Washington High School - Sunburst Yearbook (Washington Court House, OH)

Page 28 text:

'CHE SUNBURS T The Senior Class History It does not take the pen of a seer to tell what this, the largest Senior Class of the Washington High School will do--for its future is strongly foreshadowed by its past, and now, it is my pleasant duty to relate that past, so that she who runs Cto prophecyj may read its future. About twelve years ago, yes, you who have helped us through all our trials and tribulations, over stormy waters, you who have been our constant guide and inspira- tion through all these years, you probably remember when we, the scattered forces of this illustrious class, stepped beyond the realms of our backyard and playhouse, into the world of school. Unconsciously, all these forces have gravitated to one center. Tonight we make our initial bow to you as one, for we are a strong, unified body, pos- sessing a love of loyalty for our Alma Mater. Let us forget the present, to go back through the long halls of memory, and once more mirror on its walls those golden pictures which we hold so dear. There were the Misses Bell, Channel and Kerrigan, and others, who in their calm, tender and patient ways presented to us, for the first time, the first glimmering no- tion of what school really means. Once tasting of the divine fruit, we thirsted for more, consequently, as We passed through the grades, we pursued our studies with intense eagerness. Those trials and triumps of our scat- tered forces were not few, it is true. but it was the advent into high school, in the fall of 1920, a hundred strong, that made us realize we were a real power in this world. We were leaving the grades so competently headed bv Mr. William McClain. When Mr. McClain left us, his place was filled by Mr. Harry S. Rees, whom we have learned to love and respect as much as we revered Mr. McClain. Finding Mr. Probasco and a whole corps of teachers ready to receive us, im- agine our feeling, when on that beautiful September day, we set our feet in the strange halls of higher leraning-but our hearts and souls were earnest, we had a strong and true purpose. Thus have we been able to win out. Immediately our Freshmen athletes stepped out on the football gridiron, and in the winter some of our girls made the basketball team, in which they have played the whole four years. By the end of our Freshman year, we had become very well acquainted with our teachers-nor were they wholly unac- quaintedxwith us-the duties we were ex- pected touperformg and the upper class- men. Especially well known to the Dale was the Flee, to Virginia, the Lamb Our Sophomore year was very eventful. Mr. Probasco left for higher fields of work and Mr. Thompson took the wheel. There he has been for the last three yeras, labor- ing steadily with us and for us. In these years of constant association with him, we have learned to appreciate his service, thus honoring and respecting him. It is with deepest regret we leave him and the mem- bers of the faculty, who likewise hold their places in our hearts. ' Our Sophomore Carnival was one of the best ever witnessed and it netted us a goodly sum, which we saved, adding to it, from year to year, until we have purchased our Senior Memorial, a Baby Grand Piano. We had some real talent for music in our class, besides the Glee Club, among which the Misses Williams, Limes, Ellies, Callendar and Baughn starred as soloists, while Miss Wolf and Mr. Flee played in the High School Orchestra. Miss Callne- dar, Miss Sodders, Warren Creamer and Raymond Flee have continued in this vital and important function of high school. Near the close of the Sophomore year one very dear member of our class left us. Lester Icenhower, whom we all loved as a classmate, entered into the realms of that unknown land. A great sorrow was cast over the class, which only time could soothe. Soon, three of the members of this noble class were fatally wounded by Cupidis arrows. Those who remain have not been hit yet, but the prospects, in some cases, look very favorable. Willard Mitchener, be-cause of his abil- ity, made the high school term in three years and graduated with the class of '23. Miss Norine Chaney also left us, enter- ing Miami University, but returns to re- ceive her diploma with the class.

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THE SUNBURS T The Biology Club HE purpose of a course in Biology in the High School is to first acquaint the student with the abundance of life which exists all about them and its characteristics and second to further their interest already aroused by the study of General Science and prepare them for the study of the more advanced sciences. There is an abundance of material existing outside of the school books with which the students should be acquainted, if for no other purpose than to foster a keen appreciation of out-door life. Biology deals almost entirely with nature. At the beginning of the school year the class spent a few days in making bug nets to be used in field trips. Field trips were conducted for the purpose of securing different biological specimens to be used later on for class work. Toward the latter part of the second semester a field trip was planned for the purpose of gathering and studying wild flowers. From time to time members of the class brought in rare specimens of wild flowers: The gathering of cocoons for the purpose of preserving some of the moths together with a detailed study of destructive insects, human anatomy has been the basis around which the course was constructed. - ' Keen interest was manifested in the work throughout the year and ter- minated in the organization of a Biology Club, whose membership consists of thirty-seven students. This organization is proud of its achievement and sets a high standard of class attendance and accomplishment for the class of next year. The Senior Chapel On Wednesday, May the seventh, the chapel hour was given into the charge of the Senior Class. It was the last chapel in Washington High School that the Seniors might attend as members of the student body. The Seniors marched down the stairs and into the auditorium, singing their stirring processional hymn, Lead On, O King Eternal. Each Senior wore shreds of the class colors, turquiose and honey, torn frc?m the class flag, which had been so triumphantly raised in secret the night be ore. The chapel program began with the reading of the scripture by Alberta Roby. The portion selected was job 28: I2-28, the chapter of wisdom. Three songs were then sung by the members of the Senior Class. The songs chosen were familiar numbers from the old book, which had been used for chapel until this year. Verna Williams then sang 'il'Il Forget You. The applause given her was proof of the appreciation of her audience, and she responded with Linger Awhileu as an encore. Reverend Alexander, the spez ker of the afternoon, then gave an excellent short talk upon friendship. He said in part, that friendships were the most important influence upon one's life, and that one should not slight any oppor- tunity to make a friendship. The quality and the quantity of a persons friendships determine to a large extent the character of the individual. After Mr. Alexanders talk, the Seniors sang another group of songs, Sailing, Out On the Deep, and Help lt On. The entire student body then joined in singing the High School song, We'll Honor Washington, and thus closed the impressive chapel service.

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'CHE SUNBURST 27 We had become fairly familiar with high school, when we took up the third lap of our journey and established oursleves in the assembly next to the Seniors. A Debate Team was organized consist- ing of five Seniors and three Juniors. It was coached by Mr. Walter Sittler, who likewise taught Public Speaking. This may account for the unusual brilliance with which many of our members express their views concerning various matters. By this time another class member had fallen prey to Cupid's darts. Some moved away, while others fell by the wayside. Seventy were left to continue the journey started three years before. Of these sixty- two sit before you tonight. Here let us bretahe freely, for we are at last the Seniors in the dear old W. H. S. There are three of our members on the Sunburst Staff. One is the editor-in-chief. Four of us sit in Student Council. Miss Virginia Ellies was the captain of the Girls' Basketball team this year while Harold Rodecker came to the front in Boys' Basketball. Forest Smith ably cap- tained the football team through a very successful season. During the Spring Vacation our class was greatly saddened by the death of Miss Minerva Stevenson, who, possessing a rare personality and charm, had won a place for herself in our hearts. In spirit she lives with us yet. She was an active mem- ber in the Glee Club. Our picnics and class activities have cemented the ties of a frendship which time cannot blot from the memories of a loyal and true class. Ours is a cooperative and coordinated class. It has true demo- cratic tendencies, and we feel certain that the proper attitude toward study has been manifested by the majority of the mem- bers. Not long ago, the Musical Concert. or May Festival, was given, with a consider- able number ofiSeniors participating in both Glee Club and Choral Society. It is a known fact that we are the largest, finest looking, brainiest and best class ever graduated. Our load character- istics are left for the faculty to decide. That we are the largest, everyone knowsg that we are the finest looking, well, looks speak for themselves. That we are the brainiest and best, may be proved. by an examination of our records, and if that doesn't satisfy, just ask the faculty, who have been heard to remark on the wonder- ful expansion of our heads within the past few months, especially since we've become the all-dignified Seniors. During these four years just past, so rich with varied experiences, our heads have been so filled with information, that the wonder is, they do not burst. Don't be afraid to ask us any question from Ancient Egyptian lore down to the present time, for we are yours to com- mand. As to American History, Civics, and the Constituton, we are your Solons, for we've had it from north, east, south, and west, but particularly - West. As for Latin, we are more modest, be- cause Caesar, with his many legions, con- quered the majority of the class, leaving but six Satellites to glory in his mother tongueg with the eloquence of a Cicero and the charm of a Vergil. We, who were overcome byCaesar, were Hook fedJ in by Spanish. but we found satisfaction and revel in El Placer De No Hacer Nada and Fortuna, Mathematics was completely mastered in our class, so completely, that its rough road has become a royal road and many, so eager to retravel it, have remained in the Geometry classes two or more years. The sciences--in Physics. the classes simply made Mr. Kay wonder, so much, indeed, he has ofttimes been heard to re- mark very lovely things in our behalf. We feel sure that he is extremely well pleased with his work in science and if he could possibly see reflected anything of fact. fable, or fancy, as the years roll on, that he has endeavored to teach us, his work shall not have been in vain. Our class is well supplied with women electricians, en- gineers, telegraphers, chemists. to sav nothing of the male experts, and the world need look no farther for masters, for the Edisons, Watts. Morses. and Grays will soon be supplanted-all because of our ex- cellent training under the calm and patient direction of Mr. Kay. English has taken a good part of four vears. and still there are oceans to learn. But its study has developed talent among us, of which we are justly proud. Not only are we conversant with Chaucer, but we feel a sadness because we mfust leave the society of Carlyle, whose essay still Burns within our minds. Our excellence is known not alone in the regular course, but we rank unexcelled in