West High School - Warrior Yearbook (Rockford, IL)

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W. RAY MCINTOSH, M.A. Superintendent. Rockford Public Schools Superintendent of Schools W. Ray McIntosh directs the operation of Rockford's 33 schools, which had a record enroll- ment of 22,155 students instructed by 769 teachers this year. Mr. Mclntosh and the members of the Board of Education have spent countless hours in long range planning to meet the educational demands of the steadily increasing school popu- lation, estimated to reach 30,689 by 1970. That Rockford may continue to provide the best schools possible and the highest educational standards is their objective. During the past ten years, Rockford expanded in area, popu- lation, and job opportunities. Because of these expansions, a need for more publicly financed schools arose. In order to meet this situation, the Board of Education made many careful studies and then went to the people. They succeeded in getting two bond issues passed, one in 1949 and another in 1955. The people's approval of these enabled the Board of Education to construct five new elementary schools and thirteen additions to elementary schools and to repair and alter existing plants. The 1953 bond issue also included funds for the construc- tion of Jefferson junior High School, which was opened in September, 1956. The school, located at Harrison Avenue and Ohio Parkway in the southeast section of the city, cost 552,482,- 74l.0-4 to build. lt has a maximum capacity of more than 1300 students with twenty-nine academic classrooms and a gym- nasium, corrective gym, swimming pool, library and annex, auditorium, little theatre, and cafeteria. The school has been carefully planned by Raymond A. Orput and Associates, architects and engineers, to have maximum educational facilities at a low cost. At no time were quality or student safety and health sacrificed to obtain this goal. Rather, it was obtained through development in the use of every square foot of space for educational and functional pur- poses and a minimum of square foot and cubic foot of build- ing capacity. Superintendent and Board: build for Roekford's children Architects drawing of jefferson Junior High School, opened in September, 1956, with an enrollment of approximately 1200 students.

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Miss Carolyn R. Vlones, sopho- more counselor, Mr. james E. Blue, principal, and Mrs. Alan C. Mattison, president of West High School Educational Association, discuss electives offered students during their years at West. A program explaining electives, col- lege entrance requirements, and required subjects was presented on Sophomore Parents' Night. Mt. james E. Blue, principal, Dr. Leland H. Carlson, president of Rockford College: Dt. Biatne Ull- svik. president of Illinois State Normal University: and Dr. Fred H. Turner, dean of students, Uni- versity of Illinois, chat informally preceding a junior-senior assembly to acquaint college bound students with educational advantages avail- able to them. During his twelve years at Central High and seventeen years at West High, Principal james E. Blue has offered superior educational leadership for which the school has received many distinctions. As a result of his tireless work on state and na- tional organizations, as well as local groups, he, too, has received many well-earned awards. In February of 1957 he was re-appointed for a three-year term to the board of trustees of the Council for the Advance- ment of Secondary Education. As a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals since 1926, he has served as a member of the executive committee, as president, and as an active member of several committees. He has worked on committees for the National Honor Society and the joint Council on Economic Education and as a representa- tive of the NASSP on the Commission of Life Adjustment Education for Youth. At present he is serving on the Educa- tional Advisory Council of the National Association of Manu- facturers. He has served as president of the Illinois Secondary School Principals Association, as a leader in the development of the Illinois Curriculum Program, and as a member of both since 1955. In 1953 he received the Recognition of Outstanding Achievement award of the ISSPA. Besides these and various other professional activities, he has served his community through such organizations as the YMCA and the Rotary Club. The duties of Mr. john W. Wyetli, assistant principal and dean of boys, and Miss 1.. Camilla Johnson, dean of girls, include checking attendance, maintaining discipline, learning reasons for absences, and issuing excuses from school. Besides these duties Miss Johnson serves as adviser to National Honor Society and Student Council. Mr. Wyetln acts as adviser to R Club and as supervisor of ticket sales. The three counselors sponsor the activities of their classes, conduct classes in group guidanceg and give personal guidance about social, scholastic, and occupational pursuits. Miss Doro- thy A. Knill, senior counselor, with the aid of movies, speakers, and discussions, helps students to prepare for and make im- portant decisions concerning life after graduation. Mrs. Myrtle I. Olson, junior counselor, through analysis of students' personalities and aptitudes, begins to acquaint SILI- dents with various occupational fields for the future. In Miss Carolyn R. Wones' guidance classes new students are told about rules and standards of West High and the tea- sons for these rules. 2

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,U- ,I TOP: Mr. Kenneth L. Orton, assistant superintendent of schools, Mr. Roger Reno, attorney, Miss Vera E. Walling, administrative assistant in charge of business office, Mr. Gerald E. Raasch, director of buildings, grounds, and maintenanceg Mr. Charles O'Brien, production, printer foreman. CENTER: Mrs. Alma Hall, director of at- tendance and visiting teacher department, Miss Astrid W. Gustafson, music super- visor, Mrs. Malin McGinty, art supervisor, Mr. Peers F. Ray, visual aids director, Mr. John E. Fortin, trade and industrial education director. BOTTOM: Dr. John O. Heald, physician, West side schools, Dr. George E. Lamphere, dentist. BOARD OF EDUCATION, BACK ROW: Mr. Gerald E. Raasch ldi- rectot of buildings, grounds, and maintenancel Mr. Hearl A. Pee les y P s Mr. Roger Reno fattorneyj, Mr. Kenneth L. Orton fassistant super- Mclntosh lsuperintendentj, Mrs. Evelyn Goldman, Mr. Fred C. Olson, intendentb, Mr. Frank G, St. Angel, Mr. Alvin R. Kiell, Mr. Rupert jr., Dr. Samuel R. Natelson. H. Gustafson, Mr. Jack H. Muntz. FRONT ROW: Miss Vera E. Wall- ing fadministrative assistantl, Mr. Bernard P. Magnuson, Mrs. Frances S. Shafer lsecretaryl, Mr. Elmer M. Jepson fpresidentj, Mr. W. Ray 'wr l 1 A i ,355 M U ..d1 3 3 , : -fic . M f S' .Q-I s l.. Y 15 -' 'f