Clifton Springs High School - Cliftonian Yearbook (Clifton Springs, NY)

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THE CLIFTONIAN 21 showing first-grade readiness. Lessons in reading and manuscript writing have been given these children. In February we were entertained by the Second Grade and shown their project on Early Settlers.” We were also entertained by the First Grade at a valentine Party. On Feb. 19th we gave a “movie-party.” Lantern slides, picturing the changing seasons, were shown—an early approach to geography. On Feb. 22nd we joined the First Grade in giving a patriotic program in celebration of the Washington Bi-Centennial. Quite a number of visitors were present. This celebration established for us a background for history lessons to come. During February a Mothers’ Meeting was held. Demonstration reading lessons were given. There were discussions on reading readiness and the value of manuscript writing. Later tea was served and a social hour followed. In April, after the Easter recess, five new children entered the morning class. During this month the afternoon class prepared a dramatization of The Sleeping Princess” in three acts. This play was given in the Auditorium. The children composed the dialogue and made or selected the costumes and settings. Snap-shots of the children in their costumes were taken later by Mrs. Dusinberre. On May 6th the morning class attended the Arbor Day exercises held on the East Lawn when the fir-tree, planted in memory of Mrs. Leland, was dedicated. During this month the pre-primary class worked on a grocery-store project which led to many outcomes in number-work and reading. This project was later exhibited at the Spring Conference of the P. T. A. held at our school on May 7th. Several kindergarten children took part in the folk-dances which were given as a part of the Conference program. During the year one hundred and seventeen visitors have been registered in this department. A press book has been started which, it is hoped, will be of interest and value in our school records. We wish to express our thanks to Edith Kauder and Helen Joyce of the Eighth Grade, who have assisted each day in the preparation and serving of lunch for the children. —MILDRED L. BROWN, Kindergarten Director. --------------o------------- FIRST GRADE At the opening of school, 36 pupils registered in the First Grade. At present we have a class of 30 children. In October we joined the Kindergarten and second grades in a costume Hallowe’en party. In November, Indians were studied. The children made wigwams and Indians by means of burlap, paint and other materials from the first grade room. “Hiawatha’s Childhood,” by Longfellow, was the basis for this work. , At Christmas time, the children made gifts for their parents and they also made decorations for their Xmas tree. On February 14th we entertained the Kindergarten at a Valentine’s party. On February 22nd the Kindergarten and First Grade gave a Patriotic program for the Washington bi-centennial celebration, to which the parents were invited. In May, transportation was studied. A train, aeroplane and bus were built by the children by means of boxes, paint and other materials. Besides the reading work done with the basic primer and first reader, six supplementary books have been read and enjoyed by the children. We have introduced Manuscript Writing very successfully and benefits have also resulted in its correlation with our reading work. Weekly committees have had charge of the care of the room, i. e., serving lunch, caring for gold fish, watering plants. The new playground, enclosed for the younger children, and the apparatus provided, have given much pleasure to the children during the year. —ESTHER LAMSON. --------------o------------- Nan (teaching Paul the alphabet): “What letter comes before ‘J’?” Paul: “I don’t know.” Nan: “What have I got on each side of my nose?” Paul: “Freckles.”

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THE CLIFTONIAN 20 KINDERGARTEN DEPARTMENT This is the third year our kindergarten department has been established. Forty-four children have been registered during the year as compared with thirty-two our first year and forty-one our second. In October the annual Hallowe’en costume-party was held for the kindergarten and grades one and two. A number of pre-school children and mothers were guests at this party. It is an occasion much enjoyed by children and grownups alike. In November a farm-project formed the main part of our work and culminated in the celebration of the Thanksgiving festival. At this time the children joined the rest of the school in bringing jellies and canned fruit to be distributed to the sick and needy. Book Week was observed by the formation of Library Rules. Lists of books for parents and for children were sent to the homes. A Christmas party for the children and mothers was held on Dec. 22nd. In January our pre-primary class was formed. This class consists of children

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22 THE CLIFTONIAN SECOND GRADE Eighteen pupils have been registered in this grade during the year. The children have done a great deal of project work during the year such as displaying and re-enacting the life and customs of the early settlers, and of the Indians. They have, also, done a great deal of weaving on a large loom. The pupils have made their own patterns, and have selected the ones they considered the best. During the month of June they have been working on a toy project which will be exhibited at the closing exercises. The new system of manuscript writing has been introduced and used with much pleasure and success. —L. BISHOP. -------------o------------- THIRD GRADE This year the third grade has had a registration of thirty-one; twelve boys and nineteen girls. Geography has been the favorite subject. These boys and girls are eager to learn about the world they live in, and the slides from the Education Department are a great help to this end. “My Weekly Reader,” published for Third Grade, has also awakened their interest and increased their knowledge of geography, and also of nature study and history. Having read much of China, the students decided to work out a project about this country. The library has been a source of great enjoyment. Frequent library periods have been held in which books which had been read were discussed. The social events of the year have been a Hallowe’en party, a Christmas party and a celebration of Valentine Day. Some of the children took part in the program at the P.-T. A. meeting in December and others had parts in the Washington’s Birthday program, giving the playlet, “The Making of the First Flag.” -------------o------------- FOURTH GRADE The fourth grade social activities have consisted of a few little parties, namely, at Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s Day. The work for this year has progressed rapidly. The Geography travel slides were especially enjoyable. The bird house contest proved inspiring. Several boys and girls built houses for our feathered friends. Prizes were awarded to the best. We have had excellent attendance, receiving the attendance banner many times. The banking cup was awarded to us three months. In retrospect we have had a very interesting and happy school year. —K. MAC ANIFF. -------------o------------- FIFTH GRADE When school opened in September, 1931, there were twenty-four pupils in the fifth grade. We are ending the year with twenty-three, as one member left in April. Our first party was at Hallowe’en time. Each child came masked and much enjoyment was had in trying to guess who each one was. Christmas time brought us another party with a large Christmas tree, decorated by the children, holding a gift for every child. On May 25th everyone returned tired but happy from a picnic held at the Outlet. Supper cooked over an open fire was quickly consumed by twenty-three hungry children although there were a few ashes and burned edges on some of it. At Christmas time a play was given entitled, “The Christmas Spirit,” at a meeting held by the Parent-Teacher Association. For the Washington Bi-Centennial Celebration the playlet, “A Dream,” was presented and repeated again at the Parent-Teacher Association Convention which was held in our school on May the seventh. On May sixteenth, the same players went to Penn Yan to give the play before the Parent-Teacher Association of that city. The class has been very much interested in working out a large map of the United States on the blackboard. As the different sections of our country were studied, products typical of that part of the country were placed on it. The year has been an interesting and profitable one for the fifth grade.