Claymont High School - Clay Tablet Yearbook (Claymont, DE)

Page 17 text:

HI TOR posters, we were moving into the big time. We were what the Circus managers called Juniors. We knew our places and could handle our duties as easily as an elephant eats peanuts. One of the bigger moments of our time under the Big Top was the Junior Prom, a ball that the Juniors give for the Seniors and themselves. Our theme was Stardust, and through the ingenuity of one of our performers, we were supplied with a water fountain for the grandstand of the arena, where the dance was held. All evening we danced under the blue crepe ceiling with the garden backdrop lending its touch to the heavenly atmosphere. X A A I s . . . lt was hard to realize, but it was on all the 7 'Q U 1 xx 9 An, X! J x I ' X Sem . f, The number of problems in our Junior year under the Big Top was nothing compared to when we moved to the most treasured spot under the lights, the center ring. We had the yearbook, the Senior Play, graduation, and so on. While we were in the center ring, we got the privi- lege of using the entrance reserved especially for us. The biggest act we gave in the center ring was the Senior Play. After due con- sideration, we picked Our Hearts Were Young and Gay. Rehearsals were fun, the performance was even more fun. As it is with most of these productions, the performers enioyed it more than the audience. Old hands as we were, we were all a bit nervous when we marched solemnly down the aisle on graduation day. Moms and Dads beaming, we received our traveling papers. These bits of paper, diplomas, they are called, formally ended our career under the Big Top of Claymont. Most of us have signed up for an- other Circus. We're getting old and others are taking our places here. Our experience here should take us from the Big Top to the top . . . But here we had our beginnings, our first con- tact with the sawdust and the thrill of giving a good show.

Page 16 text:

CLASS Ladies and Gentlemen-step right this way. For only one tenth of a dollar you can see the greatest assortment of freaks ever collected under one tent. That's right, folks, for only one thin dime you can see the oddities of the Big Top. Step right this way . . . Yes, that barker was talking about us when we were freshmen back in 1950. Al- though we weren't really freaks, we felt just like them. The old-timers would look at us and say to one another, Look, here comes a fresh- man. l'll bet he has his schedule mixed up or something. But after the first two or three weeks we began to learn the ropes of the Big Top. We felt more at ease with the trainers who, we found, were human, too. We also found that there were many activities in which we could take part. Many of us went out for the sports, others ioined the band, still others found iobs on the Circus newspaper. After nine months, when the circus closed for the summer, we found that all of us had been given a raise to a better position under the lights of the Big Top. W 'Q 1. , 1 xf Frcs 'an X I xl Y 2 fa 6. x IXS, s0fflo 'es Xls I'- D Came September, as we trooped back to the Circus grounds, we realized that a change had taken place-we were regarded as old-timers. We took the assignment of lockers, meeting the new trainers and setting up a new schedule as matter- of-fact. Certainly nothing was new here. Oh, yes, we mustn't forget that we held our first dances during this period. They were nothing to shout about, but they were dances none the less. As Sophomores we began to branch off into various fields of labor. Some wanted to become the brains of the Circus, others wanted to be machinists, others wanted to be iust a little of everyhing. Most of the girls wished to be secre- taries or accountants and handle the receipts. And we began to learn the tricks of our trades.

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ELIZABETH BARBARA ADEL BETTY COMMERCIAL Betty came to us in '52 from Wilmington High School. Her future plans are secretarial work and marriage. Her favorite pastime is writing letters, and her favorite saying is, l hope l got a letter! Grammar in Mr. Owen's English class is Betty's pet peeve. Betty's secret ambition is to be a very prosperous office worker in 1954. MEIzI.E FRANCINE ANDERSON MEIaI.E ACADEMIC Merle ioined our class in our iunior year from Howard High School. She intends to continue her education until she receives her Master's degree. After that, her future plans include going to Paris and 'Rome to study fashion designing. Although Merle doesn't like ill-mannered boys, she does like Brazilian boys. Merle spends her time in various ways: eating Chinese almond cakes, playing the piano, dancing and dreaming of marrying a millionaire. Choir 3, 4, Math Club 3, Glee Club, Vice President and Pianist 4, Public Speaking 3, Drivers Club 4. Chanticleer 3, Drivers 4, Typing 4 RICHARD AVEYARD RICH GENERAL Rich came to us in kindergarten. Since then, he has gained many friends, including that certain girl that is his weakness: This certain weakness doesn't keep him from using his favorite saying, Wow! His favorite pastimes are girls, dancing and sports. So whenever there is a dance at the Club or Armory, you can be sure to see him there. Rich's future plans are to attend Goldey Beacom for Business Administration. We wish him luck in all he undertakes. Square Dancing i, 2, Science Club 4, Football 3, Drivers Club 3, 4, Baseball Manager 3, 4, Football Manager 4, Choir 3, 4, Varsity C 4, Art Club 3, Track 3, 4.