Sinking Spring High School - Imago Yearbook (Sinking Spring, PA)

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1394 - 1921 The four rocm structure which had been erected in 1894 together with the additional four rooms which had been added in 1902 were gutted by a disastrous fire early Monday morning, Dec. 26, 1921. The blaze was discovered at 5:00 o’clock in the morning. Fire companies from Reading. Wyomissing. Wemersville and Sinking Spring fought the blaze until a late hour. The estimated loss was S50.000.00. The St. John’s Lutheran and Reformed churches and the building which is now occupied by the Orioles Lodge in the borough were immediately offered to the board of directors until a new building was completed. Books were ordered by telegraph. The school term began after the holidays as usual, there being an enrollment of 300 pupils. The school at that time was in charge of Prof. B H. Weidman. The directors were:-President. Oscar L. Weidman; secretary. Harry L. Fisher; treasurer. Frank Grill; Francis K. Savage and Monroe Steffy. Athletic Association A determination to organize athletic and sport activities among the student body !ed to the organization of an Athletic Association. It has meant a more enthusiastic spirit am. a cleaner type of sportsmanship. The organization devised three sources of revenue by which it raised funds: First it sold membership cards to the association for one dollar and fifty cents which admitted students to all games. One dollar of this was turned over to the Faculty Manager of Athletics and the fifty cents were turned over to the Athletic Association. Second, a school cap was adopted and the proceeds from the sale of these caps was also turned into the fund Third, a refreshment stand was conducted by the Association at the basketball games which also netted a small revenue. The association appropriated from its funds twenty-five dollars toward the purchase of a Spencer De-lineascope Projector which has been found a valuable asset to the school for visual education. The officers of the Association are as follows: Ex-officio—Principal Harry E. Sowers President—Christian Hamish Vice-President—Arlene Gring Secretary—Blanche Machemer Treasurer—Mr. Roy T. Merkel Faculty Advisor—Mr. Paul Freed Coys' Manager—William Moyer Asst. Manager—Leroy Degler Girls’ Manager—Miriam Schrack Cheer Leaders—Ethelyn Wilk. Dorothy Potteiger. Lillian Balthaser, Walter Flamish and Ruth Harpel. ssmsssmes zssmmmr- Track Lack of track facilities and the condition of the ’real school ground this year made it impossible to develop a track t am. However, an effort was made to continue an interest in it by participating in the three Held meets at Albright College, West Reading and Kutztown. The size of the schools and the competition with which wo met excluded us from the list which scored many points. In most cases they were found in third, fourth or fifth place. Among the members who represented the school were: Hamish. Schiffer, Flamish, Mogel. Wartzcnluft. Kline, and Kerling, and for the girls: Balthaser, Potteiger, E. Moyer, A. Moyer, Lutz, L. Balthaser, A’-len, Purdon, G. Dunkelberger, Grace Mogel. msmsmez mmmsm School Excursions In order to appreciate some kinds of education one mu-.t have contact with the practical instead of the theoretical. An excursion or tour will solve this problem. Through the efforts of Mr. Sowers and Mr. Mer- 1 several excursions were made to industrial plants such as the Berkshire Industries, St. Lawrence Dairies. Quarries, etc. The pupils enjoyed more than a mere trip but were able to acquire an amount of knowledge which cannot be written into books.

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Class History Testing Program As class historian I was certainly in a quandry. Fruitless searchings had failed to unearth any records of past years, and I began to doubt whether the class of '31 had really existed in the dim long ago. The year was a recollection, but was inconceivable, a veritable nothingness. Frantically I sifted the pile of statistics which had accumulated after a duration of four years, but all passed through the meshes to land in an unintelligible mound on the farther side. With the hope of drowning my cares in forgetfulness, I went la the movies and sank exhausted upon one of the cushioned seats. The organ droned monotonously, and. as I watched the screen, the characters upon it disappeared. A soft glow, however, lighted its taut surface and shadowy ugurcs began to form. Little by little these began to assume indistinct shapes, and then, as if the operator in the little room above had suddenly focused his projector, a picture of the Alma Mater snapped into view. Ascending the steps which led to its red brick entrance was a body of decidedly nervous - looking chil-L. en. Each apparently wanted to be the last to enter, but the indecision was terminated by the appearance of none other than our principal. He herded them all through the doors just as the picture faded away. Quickly as the image disappeared another took its place. In the classroom were seated the same newcomers busily engaged. The newness of the situation, as well as interest and ambition, was written on every face. I could recognize some of my classmates, although they were quite diminished in size. Strange to say, a miniature Elsie Yoh and a pious Blanche Machemcr were both paying marked attention to lessons Quite a few bobbed heads were to be found among the girls. Again the scene shifted and a second time the ex-te.ior of the high school appeared. Idling groups :auntered up to the entrance and among them I found many countenances which had graced the last pitiure. What a difference there was. They now pos-: ossed the self-assurance and swagger of sophomores, t u.iuLy having been replaced by desire for revenge. I could even hear their voices as they chaffed the • grecnies who hovered about on the outside. These voices were absolutely uncontrollable. One starting with a man size note would suddenly shoot up to a tiny squeek and end in a whisper. Tne front of the high school remained on the screen for fully five minutes and I could not imagine the cause. The reappearance of the classroom revealed a busy group, their ardor not at all dampened by the aVcnce of a tew. They were determined to go to the finish no matter how small the class would be. The i male element was now becoming dominant since the boys were dropping surely and gradually. Very little 01 importance occurred during this year other than Lie usual routine The scene again shifted, and it was with deep regret that I saw it do so. for I knew the next picture would chow our parting days at old Sinking Spring High. Ah. how different were these all important seniors to the diminuative youngsters of four vears ago. Hamish followed Moyer as president The picture became faster and faster, and all seemed hurried as the actors were going about busily-Christian Hamish. Dorothy Potteig-er. and Ruth Harpel starring in athletics. Then came i ic bachelor’s Honeymoon, the class play, which will never be forgotten. The scene suddenly became quiet. Commencement had come with caps and gowns, orations, flowers, diplomas. The class of 31 had for the last time gone to assembly as students of Sinking Spring. There would be for them no more hours in white-walled classrooms, for them no more plaudits for victories won on field or court, no more or joy of giving the heart, strength and mind’s best for Sinking Spring. The throng moved down the steps - became blurred, faded - and a knight flashed upon the screen, glowing with youth and the ardor of the quest. His armor sparkled in the sun and his eyes shown with Joy of living and the deep gladness of being ready to serve The spirit of 31 Darkness came. Slowly I arose from the cushioned scat and half in a trance found my way down the long dim aisle of the theater VERNA YERGER Class Historian Standardized testing is an intellectual yard stick to determine the ability and intellect of pupils or students. It becomes very necessary to place children properly in the school grade or rank as well as to ascertain the type of teaching necessary for each pupil. At the beginning of the school year Form A of a tandard series of intelligence tests was administered to the entire school. In Grades I and II the Detroit Intelligence Test was used; in Grades III to VIII the I inois General Intelligence Scale was used, while in Grades IX to XIII the Detroit Advanced Intelligence Test was used. These tests indicate a child’s ability and intelligence development. Intelligence Quotients from 90 to 110 show normal Intelligence development, those below indicate dullness and those above indicate superior ability. In order to record the results of the ocal schools we shall use the median or mid-point in the class as far as enrollment is concerned. Belov . a record af the results as were found in September 1930: Grade 1—95; Grade II—115; Grade III—89; Grade IV—94; Grade V—95; Grade VI—91 Grade VII 101; Grade VIII—108; Grade IX 103; Grade X— 112; Grade XI—104; Grade XII—93 For the entire school the Intelligence Quotient was 101.6, which indicates that the school was distributee such that the I. Q was average or normal. In contrast the range from the lowest to the highest was 56 to 138. Near the end of the school term Form B of the tests a -re given to determine what improvement had been made during the year. The results found at this time were as follows: Grade III—108; Grade IV—123; Grade V—109; Grade VI—113; Garde VII—104; Grade VIII —124; Grade IX—116; Grade X—122; Grade XI—114; Grade XII—100. In addition to the standard intelligence tests and Achievement Test was given to Grades III to VIII. This test indicates the accomplishment of a pupil as affected by the amount of effort or work of the pupil. Results of this test indicate that the local schools are -lightly above the median for the schools of the entire country. Throughout the entire year the new objective tests were used by all the teachers, which has avoided t-acher judgement or teacher appraisal entering into the grading of the pupils. Pasel’al In baseball our boys did not fare as well as in basketball. There were only five members of last years’ team left to build upon. They were Hamish. Sallade. Weidman. Bright and Shiffer. Mr. Freed, however, was abl» to muster a few promising recruits among which were Ruth, Flamish, Wartzenluft and Degler. Among the subs were Kerlmg, Hill and Dunkelberger. The line-up was as follows: Ruth—First base Degler—Second bas«-Harnish—Short stop Flamish—Third base Wartzenluft—Catcher Sallade—pitcher and left field Weidman—Pitcher and right field RMffer—Center field Bright—short stop SCHEDULE April 10.—Shillington—away Opp. 11 S. S. H 7 April 20.—Wilson—home 12 6 April 17.—Oley—away 15 6 April 21,—Wilson—away 14 5 April 24.—Shillington—home 12 5 April 27.—Oley—home 7 14 May 19.—West Reading—home 7 6 May 19,—West Reading—home 1 3

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SINKING SPRING SCHOOL NOTES The school term of 1930-31 opened September 2 with quite a few changes In the teaching personnel. They Included the new Supervising Principal Prof. Harry E. Sowers; Roy T. Merkel, instructor in Sciences and Geography; Miss Ruth Snyder, instructor in English; Mrs. Esther Helster, teacher of Sixth Grade; and Miss Bernice Brown, teacher of Fifth Grade. A new change was made among the former teachers by appointing Mr Paul Freed as coach of athletics and head teacher in the High School in the absence of the Principal. En oilment At the beginning of the school term there was an enrollment in Grades I to XII of 138 boys and 152 girls or a total of 290. They were distributed among the grades as follows: Grade I: 20 boys, 10 girls, total-30; Grade II: 10 boys, 18 girls, total-28; Grade III: 18 . • :. 1J girls, total-34; Grade IV: 20 boys. 14 girls, total-34; Grade V: 9 boys. 23 girls, total-32; Grade VI: 6 boys. 19 girls, total-25; Grade VII: 16 boys. 16 rirls. total-32; Grade VIII: 13 boys. 10 girls, total-23; Grade IX: 12 boys. 9 girls, total-21; Grade X: 6 boys. 7 girls, total-13; Grade XI: 7 boys. 2 girls, total-9; Grade XII: 1 boy. 8 girls, total-9. During the year there were 21 accessions. 11 boys and 10 girls, making a complete enrollment of 149 boys and 162 girls or a total of 311. There were, however. 18 dismissals or transfers. 6 boys and 12 girls, thus leaving a final enrollment at the end of the year of 293. Attendance The attendance for the year had been exceptionally Tood considering the fact that the measles epidemic had dealt severely with the first four grades. The pcrcenta're of attendance for the term up to the end of the month of April was as follows: Grade I: boys-88, girls-93. total-90; Grade II: boys-93. glrls-95. total-94; Grade III: toy -96. girls-96. total-96; Grade IV: bo-s-97. gir’n-93, tctal-91; Grade V: boyS-98, girls-98. t.-'tal-98; Grade VI: boys-99. glrls-99. total-99. Grade VII: boys 99. girls-98. total-98; Grade VIII: boys-99. irk-99. total-99. Grade IX: boys 97. girls-98. total-98; Trade X: boys-98. girls-93. total 96; Grade XI: boys-06. ctrls-99. total-97; Grade XII: boys 98. girls-99. trtal-99. Grand total of all grades: boys-96. girls-97. total-97. Perfect Attendance In spite of the measles epidemic there were 100 who had made perfect attendance distributed among the grades as follows: Grade I - -1, Grade II - - 5, Grade III - - 6. Grade IV - - 16. Grade V - - 12. Grade VI - - 11. Grade VII - . 15. Grade VIII - - 16. Grade IX - 9. Grade X - - 3. Grade XI - -2. Grade XII - - 3 The pupils and students who have made perfect attendance for the year are as follows: Grade I: Lucille Zechman. Grade II: Catherine Balthaser, Virginia Baum. Vivian Gring. Betty Hoffert. Colleen Moore. Grade III: Richard Weidman. Betty Harpel. Rea M. Rentschler. Ir nA Williams. Betty Mae Weidman. Anna Wartzenluft. Grade IV: William Hertzog. Lynn Harpel, William Koch. Paul Stiely. Luther Sweigart. Bobby Llndslay. George Wanner. Ralph Zechman. Richard Stahl. James Purdon. John Stutzman. Dorothy Burgner. Kathryn Dunkelberger, Helen Haln, Edna Harpel. Arlene Rentz. Grade V: Marcia Zechman. Myrtle Fromm. Ruth Balthaser. Grace Sallade. June Hafer. Pauline Gott-shall. Ruth Schroeder. Anna Mae Cassel. Louis Hef-felfinger. Sterling Withers. Fern Bechtel. Fern Berk-cnstock. Grade VI: Harold HefTelflnger. Vernon Heister. Lester Moyer. Madelyn Burgner. Elsie GraelT. Grace Hafer. Pauline Harding. Mary Harpel. Dorothy Kurtz. Madelyn Northerner. Miriam Stover. Grade VII: Robert Epler. Milford Fisher. Kenneth Oanser. Walter Greth. David Gring. Paul Hafer. Richard Lutz. John Moyer. Irwin Sweigart. Leroy Ulrich. Thelma Bickel. Carolyn Dunkelberger. Ernestine Edris, Irene Foret. Catherine High. Grade VIII: Betty Binkley. Margery Cassel. Beatrice Haln. Mary Miller. Louise Moyer. Thelma Stover. George Beyerle. Elmer Graeff, Robert Hafer, Norman Hartman. Paul Kurtz. George Merkel, Richard Shar-man, Paul Weber. Victor Weidman. Grade IX: Daniel Dunkelberger. Matthew Trexler. Albert Wartzenluft. Bernice Behrcnhausen. Margaret Hawthorne. Marie Lutz. Elsie Moyer. Irene Resh. Eihel Showalter- Grade X: Donald Ganser. William Wertz. Harvey Mogel. Grade XI: Paul Sallade. Miriam Schrack. Grade XII: Blanche Machemer, Elsie Yoh. Honor Roll in Perfect Attendance Students who have made perfect attendance for four years or more: NINE YEARS: Verna Yerger. EIGHTH YEARS: Daniel Dunkelberger. SEVEN YEARS: Chester Bright. Albert Wartzenluft. SIX YEARS: Elsie Moyer. Earl Kerllng. Margaret Hawthorne. Victor Weidman. Norman Hartman. Robert Hafer. Irene Foret, Cathryn High. Pa£l Hafer. Miriam Stover. FIVE YEARS: Ethelyn Wilk. William Wertz. Margery Cassel, Beatrice Hain, Mary Miller, Thelma Stover. Paul Weber. George Merkel. Walter Greth. David Gring. Pauline Harding. Madelyn Northerner. Chester Moyer. Irene Hafer. FOUR YEARS: Miriam Weber. Roberta Cassel. Bernice Behrenhausen. William Weber. Louise Moyer. Paul Kurtz. Grace Mogel. Helen Ruth. John Moyer. Mark Dunkelberger. Grace Sallade. Paul Stiely. Flora Cassel. Change in Curriculum In order to meet the requirements of the State Department a number of changes were made in the curriculrfrn. In the first place, the periods were changed from forty-five minutes to sixty minutes in length. Because of the small size of the eleventh and twelfth grades, these two grades were combined and the Senior subjects were given this year to be alternated with Junior subjects next year By doing this more time was made available to give physical education two hours per week for each grade in addition to the regular hour of hygiene. This also made it possible to ofTer one hour per week for club activities and an additional hour for general assembly. Lengthening the periods also made it possible for directed studv and laboratory work in all subjects, thus making the teaching as well as the learning more effective. Pupil Personnel Record System One of the deficiencies in most elementary and high school systems is an adequate personnel record r. stem. Generally they merely record grades. This year the National Education Cumulative Record Sv. tem was installed in the loca: schools. This '-yntem. Instead of merely recording or indicating grades or mark’ once or twice a year, gives a graphical representation of the progress of the pupils every six weeks. Some of the most important factors which : hould be known about a pupil or student, during his school career, are not represented by grades and marks. The pupil’s aptitudes and abilities, physical and mental health, deflciences and handicaps, likes and dislikes, attitudes and many other such conditions are in good many cases more important, and unless we know them, we are unable to explain the failures and delinquencies of pupils. This new record system takes into account all these factors, and for that reason has been recommended by the National Education Association as the most ideal and efficient system of records-It requires a great deal more clerical work and keenness of observation on the part of the teacher but will repay manifold returns in the end.