Norwalk High School - Reminiscentiae Yearbook (Norwalk, CT)

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l 8 i l l l V 4 an U neglect of studies. However the Senior play was soon oxer and we again settled down to the steady and serious work which lasted up to the summer vacation. After the graduation of the Senior Class,-an event which made us Juniors,-- and the closing days of school, we separated for the summer vacation, some with the satisfaction of a year well spent, others, perhaps, without such a satis- faction. but all with a resolve to make the next year a better one. A hun qi' A Wliblvkelvkl' l' QEFTW55-?fi5:K'-77 CIQQ 611114 U Q 1,-.1 x I i X l 1 5. l ...--J ,. ,, , eAl+,. September found us back again at school. Possibly some of us regretted, just at first, that vacation was ended, but on serious thought, the High School seemed dearer to all of us than it had been before. We took up our work with new enthusiasm and with new aims, which, although we have failed to fulfill many of them, were, nevertheless, ideals that we earnestly endeavored to reach. We hope that all those who know and are interested in the Class of 1920 will judge us not by our successes or failures alone, but will consider also our aims and efforts. It was during this year that the epidemic of influenza broke out. Its effects were felt in our school. It seriously affected our attendance. Many, both in our class and in other classes, were victims of the epidemic. It was our class, however, that was the most seriously affected, for it took from us one of the most prominent members. We feel deeply the loss of our classmate, and wish that she were with us, as we approach the completion of our High School course, --yet We should not grieve too deeply for one who has completed her work with honor. Time fled rapidly by and, almost before we knew it, we arrived at the end of our Junior year. The Dramatic Club play took place as usual. Many of our class were members of the cast, and helped to make A Pair of Sixes a success. Then, in June, came Class Day, a time at which we had the. honor of leading in the Seniors. Two days later there came graduation, making us Seniors of the Norwalk High School. After the summer vacation, we returned for the last time, and, perhaps, the hardest year of our High School course. It was in the early part of this year that we organized, elected our class officers, and transacted business necessary for such an organization. The class seemed, this year, to show a deeper serious- r- -1 U. ,K ,.....J ness of purpose. It seemed to realize the necessity of unity of purpose, and in- dividual efforts in co-operation to make a successful record for our class. u At the beginning of this year, there were some who had belonged to our number who did not return to us. Some of these completing their work in A other schools, others taking up different lines of work. Thus we missed some familiar faces, but, on the other hand, new members came to us, thus again lill- Eighty i voug,m1:9:., gg 1lQ4l491l3ll5e '

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Qiatnrg nfithr Gllama nf 15211 S VVIC come to the end of our lligh School career, it is very pleasant for us to look back over the events of the past three years, and to recall the experiences that have come to us. VVe like to remember the work and the play and the experiences of joy or of sorrow that have drawn us all nearer together. Thus it is with pleasure that we review, briefiy, those things which are of common interest to the members of the Class of 1920. The first year was a period of adjustment. lt was a time during which we accustomed ourselves to the various duties of High School life. At this time, too, we learned to carry graver and more numerous responsibilities than had, up to this time, been ours. Thus the Sophomore year was, as it must necessarily be, a difhcult year. Little by little, however, the process of adjustment, always a difficult one, was effected. We came to regard ourselves, and to be regarded by others, as a working unit in the High School. During this year we learned two important things, essentials of a successful High School career: First, what was expected of us, and second, what we should expect of ourselves. The First was the more quickly learned of the two. At the end of a short time, there were very few in the Sophomore class who could not inform you specifically what was expected of him or her. This, however, was not due to our intelli- gence, but to the clearly defined instructions given us. The second, though not so easily or so quickly mastered, was one of the most important of all the things that we have learned in .High School. That we should each make himself his most severe critic and his most exacting master, is an ideal which has been kept constantly before us. ' I have said that this year was not an easy one. Yet, as we lookrback, we wonder that it was not much more difficult. We wonder that we slipped into our new surroundings with so little friction, and that we so soon became at home in our new environment. With minds trained, as we hope, to logical reasons ing, we search for the cause. XYe can remember that 'there were always those who were making the path as easy as possible for us, who were always smooth- ing the way for us. lf then, the adjustment was made more quickly than usual, the honor is due, not to us, but to them. The Sophomore year passed rapidly, the monotony of routine work being broken from time to time by outside activities. In May, the Seniors presented a musical comedy, Fi-Fi, at the Regent Theatre. The excitement of prepa- ration for this event affected the whole school,-possibly causing a temporary Seventy-nine

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ing up our ranks. They have enjoyed this year as we have, and have never regretted their decision to complete their lligh School course at N. II. S. School life proceeded rather quietly until our return after the Christmas holiday. It was at this time that we learned that our principal, Mr. Blake, was soon to leave us. lt is but I think that I may amazement. We could occupied by a stranger. Monday morning, when appreciation of our loss, the other classes, for wh impossible to describe the effect of this news upon usg say that our f1rst feeling was one of surprise,-intense scarcely grasp the idea that our office was soon to be To many of us, complete realization did not come until we found the office unoccupied. XVith realization came came sorrow, which, perhaps, we felt more deeply than at was soon to come upon us. Despite the efforts of Mr. Blake, and of all of us, to keep cheerful, the High School was a rather gloomy place during the weeks following the vacation. In connection with this matter, I think we will always remember the last class meeting at which our principal was present. At that time, he told us that a change of principals was nothing but a little matter of re-adjustment, and asked us to extend to our new principal our co-operation. As for the request, we tried to carry it out, but as far as his statement went, I don't think that we agreed with it. The statement in itself might have been correct, but our basis for disagreement was this: that we did not consider Mr. Blake merely as a principal, we considered him as a friend. The two terms are not necessarily synonymous. The days immediately following are better passed over. Let it be sufficient to say that on Monday, February 2, we found ourselves not only without a prin- cipal, but also without a secretary. Hardly less than we missed Mr. Blake, did we miss Miss Leatherland, who was beloved by all. XVe always think of her as one whose face reflected sunshine even on rainy days. Our misfortunes did not end here, however, for, at the same time, many of our teachers were obliged, through sickness, to absent themselves from school. Stormy and unfavorable weather diminished our attendance and made it almost impossible to secure sub- stitutes for the absent teachers. Those were dark days which we do not like to remember. Yet, it was one of those experiences which have drawn us all more closely together, for it was something which touched everyone, both the pupils and the faculty. The darkness was, however, the darkness that precedes the dawn. Soon,-although then it seemed longgour teachers returned, the ofhce was filled and our new principal and secretary arrived. This was a time of general rejoicingg these positions had been left vacant long enough for us to appreciate the huge responsibility that rested upon the occupants of them. Eighty-one ff.