South Side High School - Optimist Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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THE OPTIMIS T White and Mr. Strong. Class Thrift Presidents were also elected and it was their duty to collect the class money and receive Thrift Stamps in return. In October, 1918, the school did its part in the United War Work Campaign. The seven chief welfare organizations united in a drive for funds. Each student who earned and contributed five dol- lars became a “Victory Boy,” or Victory Girl.” The students were urged to save prune, plum and peach pits, which were used in making gas masks, and receptacles were provided in the school where they could be deposited. The Girls’ Patriotic League dressed and sold «lolls representing nurses, soldiers, sailors, farmerettes and other war work- ers. Some of our girls worked on farms during the summer vacation and later were excused from their studies for two weeks in order to help har- vest the crops. In the Fourth Liberty Loan Campaign, South Side raised $76,000, almost double the total of any other Newark high school. The work was interrupted by the schools being closed for two weeks on account of the Spanish influenza. On November 11, when news of the signing of the Armistice reached South Side, exercises were immediately held in the Assembly, and then school was dismissed for the day. South Side purchased Thrift and War Savings Stamps to the amount of $21,000 during 1918. On Arbor Day an elm was planted in memory of South Side’s war heros. In the Victory I oan Campaign, in April. 1919, South Side raised over $50,000. In recognition of this fact. Uzal H. McCarter, the chairman of the Newark Liberty Loan Com- mittee, sent the following letter to Dr. Kennedy: NEWARK LIBERTY LOAN COMMITTEE 763 Broad St. City Uzal H. McCarter. Chairman Newark. N. J., May, 15. 1919. Professor T. F. Kennedy. Principal. South Side High School My Dear Mr. Kennedy:— I am leaving town tomorrow for a week’s trip in the South and have taken this occasion to ex- press to you, and through you, to the pupils of your school, my very high appreciation for the wonderful results attained bv them in the last Liberty Loan Campaign. My recollection is that the South Side High School has led all the other schools in the city by a large margin in each of the five Liberty Loan Drives. Such results prove conclusively two things: first, the organization which was formed for that purpose, and secondly, the loyal, patri- otic spirit which was in the hearts of the pupils of your school and which cannot help but make them most valuable citizens to our country as they grow older and must assume the responsibili- ties and cares of government in the place of the present generation. I wish 1 might have the opportunity of express- ing in person to the boys and girls my personal very high appreciation and thanks for the work that they did and the great results that they achieved. Faithfully yours, (Signed) Uzal H. McCarter, Chairman. On November 3, 1919, a tablet was dedicated to the “golden deeds of Newark’s women during the World War. This tablet was placet! in the City Hall by the Schoolmen’s Club of Newark, with the assistance of the pupils of Newark’s public schools. CITIZENS OF NEWARK KEEP IN UNDYING REMEMBRANCE THE NOBLE WOMEN OF OUR CITY. WHO IN THE WORLD WAR FOR HUMAN FREEDOM GAVE THEIR DEVOTED SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRYS SACRED CAUSE ERECTED SY THE SCHOOLMEN'S CLUB ASSISTED BY THE BUHLS 0B THE NEWARK BUBLIC SCHOOLS NEWARK DAY. NOVEMBER 1 1919 Miss Fleanor P. Kennedy, daughter of Dr. Thomas F. Kennedy. President of the club, un- veiled the tablet after exercises in the First Presbyterian Church. There was an audience of about five hundred people which included two hundred and fifty school children. After the unveiling. Dr. Kennedy introduced the 18

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 SfiT| the optimist Own First Regiment, and made clothes for the French; and the whole school worked selling bonds of the Second Liberty Loan. Everyone saved his tinfoil; it was brought to school and turned over to the Girls’ Patriotic League, which sold it and applied the money to war work. Students re- duced their daily luxury of candy, ice cream, and cake, thus doing their bit to save sugar, and giving the money saved to the government. A large number of the students pledged themselves to earn ten dollars for the Y. M. C. A., and almost all joined the Red Cross. The 4A Class funds, which would probably have been spent for a trip to a New York theater, were given to the Girls' Pa- triotic League. Thrift Stamps were being sold in large amounts, and there was much rivalry between the rooms as to which would lead the grade. The average per pupil for each room was read in Assembly every day. As every student of South Side joined the Red Cross, the school became an auxiliary. Dur- ing the Third Liberty Loan, South Side sold $55,600 in bonds. At this time the school received word that Karl S. Pennell, a South Sidcr in the Marine Corps, had been wounded in action, our first casualty. Every student in the English Classes composed a Four Minute Speech. urging the buying of War Saving Stamps, and the best one from each of the eight grades was read in As- sembly. Later similar speeches on the Liberty Loan and Red Cross were given. The weekly average of the school in buying Thrift Stamps at this time was $550. In September. 1918, Newark Junior College was organized and located in South Side High School. In order to facilitate the buying of Thrift Stamps by the students, a School Bank was formed Dr. Kennedy was elected President. Ira Sheppard Treasurer. Edwin S. Dore Secre- tary. The distributors were Mr. Hunkins. Mr. The First Graduating Class 17

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T H E OPTIMIST iW speaker»—Mayor Charles P. Gillen, Superin- tendent of Schools David B. Corson, and Mrs Galen J. Perrett. There were also musical se- lections by the South Side High Orchestra. South Side launched a Courtesy Campaign in April, with posters and speeches pointing out fre- quent discourtesies. With the opening of the term of February, 1921, classes were found to be so crowded that the Freshmen were put on a double-session schedule. Half came from 8:30 until 1:00, and the other halt from 12:30 until 4:00. In the Boys’ Parade, held on April 30, 1921, South Side was awarded two silver loving cups, winning the second places both for good march- ing and for appearance. Beginning with the new term of February, 1922 South Side was put on a double-session schedule The full school day was divided into ten periods from 8:30 to 4:30, with a half-hour lunch period between the fifth and sixth periods. The three upper grades came from 8:30 to 1:30 and the Freshmen came from 11:30 to 4:30. The class of June. 1921, presented a silver lov ing cup to the school and arranged that each year a school song contest be held, the winner to re- ceive a prize of five dollars and have his name engraved on the cup. On Arbor Day, 1922, four trees were planted on Alpine Street. At the root of one, a sycamore maple, there was buried a sealed bottle containing a Senior Optimist. In March, 1923, South Side received additional recognition of the scholarship of her graduates in the form of a letter from W. S. Willis. Princi pal of the Newark Normal School. Principal T. F. Kennedy, South Side High School, Newark. N. J. My Dear Mr. Kennedy:— Twenty-one of your students appeared for the entrance examinations on Saturday, December 16th, and it is a great pleasure for me to report that all passed. 1 want to congratulate you upon their preparation. Very truly yours, W. S. Wim.is, Principal. From this history it can easily be seen that our Alma Mater has surpassed any other one in the city during the period in which South Side has been in existence. It has even excelled the most fervent wishes of our alumni. S. S. Girls in Newark Anniversary Parade