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

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

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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

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The Tatler “ifforuiari iFor it r” VALEDICTORY T his year the graduating class has chosen as its motto, “Forward For- ever”. These words mean much more to us than just a saying to add color to our graduation exercises. They will act as a beacon, helping to guide us to success, not only in high school and perhaps college, but in later life as we go out into the world. “Forward Forever” could also be a motto for the Fiftieth Anniversary of Aviation. Through the ages aviation has advanced rapidly and it seems as if it will continue to progress indefinitely. In the early ages men dreamed of flying. Early legends tell of men attempting to fly with wings attached to their bodies. The first real success came in 1783 when a balloon was raised by the Montgolfier brothers at Annoy, France. This balloon was thirty-five feet in diameter and rose to a height of six thousand feet. After extensive work and study, Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first self-propelled airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. Since then powered flight has advanced rapidly, and now we are entering the age of jet propelled aircraft. The idea of jet power is not new; it is in fact an idea centuries old. The reality has been developed only in modern wartime when countries are trying to gain air supremacy. Jet air- craft today carry men faster than ever before and even greater speeds can be attained when this power is fully developed. The jet engine is practically a big combustion chamber. A fan or corn- pressor inside of the mouth sucks air in and forces it backwards into the chamber. Here air is mixed with fuel and burned. This combustion creates hot, expanding gases which blast out through the rear nozzle with terrific force; this propels the plane steadily forward. It was about the time of the first settlement of America in 1620 that someone had the idea of using jet power to propel vehicles. It took the great brain of Sir Isaac Newton to design a jet powered horseless carriage. It was designed on the idea of a tea kettle with steam pushing it forward, but Newton’s idea never got beyond the planning stage. To the regret of all, jet engines now are being used mainly to power war- planes. This unfortunately tends to tear down instead of build up our civili- zation. World powers are trying to develop faster and more economical jet engines in order to gain the lead in the world’s air warfare. However, jet planes are beginning to be used for peaceful commercial flights. The first all- jet commercial airliner, first flown in 1952, is the Comet, made by the De Haviland Company of England. This plane has been breaking records that people once believed would stand forever. This thirty-six passenger plane speeds through the stratosphere at an average of four-hundred ninety miles per hour. The Comet’s passengers can sit back and enjoy a calm and noise-free ride. It is to be expected that it will take time to make a complete change to jet power. Many of the large airlines are slowly developing jet service and in years to come commercial jet power will prove propeller power inadequate. As jet power has changed the course of modern warfare, it also promises a great future for commercial travel, carrying men faster and farther in a more comfortable and safer way. Although propeller driven planes have made the world smaller, in my opinion, jet aircraft will bring world neighbors even nearer together. I think, if used wisely, jet power can tend to create a better understanding among nations and help us to take a great step forward toward world harmony. By going “Forward Forever”, the class of 1953 can achieve success in life. We promise to make the faculty here at A. D. Higgins proud of us. Unfor- tunately it is time to say our last goodby. Before we leave, my class- mates and I would like to express our deep appreciation to our parents; our teachers; our principal, Mr. White; Mr. Lee, Superintendent of Schools and the Enfield Board of Education. It is a great honor to represent the class of 1953 in thanking all those who have helped us look “Forward Forever”. George Pare