Smith Academy - Echo Yearbook (Hatfield, MA)

Page 33 text:

Pro Merito There are two classes of Pro Merito in Smith Academy, the senior Pro Merito and the junior Pro Merito. The senior group includes Phyllis Kochan, Nancy Barsh, and Mildred Novak. The only junior member is James Smith. The requirement for Pro Merito membership is an over-all average of eighty-five or better. The Smith Academy Chapter is a member of the Massachusetts Pro Merito Society, which holds annual meetings in various schools. On Saturday, October 7, 1950, the senior Pro Merito members, accompanied by Miss Ryan, attended the Regional Fall Convention of the Pro Merito Society, held this past year at Amherst High School. The officers are: president — Phyllis Kochan, vice-president — Nancy Barsh, and secretary- treasurer — Mildred Novak.

Page 32 text:

Student Council STUDENT COUNCIL ' On September 27, the Student Council held its first meeting and elected the following of- ficers: Donald Jandzinski, president; George Klocko, vice-president; and Carl Wendolowski, secretary-treasurer. The other members of the council are Phyllis Kochan and Chester Foster, Seniors; Anna Kukucka, Junior; and Teresa Brassord, Fresh- man. At this first meeting the Student Council de- cided to sponsor the annual magazine campaign and to use the money for projects that would benefit the students of Smith Academy. On October 15, the Council had another meeting to discuss the organization of the Cheerleaders and the use of the new radio. After some discussion the Council decided to bring the three second-team cheerleaders up with the Varsity Cheerleaders. There would be an election for three J. V. Cheerleaders. After this problem was settled, the use of the radio was taken into consideration. A satisfactory idea was brought forth to the council by one of its members to have two representatives from ea.ch class, starting with the seniors and work- ing down to the freshmen, to run it at noon and after school. In January another problem was set before the council about a Good Government Day Pro- gram. It was decided that there would be six speakers. The program as a whole was very good and of importance and interest to all.

Page 34 text:

Thespians SENIOR PLAY On November 3, 1951, the Smith Academy Thespians presented a 3-act comedy by William Davidson, entitled Beauty and the Beef, at the Hatfield Memorial Town Hall. The story centers around the Allen family, who had moved from Chicago to Winnibagushi, South Minnesota and were getting settled in their new home. Ginny, their 17-year old daughter who tried to live down her reputation as the smartest girl ever to graduate from the Junior Quiz Program was enacted by Phyllis Kochan, who added humor, vitality and at- tractiveness to the play. As George Allen, the father who couldn ' t understand Ginny ' s problems, Fred Belden gave a cheerful and realistic performance. Nancy Barsh contributed the homey atmosphere as Laura Allen, the mother. Conscientious brother Lester, who really got in a fix was played by Francis Godin. Millie Novak was Franny, a disillusioned smart girl, who was Ginny ' s best friend. Carl Wendoloski added dignity to the play as Prof. Barton, a gentle soul with a mild man- ner. Lester was helping Molly a girl of thirteen with pigtails, played by Pat Mason, to get into the school band so that she could play the bass drum. Her father, Mr. Woods, who was the works in the Wook ' s family and who was against this plan, was played by Edwin Smith, who gave a good show as the domineering father. Things really started popping when Beef, played by Don Jandzinski, appeared. He was Ginny ' s heart throb and a good football player, but lacks intelligence in the class-room. Be- cause Miss Bigsby, the teacher, played by Judy Ryan, suspended him from school, he would be unable to play in the big football game a gainst Hastings, a rival school. Using all their efforts to postpone the game a week, so that Beef would be able to play, Ginny and Franny served the boys epicac in their cocoa at a party given for the team. The football team, including Foggy, Scaffold, Steve and Bubbles played by Mitchie Backiel, Lennie Majesky, Eddie Merski, and Bill Korza respectively, was the center of great hilarity as they all got sick from the epicac. The cheer- leaders, Dot, Mitzi, and Betty played by Jane Dugal, Eleanor Vollinger, and Joan Kalentek, were all concerned when the boys so mysterious- ly got ill. Enter Miss Spencer, the great lady doctor, who wasn ' t as self-assured as she ' d like to be, played by Annie Foster. All through the play, Franny and Barbara, the majorette, played by Marilyn Pelc, fought for the affections of Fog- gy, also the drum major of the Winnibagushi band. He was undecided! All ' s well that ends well, and after a period of a week, when the boys were recuperating, they went ahead to beat Hastings, with Beef in the Hero ' s position, with the winning touch- down to his credit.