Holyoke High School - Annual Yearbook (Holyoke, MA)

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when it was found that the majority of Senior boys had escorted Sophomore girls to the occasion! As second year students, we were expected to be meek and lowly; but our class broke the tradition. The following year saw us back as Juniors, refreshed from our much needed vacation. We were alert anil eager to capture new laurels and to surpass our former achievements. The credit for “starting us off with a bang” is due to Carol Horrigan, who won the position as literary editor of “The Herald,” an office which is usually held by a Senior. Our next move was to hold our class elections. When the results were known, we were sure of attaining great heights with such effi- cient officers as Thomas Maher, President; Helen Downing, Vice President; Phyllis Symasko, Secretary; and John Bresnahan, Treasurer. The Junior “Q” Club and the Phi Alpha were sources of a great deal of benefit and enjoyment to us. W hen asked to furnish a program for the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington, we Juniors decided to bring that great father of this country to the very auditorium of the school. So the play, 1 he Seven Ages of Washington.” was staged before an appreciative audience which heartily applauded the talent displayed. 1 he Junior Prom, an informal affair marking the opening of the school social activities, was our gala event. Having been conspicuous in almost every school activity, we Mere not to be left out when the time for the quarterly honor rolls came. Sure enough, the names of many Juniors M'ere seen gracing the high honor lists throughout the year. To come to athletics, we must say that the various teams would not have accomplished what they did if it weren’t for some of our ‘‘stars. The athletically inclined boys of our class contributed much toward establishing Holyoke High as one of the leading schools in sports. Meanwhile, not to be outdone, the stronger members of the weaker sex succeeded in instituting sports for girls and need we ask whether they could put up a classic demonstration on how basketball should be played? Our Junior girls Mere so adept at this game that they couldn’t help but win the championship of the year. Of this basketball team Madelvn Alderman Mas elected captain, while the boys of the Holyoke High Basketball Team found their competent captain in Chet Wilusz of our class. ith the arrival of Gift I)av we Juniors presented the school M’ith our class window. sixteen

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Class History LOIS FUN 6IV}; the class of 1933, have for three years eagerly looked forward to this day when we could proudly say that ve had at last brought our high school career to a close and were ready to face the problems of life with the training received from our Alma Mater. But now that the much anticipated day has arrived, it is with the deepest regret that we, candidates for gradua- tion. glance back over the past three years to the many eventful hours spent within the portals of Holyoke High School. In the fall of 1930 this famous class of bewildered and awe- stricken youngsters was first ushered into the welcoming arms of Holyoke High and straightway initiated into its mysteries. To start well, we innocent young “Sophies,” as soon as our shyness had worn off. duly got the social season underway by holding the annual Sophomore Reception, at which our parents and friends were entertained and introduced to the faculty. Then, having once been established in our new surroundings, we soon felt the need of leaders and so we settled to the important task of choosing our class officers, who were elected as follows: President, Thomas Maher; Vice President, Helen Downing; Secre- tary, Phyllis Symasko; and Treasurer. Burnett Little. When the month of February rolled around, we presented, in accordance with the school custom, a Washington Day Program, thus bringing about the first public appearance of our dramatically tal- ented classmates. This presentation was a marked success and afford- ed the opportunity of showing our worth to the upper classmen. As for clubs, the Round-the-Table for girls and the Assembly for boys were the two organizations which stimulated the most in- terest in us. During this year our class was made more outstanding when one of our girls. Marion Kennedy, by winning a prize in a state wide contest on Irish history, disproved the statement that “Sophies have very little ability. Finally, along came the Proms, sponsored by the Juniors and Seniors. Of course, no one in the least expected many Sophomores to be there; but what a furore was created among the older girls fifteen

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We ended this year with a boost from Frank McKay, when lie was chosen to represent Holyoke High in the Holyoke finals of the National Oratorical Contest. In September 1932 we yere again seen around the haunts of H. II. S„ this time assuming our role as Seniors. What a thrill of satisfaction we derived from awing the lower classmen with our air of sophistication! Our class elections this year were probably influenced by the political situation outside, for there was a little variation in the choice. Those decided upon were President, James Dunn; Vice President. Helen Downing; Secretary, Phyllis Symasko; and Treas- urer, Edward Kurth. Halloween brought along with it our first dance of the season in the form of a masquerade. Again departing from tradition, we were given permission to take our dances outside of the school. As a result, we collected surprising amounts of money and so upon our class may rest the honor of setting a precedent for others to follow. With Carol Horrigan as editor-in-chief and John Bresnahan heading the business department, “The Herald made a fine showing. The clubs took up their duties and were faithfully supported. Robert Anderson and Madelyn Alderman were selected as President and Vice President of the Student Council. Then, too, a new organ- ization was formed. This was the Student Activity Fund, a system whereby a student, by paying a dime a week for twenty-five weeks, would be entitled to the benefits of various extra-curricular activities. It has worked out well this year and promises even better things for the future. The Senior boys exhibited their prowess in all fields of sport by downing many a difficult opponent and capturing high places. The most spectacular game was the Westfield-Holvoke basketball game played at the Valley Arena. Despite the fact that Holyoke was defeated, our players showed themselves to be good losers. Whether it was the depression or a sense of dignity that was the cause, our class, to our knowledge, lacked only one thing and that was the originality of having paint-splashed “Leaping Lenas parked out in front of the school. Otherwise, we consider ourselves as the best all-round class ever. One of the features of the history of any class is the changes in the personnel of the faculty during the school-life of that class. We of 1933 record with some personal interest several such changes. seventeen