Wayne Valley High School - Embers Yearbook (Wayne, NJ)

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Wayne beat Keyport 18-13 in the first football game of the year. After the game the Junior Class held the Kickoff Dance , a traditional sock hop . Decorated with footballs, pennants, goalposts and a large tepee, the gym was crowded with Wayne rooters. Once again we studied amidst the noise and rattle of construction while the addition to the school was being built. We watched with interest as the new wing progressed from a mere foundation to a building of functional beauty. Hands that had nevor been raised before were seen fluttering many timos on October 15 sporting a shiny blue and gold ring, the pride of every junior. As juniors we found our main problems to be Moby Dick, chemistry labs, and history projects. Would we graduate Cormenized ? Would those experiments blow up or succeed? Why did Ahob hate Moby Dick? These were the questions which plagued us. When, during this year, the seniors appeared with beanies, the juniors would not be undone. With the aid of Mr. Klie's art supplies, we hastily manufactured junior visors, which were gaily sported to the dismay of the seniors. Upon the marriage of our advisor. Miss Caporusso, to Mr. Angelo Caruso, we acquired a father for our class. After many lengthy rehearsals and sleepless nights spent learning lines, we presented Meet Romeo Morgan . The play told of the antics and activity of the teenage world. Will we ever forget the night the lamp smoked; the transformation of Mitzi Townes from the tomboy to the charming young lady; or Joe Gaeto singing, Sailing, sailing . . and sawing. Heavenly shades of night are falling—it's Twilight Time . . . These words will long serve to remind us of our Junior Prom and the pleasant memories we associate with it. As the year drew to a close, the students who were to represent Wayne High School at New Jersey Boys' and Girls' State and at the New Jersey Citizenship Institute were selected. While attending a week of conferences and activities, these students learned much about the state government and made many lasting friendships. 28

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As our class grew in size, the need for two class advisers was realized. Mrs. Thomson was chosen as co-adviser to Miss Caporusso. From then on they worked together for us. The officers for the sophomore year were elected in September. We chose Jay Van Brunt as president; John Pezzuti, vice president; Pat Tancke, secretary; and Nancy Tomai, treasurer. During the sophomore year we came in contact with Mr. Krause and his biology course. There we received our first long, speedy lectures and directions that had to be followed specifically . But, oh, how the faces drooped when a lab which a student had thought was better than good was returned with the never-to-be forgotten words: Too sketchy ; Rough ; TMX ; or the most puzzling, What? . The famous Good Krausekeeping Seal of Approval was stamped on almost anything, including the back of an innocent guinea pig. Although many of us tried to reach the Top Ten and only a few succeeded, we all learned the practical knowledge of exact note-taking. Outside of class, selling refreshments at the football and basketball games was the main project of the sophomore year. Ice Cream! Potato Chips! The problems were many, but the monetary rewards were great. Everyone was relieved when basketball season came, for refreshments were sold in a much warmer climate. Occupied not only with our own problems but cognizant of world conditions, we at Wayne High School declared Workday for Freedom on December 27, 1956. After reading of the conditions which existed in Hungary as a result of the revolt, the student body felt that they should give a small part of their time to aid these people who had made such a great sacrifice for freedom. Offering to do anything from cleaning the attic to minding the baby, students went from door to door throughout the township. As a result of our drive and Al Smith's appearance on The Original Amateur Hour , schools throughout the country followed our plan. The $2,000 which we earned was donated to the Hungarian Relief Fund. Recognition of our work came in the form of an award from the Turrcll Fund. Holiday for Hearts provided a romantic diversion from classroom life. In a setting of silver cupids and a large heart with a silhouetted boy and girl before it, Therese DiNapoli and Edward Mozurkiewicz were chosen Queen and King of Hearts. We then turned to the business of electing officers for the following year. For nomination to an office, letters of application were mandatory. Those elected were Harry Palmer, president; Jay Van Brunt, vice president; Judy Wardell, secretary; and Nancy Tomai, treasurer. With these students as our leaders, our junior year was off to a favorable start. 27

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Finally, the time came when each of us could walk through the main door and say, I am a senior. With the commencement of this year coincided the opening of the addition to our high school. Eyes were opened wide in astonishment when we entered the new wing and saw the library with its sunken floor and the language laboratory, one of the few in the country. It was fine to be a senior, but each of us realized that there were many new problems to cope with; we now had to fill out college applications, apply for scholarships, attend interviews for jobs, usually with shaky knees and chattering teeth, or pay a visit to the draft board. On a Friday night in October, the Embers sponsored o Pizza Party. Ten dollars of boosters or ads bought a ticket for pizza, soda and dancing. The party was a great aid in financing the yearbook. Although we did not have the privileges of the preceding senior class, senior cafeteria and coffee in the morning, other activities compensated for the loss. We caroled in the halls at Christmas ending with Merry Christmas, JVD , and were beaten by the men faculty in the Varsity-Faculty Basketball Game when the boys donned hats which constantly fell in their eyes. Double bubble, toil and trouble . . . Mr. Shakespeare predicted bad times for Macbeth and late nights for us. In twentieth century dramatics we prepared for Tire Kicker, written by Joan Carmen and Richard Woudenberg, two of our faculty members. Although at times there was uncertainty about the completion of the script, a new hit opened on the Wayne stage in November. A benefit performance was given for the yearbook on Novomber 28. Although the snow days and vacations meant free time for most of the students, the yearbook staff utilized these hours to meet the deadlines. The hours spent writing, typing, drawing and selecting pictures were numerous. In April, the business students were placed in jobs as part of their Secretarial Office Practice Course. A number of these positions provided permanent placement for students after graduation. Others suffered through the College Boards, and then waited and hoped. In the spring life became a bit easier as we received acceptances from colleges and business firms. As the prom and graduation approached, we realized that our senior year was reaching its culmination and that a new way of life was to begin. On Senior Day, we took over the responsibilities of the administrations of the school and the township, filling every job from custodian to mayor. Later that month we danced and enjoyed a beautiful evening at the Junior Prom. During graduation week, the Awards Assembly brought happiness to those who received awards and prizes. How the parents beamed with pride for these children whom they had brought through seventeen trying years. Before we knew it, graduation and its accompanying festivities were over. We had completed four years together and would now go our separate ways. As graduates, we experienced contradictory emotions when we thought of the future with joy and a fear of independence. However, each one looked ahead to the place he would occupy in the infinite scheme of things.