Reading High School - Arxalma Yearbook (Reading, PA)

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. Celebrates . . . 4' Q97 't QI' 0 fir .i ,ii 7 'is1. I f 94 f .ee '.'.Q w Lim V5 of X ' . - if V:-ff-Qi O Q 2 'ifi, i 'i ' fxj. Xf'G.Ql:f: Sirk Qf 1.1- 2 9,34 ci 9 A ,b. X 'S ' fri' eeee Al 9 e 'Sgt at 'if .QF , ' i ii-Sexy 0 .- ,-, ,-l 1 X O Wk X gal.. 3 .... ,K l -4775354 ee e i e f e School Motto Joe Red Knight Joe Red Knightingale Die Cur Hic lTell Why You Are Herel Our official school seal was originally designed in 1907 by Joseph Weitzenkorn for use at the High School for Boys. its design contains the colors red and black, which have become the school colors, and the Latin motto Dio Cur Hic meaning TeIl Why You Are Here. Another carry-over from the Boys' High is the school newspaper The Red and Black which was first published in November 1897 as a monthly. ln September of 1927, it appeared as a weekly as it does today. Miss Betty Stoudt, a member of the first graduat- ing class, originated the name Arxalma , meaning fostering citadel , for the Castle's yearbook, first published in January 1928. One hazy winter morning in 1930 Miss lVlildred E. Bunyeon, a Reading High graduate and English teach- er, was climbing the hill to school and all she could see was the four Castle towers pointing to the sky. This beautiful sight inspired her to write a poem when she arrived at school which developed into the words of our school song The Arxalma Song. lVlr. Luther Goodhart, also an alumnus and music teacher, wrote the melody. This song was used for the first time in the first commencement pageant Fair Learning's Gift in June of 1930. . Since 1974, the Dr. Ralph C. Geigle Education Complex was used for more than a center for athletic events. From that year to the present, commence- ment exercises were held in the gymnasium. Our pres- ent-day graduation ceremonies include such features as slide programs, speakers, student talent, and, of course, the traditional procession and presentation of diplomas. -Golden Anniversary Commencement Exercises of the Past Commencement Exercises of the Present

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Reading Senior High School . . . Reading Senior High School . Built - 1926 Foursquare her towers rise, . . . On July 22, 1925 the ground was broken and the building of a new co-educational high school was begun. This was the first at- tempt at co-education since 1859. On June 12, 1926 with an impres- sive ceremony, the cornerstone was laidg and on September 7, 1927 the new Reading Senior High School opened its doors to the stu- dents of Reading. At a formal flag raising and dedication on Octo- ber 1, 1927 the Reading Company presented the school with an American Flag and the Spanish War veterans gave a salute. Because of its medieval motif, we often refer to Reading High as the Castle on the HilI. This phrase was first used by lVlr. Will Durant, a renowned philosopher and author who spoke at the P.S.E.A. convention in December 1928. lVlr. Carl Cassel, vice princi- pal from 1928-1935, could be called responsible for keeping this image alive because of his continual references to the school as the Castle. . . .Arx Alma fairl Wide-spread her beauty lies . . . Now a thirty-five acre area including Hampden Park, the 351,650,000 structure was built of yellow facing brick. In February of 1929 the gymnasium erected northeast of the main building was opened. These two buildings were connected by an underground tunnel which was in use until 1973. The auto shop was built in 1931, and in 1939 a much needed practice field, cinder track, and field house were added. Then in 1972 the Dr. Ralph C. Geigle Edu- cation Complex, commonly referred to as the annex, valued at 37,900,000 was constructed in place of the athletic fields north of the main building, and opened in September 1973 in order to ac- commodate all tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades. Previously, stu- dents from Northwest and Southwest didn't enter the high school until their junior year, a practice which was begun in 1936 as a result of over-crowded conditions. Having an original worth of S1,650,000, Reading High is now valued at S21,000,000. . . . Arx Alma rare! Sheltered beneath her walls . . . With the construction of the Dr. Ralph C. Geigle Education Com- plex, Reading High acquired new gymnasium facilities with a seating capacity of 3400, a natatorium, a cafeteria which prepares lunches for the entire school district, and fifteen more classrooms. A new library replaced the old cafeteria in the main building. . . .She keeps her own Children of liberty, . . . Originally, the Castle was built to accommodate 1800 students, but now holds up to 2800 and graduates an average of 750 - 800 each year. . . . We call her home. Original 192 Acre Campus Dr. Ralph C. Geigle Education Complex Built - 1972 Golden Anniversary-7

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. Its Golden Anniversary As in most true histories, some tragedy usually occurs and, unfortunately, this is no exception. On February 11, 1975, a disastrous fire destroyed the Castle's auditorium. As a result of the one million dollar catastrophy, the heart beat of the school was silenced for months. After beingcompletely reno- vated, the facility was first used publicly on April 20, 1976 for the opening night of the school show George M. Yes, some things have changed at Reading High School since the doors were first opened in 1927. There have been many changes in the main building. We no longer have the Red and Black On-the-Air program, but we now have the Knight Life school television show. Boys are taking home economics, and girls are taking shops, and the Reading-Muhl- enberg Area Vocational-Technical School has added a new di- mension to high school education. Old Auditorium Extent of Fire Damage Despite all these changes, one thing has remained constant, and that is the respect and pride which each student and per- son connected with Reading High can' have. Developing the leaders of tomorrow is a difficult task, but Reading High School has been doing a very admirable job for fifty years, and for this we should respect and thank her. In the future, the Castle will be only a memory to us. We will look back to our years at Reading High School, and maybe think briefly of something which we could have done differently, but no matter what the case, we will realize that Reading High has been a definite influence in making us what we are, and for that we should be grateful. -lVlay the future of Reading High School continue tg be bright! New Auditorium Reading Senior High School 1977 Golden Anniversary-9