Palo Verde High School - Olympian Yearbook (Tucson, AZ)

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Pan-I-lmgriizan Eluh The Pan-American Club was organized six years ago for the purpose of aiding students to become better acquainted with Latin America. Under the sponsorship of Herb Burrows the club has had a very interesting year. Highlights of the first semester were the joint meetings with the Cervantes Club. At the first of these meetings, the speaker was Senor Daniel Armas of Guatemala, who was attending the University of Arizona. He spoke in Spanish, with Burrows translating. Mrs. Ples Harper, a former teacher of Tucson who has lived in Lima, Peru, for the last five years, gave a talk at the other joint meeting. She spoke concerning the schools and customs of the Peruvians. A general discussion followed both talks. One of the club's major activities, the publishing of the mimeographed news summary of Latin America, the Pan-American Echoes, was suspended for this year. However, it is hoped that with the return of James Black, who helped establish the paper before joining the armed forces, it will be possible to resume publication next year. The year was climaxed with the celebration of the Dia de la Raza and Pan-American day by means of a party. The club had a paid membership of forty-nine this year. The oiiicers included Tommy Smith, presidentg Buck O'Rielly, vice-presidentg Betty Evans, secretary-treasurer. 133

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, X . El Cervantes This year El Cervantes, sponsored by Miss Ida Celaya, of the Spanish Department, engaged in many activities, climaxed by the Spanish-American assembly. In charge were Lorena DeSanctis, presidentg Gippy Paredes, vice-presidentg Midge Foerster, secretary, and Mary Jackson, social chair- man. During the year several meetings were held for the purpose of enter- taining and informing the members. Special speakers included Patsy O'Rielly and Daniel Armas, Guatamalan educator. The holiday season found El Cervantes members enjoying their yearly Christmas party, the highlight of which was the breaking of the pinata.'l The club held song-fests in which members learned the popular songs of Mexico and the other South American nations. Those who were inter- ested were taught folk dances, and original skits were presented during club programs. The accumulated result of all this activity was the Spanish-American Assembly in the middle of the year. It featured colorful songs and dances from south of the border, and was popularly considered one of the best assemblies of the year. For the first time, the club members were able to get gold pins this year. All in all, El Cervantes found '45-'46 one of its best and busiest years. 132

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The Latin Forum The Latin Forum of Tucson High was conducted this year under the leadership of the two consuls, Philip Cranston and Peter Hansen, with the objective of imparting to the members some idea and appreciation of the contributions of the early Romans to civilization, and some under- standing of the ancient traditions and practices of those people. Club members consist of students in the Latin classes in school, or those who have had the course. It was advised by Miss Alice G. Butts. In keeping with the political system of the Latins, the club elected their officers in tvvo's for each position. They were, for this year, curules aediles, Pat Bunnell and Winston Ging plebian aediles, Helen Avery and Elizabeth Holbrookg quaestores, Rosie Johnson and Lorraine Proctorg and tribunes, Kay Ellis and Brit Smith. During the course of the year, the club observed various traditional holidays of the Romans. Last December, the Roman Saturnalia, a very festive ceremony somewhat resembling our Hal1owe'en and Christmas, was celebrated. As a crowning activity of the Latin Forum, a Roman banquet was conducted, at which the members ate food as much like the Roman menus as possible, in a Roman atmosphere and surroundings, dressed in costumes representative of those ancients. They were entertained in a fashion rc- sembling the party entertainmentsof Rome long ago. 134