Wellesley High School - Wellesleyan Yearbook (Wellesley, MA)

Page 12 text:

FREDERICK E. TED” STEEVES September 30, 1968 will long be remembered as the ' ‘parting of the ways” of the man who never could say NO to a student or faculty member, a man who never said anything derogatory about anyone, and a man who loved living just to be of assistance to anyone. “Ted” Steeves, as he was so affectionately known, built his department around the thought—‘Something in athletics for everyone”. He had more sport teams than any other Bay State School. His Physical Education program, second to none, has been copied by many communities. Of all his innovations, his gymnastic shows must be classed as his ultimate. He was so highly respected in this field that he was awarded the National Helms Foundation Award for Gymnastics, one of three recipients in all New England. We of W.H.S. in 1969 feel privileged to have known Mr. Steeves and our only regret is that future classes will not have the same opportunity of such a fine association. —Harold Hines

Page 11 text:

JOHN B. CHAFFEE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS RETIRES Mr. John B. Chaffee became the superintendent of schools in Wellesley in 1954, several years before many of the students now attending Wellesley schools began their education. And now, as the present Senior class awaits its landmark graduation—the hundredth in our history—it seems we are marking more than one mile¬ stone in Wellesley educational history, for this year, 1969, is the last year in Mr. Chaffee’s career of edu¬ cational service in this community. The quality of Mr. Chaffee’s contribution and the fact that so many owe their fine education to him, moves us to thank him and to recall some of the many contributions that he has made to us in the past fourteen years. As we look back, we see that Mr. Chaffee has been the one ever-present factor that has moved this school system through a continuing cycle of re-evaluation and improvement. The quality of the Wellesley School System has been elevated—and that elevation of quality has been constant. It is a well-accepted and much repeated theory that the orbiting of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957, shocked America out of its intellectual com¬ placency and resulted in a new realization of the need for an improved system of public education. Under the direction of Mr. Chaffee, Wellesley schools have excelled in the planning and adoption of programs designed to afford the greatest possible benefit to the future citizen. Because of increase enrollment, these additions have been made to the Senior High School. Similar expan¬ sion programs have been conducted at the Junior High School and at various elementary schools. The excel¬ lence cf the physical facilities provides an environment which is more conducive to learning. Curriculum changes, of which the “new math”, the expanded Social Science Department, and the diversification of physical science offerings are but a few examples, keep Wellesley education in step with the growth of American society and its technology. Of tremendous importance to Wellesley youth has been the emergence in the past decade of the Guidance Departments in the Junior and Senior High Schools. When Mr. Chaffee came here in 1954, there were two part-time counsellors at the High School, and none at the Junior High. As he leaves us in 1969, he leaves an organization of six full-time professional guidance counsellors at each school. A similar growth has occured in the adoption of new reading programs and classes for the mentally retarded. From the first day of elementary school to the last year of high school, special emphasis has been placed on the development of reading skills and language comprehension. The fundamental importance of these communication skills necessitates that all students master them. Mr. Chaffee has seen that Wellesley students do have this opportunity. Another important factor of innovative education is the internship program Wellesley established with Northeastern, Harvard, and Boston College. Conse¬ quently, many stimulating people train in the Wellesley Public Schools each year. Several now teach in our schools, and their ideas concerning teaching methods and subject matter have been judiciously incorporated into the Wellesley School System. As we look at this partial list of Mr. Chaffee’s ac¬ complishments as Superintendent of Wellesley Schools during the past fourteen years, we cannot help but be impressed anew by his dedication and farsighted leadership. We are sorry to see Mr. Chaffee leave, but we wish him well in future endeavors and remind him that he has the enduring gratitude and affection of the Wellesley residents. 7

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PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE To you, the members of the Class of 1969, goes the unique distinction of being the one hundredth gradu¬ ating class of Wellesley Senior High School. What changes have taken place in those one hundred years! Most of the progress made has been in the field of material improvements—electric lights, the telegraph and telephone, radio and television, the automobile and the airplane, and hundreds of other inventions which have made our lives much easier in a material sense. In addition, man has fathomed the mysteries of the atom and built up the power to destroy all mankind. Rockets set their sights and reach the moon. Russia and the United States are vying with each other to put the first man on that celestial body. Could any graduate in that class of one hundred years ago have dreamed of the wonders now all around us? But with all these material marvels, social progress has lagged far behind. Only in recent years has our attention been called to many ills facing large segments of the population. To your generation will be given the mandate to help right much that is wrong in man’s relationship to man. It is our hope that your school years have given you a firm foundation on which to build. The prayers of your parents, your teachers, and your friends go out to you to make the most of your opportunities that you may contribute individually to making this an even better world in which to live. Good luck and Godspeed to you all! 9