Harrison High School - Retrospect Yearbook (Farmington, MI)

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HHS Accreditation Follows Dedication E very new school, when it first opens, has its own dedication ceremony to introduce the school to people in the community. Harrison High School presented its dedication ceremony on Sunday, March 28, 1971. Plans started in December of 1970. Various teachers volunteered for different committees, with Mr. Ray Voss selected as general chairman. Unlike most dedications, it was decided that in- stead of having an important celebrity come to speak to the guests, the school would be opened with a display of all school programs and activi- ties available for inspection. There was a formal ceremony in the auditorium which was followed by the open house. Mr. Paul Barber directed the ceremony in the auditorium. It consisted of the bands, the choirs and both student and guest speakers from the school system. The next important step in Harrison's young history was accreditation by the North Central Association committee. 22

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ABOVE: Mrs. Georgia Gault continues her fine work in the main office. LEFT: In the counseling center, Mrs. Irma Tosh checks a student's fiie. TOP LEFT: Newcomer, Mrs. Irene Young, has adapted quickly to the harried pace of a high school. TOP: Between classes, Mrs. Nancy Lahr and her girls in the attendance office double check attendance lists. TOP RIGHT: Volunteer secretary, Mrs. Pat Smith, fuifills a student's need of change for a dollar. Secretarial Duties Go Begond Routine orking as a secretary in Harrison High School seems to be more than just a job. The office workers are not limited to the usual paper work but come in contact with faculty and students daily. Those in the main office deal pri- marily with assisting the faculty, whereas the secretaries in the attendance office and the counseling center deal mostly with students and parents. The secretaries seem to agree that their hardest part is all the interruptions. i'l like the personal contact with the students and faculty, replied Mrs. Georgia Gault who works in the main office. Mrs. Irene Young, who is new to the staff this year said, 'The faculty is pleasant and easy to work with? Mrs. irma Tosh, found in the counseling center, remarked, Sometimes i feel as a liaison between students and counselors and between counse- lors and parentsf, Mrs. Nancy Lahr handles stu- dent accountings, attendance, parent contact, and student contact in the attendance office. Mrs. Pat Smith is a volunteer secretary in the counsel- ing center. She devotes her time to the school, al- most daily. 21

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Accreditation for a high school involves much study on the part of the school and the ac- creditation association. The object of accredita- tion is the development and maintenance of ex- cellence tor a secondary school and the contin- ued improvement of the educational program. Harrison sought accreditation from both the University of Michigan and the North Central As- sociation. This procedure involves a year long study of the school. It includes the seIt-analysis of every department as well as a study of such areas as guidance, school plant and facilities, school staff, and educational media. Committees were formed which included stu- dents, teachers, and parents. Miss Margaret Fer- guson was chairman of the entire operation. Upon completion of committee work, the re- sults were summarized. In January and February both the University of Michigan and the North Central Association came to examine and ob- serve every facet of the school. These results were sent to a national conven- tion in Chicago which determined whether the school should be accepted for accreditation. FAFt LEFT: Students Frank Arcangeli, Dan Hickey, Bob Fish- er, and Mark Stock contribute to the evaluation of HHS. EX- TREME LEFT: Jim Kadushin demonstrates distillation during the dedication open house. ABOVE LEFT: Mr. Gerald Harri- son addresses the dedication audience. ABOVE: Chairman, Miss Margaret Ferguson, centers with faculty members, Mr. Waiter Boluch and Mrs. Anna Areeda, on accreditation data.