USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1956-1962 > Part 13
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It would be impossible to express our thanks in detail to the many individuals and groups who helped the schools to continue to move forward. Patience, understanding, and cooperation have come from many sources. It is our firm hope that we all may continue to work together as a team in furthering the education of our children.
DR. EVERETT G. THISTLE Superintendent of Schools
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REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
I am happy to present to you at this time a report on matters relating to Tewksbury High School during the year 1956.
For the first time in its history, the High School, due to the over-crowded conditions in the system, was placed on double ses- sions in September. By utilizing all available space, the building, originally constructed to accomodate 350, is now housing approxi- mately 1000 pupils. As of October 1, the afternoon session, which is comprised of pupils in grades 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, housed 525 pupils. By the end of the year, the figure had changed to 529. With 180 eighth graders being promoted and 63 seniors graduating next June, a figure approximating 540 is anticipated for grades 9 through 12 next September.
Graduation 1956
On June 8, 1956, 65 students received diplomas from Mr. John Murphy, Jr., Chairman of the School Committee. Miss Claudia Blanchette, the Class Valedictorian, and Miss Roberta Flucker, the Class Salutatorian, rendered the honor parts during the exercises. Miss Blanchette, Miss Madeline Buchanan, and the Girls' Glee Club furnished the musical part of the program. Awards were made as follows: The P.T.A. Basketball, Charlene Hazel and William Day; the P.T.A. Citizenship Medal, Charlene Hazel; the D.A.R. Good Citizenship Certificate, Frances Alyward; The Larrabee Scholarship Medals, Claudia Blanchette and Richard Carter; The Melvin Rogers Athletic, (Football) Robert Dixon and (Baseball) William Day; the Balfour Award for Loyalty, Scholarship, and Achievement, Richard Carter.
For many years some of our graduates have received financial aid from the colleges they attended, but until recently there were no scholarships except the Edith Haines Scholarship for Nurses Training for the exclusive use of Tewksbury High School seniors. It is worth noting, therefore, that last June the Principal was able to announce seven Scholarships worth a total value of $850.00.
The Scholarships and the recipients were: The Tewksbury P.T.A. $200 to Charlene Hazel; the three P.T.A. Teacher Training @ $100 to Betty Sheldon, Adrith Garside, and Patricia Celino; The Tewksbury Towne Players $100 to Madeline Buchanan; The Tewks- bury Teachers $150 to Claudia Blanchette; and the Class of '56 $100 to Betty Sheldon. Presentations were made by Mrs. C. Van- Gemert, Mrs. Richard C. Olson, Mrs. Henry Christenson, and Richard Carter, Presidents of their respective organizations. It is hoped that these and additional scholarships will be available for years to come. The high costs of college education makes financial
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aid necessary for most students today. Many capable students would have terminated their education at the end of their 12th grade had this assistance not been available.
Acknowledgements
Special acknowledgement is due the Tewksbury P.T.A. for its untiring efforts in helping graduates to further their education. A total of four different scholarships were presented to four different girls at our graduation exercises in June. The organization has sponsored various projects throughout the year to make these scholarships possible and has shown in other ways its interest in our school. Meetings which were formerly held at the High and the North Street Schools are now being held in the Town Hall.
The Tewksbury Towne Players have also given much of their time and energy to help one of our students to continue his or her education in some field of art. The Lions Club presented the school with an audiometer. The Booster's Club continues its fine backing of our athletic teams. The Lowell Sun and the Tewksbury Advertiser have been most helpful in covering the school's publicity. The Chiefs of the Police and Fire Departments and their members continue their fine cooperation.
The school is very grateful for the cooperation it has received from these and all other organizations, as well as individuals who wish to remain anonymous.
Achievements
Among some of the outstanding achievements of the school during the year are:
1. Retention of our accreditation with the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the State Department of Education.
2. Approval of authority by the Board of Collegiate Authority of the Veterans Administration to offer training to veterans under Section 253 (a) (1), Title II of Public Law 550, 82nd Congress.
3. Winner of the Lowell Suburban Girls' Basketball and Boys' Football Championships.
4. 29 members, or 44.6% of June's graduating class, are continuing their education at some post-secondary institution.
Educational Program
The educational program has benefited this year by the following changes:
1. An additional teacher to our English Department.
2. New SRA Reading accelerators and rateometers in the guidance classes.
3. Homogeneous groupings in our English and Social Studies classes.
4. Assignment of a full time secretary.
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Other changes which should be planned for 1957 include the following:
1. Additional teachers, one with a background of mathematics and one with an English and Social Studies background.
2. An Assistant Principal who would be a part time teacher.
3. A Dean of Girls on a full time basis.
4. A dual control car so that our pre-driving classes may have the actual "Behind-the-Wheel" instruction.
5. An Assistant Guidance Director.
Athletics
In the field of athletics, this has been another year of Champion- ships. Our girls' basketball squad continues to retain its supremacy among the suburban schools. After winning the Lowell Suburban Championship, the team reached the semi-finals of the girls' basket- ball tournament before it was eliminated by Templeton High School, the winner of the Ashby Tournament. The boys' basketball and baseball squads, although not of championship calibre, finished third in their respective leagues. During the past fall, the boys' football team, which won seven of the eight games played, finished at the top of the Lowell Suburban League and fourth in the State Class "D" ratings. Coaches Hazel and Butler are to be commended for their roles in directing these boys and girls in the various athletic achievements of the year. Incidentally, the present basket- ball squads are worthy of much praise for the manner in which they have progressed in the absence of a home court. The display of hard work, courage ,devotion, and fine spirit within these two groups is most commendable.
Additional Teachers Needed
As has been indicated earlier in this report, there was a tremendous increase in school enrollment in September. From a total of 355 in October, 1955, there was a growth of 413 in grades 9 through 12 on the same date in 1956. The anticipated enrollment for these four grades is approximately 540 in September of 1957. This is the equivalent of four additional classes, which means that every permanent and every temporary classroom in the building will be utilized every period of the day by students in the four upper grades starting next fall. To adequately handle this number, additional teachers will be required to augment the present staff. Research has proven that smaller classes have resulted in: (1) an improvement in educational achievement, (2) an improvement in instruction, (3) an improvement in attendance, and (4) better behavior on the part of pupils and higher morale among the teachers.
Conclusion
When only a few of the children who completed elementary education went on to high school, a relatively narrow course of
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study met their needs fairly well. Now that high school must offer a worthwhile program for all children of all the people, a much broader curriculum is demanded. This, in turn, requires more teachers with special training and more shops, laboratories, and equipment.
The great struggle in the world is to possess the minds of men. We are attacked by specious argument and clever propaganda that makes error resemble truth. This is not the time to send out of school students who have been inadequately prepared to think and to act.
In our school, we are trying to do our share in the essential and difficult but challenging work that falls to teachers. For the support and encouragement we have had, we are grateful.
LAWRENCE R. McGOWAN Principal of High School
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF NORTH STREET SCHOOL
One of the most desirable characteristics of a school, its faculty, and staff is flexibility. Flexibility in the language of the educator connotes the ability to adjust to a change or to a new situation. Changes and new situations of immense proportions have been a prominent feature of the past year.
Until June 1956, this school served pupils of grades one through six. Approximately 850 pupils were housed in 13 classrooms on a half-session organization. Two groups and two teachers were assigned to each classroom with each group and one teacher attending either a morning or an afternoon session.
In June 1956, pupils upon promotion were assigned to specific sections for the following year. During the summer, teachers were assigned to specific classrooms, grades, and sections. A change in these assignments; a transfer of pupils and teachers to other schools in the system; a complete revision of schedules, duties, textbooks and desk requirements were made as a result of the decision to provide for as many pupils as possible the advantages of a regular full day session by making use of all available space which could be converted to classroom use.
During the course of the year, this school has been served by two different principals, three different school clerks, two different art supervisors, and two different instrumental music supervisors.
The remedial reading program carried on in this school has two major objectives. 1. To form, schedule, and present remedial reading classes for those pupils for whom remedial classes are both necessary and practical. 2. To promote and encourage and assist in developing in the regular classroom an improved program of reading instruction which is geared to the child's learning rate,
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his interests, his need for correct habits and thereby reduce the number of pupils requiring the attention of special remedial instruction.
The additional science texts provided this year have helped broaden our science program and the inexpensive but excellent microscopes will prove indispensable in this program.
A team of pupils of grades 4-5-6 participated in a competitive quiz-down against a team from a neighboring community and won both honor and a valuable atlas for the North Street School.
An appropriate and entertaining Christman Pageant was pre- sented under the direction of Miss Donnelly. The facilities of the Town Hall were used for this evening program which was well received by parents and interested persons. The music apprecia- tion phase of the music program is now made possible by the re- cent addition of fine recordings to our record library.
The improvements carried out so far on the playground are very much appreciated by all concerned. The open drainage ditch which had presented a hazard to the safety of the pupils on the play- ground has been covered. The application of loam to the play- ground makes possible the growth of turf and of even more im- portance is the fact that it serves to bury the many rocks and stones which litter the area and which have been a hazard and the direct cause of a number of accidents on the playground.
A handbook for teachers, a handbook for custodians, and most recently a handbook for school clerks have been developed for use in this school. Such handbooks have proven valuable in the orienta- tion of new personnel, as a reference, and as a statement of accepted policies, practices, or procedures. The handbook for parents, pro- duced through the combined efforts of the various principals in the spring, was distributed during registration of first grade pupils and is distributed to parents of pupils entering the system for the first time.
On the basis of facts presented in this report, and other im- plications of the various phases of the program of this school, the following recommendations are submitted:
1. That the curriculum study by the members of the faculty be continued and such time as necessary be allotted so that there may be opportunity for teachers of all grades and sections to co- ordinate their activities and findings.
2. That the part time school clerk be assigned to full time duty in order to handle more of the clerical work which is a necessary but deterring phase of the educational program and which cannot be handled on a part time basis.
3. That the remedial instruction program be continued in reading and enlarged upon by the inclusion of opportunity for remedial work in arithmetic.
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4. That the night custodian be assigned to serve with the day custodian either during the regular school day or from the afternoon of the school day to early evening.
5. That the hot lunch program be renewed to provide a more desirable lunch situation for pupils of day session classes.
6. That the surfacing and seeding of the playground be con- tinued until the entire recreation and play area has been surfaced.
7. That an elementary school adjustment counselor be ap- pointed to develop under the supervision of the Guidance Direc- tor a more complete elementary school guidance program which is becoming more necessary as the lives of the elementary pupils become more complex, to counsel elementary pupils under a sound mental hygiene program, to cooperate with and assist the home and the school, and to serve as a referral agent in the many instances where specialized aid is required.
A debt of gratitude is owed to the teachers and other per- sonnel of this school for the manner in which they have met every challenge, for their efficiency in adjusting to change or to incon- venient situations, for the many hours of extra-class time spent in developing a more effective program, for their ability to main- tain normal school routine under conditions presenting many disadvantages, for their patience, encouragement, and continued efforts to meet the individual needs of pupils.
FRANCIS G. CIARFELLA Principal
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF SHAWSHEEN SCHOOL
A review of the first four months of the present school year indicates that a satisfactory adjustment has been made to the problems created by the changeover from two sessions to three and the utilization of every bit of available space for classroom purposes. During the month of August, a complete reassignment of the chil- dren was made as a result of the decision to have some children go in the morning, others in the afternoon and still others a complete day. Parental requests to have children assigned to certain ses- sions or classrooms were complied with in almost every instance.
Two ungraded classes, according to age, were set up for twenty children in the Teachers' Room, with specially trained teachers in charge. The older children in the ungraded classes have shop work, cooking or sewing for one hour each day, in addition to the usual class work, assigned for the most part on an individual basis. The many difficulties inherent in the use of the all-purpose room have
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been overcome solely because of the excellent attitude of the teach- ers to make the best of the situation.
The bus drivers have worked closely with me in maintaining the proper discipline on the buses, thus helping to ensure safe transportation for the children who ride to school. Mention should also be made of the many mothers who supervise the children at the bus stops, every day, even when the weather is bad. Before dismis- sing this subject, I would like to suggest, if I may, the employment of adults, either mothers of the children, or retired men to super- vise the children on their daily bus trips to and from school. It would be safer if the bus drivers could concentrate all their thoughts on driving and not have to think about the occasional child who disturbs other children on the bus.
Continued stress has been placed on the importance of ac- quainting parents with the school program. Through publicity in the daily newspaper, notices from the Principal, and the school newspaper, classroom activities are brought to the attention of the public. In October, an evening demonstration of the teaching of reading was presented at the school by the teachers and children of all grades. The teachers who participated answered many ques- tions, particularly those regarding the grouping of children accord- ing to ability. Grouping of children for the teaching of arithmetic is the next anticipated step, thus giving the children the advantages of the most modern teaching methods. This will give the children who have difficulty grasping the fundamentals of arithmetic more time for repetitive practice, while other children in the class ad- vance to more difficult topics. The philosophy behind the grouping of children in reading and arithmetic is to fit the work to the needs and abilities of the children. By getting away from a regimented program, where all children are given the same arithmetic and reading materials, we know that they can achieve success at their own levels.
Plans are being formulated to organize 4-H Clubs for children in the fourth grade which will meet once a week. The leaders of these groups will be adult volunteers. In conclusion, I wish to thank the Superintendent and the members of the School Committee for their cooperation and sympathetic understanding.
HAROLD HERSHFIELD Principal
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REPORT OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To give a report for the year 1956 presents a problem. Since my introduction into the system in March of 1956, I have had the responsibility of being Principal of the Foster, Ella Flemings, Town Hall, and the Junior High School.
The Foster School contained grades 6, 7, 8, and one Special Class. Ella Flemings School contained two Special Classes. A well organized and efficient running program showed the time and effort Mr. Francis Ciarfella had put into these two schools. This made my indoctrination into the Tewksbury School System much easier than I had otherwise expected.
During the summer, it became necessary to use the Foster School for grades 3 and 4 on single session, Ella Flemings for grades 5, 6, and Ungraded Classes on double session, convert the lower Town Hall into two 2nd grades on single session, and place grades 7 and 8, plus three 5th and one 6th grade in the morning session at the High School.
Foster, Ella Flemings, and the Town Hall teachers used the first day as a regular teaching day, despite the fact that only six out of seventeen of the teachers had previously taught in Tewksbury. Special credit is due these teachers, especially those who were named teacher-in-charge. As no person can be in three places at once, it was necessary to have someone who could act if an emer- gency came up. Mrs. Phyllis Daw in the Foster, Mrs. Alice Mercier in the Town Hall, Mrs. Katherine Donovan (morning) Ella Flemings, and Mrs. Helen Hunter (afternoon) Ella Flemings were the teachers- in-charge.
In September, 1956, the principalship was extended to include the Junior High School. Mr. McGowan had organized the program well. The classes were grouped homogeneously and this has proved to have definite advantages.
The staff of the English Department is working on a reading program to help each and every child on an individual basis. Four reading accelerators, flash cards, a tachistiscope, SRA develop- mental reading texts, and individual progress sheets are in use. To date, this program has proved valuable to not only the "slow" reader, but the "fast" reader as well.
The staff is still seeking other ways to meet the individual needs of each child.
Mr. Joseph Bastable, Director of Guidance, has been helping the pupils of the Junior High who have problems that need special attention. These need not be problems in academic work. There
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are no quick ready made answers in this field. A single case may mean a week of work. Outside agencies from the medical to the legal are sought for advice. It is impossible for Mr. Bastable to carry on all the work in the High School and the Junior High School. A guidance counselor is needed for the Junior High area alone.
A Christmas Party for the children of the Tewksbury State Hospital and Christmas Carols on the Common were Junior High Staff enterprises, with Mr. Mitchell, Mrs. Gilley, and Mrs. Miller giving special help.
On November 13, 1956, Mr. Edward Pelletier, of the Junior High Staff, was appointed Principal of the Foster, Ella Flemings, and Town Hall Schools, relieving me of these duties and enabling me to devote full time to my duties as Principal of the Junior High School. Mr. Pelletier is still a member of the Junior High teaching staff at the time of this report.
The Staff of the Junior High School is dedicated to each child. The teachers will do their utmost to give each boy and girl the best education possible. The physical plant that the Junior High School is now housed in and double sessions present great difficul- ties to the staff in accomplishing this.
In last years report, the High School Principal stated that the High School Building was designed to occomodate 350 pupils. In September ,1956, 467 pupils entered in the morning session alone.
The gymnasium is occupied with four classes which means our Physical Education can be carried on only in good weather by the homeroom teacher.
Industrial Arts and Home Economics are not included in our program because of double sessions.
With over a thousand pupils in the building daily, a full time nurse should be on duty.
May I take this opportunity to say thank you to all those who have been helpful and cooperative, and especially to Mr. McGowan, whose daily understanding, cooperation, and help in untold in- stances play such an important part in making the Junior High an effective school.
DANIEL G. O'CONNOR Principal
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REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE FOSTER, ELLA FLEMINGS AND TOWN HALL SCHOOLS
I am pleased to submit my first report as Principal of the Foster, Ella Flemings and Town Hall Schools for the period begin- ning November 15, 1956 to December 31, 1956. In addition to the responsibility of being Principal of these three schools, I am con- tinuing to carry out my previous assignment as Science teacher, in the morning session, at the Junior High School. It will be neces- sary for me to do this until a replacement can be obtained.
The Foster School has nine classroms, five third grades and four fourth grade classes. The Town Hall is being used to house two second grade classrooms in the basement and the Ella Flemings School, which is on double sessions, has two fifth grade classes, two sixth grade classes and two ungraded classes. The total enrollment for the three schools, as of October 1, 1956, was 454.
Presently, every one of our classrooms is used every period of the day, every day of the school week. At the Foster School, the Cafeteria is used as a third grade classroom and Remedial Reading classes are held in the kitchen.
At the present time the Foster School is the only school of the three receiving special instruction in Remedial Reading. Classes are held two full days a week, in the kitchen of the school, with Mrs. Thelma Greene as teacher. We hope, in the near future, to bring Remedial Reading into the Town Hall and Ella Flemings Schools.
We sincerely believe that every boy and girl should have the opportunity in our schools to develop his full potentialities. Striving to implement this belief, our staff have turned to the school's guid- ance service for help in solving a student's persistent educational or psychological problem. Although this service is, at present, on a referral basis only, we appreciate the opportunity of having a resourceful person like Mr. Bastable to aid us in determining the best course of action to follow.
His services have been most necessary, also, in establishing a student's eligibility for our ungraded classes.
We believe that our continuing growth demands additional guidance personnel to serve more of our students and perhaps pre- vent certain difficulties from becoming serious problems.
The major purpose of our program in the schools is to insure opportunities for children to develop those fundamental understand- ings, skills, habits, attitudes, ideals and appreciations necessary for living in a democratic society. We feel that in educating children, the curriculum is a means to pupil growth, not an end in itself.
I wish to thank Dr. Thistle, the School Committee and all of the teachers for their loyal support and cooperation.
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