Canastota High School - Toot Yearbook (Canastota, NY)

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THE TOOT 15 Semi-Annual Promotion The Faculty and Board of Education, after much consideration and discussion, decided last fall to adopt the semi-annual promotion method in the Canastota schools. Since there are two sections of each grade up to the eighth, it was decided that it would be to the ultimate advantage of the pupils to adopt this system, in that a pupil who failed to pass his examinations at the end of a year would have to repeat only a half year instead of a whole year; and, on the other hand, a brilliant pupil, if allowed to skip a grade, would pass over only one-half year’s work. The only disadvantages found in these plans were that a pupil, upon entering the high school in January, would lose a half year be- cause most of the full year high school subjects are started only in September, and that in keeping a pupil only a half year the teacher would not become as well acquainted with him. These difficulties, however, were overcome by a plan which permits the teacher to rotate with her own pupils from a B to an A grade, thus keeping them a full year, and which allows a pupil entering high school in January to take a course of four half-year subjects which will count towards his regents’ diploma. After a careful study of most of the schools in the state, it was found that many large high schools and several smaller ones use this system. The plan offers a better grouping of the pupils and allows them to cover the work in less time than before if they are able to do so. To be promoted, however, a pupil must pass all subjects in his class before going on to the next grade as in former years. Armistice Day Armistice Day was the scene of a patriotic rally in the Canastota schools, when all the North Side pupils gathered in the High School study hall, where they listened to a lecture on “Americanism and Patriotism” by Mr. Forkell. After the lecture, the students marched

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14 THE TOOT Btbletics Athletic Association A one hundred per cent membership, the aim of the Athletic Association, has been realized. The whole student body formed a procession and marched past the desk where the dues were received. The teachers and many of the grade pupils are also members this year. The officers of the Athletic Council were elected as follows: President, Mr. Simmons; treasurer, Mr. Crisp; secretary, Helen Te Winkel; James Culver, Darwin Gregg and Avery Merwin. Our Team A strong team for the coming basketball season has been organized. Since “Jim” Culver is the only surviving member of last year’s players, the team will be made up almost entirely of raw material; but, under Mr. Crisp’s direction, it will surpass records made by teams of former years. Manager “Archie” Maynard promises a good schedule. The first game was a double header with Chittenango on December 10. Girls’ Teams The Freshman, Sophomore, Junior-Senior and Varsity teams for girl’s basketball have been organized. The Varsity team, of which Marie Gustafson was made manager, was chosen from the best material of the class teams and is considering an out-of-town schedule with Chittenango, Cazenovia and other surrounding towns. The managers of the class teams are: Junior-Senior, Lois Te Winkel; Sophomore A, Erma Prosser; Sophomore B, Ruth Tufts; Freshman A, Margaret Daily; Freshman B, Mary Tuttle. Baseball The Sophomore-Freshman baseball games played during the early part of the school year showed Canastota’s school spirit. The two teams were supported not only by their own classmen but by cheering squads from the Junior and Senior classes. The “Sophs” proved the better players, winning two games out of the three. Cheer Leaders In view of the basketball season, the student body elected three cheer leaders at a meeting held before school on November 30th. Glenn Mowry was made cheer leader and Dorothy Donnelly was made leader of the singing. The cheering this year is peppier and more distinct than it has been for many years.

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16 THE TOOT outside, where they stood at attention while the flag was raised on a new pole, donated to the school by the classes of ’20 and ’21. The committee on arrangements for the pole was: Lois Te Winkel and Ruth Bettinger ’21, Mary Moore and Helen Te Winkel ’22. Mr. Cherrywell Some time ago Canastota was honored by a visit of a Japanese artist, Mr. Cherrywell, who is studying art in this country at Ohio State University. He held the attention of the high school students for a short time by an address, begun in Japanese, which, strange to say, no one could understand. After a short talk about his native land in English, Mr. Cherrywell showed us many beautiful pictures which he had painted. School Orchestra The school orchestra was organized about the first of October under the direction of Miss Goettel. It was formed for the purpose of playing at rhetoricals and school events. The members meet every Wednesday night for practice. It is composed of nine pieces: three saxaphones, K. Gardinier, F. Grems and E. Larchar; three violins, Louise Debruque, A. Devine and David Smith; two flutes, Leona Bell and Glenn Mowry; and a piano, Alton Skelton. Signs of the Times The “Signs of the Times” is a club on socialized recitation in con- nection with the History C class of the high school. The club meets every other Friday during the regular recitation period and the mem- bers discuss current events. The officers: president, vice-president and secretary, are elected monthly. Topics already discussed in- cluded: The Irish Question, League of Nations, and Sovietism. Manual Training A new course, which offers the boys an opportunity to earn an engineering certificate, has been started in the Manual Training De- partment. The purpose of the course is to make the young men of more value to the community and to teach them new methods in the carpentry line. The course requires three hours’ work a day; two and one-fourth hours spent in the shop and three-fourths of an hour