Pershing Middle School - Reflections Yearbook (San Diego, CA)

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Our Belgian Boy Near the door in room five is a picture of a little boy. He is of fair com- plexion and dressed in a dark suit. He is the adopted child of the Tranquillity High School, but lives in far-away Belgium. His picture was presented to the school by the Class of 1923, last year. Perhaps it will be of interest to know how he came to be adopted by the High School, how well we like him, and how he likes us. It was two years ago that Miss Doughty told us about other schools adopting war orphans and said we might do likewise. In the Student Body meeting, a motion was made to that effect. Everyone was very much in favor of adopting a war orphan. We decided to have a girl about ten years old, but a boy was assigned to us. He was . V a little Belgian boy named Marcel Louvigny. His family were dependent upon support from America as war had made them destitute. His father had been hurt and sick in the war, and might never regain strength. There were several other children in the family. It costs sixty dollars per year to support him. Last year each of the pupils and teachers gave two dollars to raise the amount. We were supposed to earn the amount. On one Monday afternoon, near the end of the term, we told of our experiences in earning the two dollars. Several of the experiences told were in original poetry, and one boy told his experience in a song he had composed. The school writes two or three letters to the Belgian boy each year, and receives letters and post cards from him. This is the message he sent last Christmas: llDear Godmother and Little Godmothers: On the occasion of the Christmas holi- days, I wish you the best, such are the wishes of my heart. lWI embrace you tenderly, dear Godmother and little Godmothers. Your little boy for life, MARCEL LOUVIGNYY, Miss Hood, who can read French, translates the letters. Both this Christmas and last, the school sent a large box to little Marcel, containing Clothes, playthings, and candy. His picture, taken in the new suit we sent him this year, makes us very proud of him. We think our Belgian boy will grow to be a credit to his little Godmothers. -Fay Jessee, i21.

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On the twentieth of September, 1920, several green ,trembling things ap- peared in front of the Tranquillity Union High School. The natives and upper-class men thought that the much needed lawn had grown at last, but we were disappointed and not a little surprised to see that the Freshmen had duly arrived. After passing through several near-calamities and embarrassing situations, we were given a rousing Welcome 13arty,t by the older members of the school. We then elected our officers: Steve Edgar, President; Dorothy OtReilly, Vice-President; Helen Tuttle, Secretary; Ernest Dierking, Treasurer; Marian Grottkau, Social Chairman. We chose Miss Keith to lead us safely through the several threatening dangers. We then responded to the HWelcome Partyt with a HWienie Roast? after which we began to feel as if we belonged there. We soon began to prove our valor in the athletic freld by being represented on the girlst and boys, basketball and baseball teams. To further emphasize our prowess our Class boys defeated the upper class boys at basketball. In the meantime several of our members had deserted us. Our Vice-presi- dent and treasurer were among them. We then elected Elsie Hubbard Vice- president and Helen McCabe treasurer. Ralph Shaw was elected yell leader. As the end of the term was approaching we began to feel important, for were we not the future Sophomores? So here,s to the most wonderful Fresh- man Class ever classed! Rah! Rah! Class of 24. ' -eAde1e Pucheu, Class of ,24. The Freshmen September was a dreary month, Its terrors were untold, At least that,s what we Freshmen thought, Though we tried to appear quite bold. With many sorrows and more of joys October and November, seemed to bring a little cheer, And it seemed that by the first of March We had nothing left to fear. We have had our till as Freshmen, And, being about to leave the class, XVe XVILL our trials and troubles To next yearts Freshmen thrass. - -B1anche VVhitson, 24.

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EDITORIAL A History of Our High School Through the united efforts of Mr. E. E. Slater and the parents of the prose pective high school students, the Tranquillity Union High School District was organized in July, 1917, including the districts of Alta Vista, Cantua, Men- dota,' San Joaquin and Tranquillity. A fund of $7000 was set aside by the county for the expenses of the high school for the flrst year. A general election was held in August for the election of the board of trustees. Immediately following this election, the board was organized with Mr. E. E. Slater, President; Mr. R. C. Brown, Clerk; Mr. Granville, Mr. C. F. Goodrich, and Mr. Pucheu being the other members. School opened Monday, October 1, 1917, in the building now occupied by the First National Bank. The faculty consisted of Principal, Mr. L. B. Stev- ens, and two able and willing teachers, Miss Doughty and Miss Clark. Tranquillity at last boasted a high school with fifteen members, Inez Brown, Iva Covington, Lola Crawford, Mattie Franchini, Moses Franchini, Walter Covington, Florence Herman, Mary Hoddinott, Ernest Pucheu, Julia Pucheu, Elsie Stricklin, Dorothy Stricklin, Gladys Mast, Leafadel Miller and Faye Miller. Later in the year Fay Jessee came from Paso Robles, Una Curry from Tulare, Dorcas Gilbert from Visalia, and Harry Dennis from Loveland, Colo. We were unfortunate in losing Gladys Mast, Mary Hoddinott, Florence Herman and Harry Dennis from our ranks. Walter Covington left us in February to attend a mechanical school in San Francisco, but returned to us in time for the fall term. One of the first moves of the students was to organize a Student Body and draw up a constitution to govern it. The officers elected under the constitu- tion were: Leafadel Miller, President; Dorothy Stricklin, Secretary; Iva Covington, Treasurer. T. U. H. S. students showed their patriotism by the part they took in the Liberty Loan drives, the War Savings Society and the Red Cross organiza- tion. There was hardly a girl in school who had no 11knitting to do? School activities were comparatively few, but among the 11good timesh we remember the Christmas program and the wienie roast given by the defeated contestants for the most Liberty Bonds. We were now the possessors of one fifty dollar Liberty Bond, also. School closed June 14 and the play, ttOut in the Streets, was successfully given June 17. School reopened on September 30, 1918, in the same building, but with manyehanges otherwise. Miss Doughty had become our principal. Miss Keith and Miss Clark completed the faculty members. The students num- bered sixteen the flrst day. During the year we lost two of them, but five others came to take their places. Tranquillity High was again interested in war activities. Early in. October we took an active part in the Liberty Loan Drive. The classes were divided for a contest. Thirteen thousand dollars was collected. The High School decided to buy a Liberty Bond and a Liberty Supper was prepared and served nga