New Kensington High School - Taleoken Yearbook (New Kensington, PA)

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acquired for shop work. Again in the summer of 1948 another change was made-the junior high was moved from the Ridge Avenue building to the Fourth Avenue building and vocational classes were brought back to Ridge Avenue. Extra-curricular activities have played an im- portant part in the life of Ken Hi. The begin- nings were back in the year 1899-1900 when Friday afternoons were given over to musical and liter- ary programs. Now practically all extra-curricular activities, except athletics, are regulated by the Board of Activities. Classes, clubs, and musical organizations are numerous and diversified so that most students can belong to an organization which helps them to develop their special hobbies and talents. All of the activities of these groups are part of the Taleoken record. New Kensington citizens have always been actively interested in the high school sports pro- gram and have supported it loyally. Football and basketball have been major sports with baseball, track and field, cross country, tennis, and golf classed as minor sports. The aim has been to make it possible for a larger number of boys to participate in sports. In 1945, Ken Hi was a contender for the VJ. P. I. A. L. football cham- pionship but the team was defeated by Donora. In 1946 Ken Hi gridders won the W. P. I. A. L. double AA championship by amassing the largest number of points. A memorable occasion for Ken Hi was that Thanksgiving Day in 1947 when the Ken Hi boys, coached by Mr. Fletcher, won the AA championship by defeating Har-Brack 28-0 at Forbes Field. Long before football came to the fore we had been making an enviable record in basketball. In 1930 and 1934 Ken Hi won the W. P. I. A. L. basketball championship. With Mr. Glock,s coaching the boys participated in the playoffs at the stadium in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1937, 1940, 1944. Mr. Slosky's boys also participated in the 1949 playoffs but were defeated by Rankin in the first round. In 1939 Ken Hi's baseball team was entered in the W. P. I. A. L. section com- petition, winning one game and losing seven. In 1947 they won the first round of the non- sectional championship but were defeated in the second round. In 1948 Ken Hi, coached by Mr. Dunn, won eight games and lost three, thus win- ning the sectional W. P. I. A. L. championship but was defeated in the semi-final round of playoffs. In 1941, Ken Hi racket boys, with Mr. Vorlage as coach, won the W. P. I. A. L. championship and in 1946 Elmer Stevens won the runner-up position in W. P. I. A. L. playoffs. He also participated in the Harvard cup matches but was eliminated in the second match. Not so impressive is our record in golf, track, and cross country. Nevertheless, the latter two sports, with Mr. Chegwidden as coach, are attracting more boys and their records are improving each season. AB.. ak ,... The Class of 1950 will appear in this formation on Commence- 1 ment day.

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Within sight of the present Ken Hi build- ing, New Kensington High School came into existence in a small room in the Walnut Street building in September, 1899, when sixteen students reported for high school work. One of those students was Miss Irene Hawlc, a recently retired Ken Hi teacher to whom we are indebted for many facts and interesting experiences of those early days. The first teacher was Mr. Harry Piper, suc- ceeded very soon by Miss Mary Ashe, later Mrs. W. R. Alter, as principal. She was the instigating force in having the high school properly recog- nized by the State Department of Education so that, before the end of the year 1899-1900, the high school was properly accredited with a two year academic course. In May, 1901, the first class was graduated. In 1904, a three year course of study was adoptedg consequently, a larger enroll- ment followed and more teachers were needed. In 1908, the four year course was approved. There were six graduates in the first class but just one in the class of 1903, Hazel Schenclc, now Mrs. Lamont Bixler. The largest Ken Hi enrollment was in 1932 when there were 1539 students in the four upper grades. In 1949-50, there are 1050 in the senior high proper-tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades. As the numbers grew, larger quarters were necessary. From the Walnut Street building the high school was moved to the Flynn building on Ninth Street, and from The Class of 1901 called the Walnut Street Building their High School. there, in 1908, to the new high school building on Fourth Avenue. Soon this building became too small and plans were made for the erection, in 1913, of the present high school building on Ridge Avenue. A new wing was added to this building in 1924 and 1925. The high school began with one instructor who served as teacher and principal. In the year 1949-1950 there are fifty-two regular teachers, the superintendent of schools, the high school prin- cipal, assistant principal, and dean of girls. This larger faculty is necessary because of the large number of students and because of the several courses of study and the many subjects offered. In the first years the subjects were academic, large- ly college preparatory. Today Ken Hi offers the following courses: academic, general, commercial, distributive education, and vocational. Many other changes and improvements have been evidenced through the years. Among these is consolidation with Parnassus. On May 20, 1930, citizens voted to consolidate into a single com- munity. Teaching staffs Were also consolidated and in September, 1931, the two high schools became one, the old Parnassus High building be- came a junior high building. Vocational train- ing began in the Ridge Avenue building but, when more space was needed, that department was moved to the Second Ward building. Later the W. P. A. building on Stevenson Boulevard was

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XX v-.I x NY N One of the most interesting pictures to come to the attention of the Taleoken Staff is that above-ground breaking for the New Kensington High School building now in use. Pictured are the Board of School Directors in l9l3 along with their children Who would soon be Ken Hi students. These men foresaw a great future for the high school. Today's Board of School Directors foppositej are also men of vision and foresight who are, even now, planning the beginning of the next Hfty years.