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 1955-1959 > Part 43
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Our Guidance Department is functioning satisfactorily. Through the able direction of Mr. Roger G. Viens, our students can obtain all necessary information for college admissions. Fur- thermore, a complete testing program is given to all students in the eighth and eleventh grades.
In view of the fact that our football teams are scheduled to play schools which are larger than ours, we have been able to make a good accounting of our abilities. Our basketball and baseball teams have also done well. Most important, however, is the fact that our girls and boys have always conducted themselves as real
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sports whether they win or lose. This is certainly a tribute to the players and to their coaches.
The school band and majorettes continue to do well. Mr. Walter B. Lewis does a good job with the band, majorettes, orchestra, and choir, in addition to all the other vocal and instru- mental classes in all the schools. It would seem that Mr. Lewis is in need of assistance in attempting to perform these many duties.
The art department continues to give pupils good training as is demonstrated by the many works of art which have been com- pleted. Another large Christmas painting was completed for our school library window. We are fortunate to have the services of Mr. William A. Rathbun, who is always very cooperative and talented.
Our driver training program has been operating beyond ca- pacity for two years. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to continue under our present plan since each pupil must have a minimum of thirty (30) clock-hours of class work and twelve (12) clock-hours of practice driving instruction, six hours as observer and six hours as student driver. If this program is not enlarged, we shall soon have to restrict the course to seniors only. Mr. Floyd G. Folsom has been doing a good job and has been commended for his fine training. Practically all of his trainees successfully pass the driver test which is given by the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
The school lunch program continues to increase in the num- ber of pupils participating. We have served as many as 963 hot lunches in one day. This is remarkable since there are only 1084 pupils in the school system.
Since the program started in September, 1952, we have charged twenty-five cents for each lunch. Due to a constant rise in food and labor costs and a decrease in surplus commodities, we must increase the price per lunch or seek an appropriation from the town to subsidize the program.
The lunch room manager, Mrs. Emma Marzelli, has done a wonderful job in attempting to keep food costs down. I must congratulate both Mrs. Marzelli and her assistant, Mrs. Emily Teixeira, for their fine work.
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Our enrollment has increased again this year. We graduated 41 seniors and enrolled 110 seventh grade pupils. For the past three years, we have been able to accommodate these increases with no additional teachers or classrooms. However, the time has come when we need both. Practically all the teachers have had their assignments increased to the point where their programs are such that no further assignments can be made. In fact, some have programs which are considered by educational experts to be overloaded.
It is true, however, that some of the classes in the special areas in the upper grade levels are small and more pupils can be added to these classes. However, the basic subjects in all the lower grades are at or beyond capacity. More teachers must be added in another year. Furthermore, next year the auditorium, cafeteria and student activity room will be brought into use as classrooms or study rooms.
In conclusion, I wish to thank all those who assisted me in the performance of my duties. I must again commend the Boost- ers Club for its great assistance to the school, particularly at ath- letic contests, and its continued interest in our extracurricular program. The donation of their labors and the profits from all their undertakings to the pupils is greatly appreciated by all of us.
I wish to thank you, Mr. Merrill, for your guidance, under- standing and cooperation throughout the school year.
Respectfully submitted,
PETER J. SPERANDIO Principal
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Commencement Exercises WEST BRIDGEWATER HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1958 West Bridgewater, Massachusetts June 12, at seven o'clock
CLASS OFFICERS
President
Robert G. Linehan
Vice President
Jane A. Foye
Secretary
Judith A. Gour
Treasurer
Thomas A. O'Toole
Colors: Blue and White
Motto: "God is my strength; knowledge is my power."
AWARDS
The Faculty Award in Athletics Roy F. Jackson
Boosters Athletic Award Edward S. Moses
Good Citizenship - Daughters of the American Revolution Judith A. Gour
The Balfour Award - Scholarship, Loyalty and Achievement Robert G. Linehan
Science - The Bausch and Lomb Optical Company Robert G. MacDonald
The Class of 1957 Scholarship Robert G. MacDonald
The Parent-Teachers Association Scholarship Margaret M. Sweeney
St. Ann's Parish Scholarship J. David Cabral
West Bridgewater Teachers' Association Scholarship
Paula Anne Bumpus, W. Gregg Anglim, Robert G. Linehan
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West Bridgewater Grange Scholarship Edward S. Moses
The William J. Howard and Anna Clifford Howard Scholarship Thomas A. O'Toole
West Bridgewater Mothers Club Scholarship Judith E. Rudine
West Bridgewater Police Association Scholarship Donald E. Seager
PROGRAM
Processional - "Triumphant"
Band
Herfurth
Invocation - Reverend Francis S. Shea
Music - "I'll Walk With God"
Choir
Brodszky
Address - "Appreciation - What For?" Mr. John J. Millane Senior Supervisor of Secondary Education Massachusetts State Dept. of Education
Music - "Hymn of Freedom" Choir and Band Brahms
Presentation of Class Gift and Gavel Robert G. Linehan
President, Class 1958
Acceptance for the School Herbert C. Chase
President, Class 1959
Presentation of Awards Mr. Peter J. Sperandio Principal, High School
Presentation of Diplomas Mr. Thomas F. Kemp Chairman, School Committee
Alma Mater Senior Class Robert A. Coelho Russell A. Coelho, Conductor
Benediction - Reverend Paul A. Lauffer
Recessional - "Pomp and Circumstance"
Band
Elgar
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GRADUATES
Barbara Lois Albert Jimmy C. Ames W. Gregg Anglim Roland C. Ashley John A. Barros John A. Bettencourt
Henry C. Bradford
Paula Anne Bumpus
Joseph David Cabral Arlene A. Chaves Stephen H. Churchill
Judith E. Rudine
Linda E. Sampson
Donald H. Seablom, Jr.
Donald Edward Seager
Mary Elizabeth Skelton
Ronald P. Snell Sheila Ann Styles
Margaret Mary Sweeney
Janice Irene Taylor
Roy F. Jackson
Russell E. Johnson
Robert G. Linehan
Robert G. MacDonald
Edward S. Moses
Bradford A. Nickerson
Virginia C. North Thomas A. O'Toole Shirley A. Perry
Fred L. Reed, Jr.
William H. Rickert
Russell A. Coelho
Carolyn M. Demers
Dorna L. Edson Shirley A. Ely Jane A. Foye Judith Ann Gour
H. Daniel Greene Janet L. Howard
Donna Jean Williams
SPRING STREET SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Bert L. Merrill Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Merrill:
The following is my third annual report as Principal of the Spring Street School:
During 1958 emphasis has continued on basic or "tool" sub- jects. Work is near completion of Reading minimum essentials. All teachers are in the process of evaluating and selecting an in- tegrated Science program for grades one through six.
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To better serve the wide range of abilities found in the school, Arithmetic is being taught in groups. The quick learners can be accelerated without depriving the slower children of the extra help they need.
In January a new elementary report card was introduced. It uses the same basis for marks as does the junior-senior high school card and has the same format. It was felt that a standardized card would better communicate to the parent a true reflection of the pupil's achievement.
Evening visitations between parents and teachers have contin- ued successfully.
The playground has been completed on the west side of "A" block and contains swings, slides, merry-go-round, jungle gym, softball diamond and two volleyball courts. A softball league for boys and a volleyball league for girls were organized in Grade five.
Two portable electric organs were purchased with funds obtained from the sale of school pictures. These instruments aid in music teaching and appreciation and alleviate the necessity of marching classes to the cafeteria to use the piano.
On Friday, May 16th, the annual entering child registration was held.
The Remedial Class conducted by Miss Mary Nelson, has continued to bring those who need extra work up to grade level in reading.
The Spring Street Parent-Teachers Association conducted room parties throughout the year, provided room mothers for several occasions and sponsored the annual trip to Boston for the sixth grade.
In conclusion, I wish to thank everyone who helped make 1958 a successful year.
Respectfully submitted
RICHARD A. BELCHER Principal
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GUIDANCE DIRECTOR
Mr. Bert L. Merrill Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Merrill:
This is my fourth annual report of the activities of the West Bridgewater High School Guidance Office. In general, the Guid- ance Office was operated in the same manner as it had the pre- vious three years. The five basic guidance services provided by the office are as follows: the study of the individual, the educational and occupational information service, the counseling service, the placement service and the follow-up service.
There have been some changes in the testing program which is part of the first service mentioned, the Study of the Individual. The testing program for the eleventh graders changed considerably. The SCAT (School and College Ability Test) and STEP (Se- quential Tests of Educational Progress) have replaced the Boston University Test Battery. Another change occurred in the national scholarship testing programs as far as juniors are concerned. The National Merit and Scholarship Qualifying Test programs were made available to juniors this year.
In the second service, Educational and Occupational Informa- tion, one significant change occurred. The Thayer Academy College Day Conference was open to juniors only this year. This is in line with the national trend to consider college applications late in the junior year or early in the senior year. Another change was in the scheduling of a series of four separate meetings with the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine recruiting officers to inform the senior boys about their military obligations and opportunities.
The third service, Counseling, is the heart of the Guidance program. The purpose of this service is to interpret with the pupil the information about himself and the educational and occu- pational information available to help him determine the direction of his educational plans. During the year 1958, there were 1280 ap-
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pointments with pupils and parents held concerning the educa- tional and occupational plans of the pupils. With 180 school days in the year, an average of 7.1 counseling appointments per day were held. These counseling appointments were held with pupils in grades eight through twelve. As in the past every effort was made to counsel each pupil in all grades; but, again this has not been possible. The number of different pupils counseled has grown each year, but the enrollment has also grown.
The Placement record of the Class of 1958 was very good, as indicated by the following percentages:
Pursuing further education 55%
attending four year colleges 22.5%
attending other schools or colleges 32.5%
In Armed Forces 12.5%
Gainfully employed 30%
Housewife 2.5%
(three are married, two of whom are working)
Among the schools and colleges in which the Class of 1958 is enrolled, are the following: Colby College, Bridgewater Teach- ers College, Stonehill College, Brockton Academy of Beauty Cul- ture, Worcester Academy, Bay State Academy, International Business Machines Training Center, Brockton Hospital School of Nursing, New Bedford Institute of Technology, Worcester Poly- technic Institute, University of Massachusetts, Northeastern Uni- versity, Franklin Technical Institute, Bentley School of Accounting and Finance, Swain School of Design, Wentworth Institute, Chandler School for Women, and Somerville Hospital School of Nursing.
In the past, placement of students in the Brockton downtown stores during the Christmas season has been very difficult because of a policy of the stores to employ their part-time sales personnel only through the Distributive Education Program at the Brockton High School. However, Miss Smith, the director of this program, did make some placements for us this year. We are grateful to Miss Smith for this.
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The fifth service is the Follow-Up. This office maintains a Fol- low-Up File which is a record of the placement status of each pupil for five years after graduation.
Although I feel personally quite satisfied with the operation of this office I am aware of some weaknesses. There is need for counseling time for the seventh grades and for more counseling time for the ninth graders. Also much more needs to be done with the Follow-Up service to determine what problems are faced by our graduates in college or on the job, and to determine how the high school program can better prepare the pupils for the jobs in the local labor field.
In view of these weaknesses, I wish to make some recommen- dations. First, I recommend that I be relieved of the sponsorship of the Student Council; and, second, I strongly recommend the addition of a part-time counselor for three periods per day. At the present time the enrollment in grades seven through twelve is 475. That this is a super-load is supported by the State Department of Education's recommendation that a full-time counselor should have from 250 to 300 pupils. Also, the booklet entitled, Guidance in the Public Schools, and distributed by the Massachusetts Associ- ation of School Committees, reads, ". .. the real gains from a counseling program are lost if each full-time counselor has more than 250 pupils as his special concern."
In conclusion, I should like to acknowledge the excellent cooperation that this office has received from the entire school staff in general and from the Superintendent and Principal in particular. Also, I am grateful for the clerical assistance received from Mrs. Gladys Keith, the school secretary, and from three student clerks from the Clerical Office Practice Class, namely, the Misses Ellen Howard, Geraldine Lawler and Catherine Slapik.
Respectfully submitted
ROGER G. VIENS Director of Guidance
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ART SUPERVISOR
Mr. Bert L. Merrill Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Merrill:
The following is the report of the Art Department for the year 1958.
Art holds a special place in the spiritual culture of all the world's people. Our consideration has always been for the devel- opment of the creative ability and appreciative perception of the individual student. Familiarity with tools and techniques of the artist has always been considered a necessary portion of a good education as has been an acquaintance with the significant con- tributions of artists to the world's treasury of cultural assets.
In past reports our philosophy of art education has been pre- sented to you and we have been able to bring to your attention the various areas of art experience available to the students. Our program as carried out in the light of our philosophy has been continually re-evaluated and we think strengthened by the addi- tion of new material from time to time where we thought it would be of educational value.
One of the most interesting additions to the department has been the equipment to do copper enameling. This inexpensive and easily handled medium allows us to familiarize the students with an ancient craft in a short time with a minimum of cost. The last formal session of the in-service art training program for 1958 was devoted to instruction in copper enameling. The elementary teachers expressed great satisfaction with the new technique and asked that more equipment be made available.
One of our prime problems has been to find some way of allowing more high school students to participate in some kind of art activity. Limited time and a crowded schedule prevents many interested students from taking part in art study. A happy solution has been found for at least part of this problem. Starting next year a course will be offered entitled "A Cultural History of Western Civilization." This will be a study of the development
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of Western Civilization taken from the point of view of aesthetic and intellectual achievement rather than the political and military. This course will be open to qualified juniors and seniors. We have been assisted in the development of this course by Mr. Russel T. Smith, head of the Department of Fine Arts, Tufts University, Miss Eleanor Barry of the Boston Museum School and by members of the staff of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the understand- ing cooperation of the school committee, yourself and Mr. Sperandio is also appreciated.
Among many other activities, the Town report cover contest, sponsored by the Board of Selectmen, was won this time by Herbert Chase and will be continued in 1959.
A new and beautiful stained glass window was designed and executed by Linda Boyd and displayed in the library window over the Christmas holidays. Posters and display materials for many school activities were produced and assistance was given in producing materials and displays in other subject matter areas.
We would like to express our gratification and pride in the students who are now attending professional art schools. We find that they are doing well and that we can expect to see them achieving successful careers in a wide and rewarding field.
Please accept my thanks for the splendid cooperation and friendly assistance of all the administrators and staff of the West Bridgewater High School.
Respectfully submitted
WILLIAM RATHBUN Art Supervisor
MUSIC SUPERVISOR
Mr. Bert L. Merrill Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Merrill:
The music department has had a most favorable year in the elementary section of our school system. Cooperation on the
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part of the faculty was excellent and the spirit of enthusiasm among the children for singing has improved vastly since the previous year. All of this has been most encouraging to the music department. The instrumental part of the program has seen a marked improvement; every child in the third grade was included in the tonette classes, which have given a considerable boost to the regular elementary instrumental program. The beginners' band and the regular elementary band had their ranks swelled by in- creased membership and the elementary band Parents' Club was organized last October and has done an effective job in main- taining morale and enthusiasm for practice and performance by the youngsters. The elementary band and beginners' band played an informal concert for their parents last November.
In the junior high section, the attitude of the students to- ward singing, appreciation, and the theory of music has experi- enced a decided improvement. The junior high classes are looking forward with great anticipation to the presentation of their first Operetta next May. There is a definite need for a junior high chorus in order to strengthen the high school choir in later years. The high school choir reflects this lack of choral experience at the present time. We plan to organize a junior high choir next September.
In the high school music program we have seen a sharp climb toward a better quality of music. The choir has begun to function more as a unit and has more facility at its command than in pre- vious years. The choir performed excellently at the annual Spring concert, Memorial Day assembly, and at Graduation. I might add that the members of the choir in performing their numbers did so completely from memory.
The band has seen an increase in membership this past year. On one hand this has been very encouraging, but on the other hand the quality of the music has been difficult to maintain and improve, mainly because our more experienced performers have been lost through graduation. However, the remaining less ex- perienced members are to be commended for their enthusiasm and dependability. In the past year the band has performed at: numer- ous assemblies, the Southeastern Band Festival last May in North Attleboro, the Spring Concert here at the high school last April, Memorial and Veterans' Day Parades, the dedication of the new Post Office, Graduation, and at home football games.
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From both the choir and the band a total of fifteen students were chosen to represent West Bridgewater at the Southeastern Regional Concert to be held in Mansfield next February, and six students have been chosen to represent our high school at the annual Southeastern Band Masters' Association concert to be held in Sharon next April.
I feel that satisfactory results have been accomplished al- though a more complete and effective music program will result if expanded next year.
Respectfully submitted
WALTER B. LEWIS Director of Music
REMEDIAL READING TEACHER
Mr. Bert L. Merrill Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Merrill:
The following is the report of the Remedial Reading Program.
Again this year I would like to stress the fact that this is in reality a "Reading Improvement" program. This fall, the first thing I did was to give an individual reading test to all the pupils who were given help the preceding year. Of these, 62% were now reading at their own grade level and were therefore, considered as discharged. However, the room teachers were made aware of their identities and asked to keep close watch of their activities to assure no "relapse". Since I had the results of Mental Maturity and Diagnostic Reading Tests of the third and fourth grades, given the preceding year, it was necessary only to test the second grades.
From the results of these plus the recommendations of the room teachers my reading groups were formed. These are based on reading levels-not grade levels-hence, I have some pupils from three different grades reading in one group. As each pupil improves
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he moves up another reading level until he eventually reaches his own age group. These reading groups range from primer through grade three. There are six reading groups at the Spring Street School and three at the Sunset Avenue School.
Each reading period has an average time of twenty-five min- utes. The first part of the period is devoted to teaching the tools or specific skills of reading-e.g .- word recognition from sight, configuration, context clues, etc .; phonics and word analysis; eye span; attacking new words; correcting habits of finger pointing and lip movement. The second half of the time is given over to comprehension-reading for factual information, inferred informa- tion, finding the main idea, etc.
The request for remedial reading in the high school was so great this year that two classes were organized; one for grades six, seven and eight, and the other for grades nine, ten, eleven and twelve. Again this year the only two prerequisites were that the students come voluntarily and that they have high intellectual and scholastic ratings. The materials used here have been very re- cently published. There has been such a demand for this type of reading in the high schools and colleges that many publishing houses have been obliged to publish materials which would be of interest to this age group. The Science Research Associates Read- ing Laboratory was the one chosen. Mr. Sperandio also purchased two reading accelerators from the same company designed to help the students' speed and fluency.
Two of the most interesting results from this past year's program have been:
1. The remarkable reading progress of an eighth grade stu- dent from the category of "non-reader" to fourth grade level (the level of most newspapers). This was done through his own perseverance and the cooperation of the primary teachers in the Spring Street School.
2. The increased interest of many pupils in outside, inde- pendent reading through library facilities.
Respectfully submitted
MARY E. NELSON Remedial Teacher
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SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Bert L. Merrill Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Merrill:
As School Nurse it is my purpose to promote and maintain the health of the students and school personnel; to give active assistance in the handling of accidental injuries, sudden illnesses, and to assist in preventing the spread of communicable diseases.
School health cannot be considered as a special service apart from family health, for working with parents is one of the most important functions of the school nurse.
Physical appraisals were done by the school physician in grades one, four, seven and ten, as well as pupils who participated in competitive games.
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