Averill Park High School - Threshold Yearbook (Averill Park, NY)

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became members of our class. Our passing from room to room between classes caused the Seniors many worries, for they were always trying to keep us in line. Our fondest memory of eighth grade was our class day celebration: however, we were somewhat disappointed because we were not permitted to carry out a formal graduation ceremony. This year our class again increased in number when James Sprague joined our ranks. The Hrst tragedy to befall us in our Freshman year was the Freshman Initiation. It really wasn't that bad, for although we were dressed in all kinds of queer attire, we had much fun in watching other people laugh at us. Also our Freshman year made us more socially-conscious, for we presented our first dance. Our ranks were once more increased by the return of Jean Horton and the addition of Bertha Ciundrum, Elaine Mal- louk, and Ileen Wilday. Our Sophomore year gave us a chance for sweet revenge, for we were able to initiate the Freshmen, using the tactics of our upperclassmen plus some original ideas. By the time we reached the third year of high school, we felt quite grown-up, Everyone told us that it would be our most difficult year, and in many respects that proved true. East Nassau sent us Marion Ewald, Doris Jesse, Annette Luckow, and Dolores Vincent. Also James Crawford, William Snyder, and Mildred Sturgess became members of our class. We had eagerly awaited our Junior year when we would be able to select our class rings. This seemed to bind us more closely together, for we all had something in common. For many weeks we awaited their arrival and finally on the last day of school the package containing our rings came. At Christmas time we Held a joint Christmas party with the Sophomores. We presented JUNE MAD under the direction of Miss McCammon. We also held a successful June Prom. What we had been looking forward to from the first grade finally came. We were at last Seniors. This year Pat Burnett and Mary Hill joined our ranks. The Senior year was full of events with everyone, including our faculty advisor Miss Gehle, doing his utmost to promote activities which would make possible both a year-book and a New York trip. Under the able direction of Mr. McNary, we presented STAGE DOOR. No matter how much we look forward to our graduation, there is always a note of sadness, for we realize that each one will be going his separate way and there will be little opportunity to unite again as a class. Some will go on to college, but the majority will find jobs. Another cause for sadness is the fact that so many of us feel that we did not put enough into high school - at least not as much as we would like to have done. We have had a golden opportunity which we shall never again enjoy. The door has closed on one chapter of our life, but we hope that another door will open affording us broader interests and greater oppor- tunities. In the years to come, We shall cherish our yearbook, for as We open the pages, we shall see before us the familiar faces of our faculty, class oflicers, and fellow students and recall to memory our pleasant ex- periences at Central. 25

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lain iyioffy T IS INDEED strange to note in recalling the history of the Senior Class from its beginning in September, 1935, that out of the present class of thirty-seven students, only seven remain from the original class. A great deal has happened to make ours a well-organized and strong class. What has been another school's loss has been our gain. We are proud to recall the achievement We have made from 1935 to the present time. One morning in early September in the fall of 1935 a group of curious, wide-eyed youngsters entered the first grade room with Miss Roberts as teacher. Some of us were timid and fearful at the thought of such a strange experience, and some of our mothers even came to reassure us. For others of us it was a grand adventure. If you Want to know what that experience Was, all you have to do is ask Marjorie Backhaus, Harry Beach, Jean Horton, Helen Krause, Gale Mosher, Beatrice Teal, or Mary Teal about it. In the second grade under the guidance of Mrs. Smith, we had the opportunity to paint on the large easel and play in the sand table. Our experiences in the third grade were not so eventful, but we enjoyed the comradeship of Miss Bauer for the first few months. When she left, many of us were so saddened that We actually cried: however, we were reassured by the presence of our new teacher, Miss Bagchus. When the time came for our entrance into the fourth grade, a new arrival in the person of Dorothy Samjohn joined us. Her stay with us was short, but she returned again in the fifth grade. Miss Barker was our teacher. Her popularity was shown at recess time when all the girls flocked about her. The fifth year was quite an innovation, for then we began to under- stand that all of us were not equal. Something they called an IQ test separated the sheep from the goats. Everyone was arranged according to his intelligence. This was Mrs. Butler's plan to make us work harder so that we might be promoted to the honor seats. This year Nancy Abbott and John Dreis joined our ranks. Our greatest achievement in the sixth grade was the operetta which we presented at Christmas time, the Christmas Carol. As we look back, most of us can remember taking some part in the great production. No wonder our play was such a success, for Mrs. Beck was our able leader. Our grade decreased in number when Jean Horton left us to live in Poestenkill. We looked forward eagerly to our seventh year, for this was the time when our number was greatly increased when many boys and girls joined us from our sister school in West Sand Lake. Those Who came from West Sand Lake were Norma Bailey, Richard Clark, Arthur Fer- guson, Katherine Knapp, Rita Lesinski, Edna Malik, Rose Micalian, Clyde Rescott, Lois Rescott, Ralph Wehnau, and Nancy Widstrand. These were not all, for Helen Dziadyk, Phyllis Dixon and Thelma Olsen also 24

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lam Wi!! E, THE CLASS of nineteen hundred and forty seven, of the Averill Park Central High School, in the County of Rensselaer and State of New York, having proved to our teachers our unsoundedness of mind, memory and understanding, do hereby make this last will and testament. We give and bequeath to the Class of 1948 our sincerity of purpose, our earnest good-will, and our dignified manner, which we, in some in- stances, have assumed. To the Sophomore Class we give and bequeath the honor of be- coming upperclassmen and trying to command the cooperation of the underclassmen. We give and bequeath to the Freshman Class the Senior girls' affec- tions for the Junior boys and the Seniors boys' consistent self-control. To any girl who doesn't get around much and has the yen to go, we give and bequeath Annette Luckow's car - and the places it has been! We give and bequeath Bertha C1undrum's restrained, dignified man- nerand her homebody characteristics to Thelma Weeden. To Phyllis Cain we give and bequeath the slim, curvacious figure of our jolly Norma Bailey. Phyllis Dixon's dignified charm we pass on reluctantly to Roberta Zweig. We give and bequeath Mildred Sturgess' wavy, blonde hair and plaintive little voice to Dorothy Schreiner. Nancy Abbott's tall, slim physique and gracefulness we want Marty Ormsby to receive when he is a Senior. James Sprague and Richard Clark give and bequeath their strong efforts in trying to suffocate the student body and faculty with hydrogen sulfide to next year's Chemistry class. We give and bequeath Ileen Wilday's ability to do all fast dances to Doris Egli. To next year's History C class we give and bequeath William Sny- der's ability to obtain 10076 on the exam. . Helen Dziadyk's difiiculty in having her name spelled correctly is passed on to Dorothy Smith. We give and bequeath Harry Beach's quietness and shyness to Fred Douglass. To any girl who wants to become a good wife we give and bequeath Thelma Olsen's interest in Home Economics. W We give and bequeath Rose Micalian's naturally curly black hair to Alice McClellan, in case she ever longs for dark hair. Lawrence Loker is to receive Rita Lesinski's ability to play the piano and lead the band. l To Eleanor Roesch we give and bequeath Marjorie Backhaus' abil- ity to do a job neatly and well. 26