Chicopee High School - Memini Yearbook (Chicopee, MA)

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JUNIOR YEAR 1974-1975 Junior Year — Safe Year. Close enough to graduation to anticipate it, yet not close enough to fear it. Finally sitting on the upperclass side of gym, knowing the ropes, and out-yelling the sophomores at rallies were all trademarks of our next-to-last year in high school. For the Class of 1976, the ’74- 75 school year included the traditional activities usually associated with juniorhood. The Senior-Junior Cotillion, the Junior Prom, the magazine drive, and our defeat by the Seniors in the Powder Puff Football Game fulfilled our list of expected school functions. Speaking of the school in general, the year was a busy one. In sports, it was an “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” year as the soccer, football, basketball, and baseball teams all did remarkably well yet just missed winning their respective Western Mass titles. In fact, it was “The Year of the Female with the Girls’ Softball Team capturing our sole Western Mass Trophy. With varying degrees of participation from the ’76 class, the other members of the school carried out their activities: the Sophomore candy sale, the Senior Class Play, the Spaghetti Supper, Senior week including the Greaser Dance, and the com- bined efforts which resulted in the Canned Food Drive and the Comp Frolics. On the political side, Chicopee Comp was visited by the Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Michael Dukakis, who delivered a speech and answered the questions of those students and faculty members who attended. Looking back, Junior year was a bustling, basically content- ed period for our class as we awaited the approach of our final year. SENIOR YEAR 1975-1976 Senior Year — Graduation. The culmination of thirteen years of work and growing — the end of public schooling. Although faced with mixed feelings, this last year in high school was packed with activities. As Seniors, we were looked to for leadership, and it seems we provided it. The Canned Food Drive is a prime example — over four thousand cans were contributed by the Senior class alone — more than the other three classes combined. Another first was the Senior Class Plav — a musical. Due to the graduation year — 1976 — the class presented the school with a Bicentennial Flag to be flown under the flag of the United States. Toward the more traditional side, the victory in the Powder Puff Football Game, the Spaghetti Supper, and other Senior activities were carried out with a good measure of efficiency and fun. Politics came to Comp when selected students were permitted to go to Westover Air Force Base to see President Ford when he came through the area. In the world of sports, the ’75-’76 season was disappointing as far as records are concerned. Perhaps because of this, the emphasis shifted toward enjoyment of the sport rather than the victory-is-all philosophy. Though many members of the 76 class complained ot terrible cases of Seniorites and some declared that the year couldn’t end soon enough, our time as Seniors sped by. After thirteen years of classes and homework, the United States government proclaimed us old enough and wise enough to become full-fledged members of our society. If it is true that the past is indicative of the future, the members of the Ghicopee Comprehensive High School Glass of 1976 appear to be heading toward an affluent and fulfilling tomorrow. 17

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FRESHMAN YEAR 1972-1973 Freshman Year — Introductory Year. Finally the big time: no more junior high. Our time as freshmen was different from that of most other classes due to the fact that we were housed at Kirby, the Annex of Comp. Although the complaints that we were deprived of many aspects of being in high school because of this segregation are valid, at least one good thing seems to have come from it. By being only with the members of our own grade, we had a marvelous chance to get to know each other well before taking on all of the other classes, and it has become evident that this “togetherness has aided the ’76 class in many of its endeavors. Right from the start, we bi-centennial graduates demonstrated our leadership abilities, or at least our willingness to get involved. A specific example of this is our “Walk Out, when many Frosh marched up to the main building to protest the cancellation of extra-curricular activities. Despite the fact that this rebellious action didn ' t accomplish very much, the oeeuranee became a blueprint for our class years at CCHS. Against almost insurmountable odds, this Freshman class emerged victorious in the inter-class competition for contributions to the Canned Food Drive. Concerning the other three classes in the school, a catalogue of activities such as dances, plays, and games, were carried out in the traditional manner. With the close of the ' 72 - 73 school year we, as freshmen, anticipated our admittance to the main building and the mainstream of high school life. SOPHOMORE YEAR 1973-1974 Sophomore Year — Linking Year. Full-fledged members of the CCHS community, yet not totally familiar with all of the ropes. Literal translation of the word “sophomore is “wise fool,” and while others might disagree, during the ’73-’74 school year our class certainly found this applicable. After buying the usual share of elevator passes and looking for the staircases to the fifth floor, we settled down to life as sophomores. As usual, this life included the Candy Sale which resulted in many number’s being forced to loosen their belts in an effort to meet our goal. Another trademark of the second year is the election of class officers for the first time, and our class was no exception. Of all of our years at Comp, Sophomore Year was the most successful in the respect of sports — in fact, we missed the Triple Crown of football, basketball and baseball by only one point. It was also during this year that the Marching Colts were chosen “Band of the Year” to represent Massachusetts in the bicenten- nial parade to be held in Allentown in 1976. While the annual affairs such as plays, formals, and suppers were executed with utmost care, the sand in the hour class continued on its never ending journey to forever, and the Class of 1976 moved toward its position as members of the upperclass of Chicopee Comprehensive High School.

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Gail Provost Mary Marotte 18