Wellesley High School - Wellesleyan Yearbook (Wellesley, MA)

Page 28 text:

READING As the trend of Back to Basics” gained momentum in ’76-’77, the Reading department flourished under the direction of Miss Gordon and Mr. Parsons. The excellent speed-read¬ ing course was especially popular among students. A desire for improved study methods led to the design of a pilot course entitled How to Study,” in which a sizeable number of stu¬ dents demonstrated an interest. Increasing enrollment reflected the importance of Reading as an essential department at WHS. Who ever misled the thrill cf sitting in ex-bachelor Mr. Ed Touey’s lap, of finally wrangling a schedule out of a tangle of IBM cards, or of attempting to explain to Mrs. Brown that 340 is the .erial number and not the SAT scone, missed a vital department at WHS. Behind the flurry of papers and forms, the guidance personnel succeeded in guiding hundreds of students annually through the halls of Wellesley High and out into innumerable universities and colleges across the country. Headed by Mr. Archer Harman, the department staff used a bit of skill (and a lot of luck!), managing all the while to keep the good name of the high school alive in the nation’s institutes of higher learning, despite the nagging worry about the effect of G U I D A N C E ARCHER HARMAN, Director of Guidance The Special Needs Department at Wellesley High came into the limelight once the state legis¬ lature passed Chapter 766, a special education law. The bill provided for help to students in a vari¬ ety of cases, from temporary physical problems to emotional difficulties and more serious learning disabilities. Mr. Harman directed the department of four staff members whose goal was the integration of all students into the school population. Mrs. Coleman worked as the program’s adjustment coun¬ selor-psychologist. Students were recommended to her by the guidance department. Mrs. Thomp¬ son functioned as core chairperson, coordinating the evaluation of potential participants. The most innovative part of the program was the new use of Room 301. Mrs. Miller and Mr. Carpenter conducted one to one tutoring lessons in the room, which had been remodeled to allow for more private study space. The Academic Resource Center was also faithfully visited by those students who simply enjoyed the quiet atmosphere. LEO CARPENTER ROSLYN COLEMAN MARJORIE MILLER MARY THOMPSON Wellesley’s probationary accreditation status. ALFRED MAZUKI A Mr. Carpenter and Mrs. Miller chatted with students in the Academic Resource Center. BONNIE BROWN JOAN CAEFER HENRY DUGGAN EDWARD TOUHEY 24

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HOME ECONOMICS MARTHA O’NEILL MARJORIE MILLER Dept. Chairman, Child Development Home Economics The Home Economics department started from scratch this year as it welcomed an entirely new staff of two. Miss Martha O’Neill, chairman of the department, taught seminars in food and clothing as well as general homemaking, and Mrs. Marjorie Miller received a much-hoped-for opportunity to teach Child Development. While students in the more conventional electives gained valuable preparation for independent living, Mrs. Miller and her class received valuable experiences with children of all ages by entertain¬ ing the sons and daughters of various faculty members. In the comfortable and friendly atmosphere of Room 1, students, both male and female, learned that Home Economics is not just for housewives-to-be. ANNA RAY, Nurse HEALTH Mrs. Bums relaxed on the trampoline. I’m allergic to C period. Can I lie down?” Nurse Ray dealt smilingly with a constant stream of such lamentations, some decidedly more original than others. Throughout the year, her office was a haven for any students needing relief from head¬ aches or treatment for injuries sustained during the tumult of everyday school life. Cheerful and concerned, Mrs. Ray was always ready to offer sympathy and counsel to troubled students. She and her staff were also responsible for the administration of physical exams to all sports team members. While Mrs. Ray handled the illnesses of the student body, Mrs. McCaskill’s new one-woman Health Education department and Mr. Hines’ Physical Education staff worked to give students an awareness of how to maintain their physical fitness. Presented with a wide variety of electives, ranging from the traditional gymnastics and team games to co-ed sports and newer offerings like fencing, trampoline, and the girls’ Figure Control ( Slimnas- tics”) course, students could always find some activity to interest SALLY WELLINGTON See., Nurse’s Office CORNELIA McCASKILL, Health Education CHRISTINE BURNS JOSEPHINE DEVINCENZI KAREN EGASTI Harold Hines, Director or secondary School Physical Education and Athletics PETER LOITER MICHAEL MASTRO WILLARD ST. CYR them. The Physical Education department continued to encour¬ age participation in sports, during and after school hours, as a challenging and enjoyable way to stay in good condition. En garde!” (Miss Faberge, Mr. Mastro) Mr. St. Cyr was just as happy upside-down. 23

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The library was rearranged this year after a town engineer discovered that the concentration of bookcases in a few areas placed excessive weight on the first floor ceiling. Constructed from four renovated class¬ rooms, the library did not have a strong enough foundation to support its former floor plan. While the school committee endlessly debated the pros and cons of a high school addition, the librarians tried to deal with the reality of lim¬ ited space and with the inadequate facilities that eventually led to a pro¬ bationary accreditation for Wellesley High. In coping with these defi¬ ciencies, they helped salvage the Library’s reputation as a quiet place to study and use media resources. That’s funny — I could have sworn it was here a minute ago.” (Mrs. Tuverson) Miss Leonard spent many hours recruiting help from the business community for career- related programs. ROCKWOOD EDWARDS Dept Chairman, Occupational and Career Education EARL KELTON, Metco Coordinator PATRICIA LEONARD, Career Education Coordinator The increasing development of special programs at WH enriched the school’s educational opportunities this year. The Work- Study program, under the direction of Mr. Rockwood Edwards, offered students the chance to earn money in Wellesley while receiv¬ ing a high school education. Miss Patricia Leonard, the Career Edu¬ cation Coordinator, assisted the students in determining a direction for their careers. The Metco program continued to offer students from Boston an opportunity to attend Wellesley Senior High. Interaction between Wellesley students and Boston students provided invaluable experi¬ ence for all. 25