George Washington High School - Compass Yearbook (Alexandria, VA)

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SENIORS

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Mr. Philip Lestkr DEDICATION The Class of 1953 wishes to dedicate the Compass to Mr. Philip Lester, the second time this honor has come to Mr. Lester since his arrival at G. W. in 1951. Mr. Lester was born in Williamstown, Pennsylvania, and did undergraduate work with Jan and Ernest Williams. He then taught for a year and a half in Camp Hill. Pennsylvania, before he came to G. W.. and his excellent work with the bands and orchestra here gives evidence of his extensive musical background. Probably Mr. Lester's greatest contribution to the sclux)l was composing the Alma Mater” before he left in 1949. to work on his Master's degree in Hagerstown. Maryland. After an absence of one year he returned to continue his services at G. W. until last fall when he left to take a position with the Campbell Music Company. Mr. Lester feels that although he may have no official ties with our school, he will remember with pleasure his days at George Washington High. 8

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SENIOR CLASS HISTORY ’53 Seniors or Fight! This was our motto as we bustled into the auditorium to hear welcoming talks from the administration on a hazy September morning five years ago. Who were we? Why, very important people of course, because we heralded a new era in Alexandria education. We were the members of the first eighth grade class. Some of us were indignant at not being freshmen, and all were somewhat conspicuous with bright, new books tucked under our arms, but we managed to outlast the year and the teachers and became freshmen as a reward. At last we could achieve that nonchalant air as the tattered and mangled books of our predecessors fell into our hands. Oh, there was no stopping us then, and now we have reached the end of the five years that seemed like an eternity to us that long ago September day. To be able to look down the hazy lane that represents the past and to see all the events that crowd the bends in the road is an impossibility, but some things do stand out clearly. Remember our first dance, the Sophomore Hop, on which we worked so hard, holding our breach all the while for fear the decorations would fall.' They did, but we thought the dance pretty successful anyway. This climaxed the year, and the final reports made us upper-classmen. Now on to new and bigger things. Christmas vacation wrought one of Alexandria’s worst snow storms on the very night of the Junior Class Christmas Hop. but those hardy souls that did dare to venture out enjoyed a gay evening amid the spicy fragrance of pine-boughs. For the Junior-Senior From we chose Rhapsody in Blue” as our theme and turned the cafeteria into a real Blue Heaven with sparkling stars and blue notes twinkling from the ceiling. Again, however, the elements were against us. It rained. Still, even this failed to dampen our spirits or halt our progress, and soon June exams, were a thing of the past and we were official seniors at last. This fact was not to be disputed and in recognition the school was ours for a day. We had recently won the second Old Oaken Bucket in our football career and we were as proud as peacocks. We really made the most of it! Bubble gum and caps were as noisy as the seniors while great quantities of candy disappeared from view. Right on the heels of Senior Day came the turn of the year and we were ’53 Seniors at last. A long weekend was ours at the end of the term with the celebration of the Inauguration to set the spirit for exams. The January graduates t x)k their final bow and the beginning of the end had begun. 'Ilie days flew by and soon sunny dispositions vied with sunny weather. June arrived and with it the Senior From held at the National Airport. The following evening we took the longest, yet shortest, walk of our lives; and receiving our diplomas, we. the ’53 Seniors”, passed into history. 10