East Longmeadow High School - Aegis Yearbook (East Longmeadow, MA)

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Izhlvtory of the Class of 1962 Birchland Park Junior High School, East Longmeadow. Throughout the early pages of this book, refer- ences have been made to the uniqueness of the Class of 1962. Nothing so much reflects this unique attitude than the Class History and its accompany- ing pictures. A close look at these pictures will tell, more eloquently than words, a portion of our class history. For these pictures are views of those build- ings we have known during the course of our high school years. We started out in Birchland Park Junior High School, close to home, and spent eager carefree days learning the fundamentals of math, science, lan- guage arts and English. Leanna Eldridge was elected President of our class in the Ninth Grade, Richard Hickey was Vice-president, Marilyn DiMonaco was chosen Secretary and Carolyn Bradley, Treasurer. The year moved on very quickly and we were en- gaged in the routine studying of several subjects. Our eyes were on the future, and that could not come soon enough for us. For our future held surprises beyond compare. We knew that in the coming year we would be separated into the several high schools of the Springfield Public School System. Yet we knew that we would be brought together again when that vast complex of stone and steel slowly rising on Maple Street, named East Longmeadow High School, would call us to be its students. Time passed quickly and Graduation, J une 5, 1959, was an event- ful day. As we accepted our diplomas under the proud and watchful eyes of our parents, we left our endeared school carrying with us many wonderful memories and mixed emotions - sorry to leave but anxious to accept the challenge of a new high school life the following September in the City of Spring- field. A close look at the remaining pictures serves to trace our paths through five major high schools. There has been no particular order in arranging the pictures, they are present as reminders of the happy days we spent within the halls of these build- ings. We were disbanded temporarily when we entered the storied halls of those reputable institu- tions, Tech, Commerce, Classical, Cathedral, Trade. Many new experiences and responsibilities beset us as we switched our allegiances and rooted against one another in the pleasant rivalries which inter- school competition brings. The Bulldog, The Red Raider, The Tiger and The Panther became an im- portant part of our lives, and we warned any and all that we would defend their traditions and good names to the bitter end. Yet, somehow, inside, we probably felt like small bolts in a big machine . . . that is, we were one of thousands of students . . . or two thousand! The feeling of togetherness and unity

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was missing, but we worked hard that year because we had the incentive provided by the new high school waiting to receive us and the thought of re- union with our deeply rooted friends. We had few feelings of regret as we boarded the busses from the city for the last time, in June, 1960, for we had a great deal awaiting us back home! For the third time in three years we were in a different school as we eagerly began our Junior Year at our own East Longmeadow High in Septem- ber, 1960. The Class of '62 was together again, and from the very first whistle at our very first football game, a hearty school spirit burned within us. We elected our class officers almost immediately: Gil Congdon, President, Terry Rockwood, Vice-Presi- dent, Mary Burgess, Secretary, Carolyn Bradley, Treasurer. We helped choose the name The Spar- tans for our school and applied it to our very successful athletic teams, which did exceptionally well the first year considering we lacked seniors and competitive experience. As a class we really be- came active. Dances were run, activities were spon- sored and juniors could be found in every activity in the school. During the winter months, we or- ganized a committee under the direction of Mr. Goff of the English Department, to work on the first school yearbook, and shortly thereafter we ordered class rings and class hats for our senior year. Under the capable direction of Mr. Dutille our Class Ad- visor, we became a more closely knit unit. ln the spring of 1961, it was announced that our school would have a branch of the National Honor Society, and it was also stated that eleven members of the Class of '62 would constitute its charter members. Our class reached a milestone on May 12, 1961 when we held our highly successful Junior Prom Utopia . Mary Burgess was elected Prom Queen, and Linda Johnson and Cale Kuhn formed her attractive Court. The final, important event of our Junior Year was the Class Picnic, held informally at Look Park on the last day of school, June 20th. Everyone had an enjoyable time and all who went agreed it was a pleasant way to end a successful year. September, 1962, saw our class as Seniors in our new high school. Yet this unique class compiled for itself another singular honor. For the third year in a normal four-year school program, our class was again the top class in the school, a privilege ac- corded to very few classes. This was the final year of high school for us, and we thought it would drag by. How wrong we were! Class elections were held and Gil Congdon was our President for another year. Jack Millard was elected Vice-President, Mary Bur- gess was re-elected Secretary, and Carolyn Bradley retained her post as Treasurer. We received our class rings and hats and wore both with understand- Technical High School, Springfield Commerce High School, Springfield Classical High School, Springfield