Waltham High School - Mirror Yearbook (Waltham, MA)

Page 10 text:

THE MIRROR LILLIAN SUNDIN Class Hifzforicm, 1929

Page 9 text:

TTHE MIRROR 7 Clary History Our first day at high school, Sep- tember 8, 1926, was a strange one. Because the assembly hall was al- ready overcrowded with seniors and juniors, we were guided into class- rooms on the first flo-or by kind teachers who entertained us with ac- counts of school life or gave us gen- eral directions for finding rooms. Finally, at the call for sophomores, we rushed to the auditorium, roo-ms were assigned to us, and we rushed downstairs again, opening and clos- ing doors to look at the numbers. Most of us recall the day thus far. The rest of the morning is a blur of program cards, roll calls, personal statements, occasional errors, and long assignments for the following day. This chaos was relieved by the dismissal bell, and We wandered out into the sunshine slightly bewildered but obviously proud to be high school students. Although we felt quite at home before the end of the first week, we also began to realize that, although the upper classmen were the same we had known in junior high school, our teachers and the lessons they taught were not the same. Our knowledge of Latin, for instance, was too ele- mentary, geometry seemed to be a subject hitherto unknowng indeed, even the English language acquired new words and terms. Meanwhile, from the very first days of school, football practice had claimed the attention of the boys. As the season rolled on and closed with the team always on thexside of victory, our classmates who played M in the game rapidly became heroes equal to Ivanhoe and King Richard. After the Thanksgiving recess, however, the sophomore class seemed to be leading a monotonous life, but just at that time Mr. Crawford's plans for an operetta really devel- oped. The tedium of school work disappeared. Tryouts for the cast, open to members of all three classes, were announced, choruses and sol- diers practiced, and the orchestra re- hearsed. It was soon evident that many sophomores were theatrically inclined. Indeed, dramatics appeal- ed to so many that the Sophomore Dramatic Club, which now admits students of all classes to member- ship, was organized by the class of 1929 under the direction of Miss Rand. This club, whose charter members are to graduate this year, has grown in popularity and mem- bership every season. Shortly before the Christmas va- cation, the sophomore class met to elect its officers. The battle was long, noisy, and sometimes fierce, but the final count of votes gave the fol- lowing candidates large majorities: President, John McGurng Vice Pres- ident, Frances Cookeg Secretary- Treasurer, Jeannette Barrowg Audi- tor, Irad Hardy. William Storer, who had been elected chairman of the first social committee, announced the date, Fri- day evening, January 21, 1927. Alas, in spite of all, that could be done, the sophomore's human nature did not change. The first social was like all other first socials-merely a

Page 11 text:

THE Mraaor. 9 morning assembly-girls sitting on one side of the hall, boys opposite amusing themselves likewise. During the winter months of 1927, the high school skating rink was much in demand. When the boys' hockey team was not in action there, the girls' gym. classes were trans- ferred to the ice, and the rink was an especially popular meeting place during study periods. VVhen spring came, however, skates and hockey sticks immediately disappeared from the new coat lock- ers, while bats and gloves suddenly found their way to boys' lockers. Then, because it was spring and we wanted another social before be- coming juniors, the president called a second meeting, and we elected Jeannette Barrow chairman of the spring social committee. On the evening of May 13, l927, the sopho- mores returned to school to find the assembly hall transformed into a cabaret. Although it was Friday, the thirteenth, the cabaret was a social success. Only a few weeks of the school year then remained, the seniors had their class day, were graduated, and wesophomores were then free for the summer. The vacation seemed scarcely to have begun when we returned to school to greet our old friends as well as the sophomores, to whom we as- sumed an air of cool dignity. Once more we prepared to study hard, for our list of subjects had grown. Had we not been warned that the junior's life is one of study? During the first few days, the portable building afforded much amusement and aroused varied com- ment. How cautiously we splashed out there in the rain or, as winter ap- proached, slipped along the ice path to the annex door! U Our football players, determined to make a good showing although graduation had robbed them of all but one star performer, did well, and many were the men who received val- uable training for the coming season. In October we reorganized our class, electing as President, William Rhodesg Vice President, Frances Cookeg Secretary-Treasurer, Jean- nette Barrowg Auditor and Athletic Representative, Irad Hardy. A few days later we elected Emily Lancaster chairman of the social committee. This party was held on November 4, 1927. How different from the first sophomore social! To quote the newspaper-'CA good time was had by all. At this time rehearsals for the second operetta, Naughty Marietta, were begun, and our class again con- tributed to both cast and chorus. Several weeks later we chose our class colors and motto. Although the boys were slightly uncertain as to the exact shades, American Beauty combined with Sand were selected for class colors while Excelsior- Orzwani and Upward-be-came our motto. Of course report cards were issued quarterly throughout the year. We encountered quadratics and surds in algebra class, learned dates, and memorized reasons for the Revolu- tionary VVar with battles of the Civil VVar as lNIr. Fite gives them in his history book. Our business friends struggled for speed and accuracy in typewriting. Those who studied law concocted such puzzling court cases as to baffle the judge, but shorthand symbols completly amazed prepara- tory division students. Friday, April l3, 1928, was'the evening of the Superstitious Party of which Jeannette Barrows was chair- man. The hall had been strewn with black cats, opened umbrellas, broken mirrors, and unlucky signs suitable for the date when the juniors walked