New Cumberland High School - Shawnee Yearbook (New Cumberland, PA)

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New Cumberland Joint School System . . began operation April 28, 1950, when New Cumberland entered into an agreement with Fairview township, Goldsboro borough, Lewisberry borough, a11d Newberry township, all located in York County. This system in- cludes grades 7 to 12 with approximately 270 pupils in the junior-senior high school from the York County areas. Grades 1 to 6 are not operated jointly but are under the supervision of a common supervising principal, Mr. Charles Gemmill. The student body has grown from 220, when the building was occupied in 1929, to 668 today. This larger enrollment as well as new courses have increased the faculty from 8 in 1928 to 25 in 1950. Changing concepts of education in addition to a new compulsory attendance law have been responsible for the institution of a wider variety of courses. The one-time purely academic curriculum was supple- mented by the introduction of a commercial course and of home economics in 1929. In the following years, 1930-32, came some of the so-called frills and fanciesi' of modern education. A recognized physical education and health department, general shop, office practice, and business English were included in the course of study. By 1937 it was apparent that more courses were needed for the general student. Senior science, general math, and senior math filled these needs. World geography was added in 1945 to provide information about our neighbors in the atomic world. Seventeen and one-half credits are 1'equired for graduation. Four credits in English and four in social studies are needed. Health and physical education are nmsts for four years, unless the student presents a doctor's excuse, and gives two credits. Within limits, all other courses are elective. College preparatory students must fulfill certain requirements in the academic curriculum with provisions for sciences, math, and languages. Commerical students must choose their electives from the varied business courses offered. The 1950-51 school has brought plans for necessary changes due to increased rural enrollment. A special faculty com- mittee was appointed by the supervising principal to offer suggestions for solving the problems involved in integrat- ing the rural pupil into the urban school. Changes in cer- tain courses as well as increased participation in the ac- tivity program have been outlined. Already in operation are new clubs for rural freshmen and a Rural Day is scheduled for April. Thus, we continue to grow.

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New Cumberland High School garbed in a month of SHOW . . having undergone several important changes since it was built in 1928, your school now has the vital facilities made possible through conscientious planning and saving. The original building contained only the 12 rooms which surround the gymnasium. The music room, equipped with a small stage, was added in 1935g the Northwest three-room addition in 19385 the Southeast office- shop addition in 1940. To complete the plan, the large modern ba11d room was built in 1948. lt has replaced the use of the music room as the center of chorus, band, and orchestra rehearsals. It contains storage space for band uniforms and instruments and several sound- proof practice rooms. The building now contains 18 classrooms not including the library and locker room facilities. The center of most of the extra-curricular activities is the combined auditorium and gymnasium which seats 850 persons. Here the students take part in physical education, intramurals, class plays, assemblies, and numerous other activities throughout the year. The Drayer Library filled to capacity with 4,755 books supplies the students with a varied, informative source of reading and research material for all phases of school work. Each month approximately 48 periodicals are purchased. Busy and overcrowded, the library hopes to provide added advantages in its future quarters in room 5. The home economics department is now far advanced from its method of operation in its early years. Until 1935 it was operated through the County home economics head. It has grown to be a modern, well-equipped sewing and home- making department which supervises the practice teaching of two Penn State student teachers annually. The shop department contains complete facilities for woodwork which is the basic course offered. Electricity and mechanical drawing are designed for more advanced students. Work in metals and plas- tics, comparatively new mediums in the N. C. H. S. shops, has been received with avid interest. The science department has developed also. It has facilities for photography, audio-visual education, and a complete physics and chemistry laboratory under the supervision of Mr. John Smeltz. The proposed junior high school building whose construction is scheduled to begin in June, 1951 will contain 20 rooms. Included will be such special rooms as science and home economics, an agriculture shop, a general shop, a large gymnasium that can be divided into two separate parts for class work, an auditorium seating 1,000, and a cafeteria, From the inside out . . the camera man looks out on a typical scene in which New Cumberland high school students are congregating before the stately entrance. VVhether it be autumn, winter, or spring, students gather in groups to talk over such traditional happenings as football games, and proms, current happenings including report cards, mid-year exams, and issues of the TIMES. These and many other memories will always linger in our minds.

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A 1 5 st. MCIHOTiCS, memories . . the days when you were his queen in jeans and he was yfnn' hasllful beau in a crew cut . . the frantic rush up the stops nr across the campus to heat the last be-ll . . the sedate 0Ill,l'2'llll'0 when vnu were heels and he lrraved his Sundav suit for the biff dance . . the Jlun finff exit tuward son Jed-11 1 'alu mics, battered hikes . 5 I if 11 I I J I and open-air buses at the end ol' the day. 1 w