Ambridge Area High School - Bridger Yearbook (Ambridge, PA)

Page 19 text:

And Cultivate Art The Art Department is an important part of the high school curriculum. Three well-equipped rooms with their abundance of light and space are in them- selves incentives to work. Adjustable work-desks, a built-in modeling stand, shadow boxes, gas burners for metal work, and the best of materials are at the command of the artists. Under the direction of Mrs. Trobe, art supervisor, the students work in many different mediums, among which are oils, tempera, water color, litho- graph, charcoal, and pen and ink. The crafts program during the past year included the making of plaster masques, linoleum and copper jewelry, statuettes, and plaques. A main division of the art program is the art appreciation course, the purpose of which is to give an understanding and appreciation of modern art. History of art, fashion design, commercial art and industrial and stage designing are also taught in this course. Among extra-curricular activities engaged in by members of the art department are the painting of scenery for all school productions and the making of prom decorations and posters. Every year, several of our students enter the Beaver County Art Show. This year Helen Kruss, a senior, received first prize in oils. Other honors went to Bill Cummings and Louise McCracken, whose posters were used to advertise the exhibit. Another yearly contest in which art students have been successful is Scholastic Magazine's competition. 15

Page 18 text:

We Take Up Home Economics A complement of the vocational program for boys is the home economics department for girls. This department, which is one of the most fully equipped in Western Pennsylvania, offers a preparatory course for girls who plan to become homemakers. The foods laboratory is a delightful room divided into seven separate units, each of which contains a cabinet sink, a table top stove, and a dinette set. Four girls work in each one of these unit kitchens, preparing and serving wholesome dishes. In the clothing department students turn out their Paris creations. We find them making everything from evening gowns to summer play suits. Important to those girls who are taking u'p interior decoration are the model rooms. The spick and span model kitchen would bring joy to any house- wife's heart. The dining room is very well furnished with an 18th century maple dining room set. The living room suite, with its appealing green and wine color scheme, is an object lesson in interior decorating. A straight home economics course is especially recommended for girls who do not intend to go on in the commercial or academic fields after graduation. These girls are given extensive training in food preparation, clothing, child training, and interior decoration. Other girls may choose home economics as an elective course. This course deals with the fundamentals of the more extensive courses. Miss Feick is the supervisor of this department and has as her assistants Miss Shaul and Miss Robb. I-if

Page 20 text:

We Prepare For The Business World The students of our commercial department are preparing to take their places in the business world. Fundamentals of typing are taught to sophomores by Miss Kerschner. Exercises and straight copy material are the main worries of these children , The commercial student, upon entering eleventh grade secretarial work, takes up the art of book- keeping. And it is an art! Journalizing, posting, and making accounts balance are the brain-twisting problems. Mr. McWhorter guides the students as they struggle through this subject. Eleventh grade typing is taught by Miss Cease, Miss Fey, and Mr. McWhorter. Students are expected to increase their accuracy and speed, to set up mailable letters, and to type invoices and other exercises. It is during the studentls junior year that he also begins to study shorthand, the written language of the business world. At first he learns to read it, then shakily writes some wobbly characters, and later transcribes from his shorthand notes. Miss Miller supervises junior shorthand. Seniors having a grade of B or better in their previous two years' work may take t.1e secretarial office practice course taught by Miss Kozak. Besides class work, students are expected to spend at least two weeks of each quarter in one of the school offices or at the switchboard. Graduates from this department have a good theoretical back- ground, together with plenty of practice, and several weeks of actual experience in secretarial work.