Great Neck North High School - Arista Yearbook (Great Neck, NY)

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School on Polo Road did so in 1930. Succeeding Senior classes adopted the custom and, since then, one Senior class had graduated annually, and this year’s Senior class will doubtless follow suite. Except for the period when the Carlsbad decrees were in effect, there have been many class organizations in Great Neck High School. The class of 1932, sponsored in their Senior year by Miss Mary O’Connor and Mr. John Lusch, elected three officers instead of the usual four, the posts of secretary and treasurer being combined into one office. As was the custom, they also had the right to nominate G. O. officers. This has been duly recorded in modern history books under the title of Le droit du seigneur,” or seniorial rights. In 1932 the Sophomore and Freshman classes were forced under- ground by a decree of the school authorities, who felt that organization of these classes was unnecessary. Soap box oratories and subversive pamphlets indicated that the feeling was reciprocal. In 1934, G. O. officers were still nominated from among the ranks of the Seniors. The members of the Class of 193S hold the distinction of being the first to have completed both their junior high and senior high school educations in the new building. It was the largest class to have gradu- ated up to that time, having the record breaking number of one hun- dred fifty-five members. Dues, necessary to finance the various Senior activities, were set at ten cents a week. Perhaps the most important of the Senior projects was the publication of the Arista, which, at that time, featured the Senior class. 1935’s grads held a supper dance, the first of its kind in history. In 1937, the Senior class, through its officers and council, again levied a tax of ten cents a week to help pay for Senior activities. Some Seniors, misguidedly believing that they didn’t have sufficient representation, dressed as Indians, raided the cafeteria and threw all the milk overboard into the light court. Election time rolled around for the Seniors of 1938 and, for the only time in the history of class organizations, a girl was elected Senior Class president. The highlight of the year was a grand prom accompanied by a banquet. Although an unsuccessful attempt was made at organizing the Class of ’39 during its Junior year, they were well co-ordinated as a Senior class. So proud were the members to be Seniors that they sported class hats and pins and ruled on Senior Day.” It is true that the student administration unsuccessfully voted a government subsidy for members of their class, but we are sure this was only because of the gay mood of the day.

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1935—Class of ’35 First to Complete Entire High School Education in New Building . . . 1938—First Girl Senior Class President Elected in School History ... 1939—Junior Class Organizes For First Time Since 1930 . . . 1940— Senior Room Finally Opened . . . 194l- fclass Of ’41 Initiates Custom Of Buying Class Jewelry . . . 1947— Warren Pffaf Elected Class President For Second Year... 1948—Sophomores (Class of ’50) Organize For First Time Since 1938 . . . 1950—Author Herman Wouk Speaks At First Senior Breakfast... 1952 All Senior Class Members In GOOD STANDING” . . . 1953—Norman Strax Is Winner In Westinghouse Science Talent Search . .. 1954 —Deep Sea Rhapsody Chosen As Senior Prom Theme. We had been kept so busy by Uncle Fagin again, filching lady’s handkerchiefs to pay yearbook expenses, that we almost forgot a lunch- eon date with the printer yesterday afternoon. When we arrived at the restaurant, that worthy was found eating toothpicks and devising schemes for overcharging us enough to line his swimming pool with Florentine mosaic. Later, as we sat discussing business problems, a copy staff representative broached him with the question which concerned us all so vitally. Tell us, sir, how should we handle the writing of the Great Neck High School Class organizations?” Lost in thought for all of thirty seconds he broke the expectant hush finally with: How about an epic poem? Why they're all the rage now,” he said, rising in excitement. Just look at Longfellow!” We all looked at Longfellow, who had just come in and was ordering a rolled beef sandwich. But the idea is old, mon vieux,” declared the editor, turning away. What we want is something vibrant, sparkling, full of life.” Emotionally overcome with vertigo, the printer stumbled out the door, leaving us to pay the check. Finally we decided to present the history as what it really is—a vast and significant human drama. • • The first Senior class to graduate from the present Great Neck High

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The Class of 1940 was the first to successfully organize as Juniors since 1930. Class officers were elected and a festive Junior Prom was held. As Seniors, sponsored by Mr. John Lusch, who had sponsored the previous ten Senior classes, they established an executive council com- posed of three representatives from each of the Senior homerooms. This council approved a constitution which became the basis of its government. In the same year, the dream of having a Senior Room was fulfilled. Supervised by Senior hostesses, the room became a Senior haven during study halls. Tea was served every afternoon at four, and the refugees danced the gavotte and the stately minuet to the accom- paniment of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The class also held a Senior Day, and, showing a cooler head than their predecessors, simply tried to close school for the week. For some reason, the attempt was unsuccessful. During their Junior year the Class of ’41 initiated the present custom of buying Senior rings and pins. The class established an executive council as Juniors and held a successful prom while Seniors. The Class of 1942 was again fortunate in having a Senior Room. At commence- ment exercises a class orator was substituted for the usual outside speaker. A feature initiated by the Class of '45 was a monthly mimeographed newspaper, the first news sheet in the school’s history devoted exclusively to Senior activities. For some obscure reason, it was called the Bwang. This was undoubtedly the stimulus for other frivolities, such as a here- tofore unheard of Valentine’s Day party. In February, the Senior Room was again opened as a study hall refuge for Seniors. A closely knit, very spirited class, the Class of ’4 S organized and published a class news- paper, the Hubba Hubba Herald. Homerooms sported such imaginative signs as Gordon’s Goons,” Ma’s Menagerie,” Admiral Perry’s Brig,” Duncan’s Dungeon, and The Hole of Fame.” A red and white Senior banner, which all the homerooms coveted, was awarded each marking period to the homerooms having the best average in marks, attendance and dues payment. The highlights of that year were a hilarious Fashion Show,” given by Senior boys, and the aforementioned Junior-Senior Valentine party, the Senior Prom and dinner and Senior Day. After completing organization in the fall of their Junior year, the Class of 1947 held an extremely successful party and prom. Warren Pffaf was elected president of the class for both years. The Senior Room was reinstated in December, after an absence of a year. Other high- lights of the year were the Senior party, complete with shoe scrambles and hula dancers; Senior Daze, the class newspaper; Senior Day and the Prom. A number of boys, who had left school for the armed forces during the war, were welcomed back to finish their educations in 1947. A baby picture contest, prom, and a Junior-Senior Valentine party