Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

Page 6 text:

 7«e Qa eieAia Changes occur often under the “big top” and one of the newest is the installation of a new cafeteria. It is located in the old farm mechanics room at the east end of the first floor. The room is attractively decorated in blue, tile red, cream, and natural woodwork. Twelve tables seat approximately one hundred students at a time, and from one hundred twenty to one hundred thirty take advantage of our new cafeteria daily. The meals are planned by Miss Scott, one of our ringmasters, and are prepared by three paid cooks. Meal tickets are sold to students, making each meal cost fifteen cents. Those who eat here irregularly are charged tweny cents per meal. This money together with Federal and State aid makes the cafeteria self-supporting. With a new addition which will be added to the west wing of the present building, we will have something about which everyone has dreamed—a swimming pool! It will also have several class rooms, an agricultural shop, a band room, music rooms, and space for physical training. The “big top” will be bigger and more spectacular than ever in the near future. All this added to the “big top” will make our “circus” one of the best.

Page 8 text:

SenicvU . . . Having reached our goal, we entered the center ring with a loud roar. The letters were won by Maurice Adams, “Vince” Graham, Carl Martin, Neil Piper, Aaron Rasmussen, Kenny Watkins, and “Hap” Wheeler. Under the direction of Miss Bear, the spot light had shifted fully on us. Kenny Watkins, president; Joan Samuelson, vice-president; Irene McGauley, secretary; Mary Ann Beckstrand, treasurer; and Alberta Fancher and Neil Piper, “Guardians of the Big Top” representatives; kept all of us in tact. “Vince” Graham served as “Circus Boss” and Marjorie Peabody, as secretary-treasurer. Our work under the Big Top almost finished, we presented our last, grand performance of 1946. On May 10 the Juniors entertained us at the Junior-Senior Prom. Our career as circus performers ended with Baccalaureate Service on May 26 and Commencement on May 28. The ringmasters sighed with relief as we tigers filed from the ring. It was a sad September 1942 when we tiger cubs entered the cage of P. C. H. S. We caused our trainers, Miss Gracen and Mr. Bidner much anxiety as we tried to gain a place in the show with Neil Piper president; Kenny Johnson, vice-president; Marilyn Robinson, secretary; Shirley Dale, treasurer; and Darlene Larson and Don Smith; representatives to the “Guardians of the Big Top”. With Don Smith, president; Evan Peterson, vice-president; Joyce Lea Heacock, secretary; Anna Teter, treasurer; and Joan Samuelson and Everett Given, student government representatives; we almost gained a billing under the Big Top. Three of our cubs, Shirley Weburg, Ruth Woolridge, and “Vince” Graham, aided our cause by gaining admittance into the acrobatic field. Our coaches for the season, Miss Swinford and Mrs. Anderson, were very glad to see us move on. Our goal before us, we opened our season with a roar, “Ever Since Eve”, coached and coaxed by Miss Watkins. Our leaders, Kenny Johnson, president; Kenny Watkins, vice-president; Darlene Larson, secretary; Pat Henry, treasurer; and Marjorie Peabody and “Vince” Graham, student government representatives; were kept busy the whole season. “Vince” Graham, Carl Martin, Neil Piper, Aaron Rasmussen, Charles Sandstedt, Kenny Watkins, and “Hap” Wheeler received letters for outstanding performances. Irene Streeter and Everett Given were both officers on student government. We had Ruth Woolridge and Shirley Weburg as our agile acrobatic leaders once again. We closed our season with a grand perfor-ance by entertaining the seniors at a Junior-Senior Prom on May 11 with Mrs. Trigg and Miss Scott begging for mercy.