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 1960-1963 > Part 16
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The School Committee thanks all of the school department personnel for their continued fine cooperation to better educate our students.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS KEMP, Chairman ERLAND THAYER NORMAN CHURCHILL SCOVEL CARLSON GEORGE NOONAN LEON BEAULIEU
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the West Bridgewater School Committee:
I herewith submit my twelfth and final report as Superin- tendent of Schools, of West Bridgewater.
The following percentage increases covering the past twelve years should be of interest.
Total enrolment has increased 55 per cent; 78 per cent in the high school and 41 per cent in elementary grades. There has been an increase in the number of teachers from 32 to 56 or a percentage increase of 75 per cent. The number of high school graduates has increased 115 per cent. Scholarships awarded to high school grad- uates have increased 122 per cent and annual scholarships which are now awarded amount to $1900. The total amount spent for education has increased from $145,636 in 1950 to $414,075 or an increase of 184 per cent. Reimbursements from the State have increased 59 per cent.
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HIGH SCHOOL ADDITION
Construction of the new addition to the high school is pro- gressing satisfactorily and ahead of schedule. We have been as- sured that it will be completed and ready for occupancy next September. High school pupils will eventually be housed in all of the eleven classrooms, but due to overcrowded conditions, six of the classrooms will be occupied by elementary pupils the next school year.
The language laboratory will contain a master console and thirty individual booths each equipped with tape deck so that the pupil can listen to program material through his head phone and respond into his microphone. The teacher can manitor any student activity from the console and communicate with each individual pupil or all pupils at the same time by means of a two way inter- communication system controlled at the console.
Two new art rooms are so designed and equipped to offer a greatly enriched and expanded program.
The library will provide adequate facilities for study and student conferences.
Renovations to the existing high school building will provide for improved shop and home economics programs. The present cafeteria will be enlarged to accommodate the present and future increased enrolments. A large additional space will provide for storage of equipment and a maintenance room for the custodial staff.
CURRICULUM
Providing a good basic education for every school child has been and will continue to be our aim. Since the first sputnik was launched in 1957 there has been a need for an intensive re-evalua- tion of the curriculum, especially at the high school level. There- fore, it has seemed advisable and necessary to up-date courses, especially in mathematics and the sciences, in order to increase the supply of trained manpower for leadership in scientific research.
Our high school mathematics teachers are presently enrolled in an In-Service orientation program. The purpose of the course is to familiarize them with a new concept and methods for teach-
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ing mathematics. It is called the Yale System of Mathematics and the aim is to teach that mathematics is a system, organized accord- ing to definite principles and not just a collection of isolated facts. It emphasizes problem solving using basic mathematical data.
Physical education classes have been organized for pupils in grades four to six inclusive. Swimming instruction is being given to all sixth grade pupils at the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. in Brockton and transportation is provided for all sixth grade pupils.
Since 1950 the high school curriculum has been expanded and enriched by the addition of the following courses:
Problems of Democracy
Cultural History of World Civilization
Earth Science
Physical Science
Related Mathematics
Public Speech and Debating
An Art Major Course
Driver Training
Physical Education program for both boys and girls
FACULTY CHANGES
Several new teachers were appointed during the past year. They are:
TEACHER
POSITION
SCHOOL
Mrs. Janet Colford
English
High
Mrs. Helen Doherty
English
High
Miss Carolyn Gravelin
Physical Ed. (girls)
High
Mrs. Mary Kelley
English
High
David Leveille
Math and science
Ass't football coach
High
Mrs. Marie A. Sullivan
English
High
Harry Tozier
Science and coach of
baseball and basketball High
Mrs. Mary Humphrey
Elementary (gr. 4)
Spring St.
Albert Orlando
Music (part time ) Elem. & High
Mrs. Doris Prince
Art (part time)
All Elem.
Mrs. Katherine Pope resumed her duties as sixth grade teacher after a year's leave of absence. Mrs. Ruth Kimball, sixth grade
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teacher, is presently on leave of absence, and Mrs. Mary Cham- bers was appointed to fill the position.
Teachers who resigned are as follows:
TEACHER
POSITION SCHOOL
Mrs. Esther Barnett
English
High
Urbino Barreira
Science and coach
football and basketball High
Mrs. Janet Colford
English High
Miss Shirlye Dana
Physical Ed. (girls) High
Charles McDowell
Science
High
Mrs. Virginia Noone
English
High
Mrs. Helen Socarides
English
High
Thomas Williams
Industrial Arts
High
Mrs. Mary Doyle
Elem. (6th grade)
Mrs. Gertrude Estabrooks Elem. (5th grade)
Mrs. Francis Hill
Music (part time)
Spring St. All Elem.
During the six years of a pupil's elementary instruction all subjects are taught by a single teacher in a contained classroom. Departmental teaching begins in the seventh grade when a child has a different teacher for each subject. At this adolescent period some pupils feel insecure and even unhappy in school. To ease this transition from the sixth to seventh grade Mrs. Olivia Pearson Lawson was appointed Junior High Guidance Counsellor, in ad- dition to her duties as high school English teacher. Her time is devoted mostly in helping seventh grade pupils get adjusted to seventh grade work and class activities.
At the end of the school year, all sixth grades are conducted through the junior high school rooms and introduced to the teach- ers. The seventh graders are given a get-acquainted party by the eighth grade pupils. Mrs. Lawson held an initial interview with each pupil and follow up interviews were frequently held during the year. The Student Activity room is used as the Guidance Counsellor's office.
MAINTENANCE
All schools have been kept in fine condition by our Custodial Staff, under the able supervision and direction of Mr. Arvid Hagg- lund, Head Custodian. Visitors to the schools have on many occa-
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sions observed and commented on the cleanliness and condition of school buildings.
A sprinkler alarm system was installed at the Sunset Avenue School. This additional equipment will help ensure the safety of our children, in case of fire. The system is directly connected with the fire station.
Black topping in the parking area at the Spring Street School was completed. Other maintenance work of a minor nature was also done.
I have experienced during the past year the same cooperation I have always received for several years. With your help, the youth of our town has been provided an effective education program.
I wish to commend the principals and teachers and all school personnel for their assistance in maintaining high education standards.
Respectfully submitted,
BERT L. MERRILL Superintendent of Schools
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Bert L. Merrill
Superintendent of Schools
West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Merrill:
I submit herewith my eleventh annual report as principal of the West Bridgewater High School.
In the process of maintaining the high level of academic train- ing which is necessary for our students, committees were estab-
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lished for the study of our English and Social Studies Departments during the past year. These committees have been working for the improvement of our offerings and it is expected that, in the near future, they will present their recommendations for these two important areas of study.
The team teaching technique which is now used in most of the high schools was introduced last year in our Problems of De- mocracy course. It is too early to determine the values derived from this venture but it should prove to be as successful as other schools have experienced.
The recent achievements in space reflect our fast-moving so- ciety and its demands for new uses of mathematics. This tech- nological revolution which is now in progress requires that new techniques in mathematics be used in our schools. This revolu- tion has been brought about by research in mathematics, automa- tion, and the automatic digital computing machines.
In 1960, at Yale University, a new approach to the teaching of mathematics was developed by the School Mathematics Study Group. It is now in the experimental stages and the new tech- niques have brought about amazing results. Some of these ma- terials are in their final revised form and other materials are in the initial stages or are undergoing revision on the basis of classroom experience.
The new vocabulary of mathematics and these new approaches to the solution of mathematics problems are now being incorpo- rated into the College Entrance Examinations. So it would seem imperative that these techniques be incorporated into our mathe- matics program by the retraining of our mathematics teachers so that they may be better able to develop these newer teaching techniques.
This past September, the first steps were taken to develop these methods in our junior high school and we feel that our efforts have been very satisfying to date. However, much more needs to be done as the program develops up through grade twelve and down into the elementary grades.
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It is interesting to note that through the use of these tech- niques some of the basic concepts of geometry have been developed even in grade one.
Another very definite need is the further development of the aural-oral techniques in the teaching of foreign languages. I believe that a great step forward will have been taken when we have the use of a language laboratory. I am confident that our students will develop their fluency at an amazingly increased rate.
Some of our athletic squads continue to enjoy a good measure of success. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that we are primarily an educational institution and that these activities are simply a part of total educational process.
I hope that with the completion of our new athletic area, we shall be able to field a track team and also a cross-country team for our students and especially for those who cannot participate in our present athletic program.
You can readily see that since "Sputnik" was sent into space, our educational processes have moved forward at a great rate not only in the fields of science and mathematics but also much prog- ress has been achieved in the study of the foreign languages, and the humanities. Our great task is to keep our school in touch with the good research that develops from educational experimentation and to utilize that which suits our needs.
In conclusion, I wish to thank all those who have helped to share the tremendous responsibilities of our youth. In particular, I wish to thank Mrs. Gladys Keith who has been of tremendous assistance. I wish to thank you, Mr. Merrill, for your guidance throughout our association . I shall always appreciate your good counselling and confidence.
Respectfully submitted,
PETER J. SPERANDIO Principal
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Commencement Exercises
CLASS OF 1961 WEST BRIDGEWATER HIGH SCHOOL West Bridgewater, Massachusetts June 15, at six thirty o'clock CLASS OFFICERS
President John M. Prescott
Vice-President
E. Wayne Horton
Secretary Janice Louise Wright
Treasurer Dianne Grace Edson Colors: Purple and White
Motto: What you are is God's gift to you; What you become is your gift to God.
AWARDS The Faculty Award in Athletics Jon T. Churchill
Boosters Athletic Award
E. Wayne Horton
Good Citizenship - Daughters of the American Revolution Charlotte Mary Estabrooks
The Balfour Award - Scholarship, Loyalty and Achievement Ann Marie Burba
Science - The Bausch and Lomb Optical Company E. Wayne Horton
The Class of 1960 Scholarship Linda Merry Boyd E. Wayne Horton
The Parent-Teachers Association Scholarships E. Wayne Horton Sandra Jean Grippen
West Bridgewater Teachers Association Scholarships Roberta Pauline Ginn Beth Isabelle Fenstermaker Andrea Mary Ticchi
Adolphus Eldridge Grange Scholarship Judith E. Olson
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The William J. Howard and Anna Clifford Howard Scholarship Linda Merry Boyd
West Bridgewater Mothers Club Scholarship Charlotte Mary Estabrooks
West Bridgewater Police Association Scholarships Dianne Grace Edson John M. Prescott
Honor Society Scholarship Linda Merry Boyd
West Bridgewater High School Music Scholarship Richard L. Kline
LaBrache Memorial Gift Anne LaPerle
PROGRAM
Processional - "Triumphant
Band
Herfurth
Invocation - Reverend Terry Kent
Music - "Climb Every Mountain"
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Choir
Address Dr. J. Wendell Yeo
Academic Vice President, Boston University
Music - "I'll Walk With God" Brodszky
Presentation of Class Gift and Gavel
John M. Prescott
President, Class of 1961
Acceptance for the School
Lewis N. Estabrooks
President, Class of 1962
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
Benediction - Reverend Raymond J. Devettere
Recessional - "Pomp and Circumstance"
Band
Elgar
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GRADUATES
Ronald Sidney Alger
Robert Charles Gurney
George Austin
John A. Hollien
Mary Bartkus
E. Wayne Horton
Barbara A. Blundell
Richard L. Kline
Timothy C. Bordeaux, Jr.
James Knox
Carol A. Bourne
Judith M. Hambly
Linda Merry Boyd
Arvilla Harris
Leslie Edward Boynton
Quintina Harris
Ronald C. Broman
Elizabeth Gertrude Higgins
Christine Buker
Marianne Holmgren
Ann Marie Burba
Anne LaPerle
Laurinda Cabral
Sylvia LaPerle
Patricia Read Caswell
Sandra Nelson
Jon T. Churchill
Nancy Ellen Newman
Peter Fisher Cogswell
Dorothea E. O'Brien
Richard Francis Crowley
Lawrence Milton Douglas
Gregory Logan Eaton
Robert David Perry, Jr.
Dianne Grace Edson
James D. Sherlaw
Donna Elizabeth Smith
Nancy M. St. Onge
Carolyn Elaine Fischer
Martha J. Sharp
Constance M. Fratangelo
Linda J. Soderholm
Roberta Pauline Ginn
Jane Ann Souza Andrea Mary Ticchi
Andrea Mary Giovannini T. Edward Graffte
Anthony E. Veader
Carol Maybelle Greene
David Michael Wardwell
Sandra Jean Grippen
Janice Louise Wright
Janet Elaine Guarino
Noel J. Wright
SPRING STREET SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Bert L. Merrill
Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts Dear Mr. Merrill:
The following is my sixth annual report as Principal of the Spring Street School.
Charlotte Mary Estabrooks Beth Isabelle Fenstermaker
Judith E. Olson John M. Prescott
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Enrolment has continually increased. September of 1961 brought 30 more pupils than the school year 1960-1961. Addi- tional classrooms will be very welcome in September, 1962.
The continuing evaluation program again tested achievement in the areas of Reading, Language and Arithmetic in Grades two and five. West Bridgewater remains about a year ahead of nation- wide norms. Tests of Mental Maturity, given in Grades two and five, allow teachers to ascertain the degree to which individual pupils work up to their ability.
Elementary teachers are working with members of the Sec- ondary Schools faculty on committees to provide an integrated program for Grades one through twelve. First areas covered are Social Studies and the Language Arts.
1961 saw WGBH-TV, Channel 2, again adding to the elemen- tary curriculum. Offerings included :
Grade One - Science and Health Phonics
Grade Two - Music
Grade Three - Literature
Grade Four - Conversational French I
Grade Five - Natural Science, Conversational French II
Grade Six - Physical Science, Conversational French III
In addition, a French Language Coordinator from WGBH-TV has held a monthly workshop for the fourth, fifth and sixth grade teachers.
A portable Science cabinet and equipment was purchased for the use of the sixth grade.
Additions were made to individual room libraries and obsolete encyclopedias were replaced in several grades. World globes have been added in the upper grades.
Educational trips for grades 4, 5, and 6 provided the pupils with the opportunity of viewing first-hand our rich historical heri- tage. Pupils in these grades have also had the opportunity of using the High School Gym under the supervision of the High School Physical Education Instructors.
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First grade registration was held at the Spring Street School on Friday, May 19, 1961.
The new session in September 1961 opened with a day of con- sultation between the teachers and all Supervisors and Resource people used by the School Department. The program proved to be very valuable. It is hoped that this practice will be carried on in succeeding years.
Holiday programs were enjoyed by pupils and teachers alike. Room visitations in the evening gave parents and teachers an op- portunity to discuss each child's individual progress.
The Spring Street P.T.A. gave, as always, invaluable moral and financial support to many school activities.
In conclusion, may I thank all who have helped to make 1961 a year in which progress was readily discernible.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD A. BELCHER Principal
GUIDANCE DIRECTOR
Mr. Bert L. Merrill Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Merrill:
The annual report on activities of the West Bridgewater Guidance Office is submitted herewith.
Many significant and important changes have been made dur- ing the past year. In September the Guidance office was open for two days prior to the beginning of school, both in the morning and evening. This was to accommodate students and parents who sought information concerning choice of courses relative to the beginning of the school year.
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During the past year we have taken graduate courses in order to keep abreast of current trends and methods of improving the guidance service. With a view toward strengthening and improv- ing the efficiency of the guidance department the following is recommended:
1. That part time clerical help be provided to handle routine recording.
2. That partitions be erected in the student activity room to provide for a greater degree of privacy for counselling and individual testing.
The student activity room is now being used as the guidance counsellor's office for counselling and administering individual testing.
We are both members of the South Shore Guidance Associa- tion and attend monthly meetings of the organization. Member- ship comprises guidance personnel from practically every commu- nity in the south shore area. These meetings have proven to be extremely valuable since questions of national and local interest are discussed. This is a means of deriving the opinions and expe- riences of a number of individuals in the solution of common prob- lems. A two day conference was held at the Statler Hilton in Boston on October 5 and 6, which we attended.
Individual counselling is given to every pupil in grades 7 through 12. Many pupils are interviewed several times during the school year. Most of the counselling is of an educational nature. This is due to the large number of seniors who are seeking admis- sion to institutions of higher education and to members of the eighth grade who require assistance when making out their high school program. In addition there are many counselling interviews of a vocational and social nature.
Much follow-up work is being done. Beginning this year each graduate is to be contacted and will be requested to provide the following information:
1. Schools attended since graduation
2. Courses of study pursued
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3. Armed forces service
4. Current address
5. Courses in high school which were considered most valu- able and those considered least valuable
6. Suggestions for improvement of guidance program
7. Name of company by whom employed
The testing program for the junior high and senior high school pupils is as follows:
Eighth Grade California Test of Mental Maturity
California Achievement Test Kuder Preference Test
Ninth Grade Mechanical Aptitude Test Clerical Aptitude Test
Tenth Grade Sequential Test of Educational Progress School and College Ability Test
Eleventh Grade
Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test
National Merit Scholarship Test
College Entrance Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (These tests are taken by those who plan to seek admission to college and preparatory schools.)
Twelfth Grade
College Entrance Examination Scholastic Aptitude Test College Entrance Examination Achievement Test
It has been very gratifying to realize that there has been an increasing utilization of the guidance facilities not only by the pupils but also by graduates, ex-service personnel and other grad- uates of the school.
We should like to acknowledge the excellent cooperation we
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have received from Mr. Merrill, Mr. Sperandio, Mrs. Gladys Keith and from the entire school staff.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK F. DUNN, JR. Guidance Director MRS. E. OLIVIA PEARSON LAWSON Guidance Counsellor
ART SUPERVISOR
Mr. Bert L. Merrill Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Merrill:
The following is a report of the year's activities in the Art Department of the junior, senior high school.
The most exciting events of the year, of course, center around plans for the new arts and crafts facilities which are now being built in the new addition of the high school. With the added space and equipment it will be possible to expand our offerings to meet the needs of more and more children. It has always been our hope that the demonstrably good effects of art education could be made available to every student who would benefit by them and this includes a much greater number than we have previously been able to serve. Added to this is the ever expanding enrolment which makes the present room totally inadequate besides the fact that it must do double duty in areas of learning, for which it was not designed.
As we have planned the layout for the new art laboratory, we will be able to offer more up to date instruction with space and equipment specifically designed to serve the most students in the best way.
In today's world, the field of art offers more and more oppor- tunities for people trained in its particular disciplines. Several of
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our students have gone on to further training and to successful careers. The people of West Bridgewater are far sighted in their recognition of the need for, not only vocational preparation but for the wholesome and integrating influence of art experience for every child.
At the junior high school level, the so-called "critical years," we try to offer a variety of experiences keyed to the needs of the individual student. One of the chief values of art education at this level is that it gives the student an opportunity to build self-con- fidence. Creating a painting or a piece of clay modeling envolves the use of the total personality and it is this harmonizing quality which we most seriously try to help the student to find. This, of course, requires much individual attention and guidance on the part of the teacher as well as a variety of media wherein it is hoped each child will be able to find his particular best mode of expression.
High School students, by and large, come to art classes with a fairly good knowledge of their own desires and aspirations. These are sometimes vocational, more often avocational. Again we try to meet the needs of different individuals by offering experiences in several areas of the arts and crafts. Our new arts and crafts center will make possible a much more truly "interest centered" program and will solve many of the frustrating problems of the past.
The course, "Cultural History of Western Civilization," is in its third year and from all reports has proved to be a valuable help to the young people who have taken it and gone on to college. This course is a survey of the significant cultural contributions of the various races, civilizations, and nations which formed the back- ground for our present western world.
For the second year, the so-called "Art Majors" course has been available to students who are particularly interested or gifted and are considering some field of art work as a profession. Some of these students want to be commercial artists; some, teachers; some, designers of one kind or another. It is our task, here, to provide the kind of background training which will best enable the student to find his own particular bent and to give as much guidance as possible toward the choice of an appropriate professional school, or a suitable position in business or industry.
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This year, we are offering technical drawing for a few students who are aspiring to a career in engineering. This course should be expanded and probably will be, when the industrial arts depart- ment can settle into its enlarged quarters.
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