New Haven High School - Elm Tree Yearbook (New Haven, CT)

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l rlgfw 55' To the class of 1944: Character, according to Mr. Noah Webster, is the aggregate of distinctive qualities belonging to an individual, the stamp of individuality impressed by nature, education, or habit. In other words, character is one's moral vigor or firmness, especially as acquired through self-discipline. Finally, character de- termines the estimate put upon a person, that is, his reputation. Your school has tried during the formative years of your life to inculcate in you the fundamentals of the usual formal education. It has also endeavored to co- operate With you in acquiring that broader education which comes through self- discipline, the education that you havegiven yourself in character-building. Your record has been splendid both in curricular and in extra-curricular activities, and you should all be very proud of these accomplishments. I, personally, am most happy to congratulate you upon this excellent record. You live in a democracy. Your forefathers, amid the greatest sacrifices, laid the foundation for a nation in which the people would rule themselves and would make the laws which would govern the American Way of life. Each succeeding generation has held to this ideal of democracy as the nation has spread over a great continent. Democracy must be preserved. Its ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity, and cooperation can be made real only through loyalty and sacrifice. American life has been at its best where it has been most democratic and at its Worst Where it has been least democratic. Ask yourselves what kind of country you Want. Do all in your power to maintain that kind of country. As you members of the Class of 1944 prepare to go out into the world to do your part in helping to save it in its grimmest crisis, our best wishes for your happiness and success go with you. Cordially yours, FRANK H. NETTLETON, N. H. H. S. '04, Administrative Assistant 17 flvfrl-

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To the Class of 1944: This commencement season most naturally stirs Within each one of you mingled emotions of joy and sorrow when you contemplate a job Well done, on the one hand, and the termination of your many pleasant associations of the past several years on the other. I say that these feelings are natural, as well indeed they must be for all graduates. For you, especially, they must be particularly poig- nant since yours is a class historic in the annals of our school in that it is the only one ever to begin and end its course during the years of War. Your associations have been unusually close and strong because you have joined hands, as it Were, in the struggle to maintain the traditions of academic freedom indigenous to America. You responded nobly each time you were called upon to make the many and unusual adjustments to meet the exigencies of war. Even a casual perusal of your accomplishments both curricular and extra-curricu- lar and your specific contributions to the War effort assures you of the right to be ranked high among the outstanding classes of our school. Although this commencement time may mark the end of your united efforts as an academic group, each one of you, I am sure, will find his place in other groups either industrial or military and continue to expend the energies and make the sacrifices necessary for final victory over the common enemies of the United Nations. For your future in the World following that day of victory and the cer- tainty of your being useful people, I hold no doubt, for in that post-war era with its almost fantastic promise of opportunity, each of you will rightly share, and your share Will carry With it a responsibility as great as any ever b01'ne by young men and Women, that of making the most of that opportunity and of cherishing the memory of those who died to secure it. Corclially yours, ENIMONS I. BOWEN, N. I-I. I-I. S. ,15 Assistant Princiyaal 16 N

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'W-- e-YET 'WSE ' X. rE2?:2gEgrg .Es iamgsasggi Q-s BH TT ii swim M B awgmas ZQWQEQB .E NEW 38 .. sr .5 ,raw smgggiigsigs Egmiigwg IEEE wt-mar N35 is ziv A f I. 6 To the class of 1944: Do you remember the gaiety and excitement you experienced that day some years ago when you waited impatiently for your first introduction to the historic corridors of Hillhouse? I met you all then, directing you f via the loud speaker? to your various roomsg I heard your eager voices, and saw your earnest expressions as the tidal Wave of secondary education swept you into our halls. During these other years I have enjoyed watching you grow to become the splendid class which 1944 has proved to be. It is unfortunate that some who light-heartedly tripped into Hillhouse that day did not possess the courage nor stamina to remain and graduate, While others have bravely gone forth to participate in the hardest battles in the Worldis history. You members of the Class of 1944 entered our school with a definite purpose in mind, and now you have accomplished not only that original obiective. but much more above and beyond abstract ideals. New fiiendsg the thrill which ac- companies the ever-expanding horizon of knovvledgeg the delight in realizing that you have justified your parents' pride and faith in you: these are irreplace- ableg these keep the heart singing. One of the pleasantest tasks assigned to me each year is that of being the Elm Treeis Faculty adviser. I am thereby enabled, and privileged, to meet each seniorg to enjoy a handclaspg to appreciate co-operation. In War, as i11 peace, life is a series of adventuresg they begin at the cradle and end at the grave. I hope that this copy of the Elm Tree, which we have worked out together, will, in retrospect, add joy to your memoiy as you read it now, and re-read it in those happier days which soon must dawn. ' Cordially yours, PHILIP A. I'IARRI1N'IAN Achninistratiue Assistant .18