George Washington High School - Surveyor Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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Main Academic Urril showing Courf Yard. Now Veterans' Courf, December 3, 1935. . los, Mr. Joseph Verducci, Miss Marie Weller, Miss Elsie William- son, Mrs. Alice Wilson, Miss Gerla Woodruff. Firsl Adminislralion: Mr. Ernesl J. Cummings, Miss Edilh Pence, Mr. William A. Wieland. TRADITIONS. Allhough len years is nol a long period in which lo build lradilions, Washinglon High School has managed lo eslablish many: some have survived lhe lesls of lime, olhers have faded, and slill more are yel lo be made .... The Dead Indian, meeling place for lhe whole sludenl body. was lhe sleeping guardian of lhe Washinglon lobby back in I937: and in I957 sludenls slill will parl wilh a reminder lo friends-- Meel you under lhe Dead lndian. How lhis mural depicling a proslrale Indian lnobody is posiiive he is deadll of George Washinglon's day became lhe Grand Cenlral Slalion of lhe school is nol known. Bul lhe D.l.-as il is abbrevialed in lhe heclic, rushed days of I947-has come lo symbolize lhe enlire lobby: any school day al 3:l0 aImos+ every Washinglon sludenl can be found Under lhe Dead Indian. Tillie Mieseles, one of Washinglon's lirsl sludenls, wrole lhe school hymn in l937: bul il was lhis year, I947, lhal lhe new ending was added by Mr. Knoll, making lhal hymn more impres- sive, powerful, and complele. Hail, Washinglon, Hail! Mary Trussell, in I936, wrole Fighl On You Eagles, and lhe song was presenled lo lhe school for lhe firsl lime over lhe radio, sung by Mr. KnoH's regislry. Mr. Lloyd Leilh, former physical educalion leacher here, and now al Mission High School, laughl lhe lricIcs of lhe lrade lo lhe firsl yell leaders who, in lurn, passed on lheir knowledge and pep lo lhose who followed lhem. Red, While and Blue, Boys, forever, will be up lhere for all lo see. Those words could fil lhe Fighl On You Eagles song: and red, while and blue were almosl our school colors. By elec- lion, and a close one il was, scarlel and gray were officially adopled in I93b. Gymnasium under consfruciion, March 19, 1939. Many presenl Washinglonians were in on lhe beginning of some lradilions. The firsl family dinner in Fall, l945 was in lhe cafeleria. Parenls spenl an enioyable evening-so enioyable in facl lhal nexl year saw a repelilion of lhe evenl. And once re- pealed, evenls are well on lheir way loward becoming lradilions. May Feslivals, lhere have been lhree so far, are yearly occur- rences IF earned by lhe sludenls. ln l945 lhe May Feslival proi- ecl was oblaining blood donors: keeping absences and lardies down lo a minimum has been lhe melhod of earning lhe day of fun, surprises, a rally, and a dance, lhis year and lasl. Sporl nighls are recenl addilions lo exlracurricular aclivilies -Fridays al 7:30 in bolh gyms for volleyball, badminlon, ping pong, and even checkers. Anolher Friday-nighl evenl. loo new as yel lo be called a lradilion-is lhe folk-dancing class. The Spring Concerl, when lhe real lalenl of George Washing- lon High School is displayed, was firsl slarled in l94I lo raise money for choir robes. Classical music and folk songs are played and sung by lhe orcheslra, girls choral, mixed chorus, and soloisls. The Chrislmas season is observed wilh lhree lradilions: a beau- lifully decoraled lree slands in lhe lobby, carolers in choir robes slroll lhrough lhe halls imparling lhe Chrislmas spiril lo all who hear, and a Chrislmas pageanl depicls evenls in lhe life of Chrisl. Heads bow in reverence. For whom? The high seniors, of course! The high senior class and ils lradilions are always lhe pride of George Washinglon. The imposing lisl of senior lradilions is headed by Senior Day. On lhis day a rally is presenled lo lhe sludenl body by members Alhlefic Field, March 14, 1939. of lhe senior class. The scripl, wrillen enlirely by seniors, has a serious, hislorical lheme. All day lhe halls are filled wilh color- ful, coslume-clad seniors. Olher lradilions exclusive lo lhis class are lhe Senior Banquel, held in a holel banquel room: lhe Senior Breakfasl which is given in lhe school cafeleria: church services before lhe breakfasl: and lhe Senior Prom, usually presenled in lhe Gold Room of lhe Fair- monl Holel. The lasl aclivilies in which lhe seniors parlicipale before gradu- alion are lhe Farewell Dance and lhe So-Long Rally. The dance is a sludenl body sponsored affair dedicaled lo lhe gradualing class. In lhe rally lhe seniors are afforded a lasl opporlunily lo enlerlain lhe olher sludenls, and lo say so long. FIRST ADMINISTRATION. Mr. Ernesl J. Cummings was lhe lirsl principal al George Washinglon, having come here in I936 from Galileo. He allended privale school and lhen gradualed from Slanford. He laughl al Lowell for a lime and lhen wenl lo Galileo where he laughl Lalin and Greek: he was also principal of lhe nighl school. Mr. Cummings served as Washinglon's prin- cipal unlil January, I945, when he wenl lo lhe 'Board of Educa- lion as Depuly Superinlendenl of Secondary Schools. Miss Edifh Pence came lo Washinglon in I936 as dean of girls. She is a graduale of Lowell and lhe Universily of California, has I0

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while Mr. Arnautoff was high above on a scaffold. He suffered from drafts in all directions, for doors had not yet been built. The artist was so rushed for time that he had to improvise as he was painting. Covering about nine feet of wall a day, he sometimes worked from ten to twelve hours a day to finish a given section. The murals took ten months to complete: ironically, the school was not opened until a full year later. FIRST YEAR AT WASHINGTON. George Washington High was the pride and ioy of the students and faculty when it opened: everyone admired the magnificent view and the handsome build- ing, and the faculty and students were filled with enthusiasm in spite of the fact that they were sadly lacking in facilities. These pioneers realized that the responsibility for Washingfon's coming through the first year lay on their shoulders. Only they remembered all the difficulties that had to be overcome: but we, today, know that they emerged with flying colors. The enrollment of the school in its first year consisted of the new low tens and students who had transferred from other schools. These students had to stand up or sit on the floor because of the lack of chairs and desks: the gym classes met in different class- rooms, and the library was completely empty, save for one set of encyclopedias. These handicaps seemed minor, however, as compared to the terrible noise caused by the construction of the new gymnasium.This construction work, accompanied by the noise, lasted for two years. Despite these difficulties, at the end of the term there were 57 students on the honor roll. Southwest Wing, first floor under construction April 4, 1935 The first student government at Washington was organized in the fall of I936 with David Cunningham, president: Lois Samuels, vice-president: Jane Mayer, secretary: Howard Nielsen, treas- urer: Richard Cohn, custodian: and Gordon Mailloux, head yell leader. The spring I937 officers were: Hal Mendelson, president: Betty Hill, vice-president, Nancy Glaser, secretary: Richard de Graf, treasurer: Phillip Waxman, custodian, and Robert Kahn, head yell leader. The first social event of the term was the lnaugural Ball, held on October 30, l936, in the school library. The lack of a gym did not stop the students from having social affairs. The rallies were held outside on the courts. The first indoor rally was at Pre- sidio Junior High School. At the first indoor rally held at Wash- ington in I940 in the newly built auditorium, the speakers had to stand on chairs. The platform had not yet been completed. The first commencement took place at Commerce High School on December I6, I937. Miss Kirwin had charge of the first graduating class consisting of I48 students. Five students com- pleted their required course six months earlier, in June, but since there were so few eligible for the Spring '37 class, the gradua- tion exercises were not held. These students came back in Decem- ber to graduate with the Fall '37 class. There were three girls and two boys in the first official gradu- ating class: Mariorie Astredo, who had entered the school at its opening: Lois Samuel, Washington's first vice-president and one of the originators of the Girls' Service Society: Frank Hultman, Tod Saylor, and Eleanor Worken. is A S A Looking west across Southwest Wing. Forms for woll ond second story in place April 4, 1935. During the Fall '37 term the Senior Advisory Board was estab- lished, and the Senior-Soph Reception, which is now so popular, was first held in the school library. Because of financial difficul- ties and lack of space, a party was given at the Balboa Theater. Between the showing of films an amateur hour was presented. with talented students from Washington participating. On November 23. I937, the Senior Luncheon was held in the school's cafeteria. December ll, was the date of the Senior Dance, now known as the Farewell Dance. This class owed much of its success to Miss Kirwin, who was unanimously chosen to be in charge of all future senior classes. Many of the teachers on the first faculty are still with us today. The following is a list of the original faculty: Mrs. Melanie Ains- worth, Mr. Donald Atherton, Miss Rose Avina, Mr. William Baker, Mr. Rufus Balaam, Mrs. Birchlyn Bannister, Mr. Eugene Barker, Mr. Bruce Bartholomew, Mrs. Mildred Bickel, Miss Bernice Bilafer. Miss Elsie Bowman, Mr. John Burke, Mr. Cecil Carroll, Miss Kath- leen Cauley, Mr. Paul Chapman, Mrs. Lillian Clayton, Mrs. Alice Collins, Miss Jane Cook, Miss Margaret Coope, Miss Catherine Counihan, Mr. Dennis Crowley, Miss Laurette Cullinan, Miss Catherine Davis, Mrs. Margaret Denny, Mr. John Douglass, Mr. Arthur Fagan, Sgt. Feliciano, Miss Dorothea Forcade, Mr. Thomas Gates, Mrs. Birdeena Gowan, Miss Phylis Haley, Mr. Rex Harris, Miss Margaret Heaton, Mrs. Lenamae Herrick, Miss Eleanor Jack- son, Miss Ethelinda James, Mr. Sylvester Kelly, Miss Marie Kir- win, Mr. Marion Knott, Mr. Lloyd Leith, Miss Mabel Lockhart, Mrs. Edna Logan, Mr. Harry Longaker, Miss Rachael Markley, Miss Doris McMillan, Mr. Willard Morton, Miss Catherine New- port, Miss Marian Ohleyer, Miss Eleanor Parsons, Mr. Seymour Pearson, Mrs. Margaret Poole, Mr. Henry Raphael, Miss Mildred Rauner, Miss Josephine Rausch, Miss Dorothy Reynolds, Mr.James Ripley, Mr. John Roberts, Mr. Marcel Rotchy, Miss Arline Scharff, Miss Florence Shearer, Miss Edith Silberstein, Mrs. Myrtle Swan- son, Mr. Arthur Taylor, Miss Haidee Tobriner, Mrs. Jewell Tor- raeri, Mr. John Uhte, Mr. Eldred Vanderlaan, Miss Frances Vasila- Main Unit finished December 3, 1935

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'Iaughf af Lowell, Polyfechnic, and af Galileo as head of fhe language deparfmenf and, prior Io coming fo Washingion, she was af San Francisco Junior College. Affer leaving Washingfon she served as Direcfor of Curriculum and fhen wenf fo Girls' High in l942 as principal. She has fraveled widely and was a delegafe fo fhe Lima Conference. Mr. William A. Weiland was Washing'fon's firs'I dean of boys. He alfended Oakland High School and 'Ihen graduafed from fhe Universify of California. He served as a capfain in World War I and sfayed in Europe fo help sei up fhe Educalion Program for fhe army. Upon his refurn fo fhe Unifed Sfafes he wenf +o Mis- sion High as a Ieacher: he came fo Washingfon as vice-principal when if opened in I936. Mr. Weiland died in I944 as fhe resulf of an iniury obfained from 'Fighfing a foresl fire. STUDENT GOVERNMENT. As in any well-organized govern- menf, George Washingfon High School has ils wriHen laws vesfed in a consfifuIion.The complefed consfifufion was adopfed in l94I. Under fhis consfilufion, fhe sfudenf body offices of presidenl, vice-presidenf, secrelary, freasurer, cusfodian. afhlefic manager, and yell leader were creafed. Recenfly esfablished, fhe oliiice of second vice-presidenf was recorded in Ihe consfifufional amend- menfs. To run for any of fhese offices, a sfudenf is required fo submif a pefifion Io 'Ihe principal for approval af Ieasf five school days before fhe primary elecfions. The pefifion musf be signed Auditorium and Gym, complefed Ocfober 21, 1940 by af Ieasi fwenfy-five sfudenfs and five faculiy members. Af fhe direcf primary elecfion fhe candi- dafe who receives fhe maiorify of vofes will be declared elecied. lf, however, no candidafe receives , a maiorify, fhe Iwo candidafes receiving fhe greafesf number of vofes will run again af a general elecfion. The PrincipaI's Cabinef, an advisory board Io fhe principal, and The Sfudenf Council, fhe Iegislafive branch of fhe school, were also creafed. The Sfudenf Council consisfs of fhe elecfed officers of fhe sfuclenl body, all elecfed class officers, plus necessary repre- senfafives fo malre Ihe foial represeniafion six for each class. The qualificafions for candidacy are based on gen- eral conducf and scholarship. A passing grade is required in all subiecfs, and lhe cilizenship marks musf be safisfacfory or beHer af +he fime Ihe pefifion is filed. Any unsafisfacfory marlrs will disqualify 'Ihe candidafe. An elecfed officer nof Ireeping up Ihe aforemenfionecl requiremenfs during his ferm of oflice will have fo forfeif his posilion. AII sfudenf body officers and delegafes fo fhe Sfudenf Council serve for one ferm. The consfifufion may be amended by proposal and fwo-fhirds vofe of lhe Sfudenl Council, and fhe ma- iorify vofe of fhe members of 'Ihe George Washing- 'ron High School. WAR EFFORT, SERVICEMEN, PTA. George Wash- ingfon High School sfudenfs, as one of fheir firsf confribufions Io fhe war efforf, boughf a bomber. Afhlefic Field, Ocfober 21, 1940 Ofher acfiviiies, while nof so momenfous, were carried on faifhfully and successfully by Ihose who were foo young fo fight Washing- fonians procured blood donors for 'Ihe Red Cross Isome sfudenfs do- nafed blood fhemselvesig fhey learned firsf aid and home nursing: Ihey collecfed clofhes, food, and fin cans, 'Ihey boughf war sfamps and bonds, and sold Ihem 'Io olhersg Washingfon sfudenfs graduafed and wen? info fhe armed forces: fhe girls became nurses: and when Ihe war ended, fhey did noi' cease fheir eliforfs fo help siriclren people in all paris of Ihe world. Fiffy-five servicemen who af some fime had aifended George Wash- ingfon High School were Irilled in World War Il. On all fhe war fronfs, in all branches of fhe service, Washingionians, I,700 of 'Ihem fo be exacf, foughf for fheir counfry. And fiffy-five, in losing fhe personal side of fhaf lighf, helped assure fhe real cause-and gave fheir lives for fhe freedom of fhe people of fhe Unifed Sfales of America. The Parenf-Teachers Associafion, esfablished in I93b wifh Mrs. Carl Hallford as fhe firsf presidenf, has supporfed many proiecfs of fhe sfudenfs of George Washingfon lin facf, fhaf swimming pool is sfill on iheir as ye+ unaccompIished Iisfl. The principal obiecfive of fhe PTA is fo promofe undersfanding among parenfs, feachers, and sfudenfs. SPORTS HISTORY IN REVIEW FOOTBALL. Wi+h fhe opening of our new school came Washing- fon's firsf foofball feam, and under fhe direcfion of Coach Joe Verducci, if esfablished fhe besi record of any of our feams fhus far. The Eagle Eleven, affer opening ihe season wifh fheir firsi foofball win againsi Lowell wen+ on fo boasf a record of 4 wins, and I loss. I Mural, leff side of entrance