Laurel Valley High School - Laurel Yearbook (New Florence, PA)

Page 31 text:

Dear Diary, As I sit here thinking of the past, many fond memories come to mind of my classmates and the many wonderful days we spent together at L.V.H.S. It just seems like yesterday when we came together as freshmen in a newly formed jointure. We were practically all strangers then, but it wasn’t long at all until everyone became friends. Since we were a large group, consisting of seventy-six members, we were divided into two sections; but we still stuck together in spirit. The extra-curricular activities seemed to hold quite an added interest for our class. The freshmen were soon represented in almost everything, whether it was on the football squad, basketball team, band, chorus, the Hi-Lite staff, or even the honor roll. Yes, the honor roll appeared to be quite an appeal, too, for we’ve always had our share of names appearing on the list. This year, in spite of all the fun we had, we were also faced wtth a tragedy when one of our classmates, Jim Gibson, was killed while hunting. We all missed him terribly then and still hold the fond memory of his friendship in our hearts. With one year of high school behind us, we returned to Laurel Valley full of pep and ready for our sophomore year. With the beginning of this year, we were sorry to see that a few of our classmates had fallen by the wayside. The time came for the magazine campaign and with determined minds we really went to town. The 10-1 section won the ice cream party, but 10-2 also helped to share the honors. And of course, Christmas parties were always happy times. We were not only a studious group, but one that liked to have a good time. All in all, I believe we had three parties that year. They were always loads of fun and I’m sure we’ll never forget them. After three short months of vacationing, we returned to begin our junior year. Our first activity was the Hilloween Dance. The main attraction of the evening was the “spook dance ’ performed by members of the junior class. I’m sure everyone was simply “terrified”. Soon we had the thrill of receiving our class rings. Everyone seemed quite pleased with their selection and beamed with pleasure when an upperclassmen congratulated them. After many long hours of rehearsing, it was time for the production of our play, “The Junior Prom”, with Miss Cunningham as director. It was really a riot with punch-drunk fighters, dizzy dames, mud-caked faces, epidemics of measles, and a disgusted maid. Next in our ramblings came the Junior-Senior Prom. We had chosen “Oriental Gardens” as our theme with flowers, butterflies, an oriental scene, and much more to add to the atmosphere of the evening. Together with the Post-prom Party, an enjoyable time was had by all. We reached a long-awaited goal in the fall of 1955 when we at last were “sophisticated seniors”. During the football season the entire senior class worked hard at keeping the spectators well supplied with hotdogs, candy, potato chips, coke, and piping hot coffee. This was our first big money-making project and it proved to be quite successful. The play, “Boarding House Reach,” directed by Mrs. Haire, was the next big event. It was a slap-stick comedy with rather eccentric characters running in and out at any unexpected moment. The time for the Washington trip finally arrived and was worth far more than all the fuss and frenzy preparing for it. Each of us gained a world of experience as well as having a highly enjoyable time. Indeed, here was the crowning memory of our high school days. May came rolling around very quickly and we gathered together as a group for the last time. Baccalaureate and Commencement rushed upon us all too soon and dismissed us from the halls of Laurel Valley. These are memories of the past, diary, but ones I shall cherish always. 27