Hammond High School - Dunes Yearbook (Hammond, IN)

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The growth of the “Family Tree of ’63” characterizes the story of the year — a narrative which harmonizes all the components into a composite portrayal of the year’s varied activities. From the gaiety of homecoming to the grandeur of the prom and gradua- tion, and from the exultation of athletic victories to the eminence of scholastic achievement, Hammond High School continues to manifest the qualities of leadership, scholarship, and sportsman- ship synonymous with its 76-year his- tory. Instilled through tradition and nourished by ambition, these attributes are the results of the combined efforts of administrators, teachers, athletic teams, scholars, and clubs. As the growth and magnificence of a tree are dependent upon the contribu- tions of all parts, so was the co-operation of all vital to the story of Hammond High School in 1962-1963.

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Dediurtiott J 4 »» Doctor Oliver L. Rapp came to Hammond in August of 1949 to serve as Principal, but he was to be, in a sense, “caretaker” to Hammond Higfi School’s “tree” of tradition, faculty, and students. The school -had -just recently weathered the difficult years of World War H;, thus; =4t«jvas essential that it grow to meet the expanding demands of peacetime. The fore, Dr. Rapp nurtured ideas on school improvement offered him faculty and staff, and he actively attended conferences to learn of other educator’s methods. He helped us to meet the demands of the “space race” by approving the addition of Russian, UICSM, and PSSC physics to the curriculum. With his approval in 1953, the Speaker’s Program began. By 1959, we had a unified four year mathematics course. On discovering that department heads needed space in which to cen- tralize their materials, Dr. Rapp authorized the establishment of offices for them. He was instrumental in enabling counselors to devote full time to guidance and supported the initiation of College Night as a supplement to the regular guidance program. His administration’s increased publicity concerning summer school resulted in doubled enrollment. In noting that extracurricular activities were also important, he urged students to attend our games, and was a frequent spectator himself. He seemed able to convince students that spirit and scholarship could har- monize to enable them to transmit H.H.S. “greater, better, and more beautiful.” This philosophy won Hammond High a State Board of Educa- tion special First Class Commission in 1959. Dr. Rapp continues to improve our facilities in the position he as- sumed in September, 1962, as Assistant Superintendent of Personnel. Research, and Public Relations on the Hammond School Board. For ex- ample, his application under Title V of the National Defense Education Act provided the new guidance office. We sincerely thank Dr. Oliver L. Rapp for the improvements he sanctioned. They have blended with the other traditions of Hammond High School and have given us impetus to branch out further. Dr. Oliver L. Rapp Assistant Superintendent of Personnel. Research, and Public Relations for Hammond Public Schools.

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