Punchard High School - Prism Yearbook (Andover, MA)

Page 7 text:

From left to right Back Row: Ms. Dunn, Mr. Lovely, Mr. Stevens, Ms. Carter, Ms. Bailey, Mr. Gregory, Ms. Smith, Mr. Gahan, Miss Sweeney Front Row: Mr. Doherty, Miss MacDonald, Miss Munnroe, Miss Smith, Mr. Hamblin, Miss Fox, Miss Berry, Mr. MacDonald Henry C. Sanborn Superintendent Nathan Hambiin Principal

Page 9 text:

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS To the School Committee of Andover. Ladies and Gentlemen: I have the honor to submit my nineteenth report which is the forty-fifth in the series of similar reports. These reports, naturally, are more or less alike in the subject matter treated. However, as each year ends there is something of especial interest. It is not likely that all of the report will interest all people. It is likely, however, that some part of the report will interest all and that everyone will find something of interest in it. SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS The last of May 1934, looking forward with the hope of an improved and much enlarged school plant, the School. Department at the request of the Building Committee vacated the old Punchard School building. This building was extensively used. The upper floor had for years been the assembly hall for the high school. On the first floor there was one high school class room, special room, a sewing room, a manual training room, and the stock room. In the basement there was a coat room and a store room for the manual training department. Soon after these rooms were vacated and the activities housed in them re-located as best they could be under the circumstances, the tearing down of the structure began. Before the summer was over, the parking area and play grounds between the old Punchard and John Dove were covered with bricks and large areas of the lawn about the high school were either covered with debris or made unsightly by the removal of turf from one area and the piling up of the same in other areas. Confusion about the grounds was accompanied by an even greater confusion in the administration of the schools. Every available space including basements and stairways has been utilized for classes. The sewing room was transferred to the basement of the Stowe School, the special room to the basement of the High School, the manual training to the basement of the Jackson School. Convenient accommodation for the assembly of the high school pupils has not been possible as there was no place that could be utilized as the hall in the old Punchard had been. The town authorities were generous in offering the use of the Town Hall but the distance from the school and many engagements for the hall made it practically impossible to make any free and general use of this offer. In addition to this, beginning in September 1934, it was necessary to have two sessions in the High School. The three upper classes came in the morning and the first year pupils in the afternoon. All these changes caused considerable confusion and naturally diminished somewhat the efficiency of the school work. However, when the new development is completed all this unpleasantness and inconvenience will soon be forgotten in the enjoyment of new accommodations. COURSES OF STUDY The subjects of music, home economics, art , and manual training have been very seriously interrupted this year through the necessity of having two sessions in the senior high school and also the forced use of basements and corridors for class rooms. Each department, however, has carried on with more success than could possibly have been expected. Miss Sweeney, supervisor of music, is to be especially commended. She has succeeded in carrying on all her regular work along with an orchestra, glee club and the band. These musical organizations have taken part in many programs. A great deal of attention has been paid to music appreciation. This has been done to a large extent through various musical clubs and the Damrosch programs which come weekly over the radio for the grades.