Stamford High School - Flashback Yearbook (Stamford, CT)

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Sembr Class ffl' ary SENIOR HOMEROOM REPRESENTATIVES On September 6, 1944, Stamford High School opened its portals to a group of quaking sopho- mores, one of the largest in the school's history. Here at last was the Class of 1947. We were an aggregation of students from junior high schools all over Stamford-Rogers, Cloonan, Burdick, and Willard. We, the big shots of ninth grade, were suddenly reduced to lowly sophomores. What 21 comedown! Entrance into High School produced a widening in our horizons. It was so different from our former school life. There were new subjects and new ways of doing things. It was as if we were embarking upon uncharted seas. What would the future hold? To make us feel more at home at SHS, the juniors held a reception in our honor on October Sth. At this crowded gathering, an atmosphere of good music and fun was provided by a band soon to become well-known to all of us, that of Teddy Catino. We were welcomed by the junior officers and advisors. Many of our fellow classmates at- tended and we made several new friends. We swung immediately into the swift stream of high school life and within a short time lost our sense of strangeness. With elections in October, we quickly felt ourselves a part of the High School, and a most important part. Candidates for the various offices circulated petitions through the halls. Enthusiastic classmates decorated the bulletin boards in the hall with colorful posters. After hearing cam- paign speeches, we returned to our homerooms and elected Eugene Murphy from Rogers, president, Audrey D. Smith from Burdick, vice-president, john Melfi from Rogers, treasurer, Patricia D'Aquila from Cloonan secretary. Now well acquainted with our class advisors, Mr. Bird and Mrs. Moser, we put our noses to the grindstone of regular high school life. We chose our homeroom representatives and met the officers we had elected. Seventy-five of our girls joined Miss Elfrieda Pfeiffer's Girls' Glee Club, and some of us became members of the famous A Cappella Choir. Twenty-six of our boys were on the football team. We were also well represented on the soccer, tennis, baseball, and basketball teams. On the 21st of December, we made our social debut when we gave our first dance. Because Old

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Man Winter was hard at work, many of us were forced to remain at home, but those who attended had a wonderful time. Alfred Cantrell and Thomas O'Hara headed our decoration committee at this affair. Our green and white class banner also took its formal social bow at this gala affair. Under the direction of Miss Florence Holbrook, Dean of Girls, a Social Usage Committee repre- senting each sophomore homeroom was organized. Its purpose was to raise the reputation of Stamford High School by promoting better co-operation and behavior both in and out of school. Their efforts soon produced a noticeable change in this situa- tion. Then, because of the excellent work this group did in compiling a set of rules for behavior at foot- ball games, it was made a permanent organization in the school. In june 1945, a few weeks before the termination of our sophomore year, class elections again were held. They brought with them the usual excitement and tension. We were more accustomed to the rou- tines and methods of SHS, and so it was with care and intelligence that we chose as our president Dan Ballantonio. Al Lehman automatically became our new vice-president since he was the lone candidate. Warren Wanamaker was elected secretary, and as proof of our appreciation of the good work he had done in the past, we elected john Melfi treasurer for the second time. We viewed the election results with satisfaction, confident that our four fellow classmates would lead us through another success- ful year. After a most enjoyable vacation, we returned to our classes in September, 1945, with the feeling that we were old-timers now. We quickly got back to our work while a new sophomore class wandered lost and bewildered through the halls. A most suc- cessful reception, which has since become tradi- tional, was given by us to welcome these new members of the high school. Remembering our own difficult entrance into this big, new world, we did out best to put the baby class of SHS at ease. Several committees worked hard to make this party enjoyable. Warren Wanamaker and his group decorated the gym with many colorful flags and banners which added gaiety and brightness to the occasion. The flowers and tables, as well as the refreshments, were capably taken care of by Mary Ann Freedman and her committee. And of course, lots of good music for dancing was provided. To welcome the new superintendent of schools, Mr. Charles R. Thibadeau, a reception was given in the school library. The students who represented our class at this affair were Audrey B. Smith, Mary Ann Freedman, Bruce Wadhams, and Walter Kryspin. Next on our social horizon was the successful Victory Dance, which we sponsored with the senior class. The dance, given to honor our fine football squad and to raise money for our hospital units quota, accomplished both of its purposes. The ad- mission was fifty cents in war stamps, thus, it really cost the students nothing to dance to the gay music of Bob Crane's band, and every one enjoyed himself immensely. To further remedy this situation, posters were hung upon the walls, showing the proper ways to dispose of bottles, bags, trays, and dishes. The group brought the situation to the attention of the entire school by presenting an assembly program, sponsored by Miss Mary Higgins, which demon- strated what the lunch periods were at that time. The junior Aid actors threw paper bags at one an- other, broke milk bottles, and generally behaved very badly in this skit in order to make the audience realize just how deplorable the cafeteria situation was at that time. The performers followed this skit with another one, showing a model lunch period. In this second presentation the students were quiet and orderly, and they left their tables looking neat and clean. This assembly program really made the audience resolve to behave better in the cafeteria. Early in the year many of our alert classmates first noticed the poor conditions in the cafeteria. Students entering the cafeteria any time after the first shift found the tables littered with empty milk bottles, lunch wrappings, and crumbs. After con- ferences with our class advisors, Mrs. Moser and Mr. Bird, we decided to bring this condition to the students' attention by forming a committee to police the cafeteria. Those volunteers, who were known as the junior Aides, undertook to patrol the eating place during the four lunch periods.