Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

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22 AGAWAM HIGH SCHOOL But just buckle in with a bit of a grin Just take off your coat and go to it Just start to sing as you tackle the thing That couldn’t be done, and you’ll do it. So even though the world should predict failure, and even though it should consider our attempts pure folly, even though our efforts seem futile, and success seems lost in a mass of fail- ures, we will not give up and say it can’t be done; instead we will be ambitious enough to keep trying, and to stick to it with cour- age and with the determination to succeed. RAYMOND MONTAGNA. History of the Class of ’34 Yes, the sheep were separated from the goats! It hap- pened one morning in 1930 that all college-minded goats were corailed in Miss Smith’s room and the business-minded sheep were herded into the great big fold, the study hall, with Mr. Hadley as the shepherd. Before many days had passed, the goats were invited to join the sheep in the study hall to choose their leaders. With Harold Ross, President of the Senior Class, presiding, they managed to elect for president, Merrill Tisdel, a short chubby lad; for vice-president, Adele Swanson, a maiden with a pleasing blush; for treasurer, Grant Sackett, tall and skinny; for secre- tary, Elaine LaFleche, always rushing around. The Student Council members were Frances Lucardi and Robert Hennessey. Not many months had rolled by before the members of this class realized that it must have been with great difficulty that school activities had been carried on before they arrived, for a large number of them were asked to be in the operetta, “The China Shop.” Elaine LaFleche and Frances Lucardi opened the performance by singing the prologue. Helen Cas- cella had the important role of “Ting-a-Ling.” Following closely on the operetta, came the Christmas As- sembly, which consisted of a series of sketches portraying a number of old English customs. Several of the freshmen ac- tors were needed and willingly participated. When the Press League Convention was held in Agawam later on in the year, some of the freshmen girls found the role of waitress open to them. A very important day for the girls came in June when they

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1934 YE R BOOK 21 can be cultivated. As our knowledge of some subject expands, our ambition should increase accordingly. Some of our famous men, Lincoln, Franklin, and Edison serve as striking examples of this. As boys, these men did not imagine the honor and the fame that was awaiting them. Lincoln was a clerk, Franklin a printer, and Edison a newsboy. As they grew older they realized the necessity of courage, persistency, and hard work if they wished to become famous. These men were not afraid to tackle a complicated task, they did not falter when difficulties arose, they were determined to win regardless of how long or how hard they had to try, and they undertook their duties with resolute confidence. What kind of a reputation have these men today? They are looked upon as geniuses, as idols, and as personalities which every boy and girl should try to emulate. We too can cul- tivate ambition by asking ourselves, what would 1 like to be, what plan must 1 follow to obtain this position, and what policies must 1 adopt, and which ones must I avoid in order to be successful. Although we cannot all be Lincolns and Edisons, and although we cannot all become famous, we can all be successful by develop- ing to the fullest the talents we have and by being the best in whatever field chance or choice puts us, no matter how humble the position. The townspeople have certainly done their share in main- taining a modern and an efficient high school which is ranked with the best in Western Massachusetts, and in chocsing a capa- ble school committee who, with Mr. Phelps, have chosen an expe- rienced and a well-trained faculty. The principal and the teach- ers have done everything in their power to place this school in the Class “A” ranking by giving extra help to these who find the going rough, in order to uphold a high academic standing, and by devoting much of their time to the various clubs, and staffs, and other extra-curricular activities. The reason they have done this is obvious. They were training us so that we can more easily meet and overcome the harassing situations outside of school. We, the class of ’34, must show them that we are worthy of their efforts. The varied training they have given us we must use to conquer greater and more difficult obstacles, and to accomplish deeds that will bring more honor and fame to ourselves, to our school, and to our community. In going on to larger undertakings, whether they be in col- lege or in business, we may well profit by the advice in the poem of Edgar Guest called “It Couldn’t Be Done, But He Did It.” There are thousands to tell you that it cannot be done There are thousands to prophesy failure There are thousands to point out to you one by one The dangers that wait to assail you.

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1934 YEAR BOOK 23 marched gallantly down to the stage to receive “A’s” for ful- filling certain health and sport requirements. Several boys received letters and awards for their work on the baseball, basketball, and football teams. Then, one day just before the close of school, the goats “got one on” the sheep—they picnicked all by themselves at Lake Congamond. They reported excellent swimming. After a summer of fun the members of ’34 returned to school to discover that they were no longer to be separated, the sheep from the goats, but in some mysterious way they were divided into three groups under the supervision of Miss Phealan, Miss Belyea, and Miss Mansfield. The officers for this year were: president, Ronald Johnson; vice-president, Odette Bessette; secretary, Shirley Ilawkes; treasurer, Grant Sackett. Bernice Halladay and Raymond Montagna represented their class in the Student Council. This year every one was all set to shine in a social way. The Sophomore Hallowe’en Party was originated at this time. It was a brilliant affair with costumes ranging all the way from pirates’ attire to the rags of Raggedy Ann. The judges decided that awards should go to Doris Svenson and Robert Smith, who had the funniest “get-up” and to Lena Lodi and Myrven Barnard, who had the best costumes. In May several members of the class journeyed to Norwood with the school orchestra to take part in the orchestra contest. They didn’t carry away any prizes, but they had an interesting and profitable trip. Again this fall, talent was needed for the operetta and Fern Miller was chosen for the second lead in “Jerry of Jerico Road.” She made a fine “Sandy.” Daniel Di Donato, Richard Shields, Elizabeth Bloom, and Joseph Assad had parts in the Christmas play, “Solitaire.” Later in the year the Dramatic Club gave “The Valiant.” In the cast were Daniel Di Donato, Joseph Assad, Odette Bessette, and Clayton Moore. This year several members of the class became interested in sports. Raymond Montagna, Ronald Johnson, and Henry Alvergini went out for basketball. Sam Provo hit a home run at one of the baseball games, which proved to all spectators that no one need worry about Sam as long as he could “hit them like that.” Robert Bennett directed his efforts toward football. At the beginning of the Junior Year, the Class of ’34