Higgins Junior High School - Tatler Yearbook (Thompsonville, CT)

Page 22 text:

The Tatler which the Glee Club and the Junior Chorus participated in carol singing. Shortly after vacation, a new Student Council was organized to guide us through the last half of the year. Council officers were Joseph Orefice, President; Michael Nosal, Vice-President; and Karl Russotto, Secretary. When it was time to pick our subjects for next year in high school, we were guided in our choice by talks given by members of the faculty of Enfield High School. These talks were given at a series of vocational assemblies. Again during our eighth grade year we had open house, at which time our parents and friends came to see the pupils’ work and play. The first open house was during Education Week in November, and in May we had a School Exhibit where the pupils displayed their own work. The 1953 Higgins School basketball team had one of the school’s best records. The team won the Junior High School League championship by sweep- ing all six of its league games, and it won victories over Suffield Academy and Enfield High School Freshmen. The play was sparked by teamwork and Gregorski’s high scoring. Seven regular baseball players re- turned to the squad early in the spring and contributed some excellent fielding and hitting to the team’s 1953 record. Although there were no girls’ athletic teams, the boys’ teams received much support and encouragement from their girl school-mates, led by eight peppy cheer-leaders. Our literary activities began with the formation of the Tatler Staff in Feb- ruary, with Howard Daly as editor-in- chief and Carolyn Harris, assistant editor. With the assistance of a large literary and business staff, the gradua- tion issue of our Tatler was prepared. Thoughts of graduation took first place in our minds in the spring and there was much to be planned and decided. Committees chose “Forward Forever” as the class motto, blue and gold for the colors, and the American Beauty Rose as the flower. In the midst of all our excitement, our greatest interest was in the announcement of honors. We were happy to find that George Pare had earned the honor of being our val- edictorian and Rosemarie Peraro our salutatorian. Class Day arrived before we realized it, and on that great day we heard the History, Prophecy, Will, Poem, and Statistics of our class. One of our most enjoyable graduation festivities was our class picnic at Mt. Tom Amusement Park. We had a grand time, but a feeling of sadness was within us at this final class get-together. On the night of June 16, 1953, we reached at last the goal for which we had set out away back in September, 1951. We had had many experiences — some pleasant and some unhappy — and these were the two kinds of feelings which filled our hearts. We were joyful because we had accomplished our task and were receiving our diplomas. Our sadness came at the thought of leaving Higgins Junior High. And now that our junior high school days were over and some of our dreams of that first September day had come true, as we ended this chapter of our personal histories, we thought — Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime. And we hope we’ve left behind us Footprints on the Higgins’ sands of time. Historians: Lynn Bloomquist Howard Bromage Prettiest Girl Mary Lou Wagner Handsomest Boy Donald Gongola Most Popular Girl Jean Rega Most Popular Boy Michael Nosal Quietest Girl Madeline Morrison Quietest Boy Francis Maciolek Most Talkative Girl Angela Gatto Most Talkative Boy Anthony Scalia Class Artist John Crosson Wittiest Girl Marion Tkacz Wittiest Boy Joseph Orefice Glamour Girl Jean Rega Glamour Boy Michael Nosal Class Musician Lawrence Kiszka Class Poet Joan Luczai Smartest Girl Rosemarie Peraro Smartest Boy George Pare Best all-round Girl Joan Luczai Best all-round Boy Robert Gregorski Best Girl Dancer Mary Lou Wagner Best Boy Dancer Robert Gregorski

Page 21 text:

A. D. Higgins Junior High School these, thirteen made the team, which had a fine season, winning four games and losing two. The team looked for- ward to an even better season in the eighth grade with Provencher, Romano, Orefice, Gregorski, Nosal, Gongola and Gove returning. High scorers on the team were Gregorski and Provencher. The girls were thrilled when they learned there was going to be an intra- mural softball league. With Mr. White as coach, six teams were formed with the Higgins’ Hitters winning the cham- pionship. Baseball practice started in the middle of April with many candidates report- ing. The team was picked and won its first five games before being beaten by Hazardville. Sparked by the hitting of Spanswick and the pitching of Rinaldi, the team tied Hazardville for the Junior High School League honors. Seven lettermen awaited the next year; Scalia, Russotto, Gregorski, Provencher, Bro- mage, Curcio and Gove. The seventh grade was happy to be invited to see the Class Day exercises and all welcomed the talents left by the upperclassmen. We were all sad to see our friends in the eighth grade go, but as we started our summer vacation, our spirits lifted at the thought that we would be the eighth graders next year. After what seemed a very short vacation, the one-hundred eight v d us found ourselves back as those very eighth graders, feeling grown up and trying to act that way. The first important project was the organization of the home rooms with the election of officers for each room, and soon after this the Student Council for the entire school was organized under Mr. White’s direction. Elected to guide us through the first half of the year were President, Vivian Wezowscz; Vice-President, Joseph Orefice; and Sec- retary, Karl Russotto. This group sponsored a well-attended dance in January to raise money for the March of Dimes. Glee Club was soon organized by Mrs. Mary O’Neil, who had the task of getting music out of us. The club pre- sented a program of carols at the Rotary Christmas Carol Sing and enter- tained at several assemblies. Mrs, Kathryn Dunn directed the Home Eco- nomics Club which had among its pro- jects a dance held in October and an enjoyable social with an interesting talk by Miss Kathryn Lin from Formosa. The Hi-Y Club was organized with Mr. White as advisor. This club sponsored a dance and had several worthwhile meetings. An outstanding speaker at one meeting wos Mr. Lewis Fox w ' ho talked about Religious Loyalty. Soon after the school year began, the annual magazine drive was started. Our sales totaled $2,482.72 with the eighth grade leading by a small margin. In the spring the winners, Joan Luczai, William Friday, Joyce Shea, John Gourlie, accompanied by Miss Delaney, wont to Boston to see a baseball game. The entire school saw ' a moving picture in March as a reword for selling so many magazines. So that wo might become more literary, our school library wos re- organized. All the books wore cata- logued, a card file was set up, and a new ' method of student withdrawol of books w ' as instituted. The proceeds from a dance helped to pay for new ' equipment for the library. We all had an opportunity to show ' our talent during the year. Six assem- blies w ' ere presented by the eighth grade pupils. An Armistice Day pro- gram W ' as given by the students of 8®. The guest speaker wos Mr. Arthur FitzGibbons of the American Legion. At Thanksgiving time we w ' elcomed another guest speaker. Reverend John M. DeZinno of St. Patrick’s Church, w ' ho brought us a Thanksgiving message. In February w’e enjoyed a patriotic assembly prepared by the students of 8 . The March assembly consisted of an interesting playlet by the class of 8” and an entertaining group of Irish songs presented by the 8 boys’ choir. Something different in assembly pro- grams W ' as the History Quiz conducted by 8 ’ at w ' hich prizes w ' ere aw ' arded the w ' inners. An interesting assembly w ' as presented in May by the Girls’ Domestic Science class of 8® to show ' the pupils the rights and w ' rongs about manners. Anxiety filled our hearts as the first report card w ' as issued to us on October 23. Some w ' ere pleased, and some w ' ere not. The same uncertainty w ' as present w ' hen our other report cards w ' ere issued to us in December, February, April and June. Everyone came dressed in his finest in December on the day w ' e had our pictures taken for the Tatler. During this month eighth grade officers w ' ere also elected. George Pare was elected President; Vincy Gennusa, Vice- President; and Marion Tkacz, Secretary, As Christmas drew ' near w ' e w ' ere all happy to do our part in the annual sale of Christmas Seals. The pupils w ' ere filled w ' ith Christmas Spirit and they enjoyed their Christmas parties at

Page 23 text:

A. D. Higgins Junior High School CLASS OFFICERS VINCY GENNUSA GEORGE PARE MARIAN TKACZ Vice-President President Secretary HIGGINS SCHOOL ORCHESTRA — Photo by Brown