Highland High School - Iris Yearbook (Highland, IL)

Page 15 text:

STORY OF O R N .W SCHOOL cafeteria, and gymnasium. The manual classes moved into their new quarters in Novem- ber. The gymnasium was ded- - icated at Thanksgiving time V when we played our first game l with Greenville. The stage at that time was not completed, but the beautiful new curtains were in place at the time the band gave its concert early in the spring. The cafeteria was opened in January, but since then many improvements in equipment have been made. During the winter months the floors of classrooms and study halls received several coats of paint and were waxed. This served to eliminate much dust and noise. New equipment was purchased as fast as the Board could supply the funds. The science room on the high school side was litted out with new tables and lockers. The grade school science room received new chairs, The agriculture room acquired new filing cabi- nets. New chairs for the floor of the gymnasium arrived in time for the band contest and junior play. Shades to darken the auditorium were also in place for the band contest. While many things are still to be done in equipping the new school, the work of construction is completed. The building has not as yet been for- mally dedicated because the official approval of the government has not been made. Now that spring is here, we can hardly realize that the first year of occupancy is almost over. For us seniors it is to be our only year in our new quarters., but in this short time we have become much attached to our new home. As the drives in front of the building are laid, and the grading, sod- d i n g a n d seeding of the 1 a w n moves on to completio n , we begin to ,- . visualize the beauty of the 1 new High- ! land Public School as it must h a v e been seen by the eyes of the archi- tects. We re- m e m b e r words spok- en long ago of men who see visions and dream dreams.

Page 14 text:

STORY OF OUR N .W SCHOOL Work was started on October 15, 1934, when Mr. Leo Ammann, President of the Board of Education, turned over the first shovelful of ground. Weather condi- tions were not favorable in the early months of construction. An early spring, how- ever, made the work progress more rapidly. By March 12, 11135, practically all the ina-sonry and steel work were completed up to the top of the first floor. The corner- stone was put into place by Mr. Ammann on April il, 1935. Hy June the outer walls were completed, and the interior work went on with- out interruption during the summer. The roof is covered with gypsum roof slab ovtr which four layers of tar and paper were applied. Inside, partitions went up, and workers began to plaster and put in the wood work, In the corridors the terrazzo worke1's ground and polished the fioors they had laid. When the brick walls ofthe corridors had been cleaned, the beauty of the finished product became evident. At the old building, work went on as well. All equip- ment considered suitable for use in the new building was refiniuhed in a uniform way to harmonize with the rest of the build.ng, This equipment in- cludid the seat-3 in grade school and some high school rooms, teachers' desks, and bookcases. The date for opening ot' school was not set until late in August. When school did open on September 113, 1935, the building was by no means com- pleted. The faculty had been at work for a week moving equipment from the old build- ing, and practically all the- class rooms were habitable. Blackboard-5 and a few other essentials were missing, it was true: but work was 1-arricd on cheerfully and soon the needs were supplied, Classrooms were improved greatly after blackboards, lockerobes, shades, and may railing were in place. The corridors took on an entirely new appearance when the lockers were not in place and the linoleum was laid. We have good reason to feel that our halls are very beautiful. In the gymnasium work went on unhindered by tho opening of school. Students watched eagerly as bleachers were constructed and flooring was laid. Outside, Cinder paths were made, and then cement walks were built from the main entrance to the side entrances and to the corner. Later the plaza in front of the building was sodded, and shrubs were transplanted. The faculty parking lot was completed. A brick playground to the rear on the grade .side was begun. As soon as cold weather came, we learned that our heating system is a most elTicicnt one, Not only may an even and healthful temperature be easily main- tained, but the constant circulation of fresh air in the classrooms made a noticeable improvement in working conditions. The last parts of the interior to be finished were the manual arts room,

Page 16 text:

FACULTY FRONT RONV: Yates, lv. NVcngcr, llninlinc, VVclch, Nl. VV:-ngcr, Strotlnnann, Su.-ss Drew, l'1-tcrson, Fa-:irln-ilcy. Sl-IUUNIJ ROXV: Itlwing' tSup1-rlntcntln-ntl, Dowling, Stocker, Foster, Kiburz. Sinn-rl, Davis, Vl'il1li, liolligcr, Rnft':u-llc. As moat people of our community know, our teachers are organized into one administrative unit. The arrangement of our building and its curriculum both assist in uniting our faculty more closely, Several of our teachers serve on both sides of the building as the chart of our facility on the opposite page shows. We believe this system is helpful in bridging the gap between grades and high school, one oi the most serious problems in education. It also enables teachers to he of kreater service to the system as a whole. For the size of our school, our faculty is especially well-trained. High stand- ards are applied to both grade and high school teachers. Some time ago the board decided not to hire teachers without degrees in the future. Almost all our teachers now have degrees and two of them, Mr, Ewing and Mr. Yates, possess the Masters degree. Our principal, Mr. White, is on leave of absence this year to secure the same degree. Several of our high school teachers have completed one or two summers of work toward it, The Board encourages and assists our teachers to secure better qualilications for their work. Special duties in high school are distributed among our teachers in such a manner that no teacher is overburdened and every teacher may do work which she enjoys doing and to which she is suited by experience and training. Our adminis- tration feels this is the proper way to distribute such duties, and the faculty is also whole-heartedly in favor. The success of a school system oftentimes rests upon the cooperation fxiven by teachers to administrators and other teachers. lt is earnestly hoped by the major- ity of the faculty that the spirit of good will which was manifested so openly hy all our teachers during the construction of our new building may continue through- out the years to come.