Franklin County High School - Animo Yearbook (Rocky Mount, VA)

Page 19 text:

Suddenly a smooth, friendly voice was heard, ‘‘May I have your attention, please.'’ We learned that this was Mr. Bonner, the principal, speaking to all the rooms from the office. The voice continued: ‘In behalf of the Board of Education of Franklin County, the Superintendent of Schools and our own faculty-- I welcome you to your new Franklin County High School. For many of you this is your first visit--others have been in from time to time. But for all of us this is a mouth and eyeopening experience. Especially is this true for those of vod who have spent your former school days in the old Rocky Mount High School building........ The people of Franklin County and the Commonwealth of Virginia are to be commended for their determina- tion to provide the best in physical equipment for the education of their youth. No expense has been spared in providing the best within their financial capabilities. By the time our plant will have been completed, more than $1,000,000 will have been invested in modern buildings and equipment........ Interested citizens and parents are doing their part in guarding carefully this fine equipment placed in our care. We must show our appreciation through a solemn determination to take care of what we have. There is not the least doubt in my mind that this will be the earnest desire of every individual panne inuEniswsChOols ie sisters ALPHABETICALLY... W. N. ANGLE, INSURANCE

Page 18 text:

School opened September 11. This was to be a ‘‘new year’’ for us, indeed. The beautiful new building made us wonder if this were really school, Even our name had been changed from Rocky Mount High School to Franklin County High School. The five classes were grouped alphabetically for homerooms. This was new, and we thought we would not like being separated from some of our old feiends. but we soon discovered that it was good to learn to know so many nice new people. We heard rumors of many new things--among them, a tardy bell and door latches that would ‘‘click’’, requiring us to go to the office for an entrance to class. We also learned that our school was to have Football for the first time. We settled ourselves in our respective rooms, once we were cer- tain which letter of the alphabet our names begin with, admired the new blonde desk and the soft gray walls, and thought how fine it was to have room to sit comfortably. There were seven new teachers--five very attractive young ladies and two striking young men. We knew that we were to have a new principal from Alabama, but we had not heard about the new Inter-Communication system. WE ARE GROUPED C. CARTER LEE, N. B. HUTCHERSON, JR., N. F. HILL, ATTORNEYS

Page 20 text:

eae: eve “Sf 880-8 gens 20 ENE teen is. @82 . . “ ee re . . os tes + 7 - ” «“ 2 a ie PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE May I offer my heartiest congratulations---and my sincere thanks--to the student body for your ability to adjust yourselves to a new situation and make the most of it; to the Annual Staff for a splendid job well done; and to the Class of 1951 for your successful conquest of the obstacles which have been yours to conquer prior to graduation! To all of you this has been a year of FIRSTS. You have entered new experiences and have accepted challenges foreign to all of us, but under the circumstances you have come through with records to bring shame on no one. Youth today face an uncertain future. Strenuous times are upon us, and plans made today become buried in the demands of the unforseen duties of tomorrow. But our nation has become great because the American individual has been able to cope with the unusual and the uncertain. His role has been a difficult one and his experiences have often been sprinkled with bitter dis- appointments. His claim to greatness, however, has been founded on his resolute determination to fight back in the face of defeat, to build again after destructive losses, to look ahead to brighter days when the affairs of the moment looked darkest. For you, the Class of ‘51, it is my desire, as you face an uncertain future, that you will hold fast to the traditions of the American individual---that you will plan ahead with confidence, un- ruffled during the hours of trial ahead, and refuse to allow the circumstances of the moment de- stroy your determination to build for yourselves a brighter future. Face your problems openly and with calmness, solve them wisely and with determination, and move on to the new tomorrow. EE