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

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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.

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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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NEW CURRICULUMS FOR 1931 - 1932 TERM For the next school term your school will be in a position to offer a diversified curriculum or courses of study. In previous years there was only one course offered, namely; the Academic. Everybody was required to take the same work, whether they liked or disliked it, whether it prepared them for the future life work they intended to pursue, or whether it gave them the required training to enter a higher institution of learning. The reason for offering only one course was because of the limited faculty, limited facilities, and want of room and equipment. For a number of years the State Department of Public Instruction has been recommending a differentiation of curricula so that students may pursue such courses of study as appeal to them and as will fit them for their life pursuit. Now the State Department makes such courses mandatory or compulsory or else the locai district is to likely lose some State appropriation. At sigiit Mine of us might tatce objection to this but upon due consideration we find that it has equally strong, if not stronger, points in its favor. If education is to prepare and fit one to launch upon life vocation in which he or she is to become successful and happy, surely such provisions will approach that ideal. As planned, there will be three courses offered, namely; Literary. Scientific, and Commercial or Business. This will permit a student to select the particular course or wmcn he or she seems to be best fitted, or the one which will provide him or her with such training as will aid him in his future pursuit. To be more specific as to what these courses may mean, permit an explanation. Suppose you should desire to continue your training in an institution of higher learning to follow such vocations as teaching, ministry. music, and many other professions or vocations of such type, the course which will best prepare you lor it will be the Literary Course. This course will furnish the necessary courses required for admission into colleges of the Arts type. Often we find schools offering many subjects, and even though graduates have as many as six or seven credits more than are necessary for admission to a college, they lack the definitely specified courses required for that particular college. For the boy who intends to enter the engineering or trade school, or one who may wish to become a chemist, druggist, doctor of medicine, or even a teacher of science we offer the Scientific Course. This course differs from the Literary course in that it requires more mathematics, such as Solid Geometry and Trigonometry, and more of science such as biology, physics, and chemistry. For the student who is an exceptional student and finds that he would like to enrich his high school course an opportunity will be offered to elect subjects from one or the other courses thus giving him a general background as well as his special course. For the student, boy or girl, who should like to pursue some clerical or office work after completion of the high school course a course in Business or Commerce will oe offered. This course will furnish an opportunity for those who will never be able to go beyond the high scnooi or who do not desire to go to college or schools of higher learning. Because of the limited teaching corps and teaching facilities we are unable to offer as many electives as we should like to offer However, an effort is made to offer some eiectives to the greatest number possible, constantly keeping in mind the specific needs of the three curriculums. There are a few explanations to be made. In the first place, the Senior class for the coming year will be required to take either the Literary or the Scientific Curriculum. The Commercial or Business Curriculum will be open to the Junior class of next year only, since it is necessary to pursue the Commercial course for two years before a diploma will be granted for that course. We should like to warn too many in this class from electing this course. (Commercial) unless they intend to pursue that type of work after graduation and do not intend to enter college or other institution of higher learning. For the Senior student who has a high scholastic standing and feels that he or she can spare some of the study periods, an opportunity will be offered to enter some of the classes in the Commercial department to take up bookkeeping or stenographical work, but no credits will be given for the work, since five hours per week are necessary for one credit of work. Due to the fact that courses in Home Economics and Manual Arts will be given on a Joint basis with some other district, thus dividing the time of these two teachers among two districts, these courses will be required in the Ninth and Tenth grades for four hours per week. Two hours per week will also be given to the Seventh and Eighth grades. For Juniors and Seniors of high scholastic standing who have free periods or study periods at such times when such classes are in session, those students may enter the class and participate but likewise no credit will be granted for such work except in cases where students take two or more hours of such work. For those grades it is intended merely to enrich their courses and not to serve as a means to graduation. The following are the curriculums which will be offered. The Arabic numbers represent the number of hours per week which the subjects will be taught LITERARY SCIENTIFIC COMMERCIAL First Year First Year First Year English 4 English 4 English 4 Vocational Civics 4 v rational Civics 4 Vocational Civics 4 Algebra 4 Algebra 4 Algebra 4 Latin 4 General Science 5 General Science 5 Manual Arts or Manual Arts or Manual Arts or Home Economics 4 Home Economics .... 4 Home Economics 4 Elective Elective Elective General Science 5 Latin 4 Latin 4 Electives in this year are optional. Second Year Second Year Second Year English 4 English 4 English 4 World History 4 World History 4 World History 4 PI. Geometry 4 PI. Geometry 4 Business Science 4 Latin 4 Biology 5 Manual Arts and Manual Arts and Home Economics 4 Home Economics 4 Home Economics 4 Electives Electives Electives Biology 5 x Latin 4 1 Plane Geometry 4 1 Latin 4 1 Biology 5