Easthampton High School - Echo Yearbook (Easthampton, MA)

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This expansion in athletics has been made possible through the whole- hearted cooperation of the students and members of the faculty, as well as our coach, Mr. Reed. He has added the responsibility of a tennis team to his baseball worries. Faculty members have helped greatly by taking care of the problem of transportation. The students, by small contributions, have helped to defray the expense of tennis balls. The expense of this sport, as compared to the other sports, is very small. No uniforms are needed and the used balls, sold after the matches, cut the expense down considerably. Therefore, it is the hope of many of the students that tennis become an established part of the extra-curricular activities of East.- hampton High School. George Russell, '37 APPRECIATIONS On this occasion we have the pleasure to welcome Miss Hilda Smith to our high school. She was graduated from Easthampton High School in 1927 and then attended the University of Vermont, graduating in 1931. She taught at the Maple Street School of this town and at present she teaches mathematics and biology in the high school. Having completed her first year successfully, we hope she will continue with us. We must also say a word about Miss Edna Weber who has completed her second year as a teacher of the freshmen. She was graduaied from East- hampton High School in 1929 and then attended Limestone College, Gaffney, South Carolina, from which she graduated, Magna Cum Laude, in 1933. We hope that she, too, will have many successful years with us. Lucille Billieux, l36 THEORY COURSES Last fall Mr. Sittard decided to begin a new course for the music lover of all classes. As a knowledge of music and composers is recommended in some colleges, many of the classical students were interested in this course and about thirty enrolled. At first, the four types of instruments were taken up, after which the instru- ments found in a symphony orchestra were studied. Following the study of instruments came the study of lives of great com- posers and their work. Among these were the life of Wagner and his works. His great opera The Ring was studied and the life of Dvorak and his works. Students were given assignments which were to listen to operas given over the radio. Leaving operas Mr. Sittard then turned to harmony and at the same time thirteen

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The gymnasium as it is now is in the basement. Indoor games of any kind are played at the old Williston Gym on High Street. Equipment to develop athletics is very inadequate. Our school is rated as an A-1 school, much to the credit of our teachers. In view of the fact that so many children are being educated by the three parochial schools in town without cost to the taxpayer and that such large fed- eral W. P. A. grants are being made by the government, it would seem that the citizens of the town would not be acting foolishly in asking for a grant whereby they might build a high school suitable for a town the size of Easthampton. The high school should contain adequate facilities to take care of its stu- dents so that they might have the same advantages that those of other towns our size have. An auditorium where the entire school could meet for assemblies, present plays and other educational and social programs, a gymnasium where our ath- letes could be developed, ample room for the pupils and teachers and an athle- tic field close by would all go to make up the ideal school for the town of Easthampton. Jacquelin Diamond, '39 AN APPRECIATION In the resignation of Miss Elizabeth Lynch, the high school is losing a teach- er who is held in high esteem by both students and faculty. She has always been especially well liked by the pupils because of her ready smile and pleasing manner. The fact that she would give unsparingly of her own time has also made her very popular. She will always be remembered by all that knew her as a real friend. Miss Lynch is an alumna of the Easthampton High School, having gradu- ated from it in 1925. In the year 1929 she graduated from Massachusetts State College, where she received a Master's degree in 1931. On November 28, 1932, she started teaching in Easthampton High School. Since that time she has taught science with remarkable success. All the teachers and pupils of this high school deeply regret that Miss Lynch is leaving us. Robert Riedel, '38 SHOULD TENNIS STAY? Following the example set by many high schools in neighboring towns and cities, Easthampton High School has organized a tennis team. Considering the fact that this is the first year of tennis at the high school, and it is only the second year that there have been public courts, a great amount of interest has been shown. The fact that tennis is rapidly increasing in popularity in all high schools is shown by the size of the schedule, as eighteen matches have already been ar- ranged. twelve

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gave the students who never had the opportunity to play the piano, a chance to learn. He gave rules applying to harmony and measures which were to be wo1ked out by the students. This at Hrst proved quite difficult, much more so to those who had never taken up piano, but with practice and Mr. Sittard's ex- planaiions the students soon could work them out quite well. The course has been all too short, classes being held once a week with periods of one hour each. Much appreciation and gratitude have been expressed toward Mr. Sittard for his desire and willingness to give his time each week for the benefit of the people desiring to learn something about music. Stella Derwiecki, l36 THE BENEFITS OF SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES Assembly today! The mere mention of the word makes one's eyes sparkle with anticipation. And they have reason to feel that way, for always, the speakers and other artists are so well chosen and satisfying. They are both en- tertaining and educational at the same time, and are presented in such an inter- esting manner that the pupils enjoy themselves thoroughly while absorbing useful knowledge. There are those with a humorous touch, and others with a more sober aspect, which bring to the minds of the eager audience numerous bits of information. To illustrate this point, let us consider the bird assembly we had re- cently. I am sure that after hearing that delightful speaker and seeing the lovely bird photos, many of us are more observant than formerly of bird life. This is educational and beneficial, both for providing pleasure and broadening our minds. Then, too, though I am doubtful as to the benefit of this, yet the fact remains that assemblies are a very welcome diversion from daily routine. Everyone will admit that it is rather tedious to go through the same program day by day, and, when there is a prospect of something more enlivening, the day seems much brighter. If I could list the different programs we have had, and show how each has helped, I could show more plainly their beneficial effects, but I need go no fur- ther than to say that the feeling about assemblies is unanimous. May Kieliszek, '38 fourteen