El Camino High School - Aerie Yearbook (Sacramento, CA)

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Principal 's ,Message In dedicating this year's Aerie to the Seniors of 1954, we are reminded of some of the events that took place in the high school days of these same Seniors. When El Camino opened its doors for the first time in September, 1950, there were eight classrooms, a shop, and an office. There were eight full time, and two half time teachers, one ianitor, and one secretary who spent two periods a day in the office. Between the place where the girls' gym is now and El Camino Avenue a cattail swamp existed, and when the win- ter rains came that year a regular pond, Lake El Camino, developed between the covered walkway and El Camino Avenue. The name, El Camino, for the high school had been decided upon by the Board of Trustees a few weeks before the open- ing of school. Other than that, however, there were no school colors, school mascot, clubs, G.A.A., Boys' Block, school con- stitution, or student body officers. There were no cheerleaders, nor Pep Band, and we belonged to no athletic league. Now, nearly four years later, we have a faculty of 60, an office force of four full time secretaries, and a custodial staff of six. We have a student body of 1520, and the original 225 Freshmen have in- creased to 265 Seniors, our first graduat- ing class. we have four and a half units in the main building, which include a library and 35 classrooms, six additional annex rooms, five shop areas, a bus garage, boys' and girls' locker and shower rooms, a girls' gym and health room, a multi- purpose room, an auto shop building, a cafeteria, 2000 permanent seats in the stadium, and the administration unit com- pleted. Also, the cadet building, the music building, and five more classrooms are rapidly nearing completion, and the boys' gym is under way. lt seems almost a miracle that so much growth could take place in so short a time. Those of us who have been here from the beginning, both the Seniors and the adults, invite those who have come since 1950 and those who will come in the future to ioin with us in sharing the pleasure, the pride, and the responsibility of building-El Camino High School. May the school continue to climb in strength of character and quality of work until it reaches the heights typified by our mas- cot, the great American Eagle. But we did have 225 energetic and enthusiastic Freshmen, and a responsive corps of teachers. We had a sympathetic Board of Trustees, an understanding administration, and a won- derfully helpful group of parents. Early in the year campaign speeches were given for stu- dent body offices, the nominees standing in the balcony of the wood shop and addressing the entire student body as- sembled in the shop. Soon a constitution committee was appointed and did a superb and lasting iob. The school colors were selected, the mascot chosen, and we were admitted to the Sierra-Foothill League in athletics, Many clubs were orga- nized, and the band and A Cappella Choir began to function. Our loyal parents contributed time, effort, and money, and, as a result, band uniforms and choir robes were presented to us. The Board of Trustees staked us to the first set of bas- ketball uniforms. With all of this, El Camino was off to a fly- ing start. .N- s

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Superintendent 'e ,Message The Eagle symbolizes the attainment of lofty heights. As the Eagle soars to reach its goals, so you, as mem- bers of the Class of 1954 have studied and worked to secure the coveted position of a high school graduate. Such a position is not to be looked down upon. Your diploma is a key that will unlock the door to oppor- tunities. The doors are many and all doors will not open to all graduates. Your high school preparation, your high school accomplishments, and your high school in- terests will direct you to the correct doors with proper keys. When you open the doors, you will behold the Elysian Fields of your future. These fields are not to be iust gazed and grazed upon but must be made more beautiful and bountiful by your efforts. As I look into the future, I see members of the Class of 1954 making their communities finer places in which to live because of their successes as engineers, health specialists, lawyers, teachers, social and religious workers, and above all, understanding homemakers.

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Heard if Of Zrnstees Left to right: MR. ROBERT H. KELSOE Secretary MR. ROBERT A. REICHE MR. RALPH HINSEY President MR, EVAN W. DAVIES MR. EDWARD DOLDER e MR. GEORGE PALMER Direeter of Student ,4 etieities Mr. A. L. Yelvington, as Director of Student Activities has many duties. He supervises all student body, class, and club activities, and keeps the school officials informed on the progress of these activities. He also advises the students in the running of their student government. Assistant Distriet Superintendent This was the first year in the San Juan Union High School District for Mr. George Palmer, the Assistant District Superintendent. He comes to us from Hamilton City vvhere he was the principal and district superintendent. Prior to that, he spent four years in the army as a military government officer with overseas duty in France. Mr. Palmer spent part of each day at El Camino, and for those of you vvho may not have met him, here are a fevv of his many activities. He does most of the purchasing for the district, is in charge of application for state and federal aid for the building program, assists in making the bud- get, and, in addition, spends considerable time on district errands for both schools. -.7.....-- s .,.,.,, , My MR. A. L. YELVINGTON