Assumption High School - Assumption Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

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But He Really Likes Assumptions Spirit In December I had to give a speech in English about Vienna. Not until the end of May did I receive the letter which told me that I was chosen. Then a time of great preparation began for me, and altogether took me longer than I will stay here. But I am glad that I did; this will not be a wasted year. In this year I will try to live and to learn with my class as well as I can. Certainly I will have a lot of difficulties, but I hope to overcome these difficulties with the will power I have learned during my whole education. This year is my only opportunity, during perhaps my whole life, to live in an American society with people of the same age. In English grammar I hope I will not have great difficulties because I have already known it for six years. Literature will be a little harder for me, especi- ally modern American literature. Shakespeare and other older English writers we read in Vienna, and I am a little used to it, but I want to also learn this kind of literature. I am very glad to have the op- portunity to learn in this country. A great difficulty will be to stop thinking in German and to start thinking in English. But after I have done this, everything . . . grammar, literature, writing and speaking . . . will be much easier for me. Latin class is very difficult because I have to translate from the Latin to the German and then into the English. I translated half this book from Latin to German last year. The students in my classes are all nice to me; they helped me in the beginning to find the different rooms. Mike Ceurvorst and Buster Hobein took me to my first football game and tried to explain to me the rules. Mike brought me also to the YCS which I wanted to join. So far I’ve met few girls. Pinging Cheerin 3

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Helmut Steiner Says It With An Accent; by Helmut Steiner War was raging in Austria when I was born in 1944. Though I cannot remember these years I know a lot about the troubles my folks had in this time. The war was soon over, but the life did not become quite better because all Austria had been occupied by the Russians, Americans, English and French. This I can remember because it stayed so until 1955. But after 1955 all this, and my life also, changed. We were allowed to do what we wanted. We had our own Austrian Army and Police. We school children did not have to take certain subjects anymore, which had been ordered by the Allies. I was lucky that I was allowed to take English since 1954. Many children had to take Russian in our school for “better colla- boration and understanding between Austria and Russia.” My study of English hasn't stopped, especially as I have the opportunity now to learn practical Ameri- can English. I hope that it will be a kind of second mother language to me. The slang confuses me — you use guy for boy, stuff for things, okay (O.K.) for all right. I wanna go for I want to go, auto for car. Two years ago I had my first idea to go to the United States by the NCWC exchange-program. I read an article about it in our newspaper. The authorities told me that I was one year too young, but that I should apply for the scholarship next year. Although I nearly forgot the whole thing, I remembered it again in September, 1959. I filled out all the formulas which were needed. (These accumulated papers were almost a little book.)

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Students Discover Another Math Use by Pat Swails Some students at Assumption are finding their arithmetic skill a blessing this year as they begin adding up their demerits. This newest in disciplinary action at AHS is the age-old Demerit System. Number of demerits varies with the of- fense. For instance, a lack of neatness in prepared work would net a student two demerits; while willful destruction or defacement of property earns 30. The number of demerits doubles with each entry of the same item by any teacher. Any student with 10 or more demerits must have a conference with his or her homeroom teacher. Other penalties will be administered in the process of accumulating demerits; ex- tracurricular activities after 20 demer- its will be curtailed. Any student with 30 or more demerits will be taken before the Disciplinary Board with the recommendation of sus- pension. The second semester will mark a new start for offenders. Students with 1-10 demerits start anew; those with 11-20 Science Accelerates Increased emphasis on science and freshman accelerated math courses highlight this year’s schedule changes at Assumption, according to AHS reg- istrars, Father John Boyle and Sister Mary Helen Regine, BVM. Physical science, in previous years a senior course, has been moved to fresh- man level to replace general science. Father Boyle explained that this cre- ates a balanced four year science cycle extending through biology and chemis- try in sophomore and junior years re- spectively, and climaxing with physics in senior year. An accelerated math course, modern math, is being taught in one section of boys’ freshman algebra, and one sec- tion of girls’ freshman algebra, and a section of girls’ advanced algebra. In addition to regular textbook study, these classes will use a separate text- book on modern math, explains Sister Mary Laurent, CHM, and Sister Mary Cecil, BVM, boys’ and girls’ math teachers respectively. “Ideas from the modern math text- book, such as set theory and inequali- ties, will be introduced in other math- matics classes and corollated with the work they already have ’ states Sister Laurent. Periods one, two, six and seven have been lengthened to 55 minutes, ninth period having been dropped. Father Boyle states that this “provides longer periods for lab courses and eliminates the need for seven sessions a week.” Other changes this year include the addition of a psychology course for sen- ior boys and elimination of a shop course. begin with five; and the 21-29 class re- tain only 15. At Alleman, a demerit system was established at the founding of the school. Instead of two demerits for a minor offense, they receive five. How- ever, Alleman students are allowed 100 demerits before they are suspended. A typical comment on the system was given by Mary Maher ’61, who said “Naturally, as a student, my first impression of the Demerit System was unfavorable. However, I can see it is meant to help us in all phases of school life.” The boys had no comment. Now Hear This by Karen Sanders The day was April 25, 1960. Most say it was beautiful weather; but there are some who claim it was spoiled by a late afternoon shower. The student body of Assumption High School, with the exception of the seniors, filed into the auditorium to nominate officers of the Student Government Association. Being the last candidate to speak, (ten others had preceeded him) Mike Ceurvorst presented his platform. He had only one opponent, Donald Per- ry. Since there were no major dif- ferences in their policies, the election depended on who the students consid- ered most capable. They chose Mike. He was elected, partially on the basis of his past experience as presi- dent of his class for two years, as vice- president of the Honor Society, and as secretary-treasurer of the YCS. Now, nearly six months later, the students expect results from their leader — they want him to do just that, lead. The offices he has held were indicative of his power of leadership. Joan Ruge ’61, recalls the main point of Mike’s platform: “a better and more united school to be accomplished through better use of the homerooms and committees. The aim is to have the body of committees composed of non-student council members, so as to create more enthusiasm among stu- dents.” Mike claimed that school spir- it would be heightened if committee names were published. Another point that last year’s jour- nalists will remember is that Mike considered it important for Assump- tion to be more active in the Quad City Student Congress, and perhaps even give initiative for expanding it. Fred Hawley ’62, says that “The speech given by Michael Ceurvorst is now much more important thart when he gave it during his campaign last spring. Now, it is up to him to show that he really is ready, willing, and able to serve as our leader.” CAUGHT ... an alert KB photogra- pher snaps Pat Swails ’61, at her lock- er between classes. With her skirt rolled and sporting tennis shoes, Pat is fast approaching a conference with her advisor. Need A Gown? Buying a Homecoming dress will present no problem for Mary Trainor '62 . . . unless her dress doesn’t come back in time. The dress Mary made for Homecom- ing has been sent to the regional Sing- er Sewing contest in Milwaukee. Mary won a Singer sewing kit in the district contest. The dress is now in competi- tion with 36 other regional entries. If Mary comes out on top this time, she will receive $500 and a trip to New York for herself and her family to the national Singer contest. It took 20 lessons, two and a half hours each, for Mary to complete the dress, which is made of royal blue embroidered satin. Full-skirted, the dress sports a scoop neckline and a criss-cross sash. Buttoning on a diag- onal, the jacget of a plain royal blue satin has a V-necg with a large pointed collar. Requiescant Mrs. Valeria Kraus (Mother of Fr. Gerald Kraus) Mr. James Murphy (Father of Mike (’63) and Pat (’64) Murphy) 10