Ferndale High School - Reflector Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

Page 17 text:

Ferndale High School Alma Mater Let our voices loudly flllglllr, Echo far and near, Songs of praise thy children To thy memory dear. Alma Mater, Alma Mater, Tender, fond and true, singing llerifs lo you our Alma Wlaler, All our ions renew.

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STUDENT COUNCIL M. Ilunkle. J. Jacobs, E. Ilruliakcr, It. Shaffer. Il. Schwingf. E. Reese, J. Dibert. IT Ntu Mr. Km-llcr. M, 'llI'2lllllllt'I'. IZ. :xSlll'lllll. R. Koontz. .L Schncfrg. Ib. Filllfficl. li Nlll 4 U. II:-Noir, ll. Stllltllll. li. Ilurrcl. Mr. Fishcr. Y. Sclnvcitzcr. M. Mills-r. I'. Huck. IG, licltz. W. lmvis. lb, Shat'f4-r. Il. Wt-nslcll It I4 A, Mcliucas. IG, Hhs. President , ..... Richard Shaffer Vice President ,..,. ..,... , Dick Stevens Secretary ...,..,.,... , Margaret Dunklc Adviser ., Mr. Frank Keller Representing each home room in the high school, the Student Council began its intensive work a few weeks after the opening of school. The first project of these students and their adviser, was to advance the sales of the individual pictures, taken for the interest of the office for fuure references. In previous years these pictures were taken for the Reflector but are now substituted by group pictures. All during the second semester the group was busy as super-salesmen. Ac- cepting full charge of the 1937 year book sales, they met weekly in order to keep up the spirit and interest in their work. During February the Council supervised the chancing off of two watches, sold for the benefit of new band uniforins. Later. when the Johnstown Library Club wanted to establish a Children's Library, the Ferndale student council members sold book plates to students and borough residents. The adviser and the students of this club felt that much was gained by having the Student Council govern these activities.

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HISTORY OF FERNDALE SCHOOLS The beginning of the Ferndale schools takes us back one-half cen- tury, to shortly after the .lohnstown Flood. As a result of that disaster the community started to develop, and late in November, 1839, the first school building was opened. It was a one- rcom, unplastered, wooden structure, with Mr. Norman E. Berkey as the ,,,.,l,,,. I,,,imi,,g wo, 191.7 only teacher and fifty boys and girls as his pupils. With the growth of population, it became necessary in 1905 to add another story to the original inadequate edifice. The school at this time consisted of two teachers, Miss Hose Brubaker and Miss Catherine Keefe and seventy-six pupils. ln 1911, on account of over-crowded conditions, the seventh and eighth grades were moved to the 1Vlunicipal Hall on Vickroy Avenue. A four-room, light- brick structure was erected in 1912, and a teaching staff of five members was employed. The following year, a one-year high school was started, with four pupils. a class which increased to six in 1914. By 1916 an addition of six rooms was necessary to accommodate the enrollment of 250 students. lt was in 1924 that one-half of the present high school building was com- pleted to care for the 123 senior high school pupils as well as the seventh and eighth grades. ln 1928, the present auditorium and gymnasium were completed. giving the students and citizens of Ferndale better educational opportunities. ln accordance with the progressive program under way, a Home Economics department was added in 1931 and four years later a boys' general shop was in- stalled in the grade building. The closing chapter in this history deals with the disastrous grade school fire, December 11. 1936. Beginning the next week, the Ferndale School system began operating on a new schedule. Grades seven to twelve attended the first session from 8:00 A. Nl. to 12:00 noon, while grades one to six assembled from 12:30 to 4:30. lt also became neces- sary to schedule extra-curricular activi- ties of the high school in the afternoon. High school clubs and assemblies were done away with and that time was utilized for additional class periods. Although this was a serious blow to the Ferndale School system, the new building, now in construction, is a challenge to better educational facili- ties in the future. . I D Grade lilllltllllg' 1911!---15131: