girl in the advanced class must complete three home- projects during the year. Last year some of the projects were: clothing construction; preparation of all meals for 1 week; Clean- ing all closets in the home; remodeling a bedroom; doing the laun- dry for 3 weeks; and other such tasks.
Orchestra
The basic reason for having an orchestra in Howard High School is to provide an opportunity for the expression of talents and skills. Thus, while our orchestra lays no claim to perfection, the members enjoy playing together. Simplified versions of great compositions acquaint the members with classic and semi-classical music. Young people, however, as a rule enjoy popular music more; and since professional arrangements are too intricate, the faculty sponsor does the orchestration of all the popular pieces in the repertoire. The orchestra performs at various school func- tions, such as pep rallies, assemblies and graduation.
Physical Education - "A sound mind in a sound body"
It is the purpose of any physical education program in a school to take care of the physical development of all of its pupils to the best of its ability, especially those who do not participate in sports for the school. It is necessary to make this majority feel that they too are allowed to participate in games against classmates of equal ability as well as the gifted few who represent the school in sports.
All the pupils in the school are examined by the School Phy- sician to determine their physical fitness to participate in the physical education program. Some can take the full course, some only limited participation, while still others cannot participate at all and are assigned to study halls. Those who participate in a limited form take corrective and special exercises.
The boys and girls are then divided into classes based upon physical ability, age groups, and school programs. These classes
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meet twice a week in the gymnasium. A typical class stresses calisthenics, ranger drills, races, and other types of exercises that tend to build up strength, agility, coordination, speed, and en- durance. Perfect execution of these drills is rewarded by games, dependent on the season and weather conditions. This allows everyone to participate in team play and learn the fundamentals of teamwork so necessary in life. A pupil can develop skills neces- sary to participate on school teams. This system is a motivator for good work in all phases of the program. A varied program stimulates interest and feeling of being a part of a well-planned program of the school.
Shop
This course is open to students from the eighth to the twelfth grades and is held in the basement of the Center School. The course is a popular one and is compulsory for grade eight but an elective for upper classmen. Although there are but six double benches with facilities for twelve students, such is the popularity of the subject that most classes run from twenty to twenty-two students.
The shop, like most other manual training shops, was set up primarily for woodworking and is equipped with the fundamental hand tools supplemented by a scroll saw, a ten-inch circular saw, a six-inch swing lathe and an eight-inch circular saw.
Student Council
This organization is growing more and more into an im- portant and stragetic position in the life of the school. Accom- panying this growth, the council is infinitely more active in plan- ning and carrying out many projects and has accepted more res- ponsibilities in a drive toward a more democratic institution. The group broadened their concepts of the work of student council and profited greatly by exchanges of ideas through attendance at
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Student Council Conferences at Rockland and Wellesley. Among the more significant projects are found lunchroom supervision, the sponsoring of a hospitality committee and the operation of a Student Court. Briefly, the first project is purely a self-governing proposition which relieves teachers with full schedules from police duty; the second, provides a means for extending friendly help to new students and visitors and to assist pupils who are ill and who have prolonged absences from school; the third, provides an ef- fective means of carrying certain projects through to completion and also to emphasize that everyone must assume responsibility for individual actions.
Visual Education
Visual Education was established as a separate department during the 1946-1947 school year. A budget was established in January 1947 for the purpose of securing motion pictures for use in the class rooms and for the purchase of film strips. Twelve new film strips produced by the Society for Visual Education were purchased early in the year as a neucleus for a library of Visual Aids to be available to all members of the Faculty of the High School. In addition, six film strips were already on hand. One strip covering the development of railroads was obtained without charge from the Association of American Railroads. In June the graduating class presented the school with four additional strips designed for use in the United States History courses.
Numerous sound motion pictures were procured between January and June for use in nearly all of the subject matter fields. The school discontinued use of a single source of motion pictures and booked pertinent films from several sources. This practice seemed to provide a more varied program. Castle Films, Inc., supplied many free films, these being largely applicable to Household Arts and the Shop courses. Several films of general in- terest were shown in assemblies under the sponsorship of the Operator's Club and the Guidance Department.
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A shortage in the Visual Education budget has forced some curtailment of motion picture usage during the Fall term of 1947. Several films have been booked for use in connection with the Guidance program and the Social Studies Department has used five films during this period. Use of the Film Strip Library has been quite extensive during the several months since the opening of the school year. It is planned to enlarge this library further by the completion of several integrated sets of film strips as well as the addition of a few separate strips. These film strips have greater instructional value than do the motion pictures since they are readily available for instructional use and may be thoroughly integrated with the subject matter of a course of study.
Clubs
The club program was organized to enrich the educational experiences of the pupils in the school and to achieve results not readily available in the atmosphere of the more formal classroom. Among the major objectives of this program are (1) the widen- ing and deepening of student interests, (2) the development of desirable social attitudes, ideals, and habits and (3) the enrich- ment of classroom work.
The clubs are regularly scheduled in school time, some of them meeting every week while others meet every other week. The frequency of these meetings depend largely upon both tea- cher's and pupil's activity loads, the interests of the group, and the amount of work to be achieved.
The clubs functioning during the past year are:
Aeronautics Auto Driver's
Nature
Operator's
Boy's Cooking
Pep
Camera Dramatic
Personality
Personal Typewriting
English Activities Music
Printing
Sewing
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Special Activities
Classes and individual pupils of the school have enriched and developed their educational experiences through participa- tion in activities of a special nature. These activities include the American Legion State-Wide Oratorical Contest, the Tri-Town Prize Speaking Contest, the High School Town Meeting of the Air, the Founders' Day Essay Contest, the Edison Essay Contest and the Annual Magazine Drive.
In conclusion, I wish to thank everyone who has worked with me in the difficult and important task of administering to the educational needs of the pupils within school.
Respectfully submitted,
NILS G. LINDELL, Principal
Mr. Arthur B. Lord, Jr. Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Mass.
Dear Mr. Lord:
Each year at the Center School we hope to raise funds for some worthwhile cause. This year we conducted a magazine drive which was very successful. The purpose of the drive was to earn money with which we could buy athletic equipment. Our attempt was very successful and each grade was provided with some play- ground equipment. The problems on the playground were min- imized and the playground program became more extensive.
In the spring we hope to have a musical program at the town hall. The proceeds of this entertainment will be spent in build- ing up a film and record library. This equipment is an integral
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part of a school program now that the importance of audio-visual aids is realized.
An evening entertainment which was scheduled by the Gen- eral P.T.A. was prepared but the prevalence of sickness prevented us from conducting the program. In place of this program an afternoon program was given in observance of Memorial Day. From this program we learned that there was need for more as- sembly programs for the children. This part of their training is lacking because of inadequate facilities.
The last entertainment held at the town hall was our Christ- mas program. Each grade participated and every child possible was given an opportunity to appear before the group. There was evidence of great improvement in general behavior. Parents were guests at this entertainment and also at others which have been given.
The Center School pupils participated in the Art Contest sponsored by the Jerusalem P.T.A. Each child entered a poster and several prizes were awarded to this school. I wish to con- gratulate the Jerusalem P.T.A. for sponsoring such a worthwhile event.
Due to the transfer of the seventh grade to the high school, the long-awaited change was made possible. I am referring to the separation of the first and second grades. Activities which are so important in those grades are now carried on successfully.
I should like to take this opportunity to stress the need for the Child Welfare Services in our schools. This agency has been most helpful to teachers, parents, and pupils in solving problems. I sincerely hope that this agency will be able to continue the good work being done in West Bridgewater.
This year the number of pupils from our schools admitted to the Reading Clinic in Brockton has been reduced. The need
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for a Remedial Reading teacher is felt even more because of this. Such a teacher would be able to give valuable aid to teachers and pupils alike.
In closing, I should like to say that this year has been a suc- cessful and enjoyable one because of the excellent cooperation on the part of the teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD J. FARRELL, Principal
Mr. Arthur B. Lord, Jr. Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Mass.
Dear Mr. Lord:
Nineteen forty seven closes another pleasant and successful year both academically and socially at the Sunset Avenue School.
Our aim is to deal with the individual child and to coordin- ate his social life and his academic work to develop a well rounded personality and thereby prepare the child for good citizenship.
Much of our success in remedial reading is due to the earnest effort and interest of Mrs. Blanchard and Mrs. Horrigan. Many pupils, who heretofore had difficulties in this subject are showing marked interest and progress. Libraries for supplementary read- ing have been installed in each room, and this has promoted interest in reading.
Our social life this year has included a variety of activities by which recreation and opportunity for developing talents are provided. By means of these activities, each pupil's character, self-confidence and poise are developed.
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As in the past, assemblies are held once each month and here pupils are given a chance to exercise leadership as each room, in turn, is responsible for a program but with the increased enroll- ment we find ourselves cramped for room at our assemblies.
A newly organized boys' chorus for boys from nine to twelve years old is under the supervision of Mrs. Horrigan. Soft ball and folk dancing in the lower grades are taught by Mrs. Blanchard and Mrs. Garvey.
We intend to organize and build up an orchestra in the near future as a result of instrumental music taught at the school Friday afternoons.
The Girls' Citizenship Club from grades six and seven took charge of providing non-profit hot lunches last winter and spring. Parents furnished much of the materials and utensils used but here again we were handicapped for room and means of cooking. The Lions' Club of West Bridgewater came to our rescue and had a gas range installed in the basement of the school and for this we are very grateful. We hope that in the near future we will be able to fix up a kitchen and again serve lunches but another problem confronts us. Pupils must be supervised when preparing lunches and no teacher can take time from classes under the present crowded conditions.
When school opened in September, the pupil load per teacher was fairly well distributed although each teacher had two grades. Now it has been necessary to divide grade four between two teachers because of the number of new pupils which have entered from other towns. The housing of pupils next year seems to be an unsolved problem as grades three and four will have about thirty pupils each. If the other grades continue to enlarge, there will not be room to even seat them, say nothing of teaching them.
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We are fortunate in having such cooperative experienced teachers and to them we owe our success.
THERESA MILLER, Principal
Sunset Avenue School
Mr. Arthur B. Lord, Jr. Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Lord:
Fifty children began their school activities at the Cochesett School. Some of the children in the third grade had lost many days of school because of the diphtheria epidemic. Eight children were left in the primary room, with the hope that review work would bring them up to the third grade standard. Two children quickly made the adjustment and they have gone up to the third grade. Others are making progress within their mental levels.
We keep a close watch on the health of our children. Daily checks are made. We appreciate the help of Mrs. Hewitt. Through visits to the homes made by her, we have gained the help of the parents. These contacts have benefited us and the children.
A quiet time for children to learn to listen to the beauty of instrumental music is enjoyed each Friday morning from nine- fifteen to nine-thirty over W.B.Z.
Our days are full. We have two definite aims:
1. To teach the children to grow in the mastery of the tools of learning.
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2. To teach the children to grow in appreciation of the blessings and advantages of the home, the school and their country.
Respectfully submitted,
ELIZABETH W. NELSON, Principal
Cochesett School ยท
Mr. Arthur B. Lord, Jr. Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Mass.
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