Venango Christian High School - Saga Yearbook (Oil City, PA)

Page 10 text:

even say a word. All she did was look around the room and when I grabbed her arm to take her around the room, she jumped. ‘Well, come on I said. “Then I sat on the bed and said in a big voice, ‘This is my Mom- ma’s bed. See how soft it is.’ She just stood there and didn’t say any- thing. ‘Scaredy cat,’ I said. ‘Am not she said, like she does. “I told her to sit down on the bed and see how soft it is. She sat down by me. “I closed my eyes, but the funny thing is it wasn’t like always. I guess it was because Mary Jane was there. I told her to stop feeling the cover. ‘You said to she said. ‘Well stop it I said. “‘See I said, and I pulled her up. ‘That’s the dressing table.’ I took her by the hand and brought her up to the table. She looked at me and said, ‘Let’s go. I started to feel bad because Mary Jane was in my Momma’s room and Momma wouldn’t like Mary Jane there. “I had to show her everything. I showed her the mirror. We looked at each other in it. She looked like a Hallowe’en ghost. ‘Mary Jane is a scaredy cat I said again. “ ‘Am not, am not she said over and over, ‘anyway nobody’s home is this spooky and dark inside. ‘Anyways she said, ‘it smells.’ “I got mad at her. ‘No, it doesn’t smell,’ I said. “ ‘Does so she said, ‘you said it does yourself a lot of times. It smells like sick people in your momma’s room. “‘Don’t say my momma’s room is like sick people, I said to her. “ ‘Well you didn’t show me the dress and you’re lying about that she said, ‘there isn’t a dress and you better get out of here. I felt all warm inside so I pulled her hair. 1 11 show you I said, 'you’re going to see my momma’s dress and you better not call me a liar.’ “I made her stand still and I got the key off the hook. Then I opened the box. “Mary Jane said, 'Pew, that smells like garbage. “I put my nail in her hand; she pulled away and got mad. 'Don’t you pinch me,’ she said, and she was all red. 'I’m telling my mother on you she said. ‘Anyway, it’s Continued on page 13 Herb Heher stands out, but not apart, from the other 200 boys who hail Venango Christian High School as alma mater. He began his education at St. Stephen’s Grade School, graduated to St. Joseph’s High, and with the rest of us progressed to Venango. Herb’s scholastic interests tend toward the historical realm. He is an Academic student, and plans to attend college. He hopes someday to be a history teacher. A member of St. Stephen’s Parish Church, he has served as an altar boy, and was at one time the pres- ident of the Altar Society. Herb is one of the most ardent supporters of the Oil City Catholic Youth Club. Herb has received a number of awards during his high school career. He was awarded a trophy for outstanding performance in the Optimist Contest last year. Because of his undying support, his intra- mural team took first place in the school competition, and he took home another trophy. He’s the one who volunteers eagerly and who helps until the job is done. He’s the one who smiles at you just when you’re about to believe there are no more smiles left in the world. He’s Herb Heher, Junior Homeroom Personality, 1962. Whether she is behind a mega- phone or in front of a typewriter, Miss Karen Alsbaugh, junior per- sonality of the month, is the type of person who makes school and home more wonderful places to be. School life for honor student Karen consists of academic courses leaning toward college education. She has hopes of entering the field of languages after graduation. Al- though she is most interested in French and Latin, biology and alge- bra are also among her favorites. “Work hard, or not at all ’ could well be this junior’s motto. Vaca- tion-time invariably sees Karen back in the classroom. Summer biology was one of her projects. She completed a Singer Sewing Course, and sent her prize-winning shirtwaist to the District Contest in Pittsburgh. Cheerleading, public speaking, reporting, and Junior Red Cross work keep Karen occupied, but still she finds time to babysit during the weekends. She is the personification of calm- ness, the motivation of poetry, and the symbol of friendship. She is the fashion-conscious, education- minded linquist of tomorrow. But for today she is Miss Karen Als- baugh, Miss Junior Personality of 1962. 8

Page 9 text:

HONEST DADDY vi? By Judy Balcerek THE WORD GETS AROUND Communications is my bit. As a novice class amateur ham radio operator, I have conducted two-way conversation on the 40-meter short- wave amateur band with other hams in most of the states. My most distant contact was WV6UZK, West Covina, California. How do you become a ham? Easy! First, master the International Morse Code. Second, study the amateur material such as that published in the American Radio Relay League’s booklet, The Radio Amateur Li- cense Manual.” Then, upon a re- quest to the Federal Communica- tions Commission, a test is issued that must be taken in the presence of a qualified procter. The test consists of a code exam and a sec- tion on radio theory and amateur regulations. After that, there’s nothing to do but purchase your equipment, set up your station, and you’re on the air.” Over and Out Expensive? You know it, but it’s well worth it. Some operators defray the cost of equipment by assembling their own. Why even now you would be able to construct a radio of your own. Most of the electronic dealers offer quality amateur equipment and assorted electronic units in kit form which can be assembled by anyone who can read. The feeling that you are a part of a worldwide organization, the sense of power you get every time you speak over the mike, create a word out of dots and dashes, or tap out a message on the teletype, the adventure of communicating with a new state or country, the secure knowledge that you can be of aid to your community, and just the en- joyment of getting to know people in different spots on the globe make ham operating a real adventure. I can never say there isn’t anything to do” because there are always a few million people to talk to. At what age should you become a ham? Well, the oldest amateur I know is W4AD, an 87-year-old operator from Georgia; and the youngest is WN8DCH, a 9-year-old ham from Ohio. I recommend amateur radio for anyone under 90. Silent snow descended like white curtains as Professor Paul Peterson hurried under the archway and into the parking lot of Smith College campus. He had been summoned by a call from his mother. As he en- tered the front door he was met by a terse, Hurry, Paul, she’s upstairs in her room. Here’s the key.” Paul’s mother took his coat and hat and handed him the key. The fifty spiral stairs never took so long. He reached the hall in about a minute and was panting heavily as he called, Sarah Jane, may I come in?” The little girl sat on her bed in a calm stillness with her doll on her lap. Daddy, did Granma call you? I’m sorry to be so much trouble.” That’s all right, dear. Tell Daddy what happened.” Professor Peterson fought to hold back the tears. Quiet in here, isn’t it?” began the girl. Granma locked me in my room and won’t let me out. I guess I was bad. But it was only a dress. Momma’s dress I mean. She is gone away forever isn’t she, Daddy? Granma says my Momma is in Heaven. I don’t know how. Can she go to Heaven if she is dead, Daddy? Where’s Granma? Is she in Momma’s room? She must be putting Momma’s dress away. Why does she always put it in the box and lock it in the chest? I wish she didn’t; it’s such a pretty dress; it smells sweet. I love to touch it but I guess I can’t. I guess that is why Gran- ma’s mad at me. But I ain't sure.” You are not sure, dear,” cor- rected her father. Yes, Daddy, I’m not. Mary Jane came over today. Granma said, ’Play with your doll and don’t go inside your mother’s room. But it's nice in Momma’s room, Daddy. When it rains I go there. Or when Granma is taking her nap I go in. I don’t make any noise, I just sit on the white cover and make believe Momma is dressing and I am allowed in. I smell her white silk dress; her going out for night dress. I hear it moving if I listen hard and I make believe I see her at the dressing table. I see her big brown eyes. Remember, Daddy? I love her even if she has gone away. I guess that’s what made me bad. Mary Jane came over today and we played dolls. Granma said, 'Don’t go in your mother’s room,’ and I said yes. I meant it Daddy, honest, but when we were playing Mary Jane said, 1 bet you don’t even have a mother; I bet you made it all up.’ This made me mad, so I went to see if Granma was sleeping. She said that I was a liar, Dad- dy; I mean about the bed and the dress and everything. I said, 'Well I'll show you smarty,’ and so we went after that. She giggled like she always does when we went down the hall to Momma’s room. She even made a scaredy noise when she hit into the table in the hall. I said, 'You’re a scaredy cat,’ but she said, 'Well, my house isn't dark like this.' I didn’t like that at all. We went into Momma’s room. It was dark in her room, very dark. I said, 'This is my Momma's room; see, I didn’t make it up.' She was by the door and she wasn’t acting very smart. She didn’t 7

Page 11 text:

Autopsy of Funeral services in memory of It-Could-Be-Yours High School of Any Town, U.S.A., were conducted Tuesday at 11 a. m. in City Hall. The high school died Sunday after- noon in the hearts and minds of its five hundred students. It-Could-Be-Yours was born Sep- tember 8, 1949, a son of the com- munity of Any Town. He was a life- long resident of the city, and the main center of secondary education. The school was the pillar of Any Town's progress. I.C.B.Y. was a first-class edu- cational institution. During his lifetime, he encouraged potential doctors, lawyers, clergy, journal- ists, linguists, secretaries, mothers, and many more. Pallbearers were: John Jones, the freshman who couldn't obey the rules; Pete Moss, the quarterback who wouldn't try to win; Ed John- son, the senior who wouldn't buy the magazine; Joe Michaels, the Do More Faci Q. Father Antoun, obviously VCHS offers more facilities than most other parochial schools. Do you feel this helps the scholastic standard? A. Yes. You must treat each student as an individual because each individual has different talents. The curriculum must be adapt- able and the wide range of fa- cilities at VCHS helps meet this demand. Q. Do you feel the facilities and curriculum are adequate? A. No. We will never be satisfied and will continuously be striv- ing for improvements. Q. How long do you think our school can facilitate the fast-growing enrollment? A. The school was designed to accommodate 675 students and I feel this figure will be reached in 3 years. Q. After that will you expand the building or restrict enrollment? A. This will be a decision for the board of directors. I don't feel, an Institution student who didn't have time to study; Tom James, the sophomore who persecuted teachers and dis- tracted classmates; and Bill Smith, the junior who didn't sell his cards. An honor guard was formed to pay final tribute to It-Could-Be-Yours. It was composed of the senior girls who thought that it was all right to leave a football game before the final buzzer, and the juniors who refused to buy their lunches in the school cafeteria. Sophomores who thought that extra-curricular activ- ities were things to be avoided, and freshmen who consistently missed the bus also participated. A coroner's inquest was held to determine the cause of the death. Authorities placed the blame on suffocation due to lack of school spirit; and the student body was held on the charge of involuntary manslaughter. It-Could-Be-Yours High School was only a fictional institution — but it could be yours! THE BARQUE Quarterly publication of Venango Christian High School, Oil City, Pennsylvania. 1505 W. First St. Tel. 9-1285 Editor............. Associate Editor Copy Editor......... Sports Editor....... Production Editor.... Layout Editor....... Photographer........ Staff Artist....... Daniel Callahan Lois Hill Constance Rinaldo Michael Yeager Elizabeth Fink Dolores Weaver Steven Szalcwicz Karen Blumensaadt Circulation Manager Dia Jasiota Exchange Manager.. M. Beth Marchibroda Reporters........... K. Rice, P. Bauer, L. Best, D. Weaver, J. Stover, D. Goodman, P. Breene, J. Meals, G. Campagna, P. Henry, V. Hynes, J. Kamer, R. Wollaston, J. Sullivan, C. Staub, A. Logue, W. Hill. The Barque is an accredited member of Columbia School Press Association. lities Mean Better Education ? —An Interview With Rev. L. J. Antoun, Headmaster since we are in debt $350,000, that we will be able to meet the building funds in 3 years. Q. Father, what is your attitude toward sports? A. Sports are a necessity for well- balanced education, but the school should run the sports; the sports should not run the school. give me a summary of your past education? A. I was bom in Meadville where I attended St. Agatha Grade and High School. Then I attended St. Bonaventure College and went on to Christ the King Sem- inary and completed my major education at Duquesne Univer- sity. Q. Father, in conclusion could you 9