Sacred Heart High School - Gleanings Yearbook (Salina, KS)

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In April, 1916, Mr. Mason was called upon to remove the first shovel full of ground for the foundation and today it bears the name of its generous benefatcor and is known as the “James Mason High School.” The building was occupied in 1916. Here the student body took several good resolutions which would not give them time to loaf. Through the generosity of Rev. Fathers Maher and Cunningham, an addition was made to our library. The following year Father Cunningham presented the school with another collection of books. During 1918 the effect of the war was felt inthe school, the influenza spread and the school was closed twice during the year. A school paper was attempted, but later abandoned. The opening of school in 1919 showed an enrollment of 101 pupils, a great in¬ crease over the previous year. The school paper was again taken up and edited suc¬ cessfully. It was—and is known as Sacred Heart Review. In 1920 every class show - ed an increase and this also brought the first thought of athletics. Basket ball season proved that by hard and continuous practice the school would have a winning team in the end. The Seniors of ’21 thinking of the future classes gave a generous sum of money for the purpose of equiping the laboratory. The year 1921-22 was a very successful year. The basket ball teams left a re¬ markable record during the entire season. This year a new study hall was made ready and occupied the latter part of the term. This year also for the first time Sacred Heart Annual saw the light of day. The following year had several features, the good work of the previous year be¬ ing taken up. A school paper and an annual were published. A new school hall was prepared for occupancy. The young Men’s Sodality, was organized and steps were taken to h old social gatherings of both the young men and young ladies’ sodalities. The largest Senior class in the history of the school was graduated in 1923. School opened on September 4, 1923, with the pupils in high spirits for there was talk of a football team. This latter proved to be the case for a coach was hired and the school had a team making the highest average in the city. Basket ball came and went and our trophies were the best ever secured by Sacred Heart School. Our few defeats were cause for strenuous work on the part of our opponents. Baseball follow¬ ed with tennis as a minor sport in the curriculum of school athletics. In addition to securing fame through our teams and athletics we have also added to Sacred Heart’s fame in scholarship. Our records through spelling’ contests, through oratorical competition and in state wide scholarship contests, have given us more than one chance to say: ‘ 4 We are proud of Sacred Heart. ’ ’

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A SKETCH OF THE HIGH SCHOOL Since this High School of ours has had an annual increase in attendance and edu¬ cational administration for several years, we feel that it may be of interest to in¬ clude in our annual a history of our high school and its progress. Early in September, sixteen years ago, four students entered as members of the Sacred Heart School, which was at this time near completion. School began on time, hut not in a new building. They were doomed to attend school in the church base ' - ment for a few weeks, with the promise that the new building would be ready for use in a short time. It was not until January 29, 1909, that the new building was dedi¬ cated by the late Right Rev. Bishop Cunningham. In September 1909, school opened with a boom; the enrollment had increased five times the previous year. This year for the first time in the history of the school the grades were required to take the County examinations. The teaching staff was en¬ larged to meet the demands of the incrased enrollment and it was necessary to trans¬ fer the high school department in order to make room for all. In April, 1912, Dr. Johnson of the State University visited the school and at his recommendation the school was put on the accredited list. It was later approved for normal training work. In 1912 two students completed the four year course and left as the first graduates of Sacred Heart. The graduation exercises were held in Con¬ vention Hall and in the absence of Father Maher, Father Reidle addressed the grad¬ uates. The Knights of Columbus presented the graduates with medals and kept up the practice of giving a medal for scholarship each year. The Ladies Guild also made a generous donation including among other things a bust of Shakespeare. The following year the enrollment had reached fifty. The increase indicated that it would be many years before more room would have to be provided for the students. The graduates of this year all entered the field of pedagogy. The next year plans for a new school were formulated.

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