USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1951-1955 > Part 30
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vantageous to the school and pupil. The program for last year follows:
Basketball Season, December 11, 1951-February 26, 1952
Band Parents' Supper
Future Farmers of America Square Dance
Good Government Day Election
Personality Club Valentine Dance
Band Parents' Card Party
Sophomore Party
Future Farmers of America Banquet for Parents and Sons Western Massachusetts Student Council Convention
Senior Play-"Clementine"
Lions Club Dinner for Football Squad
Baseball Season, April 15, 1952-June 10, 1952 Promenade
Band Parents' Dance
Western Massachusetts Music Festival
Senior Banquet
Graduation
Football Season, September 20, 1952-November 15. 1952
Band Paernts' Card Party
Band Parents' Paper Drive
Tri-Hi-Y Halloween Party
Sadie Hawkins Dance
Operetta-"Crocodile Island"
Tri-Hi-Y Roman Banquet
Cabaret-Junior Class
Kid Party-Senior Class
CONCLUSION
In conclusion I express my appreciation for the hearty co- operation received from you, Mr. Goodwin, the School Com- mittee, the faculty, the student body, and the community. Through the friendly help of all, problems were kept at a mini- mum and the year was a pleasant one. It has always been my conviction that the success of any principal is but a reflection of the ability and sincerety of his associates.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK T. DACEY, Principal
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REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF GUIDANCE AND PLACEMENT
December 19, 1952
Mr. A. Jerome Goodwin Superintendent of Schools Agawam, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
I herewith submit my annual report for the Guidance and Placement Department.
Placement remains at a very high level. Any student grad- uating from our high school has little difficulty in finding ex- cellent placement at very good starting pay.
This past year the senior class was placed as follows:
31 girls have office positions
6 girls entered the nursing profession
6 girls are attending college
15 boys are either in store work or in industrial plants
15 boys are attending college
4 boys are farming
4 boys are in special apprentice schools
2 boys have office positions
The guidance office has also been able to help many of our students find good part-time employment.
With more and more students becoming interested in col- lege, it is gratifying to note that two civic organizations have seen fit to grant scholarships to seniors who will be graduating this June. The Agawam Teachers' Club recently voted to give a $100 scholarship to a boy or girl who is planning to attend a teachers' college. The Agawam Lions Club intends to give two $100 scholarships at graduation time, one to a boy and one to a girl who plans to go on to college. With five Phelps' scholar- ships valued at $100 each. this means we will be able to help at least eight members of our senior class who are planning a col- lege education.
This year the elementary grades participated in the national standardization of the Stanford Achievement Tests. Three
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hundred and sixty-nine school systems from thirty-eight states took part in this standardization test. The total number of pupils tested in all grades was somewhat over 350,000. I want to add that our Agawam students did an excellent job and rated slightly above the national norm.
I believe our testing program in the Agawam School Department is a very worthwhile project. I would like to be able to do more testing in the aptitude field. All of these test results make an excellent guidance tool.
I know you realize our high school enrollment is quite heavy. My work in programming and helping the youngsters select certain subjects is becoming increasingly more difficult for lack of space and certain equipment. This problem is more noticeable each year in the typing department. I feel that twenty additional typewriters would go a long way in solving a big problem within our Commercial Department.
It has been a pleasure for me to help boys and girls, as well as parents, in solving many of their problems.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the many teachers and our principal, Mr. Dacey, who are all vitally in- terested in helping the Guidance Depatrment solve the many problems which come to my attention.
Respectfully submitted, RAYMOND E. HARRIS Director of Guidance and Placement
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
December 19, 1952
Mr. A. Jerome Goodwin Superintendent of Schools Agawam, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
I respectfully submit a summary of the nursing program for 1952.
We have been able to go along with our health program with help from the Community Health Association and the new state laws for school examinations. Doctor Robinson resigned and Doctor Ramah came in as our school doctor in February. We weighed and measured two thousand children.
Doctor Ramah started the physical examinations in March and we are still working in the high school. Vaccination and diptheria clinics were held in Apirl and May as well as physical examinations for all pre-school childern, with Miss Clara Wil- liams and Mrs. Cassella assisting. Doctor G. Hoag examined the children's feet. Doctor Dalitzky, the school dentist, has the clinic work on Fridays. Mrs. Edith Kane was a great help this past year, as she took over the hearing testing, and eye testing.
We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Davenport as our speech teacher. We have sixty-eight children with defective speech. The children from eighth grade through twelfth grade are x-rayed each year. Cards are sent home after examinations where defects are found.
I attended three meetings in Amherst as well as one in Boston. There was open house at the Bay State Treatment Center, where we have two children. Also, we have two children at Perkins' School for the Blind and two at Clark's School for the Deaf.
The communicable diseases were less this year. Two thous- and children were examined. The following defects were found:
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Enlarged tonsils 20
Defective teeth
232
Defective vision
41
Defective hearing
12
Poor posture
49
Over weight
12
Under weight
7
Cardiac hearts
10
Rheumatic hearts
7
Defective speech
68
Flat feet
60
Hammer toes
7
Other findings
10
Scabies
3
Ring worm
3
Impitigo
18
Pediculosis
9
Curvatures
3
Cerebral Palsy
6
Infantile Paralysis
3
Congenital deformities
6
Blind children
2
Deaf children 2
One child was sent to the Yale Research School for study.
Pre-school examinations-March 1952. Phelps School-96 children-defects found 62.
Enlarged tonsils 29
Allergies
6
Teeth 30
Glands 3
Curvatures
1
Skin conditions
4
Hernia
2
Danahy School-examinations 47-defects found
Teeth 17
Tonsils enlarged 13
Glands 3
2
Over active glands
Allergies 2
Springfield Street School-examinations 47
Teeth 20
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Tonsils
18
Glands
4
Over active glands
4
Speech defects
2
Walking defects
1
Bleeding rectum
1
Kidney infection
1
Granger School-examinations 41
Tonsils
14
Teeth
20
Glands
1
Hearing defects
2
Vision defects
2
Diptheria Booster
Danahy School 41
Springfield St. School 18
Phelps School 79
Granger School
28
Vaccination Clinic
71
Foot examinations
300
Defects found
101
Work done at dental clinic:
Fillings
326
Extractions
115
X-rays
5
Cleanings
303
We will be able to take care of the Phelps School children in January as the dental clinic will be ready.
Individuals admitted to nursing service 3207
Home visits 203
Office visits first aid to all schools 2500
Accidents for year all schools
32
Arrangements made for tonsils clinic 14
Arrangements made for camp 8
Children taken ill 32
Orthopedic State Clinic
7
For lip reading at hard of hearing
3
Springfield Hospital Clinic 12
Mercy Hospital 9
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Diseases reported for school year.
Scarlet fever
6
Mumps
14
Chicken Pox 19
Measles
14
Colds
136
Appendix
10
Tonsils removed
37
Whooping Cough
10
Impetigo
24
Athlete's feet
4
Diabete's
3
Poliomyelitis
3
Virus infections
21
Pneumonia
7
Trench Mouth
2
Styes
10
Poison Ivy
23
Ira Hiscock M.P.H.SC.D. and Miss Eleanor King R.N.M.P.H. of the department of Public Health of Yale Uni- versity made a recent survey for the Agawam Community Health Council, selectmen, and Board of Health and school nursing. This will be a help to Miss Williams and to me.
We would appreciate the continued cooperation of the parents in checking the children for any symptoms before they leave for school. If any symptoms are found, you are advised to call your family doctor, or school nurse at the high school before 10:30-4-8045.
I deeply appreciate the generous assistance of the Parent- Teacher Associations.
With the population increasing and with a new high school in view, I believe that a part-time nurse will be needed to carry on the work in the future.
I sincerely appreciate the cooperation of the Superintend- ent, the School Committee, the Principals, teachers, parents. and the Community Health Association.
Respectfully submitted. (MISS) MARY E. O'BRIEN Registered Nurse
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REPORT OF THE GIRLS' PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
To the Superintendent of Schools:
The aim of the program for girls in the Agawam Junior- Senior High School has been to build healthful bodies through rigorous exercises, active team games, dances, and posture training.
After the physical examinations it was encouraging to note that only ten girls showed posture defects. These girls will be given special corrective exercises
The after school sports program embraces such a large number of girls that it seems advisable to use the team games which area daptable to such numbers. These games are volley ball, basketball, and softball. Also, this program is based on a point system. Points are earned for attendance and sportsman- ship. Each girl plays with her own classmates and on another team composed of girls from all classes. It is hoped through this program to develop not only sportsmanship but character and friendship as well.
Respectfully submitted,
DOROTHY R. HASTINGS Instructor, Girls' Physical Education
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REPORT OF THE BOYS' PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
December23, 1952
To the Superintendent of Schools:
The following is a report of the Boys' Physical education program for the past year.
The basic program consisted of outdoor activity during the seasons when weather conditions were favorable. Seasonal sports and playground games were featured. All boys found physically fit were assigned two periods per week which is the usual procedure.
With the advent of the indoor season a more formal pro- gram consisting of marching, calesthenics, apparatus work and gymnasium games kept all involved active and busy. This busi- ness of being "physically fit" seemed to be an idea more seriously considered than ever before, no doubt fostered somewhat by so many of our young men anticipating service in some branch of our armed forces. To be physically fit is almost a must for the young people of today. Health progress should be watched closer than ever to insure the future for all of us.
Sports minded young men again gave us an excellent inter- scholastic program in the major sports field. It has been and always will be, a distinct pleasure for me to be associated with these athletes in their consistently fine effort which has kept Agawam up in a high place in the sports world.
Respectfully submitted,
HARMON A. SMITH Boys' Athletics and Physical Education Supervisor
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REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
December 4, 1952
Mr. A. Jerome Goodwin Superintendent of Schools Agawam, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
Once again the writer is glad to make his annual report.
Total enrollment for the Vocational Agriculture course did not change since last year. The department has an enrollment of nineteen boys. However, there is an interesting trend be- ginning. At present two boys come from the town of Hampden, and three boys come from the city of Springfield. All these boys are tuition-paying people to the Town of Agawam.
Many interesting experiences occurred last year. Some of these are as follows:
William Rhodes won first place in the local Grange Essay Contest. Leonard Rising took third place in the same contest. Ronald Corriveau was the recipient of the annual American Agriculturist award. He was the outstanding senior last year.
Ralph D'Amato for the second consecutive year was award- ed the "Star Chapter Farmer" award. Ralph has a 92.81 per cent average in all his scholastic courses while owning five acres of corn plus forty hogs.
Charles Granger won the award for having the outstanding ownership project. He owned and managed 191/2 acres of vege- tables having under cultivation 19 acres of cabbage, three acres of pumpkins, 11/2 acres of corn, and one acre each of cucumbers, watermelon, and muskmelon.
Six of our boys participated in our annual high school as- sembly public-speaking contest. The speakers were Leonard Rising, who spoke on "The Backbone of Poultry Husbandry, Stanley Osowiecki, who spoke on "Growing Tobacco," Frank Moruzzi, who spoke on "The Poor Man's Cow," Ralph D'Amato
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who spoke on "Let's Do Something About Farm Safety," Wil- liam Munsell who spoke on "Bacteria Warfare" and Gary Hin- shaw who spoke on "The Red Cow that Helped Build America." Another one of our boys, Bruce Dodd acted as chairman. Gary Hinshaw won this local contest for the second consecutive year and will represent Agawam in the district contest next January. Gary won the district contest and placed fourth in the state finals last year.
We sponsored the first annual high school tractor contest last spring. Four high schools participated in this contest- Hatfield, Enfield, West Springfield, and Agawam. After a hard- fought battle Agawam was determined the winning school in this contest.
For winning this contest the Western Massachuetts Elec- tric Company presented the Agawam High School an electric chicken debeaker which will be used many times by the boys taking the Vocational Agriculture course.
Eight of our boys made the honor roll at least once since the last annual report. They are as follows: Bruce Dodd, Ralph D'Amato, Ronald Corriveau. Donald Hall, Peter Cecchi, Wil- liam Martel, Farnk Moruzzi, and William Rhodes. A magnifi- cent achievement to say the least.
James Reardon took second place in the State for having an outstanding dairy project. The General Ice Cream Corpora- tion presented him a check for $30.00 for his achievement.
This year, on extra-curricula time, we unveiled a new adjunct to our ever-growing Future Farmers of America organi- zation. It is a five piece dance band which includes Peter Cecchi, James Zoppi, Ralph D'Amato, Earl Van Wagner, and William Munsell. This group already entertained the entire high school student body and played for the Shriners Crippled children's Hospital on Sunday, November 23, 1952. The group was only supposed to play for half an hour-it lasted for over two hours! The children at the hospital just wouldn't let them go home. The boys are scheduling Westover Field Hospital and Leeds Hospital in the very near future.
Our department sent an Egg grading team to the Eastern States Exposition; a poultry judging team, a Dairy-Cattle judg- ing team, a Livestock-judging team, and a Farm Mechanics
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team went ot the University of Massachusetts for its annual Interscholastic Judging contests held this year.
We had guest specialists come to our department to speak and to demonstrate their specialties. For example, we had Mr. C. E. Faulkner, Mammal Control Officer of the United States Wildlife Service who spoke and demonstrated how to control rodents. We also had Professor Parmenter of the Forestry De- partment of The Extension Service who showed us how to treat fence posts before placing them into the ground.
Our outstanding achievement of the year was winning a national award from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Founda- tion. They awarded us two plaques, one gold and the other silver, "for recognition of accomplishment beyond the require- ments of the Foundation's Achievement Campaign" in our rodent control work last year. We were the only school in the State of Massachusetts to win such a national award. We also won another national contest this year-a $100 check from the Ralston Purina Feed Company for having the best jingle in their National Chapter Jingle Contest.
As in the past years we had a successful basketball team, a successful Parents & Son Banquet, a very successful Square Dance and a wonderful summer picnic, we contributed gen- erously to the Red Cross and to the March of Dimes cam- paigns.
Yes, our Vocational Agriculture program at the high school is well diversified so that everyone taking this course has the opportunity to bring out the best talents in himself with the net results, we humbly believe, is a better citizen of tomorrow for our town, for our state, and for our country.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID SKOLNICK
Vocational Agriculture Instructor
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REPORT OF THE ART DEPARTMENT
December 23, 1952
Mr. A. Jerome Goodwin Superintendent of Schools Agawam, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
Since September, the core of an elementary art curriculum guide has been made available to each elementary teacher. Ele- mentary classes have been visited once every three weeks, cover- ing such demonstration lessons as paper mache, paper and clay sculpture, torn paper, milk carton construction, potato block printing, cut paper, bookbinding, as well as the usual crayon drawings.
Seventh grade classes have art once a week, and due to large classes and limited facilities most of their work to date has been confined to drawings, paper sculpture, and cut paper, including many phases of each.
The high school classes have been small enough so that individual work has been possible. The policy in these classes has been to introduce new media, show techniques, etc. The students have been shown paper sculpture, bookbinding, figure drawing, design, lettering, posters, paper mache, water color, outdoor sketching, stageset design, bulletin board arrangement. and so forth.
Students have been encouraged to try some of these projects themselves and to learn how to constructively criticize art work. Many experiments have taken place-from using plastic beads for designs and building mobiles, to trying scrub drawings and painting with all kinds of brushes, using different papers, paints, and inks. The students have also worked together on group projects such as scenery for the operetta, from the scale drawing to the finished product. At times the season has motivated projects, and other times school activities such as the Junior Caboret, Sadie Hawkins Party and Kid Party have fur-
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nished interest. Work has also begun on the yearbook for 1953, and each student has started on a large project book to be due in the spring.
Respectfully submitted,
NANCY C. CASSIDY Art Supervisor
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REPORT OF THE HOME ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT
December 16, 1952
Mr. A. Jerome Goodwin Superintendent of Schools Agawam, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
I herein submit my second annual report as Supervisor of Home Economics in the Agawam Junior-Senior High School.
America has fought great wars to preserve freedom and integrity of the American home. Now, more than ever before, we should strive for higher standards in home living. Every American girl should be trained to appreciate the importance of family life and an adequate home. She should be trained to understand her own responsibilities as a home-maker, both as a junior member of her home of the present, and as manager of her own home in the future. Most important of all, she needs to develop standards by which to judge her own performance as a home-maker. Standards by which to measure herself as a member of society, a housekeeper and consumer, and as a big sister or a mother, as well as a home manager in general.
Our home making classes have large enrollments this year. Two hundred girls are studying the fundamentals of clothing and foods.
Sixty-nine seventh graders are meeting once a week for clothing and knitting instruction. They are highly enthusiastic and I wish it were possible for them to have more time for their course.
This year in addition to sewing, I have introduced a knitting project. Each girl has made a pair of mittens, and their sewing consists of making a towel, holder and apron, to be used in their foods classes next year.
Sixty-seven eighth graders meet twice a week for foods classes. Their course teaches good nutrition, and enables them to prepare and serve simple everyday foods.
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Sixty-four Freshmen are taking sewing. This year they are required to make a cotton blouse and skirt, and they also have a knitting project.
The field of home making is a challenge, changing every day, and stimulating one to keep learning. The possibilities in this field are without limit. The world is becoming more con- scious of the importance of the family unit. Home makers must be taught how to make happier homes today, so that we may have a peaceful and more perfect world tomorrow, for homes are the bulwark of every country.
Respectfully submitted, MARGARET LEE CONNELLY Home Economics Supervisor
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REPORT OF THE VOCATIONAL HOUSEHOLD ARTS DEPARTMENT
December 16, 1952
Mr. A. Jerome Goodwin Superintendent of Schools Agawam, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
The Vocational Household Arts program at Agawam High School is designed to meet the needs of all girls who have an interest in the home and successful personal living.
We are fortunate in having a functioning program which helps the girl meet everyday situations. She learns first to manage herself, her time and energy. Home problems, such as good housekeeping, budgeting, training, and care of children and the importance of health are included in our study. These help the girl make an attractive and comfortable home and also develop an interest in homemaking.
Four girls in the graduating class were enrolled in House- hold Arts their entire four years. Other class members enrolled for a two or three year course.
Homemaking is the occupation which employs more per- sons than any other occupation in the nation.
Therefore I recommend this program be extended to reach more girls particularly Juniors and Seniors.
Respectfully submitted,
MARJORIE B. KELLY
Household Arts Supervisor
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF VOCAL MUSIC
December 19, 1952
Mr. A. Jerome Goodwin Superintendent of Schools Agawam, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
I herein submit my report as Supervisor of Music in the Agawam Public Schools.
As the old year draws to a close we can look back with pleasure over a year full of satisfying musical experiences and accomplishments.
The work in the grades has continued at a high level. Out- lines for the music work in the various grades have been revised and improved by your supervisor assisted by the following teachers: Grade 1-Mrs. Dacey and Mrs. Eagan: grade 2- Mrs. Labonte and Miss O'Connell; grade 3-Mrs. Crawford and Mrs. King; grade 4-Miss Bready and Miss Downton; grade 5-Mrs. Hembdt, Mrs. Marion and Mrs. Straszko: grade 6- Mrs. Courtney and Miss Meadon.
During the past year, despite the increased enrollment and additional classrooms, I was able to revise my schedule of class- room visitations so that I could visit each room every other week. This change was made possible by cutting down on the amount of time spent in each room and has already proved its value to all concerned.
On December 16 the Danahy School boys and girls pre- senetd a Nativity play, especially adapted by me, for their parents and friends, to show them some idea of what the boys and girls are learning to do in their classroom music lessons. This is the first of a series of programs by the schools.
In the Junior-Senior High School the following activities took place:
February-Massachusetts All State Chorus at Framingham -one soprano accepted.
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March-New England Music Festival at Hartford Conn .- two sopranos entered.
Senior High Girls' Chorus were guest artists for the annual Band concert.
May-Western Music Festival in Athol, Senior High Girls' Chorus, Boys' Chorus, and Glee Club participated and were highly complimented.
Junior High Boys' Chorus and Girls' Chorus appeared in special assembly program.
June-Senior High Glee Club sang for graduation.
November-Junior High Girls' Glee Club sang for Red Cross assembly.
Senior High Glee Club presented the operetta "Croco- dile Island."
Nine entries were accepted for the Mass. All State Chorus to be held in February in Springfield.
December-Senior High Glee Club presented special music for the Christmas assembly.
To Mr. Goodwin, for his cooperation and assistance, to Mr. Dacey and the other principals for their help at all times, to the teachers for their active cooperation in carrying out the various phases of the music program, and to the student body for their loyal support, I offer my grateful thanks.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY FRANCES HAYES
Supervisor of Music
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REPORT OF THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
December 18, 1952
Mr. A. Jerome Goodwin Superintendent of Schools Agawam, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
I herein submit my report as Supervisor of the Instrumental Music Department.
Every teacher who wishes to give his students a thorough foundation in the fundamentals of instrumental music will want to start a Tonette class in his school system.
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