Coopersville High School - Zenith Yearbook (Coopersville, MI)

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ing from a long journey tells of the good time he had and retraces it again in his thoughts, so we, in the coming years, will speak to everyone of tlie pleasure of high school and wish we could relive the happy days we spent in the Coopersville High S chool. So whether our inclinations call us to college, school-room, office or farm, let 11s always try to reflect honor and glory on the old Coopersville High School, and to show our parents and teachers that the time we spent there was not spent in vain, and quoting Longfellow, say: “Let us, then, he up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing. Learn to labor and to wait.” Helen Busman, 21. Page Thirteen

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SALUTATORY C) our teachers, relatives, and friends, we, the graduating class of 1921, extend a hearty welcome. We wish to thank you for the cordial and appreciative interest you have shown in our High School exercises and we ask you for the continuance of the same. We have come to the end of our four years of high school life and although we have looked forward to this time with eager anticipation, when the time drew near this joy was mingled with sadness as we realized that for us these happy school days with their pleasant association will ever he bright spots in the book of memory and the friendships formed there will never be forgotten. We have worked together in unison as teachers and pupils and although sometimes little discords arose, taken as a whole, harmony has prevailed. During our high school course the world outside has been in a state of turmoil. In these years we have not only studied of war, but have seen the effects of war on our own country. We have seen the boys in khaki, at their country’s call, sail across the sea to France on a mission from which many never returned, but died for their homeland. We have also seen the need of the starving children of Europe and have given to them of our abundance. We have seen the stirring examples of patriotism and have learned how to become one hundred per cent Americans and useful American citizens. The World War made an appeal to everybody and conscripted every Ameri- can, but the call for men that was sent out only allowed those who had a strong body to go to the front. Thus in our high school life we have tried to cultivate not only our minds, hut by means of healthful recreation, to keep our bodies so fit that we could go to the front if the call should come to us. In any business enterprise, too, the weaker must give way to those physically and morally stronger. We are now in the midst of the period of reconstruction. The World War has ended but the whole country is now struggling to bring itself once more to normal conditions, but many are too impatient to wait for this time and are trying to take matters into their own hands. The trend of education now is to make the youth better acquainted with the prevailing conditions and to give every child a chance to fit himself to earn his livelihood under better circumstances. We, standing at the parting of ways, at the first cross roads of life, must each do our share in this trying period. We each have a call to get ready to do our part in making a greater America. Each of us must try to shoulder a part of life’s responsibilities and be useful Americans. To do this we must follow and practice the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you.” The pupils who are planning to enter High School this year or in the follow- ing years will never regret the step they are about to take. They, too, by means of patient planning, will climb though the rocks be rugged, will reach their goal and sometime occupy the places we hold tonight. Just as when a person return- Page Twelve

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HISTORY THE day to which we have looked forward so eagerly has come, and we are now going to have the opportunity to build into reality those air castles which we have dreamed of all through our school days. But before we separate, we want to look back over many good times we have had together during the last four years. There were twenty-six of us when we entered as Freshmen four years ago. The Freshman year will always be rememberd. How important we were! Didn’t we go right upstairs and study in the big High School room when the younger ones had to stay downstairs in the grades? But after we went into the High School room, we were sometimes rather uneasy. We wished the Seniors would not look at us and smile at each other when we went up to the desk. And oh, we would rather do almost anything than walk across the front of the room, for we were sure everyone would laugh at us. But we became used to High School and soon began to enjoy our first year thoroughly. As Freshmen we did not give many socials or parties, but we attended those given by the other classes and had many other good times. Two of our members played on the first basket ball team that year. We closed the year with a Freshman picnic at Grand River. Our Sophomore class was smaller but the year held more events of interest for us. We were twenty-two in number. We now felt that it was our duty to guide the Freshmen, and we proceeded to show how learned we were. But this quickly wore off and we were soon getting too bewildered by the mysteries of Plane Geom- etry to think of anything else. The reception for the Freshmen given by the Athletic Association was the first social event of the year. The orchestra was also formed that year and four members of our class joined. We contributed players to the first basket ball teams that year, and some of the Sophomore boys took part in the Field Meet with Ravenna and Berlin at the end of the year. We held our Sophomore picnic at Reeds Lake, Grand Rapids, at which everyone had a good time. We numbered twenty-seven at the beginning of our Junior year, having been re-enforced by seven new members from Allendale, Nunica and Conklin. Another Freshman reception was given, and was a great success. In April the teachers gave the High School girls a “gym party” and everyone went in masquerade costume. The Junior Poverty social was held in the same month, and the people who attended looked like a collection of tramps and organ-grinders in their “tattered and torn costumes.” There were also the Junior dance, the sleigh-ride party, and the orchestra concert. Many of our classmates took part in basket ball and both boys and girls entered the field meet the twenty-first of May. The High School Annual called “ ’N Everything” was printed in May, and nearly everyone in the High School helped make it a success. The Junior party, in honor of the Seniors, was given early in June and the next day the two classes went to Wolf Lake to have their annual picnic. The following September we became Seniors. At last we had reached that envied position. It was our turn to smile down upon the rest and assert our authority at every opportunity. The last two years have been busy ones. The addition of Shorthand and Typewriting to our curriculum inspired the majority of the class to add one of these subjects to their schedule, which has meant hard work; but good times have been crowded into every spare minute. The Freshman recep- tion was held in September, as usual, and everyone enjoyed the evening. The Page Fourteen