Jamaica Plain High School - Clarion Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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NUCLEUS OF POWER

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CSCS33SD OUR SEAL In 1941, the members of the Yearbook committee decided that they needed something to interpret the spirit of Jamaica Plain High School, something which would represent the school for all time; a symbol of Jamaica Plain High School. In seeking material for this symbol they found some very interesting information about Jamaica Plain. At the time Cromwell captured the island of Jamaica, in the British West Indies, the name of that part of Boston was changed to Jamaica Plain. It is undoubtedly a slander upon the good people of this locality to assert that it derives its name from their fondness for Jamaica rum — and that they preferred it “Plain.” Our seal has a significance, of course. The elephant’s head is taken from the crest of the Eliot coat-of-arms and symbolizes strength, dignity, and prowess. The band on the shield represents, in heraldic symbolism, a plain, while the wavy lines represent water. These too, have significance because the original name Xaymaca, given Jamaica by the Arawak Indians found on their island by Columbus, is supposed to imply “an overflowing abundance of rivers.” Instead of the family motto, of the Eliot’s, the Yearbook commit- tee placed “H. Jamaica Plain S.” on the heraldic rib- bon. The seal has been modified to fit the ring structure of all classes since 1941, and has been adopted as the official seal of Jamaica Plain High School. Paula Lymneos 8

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J.P.H.S ENGLISH First Row: Miss Catherine Dempsey, Mrs. Kathleen Galvin, Miss Ruth Thompson. Second Row: Miss Martha Walsh, Mr. Ralph Good, Miss Li an McCourt. AGRICULTURE First Row: Mr. Dennis Crowley, Mr. Henry Wendler, Mr. Edward Donaghy. Second Row: Mr. John McGuckian, Mr. Edward McKenney. PHYSICAL EDUCATION, HOME ECONOMICS First Row: Miss Patricia McPherson, Colonel Edward Murphy, Miss Catherine Crosby. HISTORY First Row: Mr. Albert Landrigan. Second Row: Miss Lucille Bruno, Miss Esther Hennessey, Miss Louise O’Malley. 10