Vergennes Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Vergennes, VT)

Page 12 text:

LEFT: Cheryl Aunchman in front of the bicentennial bulletin board in Mr. Yamall's room. LOWER LEFT: The present high school was built in 1958 and at that time school districts were unified and children were bussed to Vergennes. Rows of lockers and loaded buses are two common 1976 school day sights. TOP RIGHT: Mr. Ward's 8th grade social studies class recreated an old time classroom for a week, and here with their slates are A. Pollender, M. Husk, S. Rooney, J. Dam, J. Litch and C. Brinkman. MIDDLE RIGHT: A bicentennial play was presented for parents on Open House night by P. Rose, D. Russett, R. Epstein, A. Pollender, C. Brinkman and P. Wager. LOWER RIGHT: A sight you would not have glimpsed 200 years ago is Jack Tynan with his guitar, the morning after the marathon baby buggy pushing contest.

Page 11 text:

Schools Have Always Been Important From its earliest beginnings, the city of Ver-gennes has been noted for its taverns and its schools. The connection will be explained when one recalls the two salient characteristics which distinguished our early settlers. These qualities were shrewd business sense and a passionate attachment to learning, says a newspaper article written when the new Union High School was finished in 1959. The old high school (top picture), whose space is not occupied by the IGA, was built in 1863, and most students remember its towering presence, while their parents remember how it felt to go to school there. The old gymnasium has become the fire house. 7

Page 13 text:

Students Make Bicentennial Efforts In a bicentennial year, many new contests pop up, asking students to say what it's like being an American, and to demonstrate their understanding of our past. Several VUHS students look advantage of these contests, and the biggest winner was Laura Farley, who was chosen as one of two Vermont Bicentennial Seniors. By writing an essay and a ''bicentennial minute , Laura won $1,000 scholarship money and a trip to Williamsburg, Va. Steve Farnsworth won the school and district competitions in the American Legion Constitutional Speech Contest, and received $100 in scholarship money. Sophomore JoAnne Bodette was chosen by faculty members to represent VUHS in the Hugh O'Brien Leadership Seminar, and in an interviewing situation, competed with other Vermont school winners. Mrs. Crocker's sophomore English class contributed the most obvious bicentennial display, when they painted murals on the upper walls in the office lobby. Each member of the class wrote a research paper on some aspect of Vermont or U. S. history, and the painted scenes developed from these papers. Snoopy took his honored place atop the Liberty Bell, and from there the halls were enlivened with flags, poems and historical characters. TOP: Mrs. Crocker's 10 grade English class at the beginning of their wall painting spree. MIDDLE LEFT: Steve Farnsworth won the American Legion speech contest. MIDDLE RIGHT: JoAnne Bodette competed in the Hugh O'Brien Leadership Seminar. BOTTOM: Laura Farley poses with Mr. Fitzpatrick and her Bicentennial Senior plaque and check. 9