Upper Darby High School - Oak Yearbook (Upper Darby, PA)

Page 26 text:

The recent ground breaking ceremonies for the new addition to the high school marked another step in Upper Darby's continuous program to meet the needs of the com- munity. Since the first class of five was graduated in 1896, Upper Darby has grown by leaps and bounds, both in area and population. The capable School Board, though, has kept pace with this expansion. An annex was added to the high school in 1928 as were other improvements made to the grade schools throughout the district at various times. The new four-story addition to the present high school will adequately serve many more students, but even more expansion will be needed in the future. Because of the high birth rate during World War II, graduating classes of one thousand will be the general trend in 1958. Two new ele- mentary schools. Primos and Hillcrest. have already been opened to accommodate part of this huge student body now entering the first and second grades. It is obvious, though, that more development will be necessary. Unknown to most people is the fact that plans for a new junior high school are already under way. The far- sighted Board of Education has acquired land on State Road for this purpose. Other changes in the school system are being contem- plated. As the school enrollment increases, new teachers will be needed and Upper Darby plans to acquire the best in- structors available. Plans for curriculum revision are also being considered. The latest educational methods will be in- corporated in the schools in an effort to make the Upper Darby School System, the finest in the country. With its ambitious building and educational improvement programs. Upper Darby is confident that it can answer the challenge of its increasing population. WE BUILD FOR THE FUTURE The new Primos School nears completion. Hillcrest opened April 16, 1951.

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Front Row: Mr. Vanlecr I. Bond. Mr . William G. SteburRrr, Dr. George C. Dilworth, Mr . Alfred F. Adelizzi, Mr. John H. Frazier; Second Ron: Mr. Stewart B. Harkness, Mr. John H. Scheidel, Dr. Edgar B. Cale. superintendent John H. Tyson, Dr. J. Vernon Elbon, Mr. John C. Parry, Mr. R. Winfield Baile, Mr. N. Horace Berman. After years of tedious planning, the efforts of the hard-working members of Upper Darby's Board of Education are beginning to show fruitful results. Two modern elementary schools, Hillcrest and Primos, are now complete. Only through the continuous efforts of the Board members could such a project have been accomplished. The foundations for the high school addition are now finished and the buildings are beginning to take shape. Few of us realize the many headaches encountered by the Board members. One of the foremost problems was that of locating and stockpiling the necessary building materials and equipment for the new schools. The war threat at the present time has induced a scarcity of materials which can be overcome only by patient searching for the desired goods. The teachers, architects, and School Board members have worked in close cooperation to procure the finest and most modern equipment available. To each member of our fine School Board we offer a vote of thanks— for making the schools in this district run so smoothly, and for realizing so sensibly the needs of our community and keeping abreast of the situation in such a capable manner. BOARD OF EDUCATION T wcntythrec

Page 27 text:

SUPERINTENDENT Wc, of the Upper Darby High School, arc very fortunate to have a superintendent who shows such outstanding ability and leadership in school and community life as John H. Tyson. He has been superintendent of schools for the past eight years and served as principal of our school during the twenty-four years prior to 1943. The class of 1951 is indebted to Mr. Tyson for his tireless efforts to better our school. He is active in educational societies, and we all ap- preciate and admire his zealous work. Mr. Tyson has spent a great deal of time working out the difficult details of plans for the new high school. The years of planning were climaxed this fall by the ground-breaking exer- cises over which he officiated. Wc have been guided faithfully and well by Mr. Tyson; he has won the respect and admira- tion of all by his fine judgment and keen personal interest in the welfare of each student. MR. JOHN H. TYSON Superintendent Tyson breaks ground as Messrs. Dilworth, Haabcstad, Bond, Butteneorth, Sampson, and a rep- resentative of the builders cheer him on.