Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

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YEAR BOOK 1936 23 chosen to take the position of President. Patricia Atwater and Madeline Conte repeated as Vice President and Secretary respectively. Leonard Carulli became our new Treas- urer. We now had seven new members on the Student Council, with Mary Hart as secre- tary. The Cabaret, which was held in November, started the social activities of the year. The decorations gave the auditorium the appearance of a Cotton Club. A large atten- dance contributed greatly to its success. Rita Donais, David Guy, June Wheeler and Leonard Carulli had prominent roles in the operetta, “The Red Mill.” You must remember Rita's song, “Just Because You’re You,” She has another song for us tonight, “Indian Love Call.” (Costine is seated) (Rita comes to front of stage and sings.) Costine: (Rising) Thank you, Rita. The assembly given by the Junior Class afforded splendid entertainment to the stu- dent body of the school. The stage represented a broadcasting station and events in the past history of the school and the class were presented in a clever and amusing program. I am sure that we all remember the “Children’s Hour” which made such a big hit. In May several members of the class traveled to Northampton Business College to represent the Agawam High School in the annual Commercial contest. Maiy Hart, Jen- nie Zielinski and Leonard Carulli unheM the past reputation of Agawam at this typing contest, and Jane Dunai brought back first place honors in bookkeeping. Then came the gala event of the year, the Junior-Senior Promenade. The auditor- ium was beautifully decorated to represent an Egyptian oasis. The outstanding colors were blue and silver in honor of the class of 1935. Abrahamson and his Commanders pro- vided the music and entertainment. At graduation in June, Mary Hart and Melva Smith acted as Junior Marshals for the Class of 1935. Our own social activities of the year ended with a class picnic at Babb’s Beach, where we all enjoyed a good time. This year the varsity football team had one of its most successful seasons in its his- tory. It brought the Western Massachusetts Championship honors to Agawam for the Second time m three years. David Grimaldi, whose 68 yard run defeated West Spring- field, also had his most successful year. He gained the position of fullback and captain of the Western Massachusetts all-star team. He was also crowned leading scorer of the Valley. Bernard Babcock, Aaron Whitlock, Ralph Pfersick, and Charles Jasmin aided the winning cause. Basketball claimed Bernard Babcock, James Grady, and Vincent Masi, while track, a new sport introduced in the Agawam High School, appealed to Ber- nard Babcock, James Grady, David Grimaldi, and Charles Jasmin. The girls who were honored with “A’s” were Ruth Brown, Verna Barton, June Wheeler, Patricia Atwater, Rose Zerra, and Carolyn D’Amato. (Costine is seated.) Chairman: (Rising) Thank you. Alas! We were Seniors. We now assumed a more dignified air than we had in pre- vious years. Were thrilled by the fact that we were to have the front rows in the Assem- bly. Our last speaker of the evening will be Rose Zerra. She will review for us the long list of events of our Senior Year. (Chairman is seated). Rose Zerra: (Rising) Miss Ward and Miss Smith were appointed our faculty ad- visors for our Senior year. Vincent Gallerani, Patricia Atwater and Madeline Conte were again elected President, Vice President and Secretary. David Novelli was elected Treas- urer. The Student Council elected David Guy, President, and Mary Hart retained her posi- tion as Secretary. The other Senior members were Simon Ramah, Raymond Crosier, Vin- cent Gallerani, Phyllis Gosselin, and Ethel Smith.

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22 A G A WAM HIGH SCHOOL Chairman: Once more we, the Class of 1936, are assembled—this time in a reunion rather than in a class. It is now 1950, fourteen years after our graduation in 1936. I know that many of us have forgotten the details of those happy days we spent together in the Agawam High School. It is for this reason that we are reunited here this evening. We shall now turn the pages of the calendar back a few years and review the “History of the Class of 1936 ” As a group of young and innocent Freshmen, we started our high school career by running around trying to locate our home rooms. After finding them to be Study Hall and Room 20, with Miss Mansfield and Mrs. Pond as faculty advisors, we settled down to work. At our first class meeting the following officers were chosen: President, Gordon Byrnes; vice president, Dorcas Pugh; secretaiy, Madeline Conte, treasurer, Charles Rivers. David Novelli and Marjorie Wilcox were elected to represent the Freshman Class in the Student Council. In the field of sports we had two promising young stars; David Grimaldi who aided the football team to win the Western Massachusetts Championship, and Carolyn D’Amato who succeeded in fulfilling the requirements to receive an “A” in girls’ sports. This first year in High School was uneventful. The biggest thrill for most of the class came in the last assembly of the year, when Mr. Williams announced that “classes will not meet until September.” After a summer of fun and frolic, we returned to school to carry on our high school career as Sophomores. I, shall now call on Carolyn D’Amato who will give us a brief resume of our second year. (The chairman is seated and Carolyn D’Amato rises to speak.) Carolyn D’Amato: We started our Sophomore year by having as our home room teachers, Miss Phealan, Miss Dickerman, and Miss Mclntire. The following officers were chosen to lead the class: President, Gordon Byrnes; vice president, Patricia Atwater; secretary, Madeline Conte; treasurer, David Novelli. Our Student Council representatives for this year were Mary Hart, Vincent Gallerani, Ernest Copson, and Alfred Tompkins. In the fall the annual operetta which was “Pinafore” took place. Many Sophomores started to develop their musical talent by taking part in the chorus. This year was the start of a series of social events which were to follow in our Junior and Senior years. The class was introduced into society at the Sophomore Party which was held on February 12 in this auditorium. David Grimaldi again succeeded in making the football team as fullback and Bernard Babcock became a team mate. Girls receiving “A’s” were Rose Zerra, Doris Roulliard and Carolyn D’Amato. (Carolyn D’Amato is seated and the chairman rises to speak again.) Chairman: Thank you, Carolyn. Again the members of the class of ’36 enjoyed a fine summer vacation, but Septem- ber rolled around very quickly. We were now Juniors, the year that the social light shines brightest. At this time we shall turn the pages of the calendar back to our junior year with Robert Costine. Robert Costine: (Rising) At the beginning of our Junior year, Miss Dickerman and Miss Mansfield, our faculty advisors, called a class meeting. Gordon Byrnes, our former President, had moved to Florida for his permanent residence. Vincent Gallerani was

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24 AGAWAM HIGH SCHOOL The first event of the year was the class assembly. The program was entitled “Only Yesterday” and it depicted scenes from the days of old, including the old fashioned school room, dancing, and home scenes. Ethel Smith and Brandon Letellier will show us how they danced the old fashioned waltz. (Rose is seated.) (Ethel and Brandon dance.) Rose Zerra: (Rising.) Again in the fall, talent was needed for the annual operetta, “The Moon Maiden.” Priscilla Stocker played the part of the Moon Maiden and Vincent Gallerani was the Cap- tain. Rita Donais also had an important role. Priscilla Stocker will now show us that her voice has not changed since graduation. She will sing, “The Moon Maiden Song.” (Rose Zerra is seated) (Priscilla walks to front of stage to sing) Rose Zerra: Thank you, Priscilla. Through the efforts of Miss Andrews, the Agawam Mirror was again published after a period of two years. Eighteen members of the Senior Class served on the staff with David Guy as Editor-in-Chief. In December all the grown-up Seniors appeared at the “Kid Party” as little boys and girls ready to play “Hop Scotch.” Charles Jasmin was a perfect Santa Claus. Every- one had a grand time. The Christmas play “Why the Chimes Rang” was given by the Dramatic Club just be- fore Christmas vacation. Phyllis Selwood, Edith Cesan, Vincent Gallerani, Phyllis Gosse- lin and Leonard Carulli had prominent roles. The first event after Christmas was the one-act play contest, which was held at Ag- awam. The schools contending were Agawam, Easthampton and Palmer. The Agawam entry, “Submerged” was a strong contender for the prize, although Palmer took first place honors. Five of the six parts in the Agawam play were taken by Senior boys. The big event of the year for the Seniors was the Senior play. The comedy “Big Hearted Herbert” was chosen as the play to be presented. Ralph Pfersick portrayed a real “grouch,” while Madeline Conte was his long suffering wife. They were ably sup- ported by other members of the cast. The cast of the Senior play will now present a short skit from “Big Hearted Herbert.” (Pose is seated.) (The members of the cast come to the front of the stage and present the skit, then return to their seats.) Rose Zerra: (Rising) The seniors played a great part in the sports of the school this year. David Grimaldi, the captain of the high school team was again chosen on the all- western Massachusetts football team. Bernard Babcock, Aaron Whitlock, Ralph Pfer- sick, Charles Jasmin and Robert Striniste helped Agawam to be a top-notch team. In basketball James Grady and Vincent Masi were important factors in making the Agawam team co-champions in the Valley Wheel. Baseball appealed to David Grimaldi and track to Bernard Babcock, Henry Hermanski, David Grimaldi and James Grady. In the field of girls’ sports, Rose Zerra, Ruth Brown, Edith Cesan, Verna Barton and Carolyn D’Amato received “A’s.” Members of the class shone not only in snorts and dramatics but also in a scholastic way. Almost twenty percent of the class w n the coveted honor of membership in the Pro Merito Society. David Guy acted as president at the state convention of the society held at Agawam in May. In the spring, the Class of 1937 honored the Seniors at a Promenade. The auditorium was made to represent a springtime scene in a warden. Some of the Senior boys were glad of the occasion to show their newly acquired dancing ability.