Rice High School - Edmundian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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VOLUME 11 THE EDMUNDIAN JUNE 0 1958 Rice will be twenty years old this year. And while a mere twenty is hardly an occasion for a soup-to-nuts dinner, we might at least flex our muscles a bit and reminisce over the past two decades and a little beyond. Since 1938, Rice had educated over 4100 students. Of this number over 1850 received diplomas. Another 1600, for one reason or another, left the school before graduation. The remainder are present pupils. The first graduation was in 1942. Hence, even the oldest graduates are still in their early thirties. Most have married, are raising families, and, although some have moved to all parts of the U. S., most still live in New York. Some died in World War ll, a few in Korea. Most spent some time in the service, almost twenty entered the priesthood, over one hundred entered the Brotherhood. ln recent years, increasing numbers have entered college for professional careers. Many, however, became policemen, firemen, mechanics, bank clerks, truck drivers, electricians, etc. It won't be too long before the first son of a graduate enters the school. The building itself is older than many of the students' grandparents. Built in 1891, additions were added in 1896 and 1921. True to the fortress-like construction methods of this period, it is still a strong building. Originally, it was a Y.W.C.A. built to answer the need for discreet exercise for the prim, Victorian ladies of this once fashionable neighborhood. Little did they think, as they frolicked in the gym Cbuilt in 1896j that someday it would be filled with noisy male students in a Catholic school! ln the early twenties, a Y staff member began teach- ing personality improvement classes to the recently emancipated ladies anxious to win friends. The young teacher was Dale Carnegie, later to earn fame as the author of the timid man's bible, How to Win Friends and lnfluence People and founder of a nationwide network of get-ahead-fast schools. In the early thirties, however, the Y moved else- where and, for eleven years, the building was used little. During the Depression years, City authorities used it as a relief check depot and thousands of iobless New Yorkers came here for a few dollars to tide them over. ln 1938, three Brothers and some thirty students started the school year in three, recently vacated build- ings across the street. Power Memorial, the previous occupants, had lust moved to 61st St. and Brother Ryall had remained to found Rice. By 1942, the old converted tenements Cnow demolished and replaced by the Sisters' conventj were too small for the growing school. So, through the Rockefeller Foundation, who now owned the old Y , the property became Rice. That summer of 1942, the Brothers worked unceasingly -moving file cabinets from the gym, emptying the pool of coal, building walls, painting, etc. The changes, in fact, have continued. Even former graduates would hardly recognize the building as the Brothers continue to make alterations. Such is the story of Rice-a live, changing place in these changing times. A GROUP OF HAPPY SOPHOMORES, above, display sopho- moric smiles for the photographer. The occasion-soph report card night. Minutes after, smiles turned to snarls when they received report cards. SCHOOL OVER, a group of students line the sidewalk outside the school while waiting for classmates who are subway companions. Only a few Rice boys live within walking dis- tance. Most travel for upwards of an hour and a half. ' Faculty and Senior portraits and group underclassmen pic- tures were taken by Mr. George Davis of Davis Studibs. All other pictures were taken, developed, enlarged and printed by the Camera Club ot Rice under the supervision of Br. R. T. Unsworth. 0 The EDMUNDIAN is published by and for Rice students. Layouts, copy, and captions are done by Senior staff members under the supervision of Br. R. T. Unsworth. This book was printed by William T. Cooke Publishing, Inc., of Philadelphia. Technical advice was by Mr. John C. Ursprung, Jr., ol the same Hrm.

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llll'l'l1lll'l' o Faculty To instruct Rice's 875 students, a faculty of 25 teachers-20 Brothers and 5 lay teachers-spend 120 teaching periods and 40 supervision periods each day providing 20 classes with a philosophy of life and the tools of learning. Three regular confessors, a music teacher, basketball coach, school doctor, and registrar complete the faculty and handle important fringe benefits. o llnderclassmcn 673 teen-age students fill 15 classrooms, study a variety of 21 subiects for 38 school weeks each year. They are the Underclassmen whose pictures and names fill 32 pages of this book. Proud to be students at Rice, they study hard to merit the positions they have earned in com- petitive exams with hundreds of other Rice applicants. 0 Seniors The largest Senior class in many years-202 graduates-are pictured on 32 pages of THE EDMUNDIAN. Their accomplishments and ambitions are recorded under their portraits. This is the culmination of four years of training-filled with a galaxy of memories. Most were pleasant, a few were not. But now it's here-a moment to pause and look back. o Activities To add to a balanced education, Rice provides 10 varied activities- spiritual, cultural and intellectual. They are held during the forty minute activity-study time at seventh period each day or after class. Most students take part in at least one of them. All find activities a welcome respite from more taxing subiect periods. 0 Athletics To train the body, Rice provides an ample sports program for all who wish to take part. Despite limited facilities, Rice can boast fine inter- school track, basketball and swimming teams at three levels-Varsity, Junior Varsity and Freshman-as well as a handball team and a well- organized Intramural program. Both pool and gym are opened each day and on weekends to supply additional body-building recreation. 0 lteview Traditionally, the Review Section is the place where yearbook staffs put their left-over pictures. True to the tradition, THE EDMUNDIAN presents eight pages of passing glances at the minor happenings around and outside the school. lronically, these are often the things that one remembers most of all. We present these few to help your memory. if 2? l ,q t Avg PA ll E i 5 X law' . 4 conf O 5 I Q X it llllv 0 lilli

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'U' l ll MLK .i 1 2 T sh aft, 3 t ,.... E ' We lledicate . . . The words thank you sometimes comes hard to a high school student's lips. lt isn't because he is ungrateful, but, in his mixed-up adolescent way, a growing boy often regards such things as a sign of weakness. Too often, parents suffer the most from this deficiency. They give a boy the most important things in life. And yet-because they do these things in such an unpretentious manner, they are sometimes taken for granted, and so the parents receive the least thanks of all. There are almost seventeen hundred mothers and fathers con- nected with Rice. Almost one hundred and forty are parents of two students or of a student and a graduate. A few have sent three and four sons to Rice. The families average three to four children. Some students are an only child. Others come from large families of from seven to thirteen youngsters. One student-a Freshman-is the youngest of seventeen. Most fathers are laboring rnenftruck drivers, policemen, fire- men, carpenters, electricians, etc. Many of the mothers work to make ends meet. About half are from the old country . Less than a dozen are college graduates and many did not even complete high school. And yet, they sacrifice, struggle, pray and worry so that they can provide an education-through college, if possible-for their children. These few facts form only a part of the story. Each student, in his own heart, realizes the many other things he owes his parents. And since he is so often ashamed to say thanks, we gladly give this opportunity to him to offer a public expression of each student's gratitude to his parents. May God bless and protect them. AFTER A HARD DAY'S WORK, parents journeyed to the school to speak to their sons' teachers about their boys' progress. Above-a long line of par- ents and boys wait outside the classrooms to talk to the individual faculty members. Most had other children at home, and, although they could have sent their sons to public school, sacrificed a great deal to see that their children received a Catholic education. Belowetwo such parents speak with Br. Mcllmurray about their son's algebra. They are Mr. and Mrs. Cooney, parents of Freshman Michael Cooney. ,rv