Alice Deal Middle School - Square Deal Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 3 text:

, , asioiumiuie imitate f Edited by the Students of ff ALICE DEAL IUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL VOLUME Tiff JANUARY, 1937 NUMBER 1 A Letter to the Graduates Dear Girls and Boys of the Graduating Class: The Square Deal, commemorating as it does the achievements of the graduating class, has come to be one of the landmarks of Alice Deal Junior High School. I look forward with pleasure each semester to its publication. I appreciate the honor and the privilege which the editors extend to me of saying one last personal word to all of you before you leave Alice Deal to become a part of the senior high schools of Washing- ton. I am especially grateful this semester for the opportunity to thus address you. While I do not know as many of you personally as I wish I did, I am interested in you. I have studied your record at Alice Deal and I am proud of that record. I shall watch with even greater interest the record which each of you makes in senior high school. You are, indeed, fortunate to have the Woodrow Wilson right here in the com- munity ready to receive you and ready to help you realize the dreams which Alice Deal has sought to inspire. May all of your dreams come true! Two things we have tried to do for each of you: to give you the skills and tools of learning with which to educate yourselvesg to help you to achieve that self- direction and self-control which will enable you to use those tools wisely. We have succeeded very well with the first. Your test records show that most of you are unusually well prepared for the tasks ahead of you. As to your powers of self-direction and self- control, time alone will show the measure of our success. To every man there openeth A way and ways and a way. And the high soul climbs the high way . And the low soul gropes the low, And in between on the misty flats The rest drift too and fro. To every man there openeth A high way and a low And every man decideth The way his soul shall go. I confidently expect to watch the members of this graduating class climb the high way of life. Very sincerely, Bertie Backus lgl Vcrledictory Today we realize that we have reached another port on our voyage through life. Now we may pause for a moment and reflect on some of the experiences that we have encountered on our passage to this im- portant destination. All has not been smooth sailing. If it had been, our success would not seem so satisfying an accomplishment. We feel a justiiable sense of pride in having completed this part of our journey, yet we are not unconscious of the aid which we have received from our principal, our teachers, and our own student-

Page 2 text:

I ness. mc.. vusumsrou, D, c.IQ 9QlIU6Illf4D4I3fRAIIDHS

Page 4 text:

2 ALICE DEAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL il SQUARE DEAL ofiicers who have played the part of officers and crew for our ship. Having left behind the safe haven of elementary school, we sailed with high hopes upon the untraveled seas which were to lead us through junior high school to the distant shore of senior high. Our ship seemed small and insignificant as it steamed its way slowly but surely through the first year with its many changes and readjustments. Many times our staunch little craft wavered as it struggled to maintain its course through the shallows, sometimes coming dangerously close to the reefs of failure, but with ready guidance ever at hand we managed to plow onward. Pausing at the close of the seventh grade to refuel, we had time to reflect on our achievements. We felt a little more assured now that our ship seemed to loom larger and more important in the life of the school. We continued our journey conscious of the awe of the new seventh graders, and aware that we were meriting a little recognition from the seniors. Some of us even began to be recognized as leaders in various activities, and had opportunities to develop our talents in various ways. Careful to avoid shipwreck, we buckled down to work in order that no disaster might befall us. At length we reached our second coaling base and discovered that, almost before we had realized it, we must prepare ourselves for graduation. Filled with enthusiasm we put to sea for the third time. Neverthe- less, experienced sailors that we were, we occasionally went off the course, but inspired by the beacon light from the port so close at hand, we regained the channel and entertained high hopes of completing our voyage creditably. Today we are ready to debark from the friendly craft which has brought us safely thus far. In a few moments we shall receive our diplomas-passports which certify that we have earned the right to take passage on a larger and more complicated vessel for a journey through more difficult seas. XVe find it harder than we realized to say farewell to our faithful ship and devoted crew. It is hard to part from those of our class whose paths must separate at this point. We trust, however, that the friendships we have formed here may endure throughout the years, and we depart knowing that Alice Deal does not forget fh0Se Wh0 have sailed with her. As the radiance of the new wtofld made Clear the pathway of Columbus, so may the m0U30 of 0'-11' School, Light and Life, kindle our vision 25 WC, 500, Sail on and on. ht Katie if utlaerford -L xx XX Salutation ' , It gives me great pleasure to act as spokesman for my class to welcome you and to express our apprecia- tion for your presence on this important occasion. We are extremely happy to be graduating, and we are thoroughly enjoying our brief moment of glory. Even if we were not confident that you rejoice with us, your beaming smiles would betray you. Arenlt your hearts, in tune with ours, beating a little faster with pride and pleasure in our achievement? This is an appropriate moment to acknowledge with sincere gratitude the debt we owe for the devoted interest of parents, friends, and teachers. Without your help We should not find ourselves ready and waiting to receive the diplomas which are ofiicial evidence of our accom- plishments. Nor do we wish this occasion to pass with- out a word of appreciation for the friendly associations our school has afforded us with teachers and fellow- students. We sever this association with regret, but with the satisfaction of knowing that we have obtained here a foundation in character-training through a pro- gram of studies, activities, and Wholesome contacts which should find us equipped to meet the problems which will inevitably face us as we enter a new field of learning. We believe that we have here learned to think and to understand and to appreciate the value of an educa- tion. As we bask in the spotlight of this thrilling moment we feel inspired to entertain high hopes of justifying your pride and loyalty, and we pledge our best efforts to realizing some of the ambitions you cherish for us. for IVPIIS 'Nu