Royal Oak High School - Oak Yearbook (Royal Oak, MI)

Page 10 text:

OAK Editorial 1 l To you, the 1958 graduates, we present this message. Four years ago we entered Royal Oak High School for the first time. Our backgrounds were as varied as the iunior high schools from which we came, At that time we knew little of each other. Those of us who have finished the trek together are now friends. We have given, each in his own way, to the personality of our schools as they have contributed to each of us. We are among the last of the Royal Oak graduates. ln the future there is the prospect of Dondero and Kimball graduations. True, two schools will hold commencements for senior classes this year, but the classes have been united throughout most of their careers. ln two years the graduating seniors will come from two schools, never having known each other with the possible exception of casual acquaintances and athletic competition. Because the T958 classes entered one high school together and worked through most of their academic careers together, the full impact of the growing problem of two high schools is not felt by us. But the line for this problem has already been drawn, and it creates this question for the future: Will there be a graduation from the Royal Oak High Schools unified in spirit, or will it be a city of Dondero and Kimball graduates bred in distrust and ill feeling? lt is with the solution of this problem in mind that we address ourselves to the future graduates of Royal Oak. These are your schools. ln time they will be what you have helped to fashion. The problems of growth that caused the existence of two high schools are far beyond your powers, but the will to attack and solve this distur- bance is within your grasp. Through mutual understanding these problems may be resolved within the satisfying bonds of common interests and scholastic unity. There ure People we never forget A good counsellor is much more than an able ad- ministrator. True, he must know the proper pro- cedures and methods of counselling, but it is equally important that he be a friend to his stu- dents. The counsellor helps lay out the path of future life in the choosing of the subiects to be pursued during high school. To the adults of tomorrow, who choose their life's work while in high school, the advice of their counsellor is invaluable. While in his care, a student's grades depend largely on the counsellor, who must check that the student is always working to his capacities. Not only must he schedule the hundreds of students in- to the classes they desire to take, but he must listen to the complaints of the few who aren't satisfied. A counsellor really has his work cut out for him when his charges become seniors. He guides them through the yard-long college applications, the countless questions on scholarship blanks, and the tons of red tape connected with high school. With- out his reminders and gentle prodding, many sen- iors would have applied for college entrance too late for acceptance. Not only does he help college prep students. Many have received co-op training through the tireless efforts of their counsellor in helping squeeze the schedule to fit the individual, not vice-versa. We at Dondero feel especially fortunate and proud in having by our side through high school an extremely capable and likeable man. For help- ing us through numerous difficulties, for providing a shoulder to cry on, and for being a very wonder- ful person, we, the classes of January and June 1958, dedicate this yearbook to our counselor and friend, Mr. Terry Hood.

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A Look ut Dondero s Yenr MUSICAL HISTORY was made when the Dondero orchestra and concert band, entering the district contest against other AA music groups from the southeast Michigan area, were given superior rating for concert and sightreading efforts. This was the first year that a Royal Oak high school instrumental music group was awarded a First Division - in fact, it was the first time an RO orchestra even entered the contest. Here, Mr. Yenovk Kavafian, the orchestra's conductor, leads his strings at their hourlong rehearsal, which is a part of their regular school day. EMPTY CLASSROOMS and poor grades typified the effects the epidemic of Asian Flu had upon the student body at Dondero. During an especially hard-hit period, as many as 600 students were absent from classes lout of a possible 22001.

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MR ALBERT WEISE AND MISS NORMA CAMPBELL assistant principals pose for an informal picture before their offices Classes Change With the Season From the time the lanitors unlock the doors at 7 20 faculty and students enter the school to work at their varied tasks before the rush of the actual day began In the autumn months they were accompanied by the sound of the marching band whtch drilled every morning from 700 When winter brought a late dawn early rehearsals of choir orchestra and band filled the halls with echoing music Occasionally members of the Forestry club could be found in the pool long before 7 OO as they had their fveryl early swim Oak staff members worked furiously to meet deadlines often accompanied by Acorn editors doing last minute copy work ln the balmy spring weather students arrived early to congregate in cars and on the lawn before homeroom began At 8 30 school officially started The bell sounded and lingering couples parted hurriedly in a dash for their respective home rooms Groups deep in conversation dispersed with amazing quickness hoping their teachers wouldnt fund them tardy Those who had waited too long found them selves in the office requesting tardy permits Cor ridor patrols took their places the PA began its spell and the day was under way Those first twenty minutes were all things to all people Many used the period for study catching up on homework not completed the night before Some found time to snooze The supply store hummed with activity as paper and pencils and theme paper made their way into the hands of those who needed them. The library staff delivered over due slips on books to those delinquent in returning them. Movie Club members prepared films to be shown- the set up crew arranged the band room for rehearsal. Blue slips were issued in the office for late comers and penalty hours were handed out in home rooms for the same offence. After bulletins were read attendence taken and the P.A. announcements - dured the rumble of conversation increased u til it often became a roar- and when those twenty minutes were exhausted the sound of the bell for the first hour classes caused the rooms to cough out their occupants into the flood of students making their way to classes. Walter K Walborn principal of Dondero enters the 1 -is we ,fa school as he does every morning at 8:15.