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

Page 17 text:

©atlpr Edited and Published by the Pupils of A. D. Higgins Junior High School, Thompsonville, Connecticut Claaa on0 “Hail, Higgins Junior High” (Adapted from Hail, Pensylvania ' ) Hail, Higgins Junior High! Steadfast and strong; To thee with loyal hearts we sing this song. Swelling to heaven high, our many praises ring; Hail, Higgins Junior High, to thee we sing. Hail, Higgins Junior High! Guide of our youth; Lead thou thy children on to light and truth ; Ne’er can thy spirit die, nor thy walls decay. Hail, Higgins Junior High, for thee we pray. Claaa Now is the time to say farewell. To the dear school we love so well; It was here we learned to read and write. And to do our homework every night. Our principal and teachers were thought- ful, indeed, Ready to help when we were in need; Together we worked in study and play. And already it’s here — “Graduation Day.” At Higgins we’ve made many a friend. Now our eighth year has come to an end. This is our last and fond good-bye. To the school we’ll remember, Higgins Junior High. — Kathleen Legienza 51 0 Class of X057: For the past several years it has been my privilege to address a few pertinent remarks to the members of the graduating class. This role makes it possible for me, acting as a representative of the faculty, to be among the first to extend to you, our heartiest best wishes for your continued success. The class of 1957, in a fitting tribute to the observance of Flag Day, has ably chosen for its graduation exercises the general theme, ' ' To Thee We Sing”, and the equally impressive Class Motto, Long May It Wave”. From its earliest beginnings, our flag has been a symbol of freedom to the oppressed throughout the world. It is the banner of a proud and gallant peoples dedicated to the principles of freedom, justice and equality, not for ourselves alone but for all who bear the heavy yoke of oppression even in the most remote areas known to man. Our country at this moment is a recognized leader in the family of nations. Time and events have placed us in a position of grave responsibilities to our present and future generations. There are in this world today forces bent on the enslavement of all liberty loving peoples. Freedom in our land will continue to flourish as long as Americans can raise their hands in salute to our flag and proclaim to all the world Long May it Wave”. Cordially yours, Ernest K. White, Principal

Page 16 text:

THE CLASS OF 1957 respectfully dedicates this issue — of — — to — iMisB Anna iJJ. Parakilas A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles. — Irving

Page 18 text:

I’HE TaTLER CltlasB History H ere we are — the graduating class of 1957. Gee! How time has flown! Remember those first few days of junior high. Alert, but confused, we waited expectantly wondering what to do. We were assigned to our respective divisions and spent the first few days getting acquainted with new books, schedules, classmates and teachers. And brother! Remember those in-between- period “traffic jams”? Thank goodness there was always a faculty member to come to our rescue. Our first task, after getting settled, was to elect class officers for Student Council, the lawmaking body of junior high. Our representatives were : Caroline Cogtella, Kathleen Di Maso, and Dorothy Porcello of 7 ; Michael Pacholski, Alfred Harnois, and Kathleen Vail of 7 ; James Zirolli, Judith Child, and Patricia Massaro of 7 ; and Paul Bonanno, Leo Fede, and Nancy Gannuscio of 7 . Next, on the schedule, came the maga- zine drive. With much school spirit, we plunged right into the job of selling subscriptions. The seventh and eighth grades were divided into two teams: the Blue and the Red, respectively. We did work very hard, but failed to reach our goal. Our highest salesman was Kathleen Di Maso. Around the middle of October, school clubs were organized. Mrs. O’Neil took charge of the Glee Club and Orchestra and worked vigorously to make our “ever-changing” voices harmonize. Mr. White helped to organize the Junior Hi-Y, which proved very successful with Angelo Lamagna, Katherine Kineas, Kathleen Carroll, and Judith Diegoli as officers. Many speakers came to the meetings to acquaint us with such topics as “Police Work”, “Juvenile Delin- quency”, and other related subjects. Then National Education Week ar- rived. Mr. White had appointed guides and registrars to welcome our parents. The week passed with much success. Along cam.e the annual judging of the Tuberculosis essays. The first prize was won by Joan Buoniconti of 7L Joan Mahelsky of 8 received second prize. Finally, after long hard days of school- work came the Christmas holidays. Mrs. Fahey’s class, 7 , presented an interest- ing Christmas assembly in pantomime commemorating the Birth of Christ. After the holidays were behind us, we again settled down to school curriculum. Soon, time came for a new Student Coun- cil. Those elected from the seventh grade were : Ronald Bennett, Kathleen Di Maso, and Kathleen Legienza of 7 ; Susan Lewis, Lucille Sika, and Nancy Bessette of 72 ; James Zych, Edward Waskiel, and Barbara Cimino of 7 ; and Francis Walenta, Grace Di Rosa, and Seraphina Verdina of 7 . Higgins’ Basketball team came out on top with an undefeated season. Players like Alphonso Nosal, Ronald Bennett, and Robert Chillson received varsity letters. In our English classes we were assigned to write Americanism Essays which were to be entered in a state con- test by the American Legion. Under the direction of Mario Dei Delori, Higgins Baseball team was or- ganized. The team came through with flying colors and took the championship. The seventh grade players were: Robert Chillson, Donald Gippo, Edward Waskiel, Richard Matulewicz, and Paul Pochron. The spring months came upon us and with them, came the traditional May Exhibit. We were called upon to pro- duce the projects we had worked on during the year. Some of the projects on display were related to such subjects as science, music, geography, hygiene and literature. June passed rapidly as the eighth graders prepared for their graduation, and we, as “lowly seventh graders”, looked forward to our summer vacation and to the coming September. Part II Although our glorious vacation had come to an end, we were, somehov , glad to get back into the swing of things at school. The thrill of being eighth graders overtook us and filled us with a queer sensation. We were then the “senior” class ! The first thing on the schedule was choosing room officers. Our leaders were: Dennis Bielitz, Richard Typrowicz, and Joseph Ravosa of Susan Lewis, Lucille Sika, and Nancy Bessette of 8 ; Carmen Catania, Paul Bonanno, and Rose Ann Porcello of 8®; Alphonso Nosal, Joan Kurley, and Donald Grippo of 8 ; Leonard Montano, Leon Janik, and Jean Mancuso of 88. The school clubs were organized at the beginning of the year. Unfortun- ately, the Junior Hi-Y was disbanded this year because of a busy schedule. The Glee Club and Orchestra were again