Ranchester High School - Rustler Yearbook (Ranchester, WY)

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BOUQUETS TO SOME GRAND FOLKS It is no play on words that Mrs. Cook can cook! The hot lunch program has be- come an essential part of our school’s program and every effort is made to give as good a meal as is possible on the budget and supplies we have. Mrs. Cook serves an average of 67 meals each day—a total of over 9.500 lunches this year. Food costs approximately $1,500. In addition to this U. S. government surpluses and donations amounted to about $300. Help costs ran $850. Mrs. Cook s I chief helper and dishwasher were Margaret Kukuchka and Bob McStay. V f ' , MRS. HELEN COOK For the second year we have had the friendly help of Mr. Wolfe in keeping the school warm and clean. Although it would be silly to claim that 100 students are always considerate, surely consideration is the general rule, and the teachers have made an effort to teach cooperation and regard for the person who has the important and tiring job of keeping the building in good order and comfortable. The school may well reconsider the many favors, big and little. Mr Wolfe has done for all of us. A regrettable break in the smooth running of this school year came when Mrs. Pauline Moore. 7th-8th grade teacher, had to resign after two and a half years with us. She was one of the four teachers who came as strangers to Ranchester in the fall of 1946 and was. therefore, one who had helped in the transition of the school to what it is today. The first two years Mrs. Moore taught the intermediate room. We trust that memories of her stay here are as pleasant to her as they are to us. She will always have the good will and admiration of the entir? student body and this community. We feel it has been only coincidence, combined with the luckiest of good fortune, that has brought us a teacher «Mrs. Smith) with equal qualifications, and one who has been able to effectively take over Mrs. Moore’s good work. MR. GUY To. Mrs. J. P. McClintock and her pleasant staff. Mrs. Lillian Stuart and Mrs. Alma Grimes, the Ran- chester School snnds sincere thanks. A Ranchester teacher visits the library on the average of twice a week and the school checks out between 50 and 6T books per month. These vary from supplementary primary readers to books on ‘Why Democracy Works and the latest book- on science or business. Read- ers, which means those who have profited from an individual book, whether by a complete book report or by a specific reference for a special assignment, run approximately 6C0 a month in our school. It is on the basis of readers that the Library determines its propertionment for additions and replacements on its shelves. To the Ranchester School, the Carnegie Library is as essential as the typing room or the chemistry ‘Continued on Page 36) THE RANCHESTER RHYTHM BAND—THE MOST JOYOUS ORGANIZATION IN SCHOOL 14 •

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INTERMEDIATE ROOM ENROLLMENT—Gary Bocek. Peter Davis. Roger Egan, David Ferguson. Edward Fiedor, Clifford Kauf- man. Lyle King. Marcia Masters. Jack Paulus. Robert Prill. George Wcndra. Barbara Addleman, Larry Cook. Jack Flsming. Donald Hauf, Edna Keller. Eddie Kukuchka. Helen Ann Pelesky. David Schreibeis. Larry King. Frances Birdie. Joe Fiedor, Edward Keller, Robert Kramer. Darryl Lowell, Jerry Shatzer, Carita Shipley, and Roy Williams. The teacher who had been hired for our room had a bad accident during the summer and was still in the hospital when school opened so Mrs. Marjjorie Joseph ol Wolf came as substitute teacher. She taught till November 1. Then Mrs. Lois Hallowell cam? to be our teacher. We have had a happy year and many good times together. We think six girls and twenty-two boys is just the right proportion and it will be just as good next year because when the sixth grade leaves to go into junior high, the third grade, who takes their place, has only on? girl. This year in music we learned our room’s song “Jolly Boys.” The part we liked best was “Slap. Bang. Here They Come Again!” We’ve had some nice parties. On Hallowe'en everyone went to the big Community Party that began with a wonderful bonfir? near Davis’ and ended in the hall where we played games and had lots to eat. Some of us won prizes for our costumes. Our teacher treated us to a party in school on Valentine’s Day. In May we had the best party of all when we went to Marcia’s ranch for a “Last Day of School” party. We had a wonderful time and all we could eat. We hope next year to have a party like that every month. For Stunt Night, w? put on an old time dance. Mrs. Joseph taught us the steps. The couples were: Carita Shipley. Clifford Kaufman; Barbara Addleman. Edward Keller. Helen Pelesky. Robert Kramer, Edna Keller. Roger Egan. At the Christmas entertainment we gave a play “Santa Claus Has the Measles.” David Schreibeis was Santa Claus and everyone laughed when he “groaned with pain. Last year w? collected bugs, cocoons, ants, and worms. We had a “science corner” on the back table. We took two science trips along the river, one last fall and one this spring. Even though our pockets were full of “souvenirs” we enjoyed the ice cream treats our teacher gave us at Tschirgi’s. One of the most pleasant things wz do is that each month we all draw scenes that might take place that month. The best drawing is chosen for our calendar for that month. Usually Helen Ann Pelesky, Peter Davis, or Edward Kukuchka are our best artists. Our most interesting topic was “Transportation.’’ In addition to drawing many ships, trains, and air- planes the fourth grade drew a fine map of Ranchester that is to represent our grade at the Sheridan County Art Exhibit. In May. all the girls and six of th? boys attended the Rural Choir in Sheridan. After the program our teachers treated us to all the ice cream we could eat. David Schreibeis ate the most. PRIMARY ROOM ENROLLMENT—Bonita Black. Walita Boyd. Dorthy Carden. Joetta Franklin. Bertie Graham. Joan Keller. Elaine Lofing. Nancy Puctt, Rebecca Rawlings. Charlet Ridgway, Everett Schilling. Ronald Schil- ling. Antoinette Smith. Audrv Wondra. LeRoy Ames, John Fiedor. Gary Kramer, Alexie Paulus. Charles Birdie. Joyce Ccqjc. Bzn Shipley. Alice Ellsbury. John Jolovich, Wayne Keller. John Puett. Clayton Schil- ling. Allan Ellsbury. and Lois Reeder. The most wonderful thing we did this year was to learn to be a rhythm band. Almost everyone learned to play just everything. By November we were so good that the Junior-Senior classes asked us to play between the acts of their play. In this we borrowed Jack Paulus who played th? xylophone solo to The Jolly Coppersmith.” Clayton Schilling was band director. Our parents said we stole the show.” By Christmas we were ready to give another program. This time we played “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Claus 1 5 Coming to Town.” Alexie Paulus was director this time. The prettiest, though, was when we sang softly “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger.” At Stunt Night we sang songs and gave a choral reading. “Signs of Hallowe'en.” This was led by Charles Birdie. In May we were asked to play at the Sheridan County Rural Choir. By that time each of us knew all the required songs, too. so everyone earned a certificate in music. We’ve had lots of fun in our room. Besides being the best singers, we have the most interesting bulletin boards whs re there are always pictures or drawings about our studies. Our Christmas drawing of Santa Claur driving his sled through the blue sky full of gold stars was the prettiest picture this year. We also made Christmas candle decorations for our room. At Valentine time we exchanged valentines with the primary room at Dayton. The third grade wrote letters to their friends there. At Easter our teacher treated us to an Easter egg hunt. In February Bonita was seven years old and her mother gave her a birthday party. We all had lots to eat. In October we all went to Sheridan to see the slag- play “Pinocchio.” We liked the whole play but the best part was when his nose gr£w and grew. Last fall for social studies we took a hike to the Ranchester Park to learn about the Indian fight that once took place there. All the members of the second and third grades have made oral book reports of books the’ve read themselves. Mrs. McClintock in the Sheridan Library says she checkss out more books for our room than to any other single room in the county. 13

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SCHOLARSHIP IN RANCHESTER The University of Wyoming recently issued a publication Here Is Wyoming. The author. Dr. Ruth Hudson, whose brilliant use of English has turned dry statistics and chronology into a clear, vivid picture, states the quest on: Need Scholar- ship Feel Isolated at Wyoming? She says: Cer- tainly the potentialities for manv types of creative and scholarly interpretations are as rich within Wyoming’s borders as are those of any of its neighbors . . Her pertinent comments refer to the University and there is. of course, a large gaD between the aim of the University and those of Ranches ter High School. Yet. it may cause us to ask the question: “Are honest and the best means being used to bring out the latent and potential talents of scholarship in the school? As a partial answer, one might consider the RHS publication. The Rustler. whose columns represent the contributions from the entire school. In the December issue there appeared twenty-five original poems whose authors represented every class in school----grades one through twelve—-which moans one fourth of the scholars arc capable of producing some good original poetry. It is true, as Dr. Ruth Hudson points out. that “studv in these fields do not equip a man to build bridges or to apply scientific knowledge to farming but it is developing a taste for equipment needed for building a more complete life than is supplied . by mere skills . . . Surely those who early dis- cover this priceless resource of the human spirit are vastly better students and citizens. In too many schools, the recent trend has been for athletics to replace scholarship. We who know cur school have proof for our assurance that how- ever much the fields of extra-curricular entertain and advertise this school, that. here, they are used as tool to encourage the students to as well-bal- anced and multi-sided development as he is can- able We know, for instance, that the average academic record of our basketball team will com- pare favorably with that of any group anywhere, in fact five of the first six regulars are honor students, maintaining an average grade of two or better. Although trips to centers where competition are held always involve difficulties, it was really lack of funds that prohibited Ranchester's attendance at the Wyoming Speech Festival held at Laramie in March. It is hoped that a definite plan to finance such a trip can become effective next year so that students who are interested can compete with representatives from other schools in the state in some of the nine contests sponsored by the Uni- versity's Department of Speech. There are. unfortunately, many neglected fields. Mrs. Moore’s resignation left us without a trained art teacher. There is a great need for a vocal in- structor whose influ?nce can reach the upper grades. This school has recommended a system of county supervision and we feel it is but a question of time until a program will be initiated, either with a private teacher or with a county teacher-specialist in which Ranchester is most willing to do its part. This year the scholarship revealed in essay work has given genuine satisfaction to the faculty who feel that in this field of creative writing. Ran- chester has made some excellent contributions. The growing interest in and willingness to try this type of writing is also encouraging. In the two years 1946-8. ten essays went out from the school, of which eight placed for an award. This year fifteen essays were judged worthy to be sub- mitted to various sponsoring organizations. The fact that two of the contests were of national scope is important in that our contestants felt the respon- sibility of competing with the real talent of the nation. This gave the necessary incentive to bring cut the best in individual thought and style. It meant mastery of and conformity to the rules of formal writing. The essays that follow are chosen as the best of the year and it is with a great amount of justifiable pride that we. as teachers, present these scholarly, original writings. We think these papers alone assure the community that there is a lookout for and an encouragement of special gifts. ---o— EDUCATION—OUB FIRST PREREQUISITE TO WORLD PEACE AND FREEDOM Dale Schilling—Tenth Grade If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be . . . Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. In this statement Thomas Jefferson formulated his firmest belief: that the success of American democracy depended on education. He knew the shortcomings of his day but he believed education was the key to our security. , History has proved the truth of Jeffersonian wisdom. It is just as true today, but both whole mass of the people and education are terms that take upon themselves broader meanings and demands from a groping world. We have reached the place where, as nations of peoples, we must declare our cultural aims and our national ambi- tions. Then we must analyze education and gov- ernment. as sciences, and determine if they are consistent with our ideals. Fort instance, if we truly desire world peace and freedom, there are certain elements that edu- cation must include. Above all there is tolerance The barrier of ignorance that keeps our minds in national, airtight compartments is a basic cause of lack of peace. Education must permit development of judgment and ability to recognize truth lrom propaganda. An education to produce peace must include, henceforth, a better balance in values between the purely scientific and the science that permits man to live with man. Science, as we have it today, can enslave minds with aggression and terror as cruelly as a totalitarian government. Education must teach the necessity and profit of compromise. New thoughts are created by the uniting of dilferencss. A peace, based on freedom, cannot be imposed; it must grow into a universal state of affairs that contains the best from all peoples. The very constitution of our country was created by compromises from many sources. Education for peace and freedom demands that each individual be intelligently interested in his government and that he. individually, insist that national policies be for the ultimate purposes of peace. The improvement of our way ol life is more important than the spreading of it.” Charles A. Lindbergh recently wrote. If we make it sat- isfactory enough, it will spread automatically. If we do not. no strength of arms can permanently impose it.” , One of our most successful policies has been the growing unity and friendship resulting from the 15