Ashland High School - Echoes Yearbook (Ashland, ME)

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A PLEA FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR SCHOOL GROUNDS In compiling the record of this year's advance- ment we should not neglect mention of the improve- ment in our school grounds. A coating of blacktop has been put on a large space at the front of the building, a flag pole founda- tion has been built and curbs have been made at the sides. The lawns have been even and seeded. We are grateful to the Rotary Club which has planted a row of pines on the west side which will someday provide shade. We also give thanks to the Telephone Company for the shrubbery, and to the people who planted it along the curbs. You will agree that these improvements add much: however, this is only a start. I would be nice if some trees were planted on the lawn behind the school building. Climbing vines could also be planted in various places around the gymnasium to relieve the bare appearance it now has. Hedges might be planted by the south end entrance and along the road on the west side of the building. The road going around the building does not have pavement and becomes rutted in the spring. Tarring this would be an added improvement. The large field behind the building could be surveyed and graded into a baseball diamond, and two softball fields, one for the girls and one for the boys. lf these were built, practice would be much more convenient, time would be saved, and all our activities would be concentrated at the school. There is also room in the field for a tennis court, a track course. pole vault pit, and other facilities for sports. Ezra Libby ACHS SPORTS Cross Country - We won the Aroostook Champion- ship for the second straight year. Our fine team brought home Ashland victories in all our Aroostook County meets this year. Winter Sports - Our winter sports began late this year due to poor snow conditions. The schools which we compete with are: Fort Kent, Caribou, Madawaska and Stearns. We won second place at the Caribou meet, first at Fort Kent, and are looking forward to further victories. Basketball - The Varsity Basketball season started with a new coach, Ralph Baxter, in charge. Their first game was with the faculty team over which the Varsity won an easy victory. Their first chance at actual playing and getting acquainted with the competition that they would have throughout the season was at the Round Robin at Easton. There Ashland won a victory over Mapleton. Throughout the season the Ashland boys have slowly battled their way to five victories out of sixteen games. Under Coach Grant the Junior Varsity passed a good season considering their competition. They played fourteen games, winning seven. During the season, several boys were discovered who should bolster the Varsity next year. Baseball - Our baseball team will have slight changes this year due to the fact that we have a new coach, Ralph Baxter. We have a turn out of thirty boys for baseball but the positions these boys will play is not certain because the coach has not yet worked with them. We do expect Ashland to have an up and coming baseball team this year. Sheldon Casey

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MEMORIES OF ACHS The ACI-IS Echoes is designed both as a memory book and as a record in enduring form of the school life of each student as Ashland High School. It con- cerns intimately not only the students, but their parents and friends as well. It creates in every stu- dent a sense of pride in his place in the school and community. It also gives him a sense of identity and affects his behavior as a citizen. By giving a true picture of what our school is trying to accomplish, we hope to build good will and establish friendly re- lations with our citizens. This year the editorial staff, consisting of 17 stu- dents, worked as a team, striving for one goal---a successful yearbook. Each has done his job whether it was collecting ads, typing copy, or doing art work. Assisting us in our work has been our advisor, Mrs. Tilley, who is undoubtedly the secret behind our success. She has furnished us with her never failing ideas and has willingly done more than her share of work. With the cooperation of the staff and Mrs. Tilley, the burden of working on this book has turned into fun. I am certain that the entire staff will join with me as I say that we sincerely enjoyed producing this yearbook for our public. Sally Baxter NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY The highest award and the greatest honor that can be given any student during his high school years is election to membership in the National Honor Society. The members are selected by the faculty. The first requirement is that the student be in the upper third of his class. He is then judged on four points, the first of which is character, followed by scholar- ship, leadership, and service. These are the ideals of the Honor Society. To exalt these four objectives and to hold them before the school as goals toward which all should strive, is the purpose of this society. At ACHS we have a strong active chapter, which, during the years since its establishment, has demon- strated to a marked degree the outstanding abilities required of its members. Our National Honor Society is sponsoring the following activities: an Alumni Banquet on May 26, X1956. a May Dance scheduled for May 4, care of the trophy case, a National Honor Society Scrapbook, supervision of the Junior Prize Speaking Contest, and the establishment of a student information bureau to assist in choice of college and careers. Earle Weaver THE PROPOSED ADDITION TO ACHS The architect who drew the plans for our high school building made provision for additions of further rooms if necessary. The true value of this planning be- comes evident only five years since the opening of the building. Our classrooms are overflowing. Many classes ex- ceed thirty, the limit agreed upon for efficient teaching In 1956 we shall graduate thirty-six seniors and enroll eighty eighth graders. Additional rooms are a necessity. Plans are under consideration also for an Agriculture Shop with a classroom and a tool shop. At present the lunch is served in the gym, where tables must be set up and taken down each day, a very inconvenient arrangement which prevents use of the gym for recreation during a large part of the lunch hour. A committee of the trustees who have this matter under consideration estimated the cost of these ad- ditions to be 560, 000. In view of the fact that our school population will continue to increase, perhaps even more than can be judged at present, we be- lieve the wisest course of action to be the additions of new rooms.

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SENIORS