Erasmus Hall High School - Arch Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

Page 25 text:

e orphans party leaders' club Outstanding among the many extracurricular activities of Erasmus Hall, stands the Leaders' Club, which has for many years added to the riclmess and principles of our school. This club was introduced to our school in 1932 by Miss Anne lVlcClue, formerly of the Cirls' Health Education Department. lt falls right in line with good old Erasmus tradition because it was a first g in fact, it was the first club of its kind in New York City. It is the honor' society of the Girls' Health Education Department, with members recruited on the basis of character, leadership, ability, and prowess in athletics. There have been and are many copies of our Leaders' Club throughout New York's high schools, however, their members are usually selected by the teachers. At Erasmus, girls are voted into the Leaders' Club by its members, and are made to feel at home by its big sister-little sister system. The Leaders' Club is the only club in our school that abides by a strict, enforced honor code, of which it is justly proud. The girls in the club, aside from assisting the teachers by giving service and coaching various department activities, have a full program of worthwhile activities throughout the year. The first activity of the year is usually the Cake Sale. Cakes and cookies, which have been donated by the students of Erasmus Hall, are sold to raise money to finance a Christmas Party for orphans. When the jolly, festive holi- day season rolls around, one can find the girls, in Gym 349, gaily preparing for their party. For the past seven years, the club has played Santa Claus to one hundred and fifty orphans from Catholic, jewish, and Protestant orphanages. The children enjoy entertainment, feast on all the traditional yuletide refresh- ments, and receive surprise packages consisting of toys, candy, and fruit. Another worthy activity of the club is to provide entertainment for the aged, blind ladies at Anthonian Hall. The girls also hold a play day, to which they invite with them representatives from the various city high schools to compete in a variety of different and amusing games. There are refreshments and prizes for all. To climax the year's activities, the Junior members of the Leaders' Club hold a party for their Senior members. At this party, the Juniors enact songs and skits about each of the graduating members. Refreshments are served, and the Seniors receive stuffed animals as remembrances of the club. The Leaders' Club for the past few years has been under the very able leadership of Miss Rosemary Holran, who has helped to instill the Erasmus Hall spirit in the Leaders. As transmitters of some of the most worthwhile traditions of Erasmus, may the Leaders' Club long continue to be a stimulus for high ideals in school and later life. -B . J 3 '9 9 O 5 lfffff?

Page 24 text:

K1 Qy' papyrus Cash prizes CSS, 553, SZD for excellence in Regents' examinations in Ele- mentary Algebra and Plane Geometryn was an offer made in the January 1932 issue of XYZls Papyrus. The publication which we now know as a magazine with a glossy cover, photographs, and pages numbered with Mayan numerals, was then a six-page, coarse paper booklet, opening like an accordion. It came out twice a term. Papyrus editors were fond of quoting Lewis Carroll, especially his quip about arithmetic, The branches of arithmetic are Ambition, Distraction, Ugli- fication, and Derisionf' The column 'iOdds and Evensn offered frequent proof that Erasmians havenlt changed much over the years. 1tems include, There are several theorems to which the author generously states, 'The proof is left to the student' One pupil wrote in his homework, 'The proof is left to the teacherf A 1933 issue relates that Miss L., in teaching a geometry class, demon- strated that even when one draws a circle free-hand there is a fixed point fthe elbowl, and a radius Cthe armD. When she asked, on the next test, 'What are the essentials of a circle? the answer she received was 'Kan elbow and an armf, Masthead of the December, 1934 issue lists for the hrst time Mrs. Ruth L. Berkowsky, faculty adviser. An article suggests that math be taught by mass hypnosis, resulting in higher marks. lt would also enable students to catch up on lost slecpfl X s

Page 26 text:

........,. . ...n..., 4. .. .. .Q-. . v '..lhm....i..---. ...i .......,....s.........,,.4..i.a..L4.-,.a...nu IHUSIC Erasmians walking into chapel on a Monday mormng rn 1898 would not have been at all surprised to have seen the twelve members of the Mandolin Club Slttmg on the stage and tuning their instruments ln preparation for their weekly concert Dr Walter B Cunnlson the principal who had just organized the club a thought that a few selections followed by the entire student C 15 body smgmg omrades Bold' On To The Battle and Erasmus Hall was the best Erasmians for a happy week of school T e vas quite a distinguished organization for it played at the first Flatbush Library and at the Commercial and Liberal class days Dr Cunnison in 1898 lt entertained at facultw dmners ren talent was difficult and 1n 1901 the thirteen were by a faculty v1ol1n1st band was unsuccessful It was also hard to Club was dls banded because of lack Strongly this move eight determined boys got form the all male uartet in 1900 Their most appreciated were Tommy Atkins and ie Owl and the Pussycat The members of the had a voice 1n the choice of musical selections they rendered A informed that they would have nothing to do with classlcal music but consi red only ragtirne This in 1902 The Clee Club and Cantata w added to the roster of musical clubs ln 1937 being formed for the sesqu1ce ennial celebration They were so well liked that both groups became perman t organizations No present day Erasmian needs told about the music clubs The Orchestra the Band the Choral Club Club Cantata and un1or Chorus all are to be thanked and congratulated one who has ever attended or participated in a Christmas Concert will forget the thr1ll of hearing the 11 O . ' i . Y . .V Y . . 7 7 . ' ' H lf Y, ll ,Y ' 7 7 h v s Q u o 1 , 1 i . . . . V I ! Ll . ' Y 1 ' 7 violist, clarinetist, W A 1899 to organize a I . , . - - :Q - ' ' H. o 7? 7 .U U m M . . . . , . . , . Y ! l 7 7 J . , . . . . ,, Choral Clubs rendition of the stirring Chorus, or the wonderful feeling that comes from seeing the faces of our musicians at the Spring Concerts. In passing, we wish to who left Erasmus 1-lall in November, 1954, to at Wingate High School. Mr. Ciovanelli taught music ear after year, the Orchestra ranked high under his best in the city. This was the result of his unrelenting to play any one of a variety of instruments. Many first musical instruction at Eras- mus. The orchestra has now in the person of Mr. Bowden, who helped to make our Christmas Concerts such great successes. Music has been a tradition at Erasmus since 1898, and will undoubtedly go on as long as the school does.