High School of Commerce - Caduceus Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

Page 16 text:

English Department Stresses Practical Usage A college-prep class in action. Seated left to right are, First row: Marjorie Coombs, Carole Hamell, Carol Sergel. Second Row: Edward Anderson, Carl Ersing, Roger Hannigan, Flo- rine LeDuc. Third Row: Joyce Buffington, San- dra Grand, Don Hey- liger, Allan Peck. Fourth Row: Valerie Butler, Barbara Grandfield, Dor- othy Hutcheons. Fifth Row: Tom Themistos, Mary Tiraterra, Nancy Jernstrom. Sixth Row: Virginia Wood, Clifford Plourde, Richard Pond. Standing: Judith Bour- geois, Diane Ledger, George Pehlvanian. The English Department at the High School of Com- merce has a big job before it in trying to prepare students for the future. Because the teachers know that the students will be using English all their lives and that it will have a direct influence on their success in business and the social world, they want to give them the best training possible. Commerce offers courses in many of the specialized branches of English as well as the fundamentals of the language. The College Preparatory course is very helpful to those students who go on to college. The speech class is available and useful to all Junior and Senior students. A special reading program is being developed in which Freshman students will be given scientific train- ing in the skills of understanding and using the English language to its highest advantages. Above left are three members of the speech class recording their voices on tape. They are, left to right: Elizabeth Fratini, Charles Flanigan, and Antonette Fioren- tino. Left: The English Depart- ment faculty includes, left to right, seated: Miss Mary McCarthy, Mr. Wayland Holley, Miss Mild- red Jenks, Miss Helen Rankin, Mr. Frederick Allen, Miss H. Elizabeth Phelps, and Miss Eliza- beth C. Connell. Standing: Mr. Raymond Ellison and Mr. Her- bert Michaels. Absent: Miss Madeline Maurer.

Page 15 text:

The band plays an active part in many school functions. It is an important part of the Christmas program and school assem- blies; it plays at many athletic events and takes part in the Western Mass. Music Festival as well as our own Commerce Music Festival. Although some of the band members have had previous training in junior high school, about 75% of them begin at Commerce. At least one year of instrumental training is nec- essary. The school provides the instruments as well as instructions. The student becomes ac- quainted with many phases of music theory and practice. TTIL UW Music plays a large part in the lives of many people. Here at Commerce the students are given an opportunity to take part in several vocal groups, under. the direction of Mr. Walter Nickers@y (77 Ag There are fiv@Qele@ Jalhbs Tha makes it easier for move oMlyfwhid | with fio fake glee club to Jegmimeb thei prbbtams Thq style of music vAaieseetom classi seeh oi0us, Gmenese c- ular music to modern™poptiat standards, and tunes from well-known Broadway shows. The glee clubs are not selective—anyone having the desire and the time in his program may elect music. There are two choruses because of the great demand.

Page 17 text:

Social Studies Teach Students About World Problems Shown at the right are the members of the So- cial Studies faculty. They are, Front Row, left to right: Mr. Al- phonse Alminas, Mr. Merwin Tober, Mr. Bru- no Rumpal. Rear: Mr. Harold Taylor, Mr. Henry Wiatrowski, Mr. John Bennett, and Mr. Carl Stone. The High School of Commerce has the most complete course in Social Studies in the city of Springfield on the high school level. It offers Geog- raphy and Modern History in the freshman year, American History in the junior year, and Modern Prob- lems in the senior year. Modern Problems I combines a half year of civics with one-half year of home problems, while Modern Problems II adds Economics for the same period of time. Civics points up the origin of government — federal, state, and city — and tells what its functions are. The aim of the Social Studies Department is to reveal to students the historical and cultural background of their country. Above is a class in Home Problems study- ing the care of the sick. They are left to right: Frosine Axiotis, Arline Dumas, Shir- ley Hyland, and Roberta Sachs. Eleanor Serafino is the patient. Miss Regina Hender- son, instructor, looks on. Left: A Modern History class planning a panel discussion. Students are, standing, left to right: Phyl- lis Peterson, Cornelius Sullivan, and Helen Mazzarino. Seated: Terry Pula, Diane Proulx, and Avis Cuffee.