North Kingstown High School - Skippers Log Yearbook (North Kingstown, RI)

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 It was in the fall of 1950 when we first set fool on the deck of the ship which was to carry us on a six year journey. We were assigned to this vessel which had no name, just a number, 1956. This was an entirely new experience for us. W'e had entered the grown world of high school. We soon discovered that we needed an experienced person to command our ship, and Miss Darby was chosen to fill that position for our journey. The first vear of high school we were busy adjusting ourselves to the change from grammar school to high school. In high school, we soon found out. you were pretty much on vour own. you had homework, and no recess. But we managed to sail off with second prize both nights of the annual Jabberwock” with our original Miniature Minstrel skit. With the end of our first vear just over the next wave, we elected our executive com- mittee or officers, and set our dues at 25c a month. Our officers were: President: Bob Parker Vice President: Beverly Dunham Secretary: Ruth Stelley Treasurer: Nick Tarbox Coming back to our second year aboard ship, we were surprised to learn how familiar we were with the routine of our new life. Our first class project was a food sale and it proved to be very successful. We had a sad experience during our second vear in high school. Beverly Mathewson. a student in our class whom few of us knew, died suddenly after a short illness. Our class officers attended her funeral and extended our sympathies to Mr. and Mrs. Mathewson. At the end of this vear. we felt as though we were well organized enough and well enough acquainted to have a picnic. We really had fun that day — swimming, playing baseball, throwing unwilling members of the class into the water, and even getting lost. The next vear we were freshmen and really knew all the ropes! We were starting to get cocky and self-assured but an occasional dunking from the upperclassmen soon dampened our fun. W e elected our class officers almost immediately and they were: President: Phil Franklin Pice Resident: Ruth Stelley Secretary: Cynthia Peterson Treasurer: Bev Dunham Mr. Stowers, our never-to-be-forgotten English teacher offered to assist Miss Darby at class meetings and various activities. Mr. Stowers proved to be the highlight of our third vear in high school. We were forever dreaming up romances between him and every sin- gle female teacher at North Kingstown! He certainly was the talk of the class and his name is still brought up occasionally to bring to mind some incident of this year. Under Miss Darby's and Mr. Stowers’ guidance, we held a class Halloween party in the auditorium. In the spring we had another food sale. Another summer was upon us and we decided that we had so much fun at last year’s picnic we should hold another one. So it was that we held a class outing at Lake Mish- nock. at which time the famous picture of Mr. Stowers was taken. W ill we ever forget the brave one who took it and the laughs we enjoyed over it the next year? In September. 1953. we earned a new rank aboard our ship, that of sophomores. W ith our new class officers who were: President: Jim Herbert Vice President: Tony Whitehead Secretary-: Cliff Dunning Treasurer: George Ward

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John P. Wilson — Jock ’ — Architect Presenting Jock, intelligent, fun-loving, and good-natured de- scribes this outstanding student to a rfT.’’ His winning personality and willingness to help others have made him the pride of YK. Jock plans to be an architect and we know he'll reach his goal. Senior Chorus 4; Bachelor's Club 3. 4; Yearbook Staff 4; Hoad r-o 3, 4; Football 1. 3. 4; Xmas Tree Committee 3. Sandra Edith Wotherspoon — Sandy — Nurse A blue-eyed strawberry blonde. Brains! Sandy has loads of them. For four years her name has been on the Honor Roll. In spite of the A's don't think Sandy has spent all her time study- ing — for she isn't at all adverse to memory. We hear that she in- tends to become a nurse. Mav the best always be vours. N.E. Vlusir Festival 3; R.I. Music Festival 2, 3, 4; Senior Chorus 4; Girls Chorus 2; Mixed Chorus 3, 4; Yearbook Staff 4; Good ill Society 2; Food Sales (Commit- tee 4: Play Committee 3; Social Committee 4; Xmas (Card (Committee 4; Snowball Dance (Committee 3; Sophomore Hop (Committee 2. Barbara Joyce W right — Bobbie — Marriage Who's this dark-haired little girl with the sparkling eves? Whv, it's Bobby. People can't help liking her because — well, just be- cause she’s Bobby. We feel that with her friendly manner she will make a success in the business world. N.E. Music Festival 1; R.I. Music Festival 1; Mixed Chorus 1; Senior Chorus 4; Mouthpiece Staff 2, 3, 4; Food Sales Committee 3; Snowball Dance Committee 3. Mary Elizabeth Andre — BeU — Housewife Talk about ambition! Here’s a young lady who was married in her junior year and has returned to school to receive her diplo- ma. W ishing you success and happiness in vour married life. R.I. Music Festival 1. 2; Girls’ Chorus 2; Mixed (Chorus 1,2; Mouthp iece staff 1. 2, 3; N.k. Twirlers 1; F.H.A. 1.

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CLASS HISTORY (Continued) We settled down to raise money for our class trip and other senior activities. Dues went up to 50c per month and Lieutenant Commander Dunning got coffee taps for us to sell at our own profit. This was a very successful venture and added much needed cash to our treasury. In the fall we held the traditional Sophomore Hop and though not a success financially, it seemed a hit socially. At the end of our sophomore year, we decided, not intentionally, to hold our class pic- nic at Arcadia in July. Once more we returned to school to find that we had been raised one more rank, and that finally, it was obvious that we had a little respect from the underclassmen and we were really surprised to discover there was only one class ahead of us. Rings seemed to be the first problem to tackle. With Margaret Morra as committee chairman, we soon had chosen our own class ring. Naturally we thought it was the best and the prettiest and we couldn't wait until Christmas when we would get them. We sold Christmas trees this year and made an excellent profit on them. In December we also held a Snowflake Dance and Margaret Morra was crowned queen. We had only one sad event this vear. During the selling of the Christmas trees, Cliff Dunning caught a cold after being out in the freezing rain and it turned into something quite serious. We never saw Cliff again because as soon as he was well enough to leave the hospital, his family was shipped to Guam. W'e all missed Cliff and it took quite a while for us to get used to school with out our Windv.” When Cliff left, David Belden was elected to take his office, so our slate of officers read: President: Jim Herbert Vice President: David Belden Secretary: Ruth Stellev Treasurer: Carolyn Laird Preparations for our Junior Prom were under way early in the year under the direction of Lenore Cranston, chairman. By the first of May, we had almost everthing ready, except for the last minute directions for decoration. In spite of the last minute jitters' and the assurance of the seniors that it would be a flop. The Junior Promenade, in honor of the Class of Nineteen Hundred and Fifty-five, was held at the Officers Club, Quonset Naval Air Station, on Mav 27. The club looked really lovely and just the sight of it was reward enough for our hard work and worry. After the prom, just about evervone went to the Carlton Hotel(remember how LOVELY it was??) and those who didn't go there, went to the Mayfair. It wasn’t too crowded, now was it??? I guess we escaped from those places as fast as we could and went to relax and sing and eat at the Duhamels to pass the wee hours of the morning. Some continued on to other parties (didn't you??) but most of us just waited around until the sun showed its happy countenance. Audrey O'Neil, who was crowned queen, looked truly like a queen in a beautiful aqua gown. She and Frenchv made quite a couple! (Won't you agree?). In April we held our play, which was a combination of two one-act plays, The First Dress Suit” and Antic Spring.” The casts of the two plays and anyone concerned with them will be able to give you a few tips on how to conduct rehearsals so that the time flies by and you have a terrific, happy time putting on the plays. The class had a part% at Carol’s, the last night of the play, where we stayed until all hours discussing the plays and watching Ronnie Carroll bop to the Twelfth Street Rag. Our junior year closed with a class picnic the day before school was adjourned at Lake Mishnock and an unofficial (it certainly was) class beach party at Cold Springs the night that school closed.