Wells High School - Crimson and Gray Yearbook (Southbridge, MA)

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12 THE CRIMSON AND GRAY No, was the sharp and quick answer. Some of the upperclassmen would say, Come on! Up a little higher. So up they would go. Everyone did as they were told that day. Nothing hard about what we had to do Tuesday. All we had to do was to wear our ties backwards. As some remarked, We don ' t know whether we ' re coming or going. Some upperclassmen would ask, What ' s the mat- ter with you? Are you crazy or something? Could be! some answered. Wednesday, boys and girls couldn ' t be told apart, for we poor boys had to wear a ribbon on our hair and also on our arm. This was a very hectic day. Many boys looked very cute as the teachers and upper classmen remarked. One teacher asked the boys, Would you like to adopt this style? No! was the loud, quick answer. One boy didn ' t wear his ribbons, but that was fixed very quickly. Into the office went this boy with a few seniors, and when he came back he wasn ' t the same boy. He looked very different, for he had a nice large ribbon in his hair (large enough to drown him) and he also had a nice large ribbon on his left arm, plus for not doing as he was told, a nice tail of bunch- es of ribbon on it. Thursday was the worst day of them all for us poor boys. We had to wear lipstick on our lips only. But some didn ' t have it on the lips only, they had it all over them. Also we had to wear a ribbon on our left arm. One freshman said to me, I am going to kiss one of the upperclassmen and smear it all over his face. But as far as I know he didn ' t do it. Friday came with a big bang! Every boy and girl had to wear a sign with his name, nick-name, and also I am a Freshman. Some said, It is interesting to see who made the best poster. Everyone had his s ; gns and that day at school passed very easily. Near the end of school, posters were being passed around and everyone was signing them. Most of us kept them for remembrance of Freshman Week. At three o ' clock Friday there was a party at the Wells auditorium and we all had a very good time, thanks to the upperclassmen and Mr. Robertson. FRESHMAN WEEK ISABEL NOROWSKI ' 49 Ah! Poor freshmen! What we all go through, But nothing really happens, To a happy-looking crew. Yes, we can take it With a smile upon our face, We ' ll just laugh it off, ' cause It isn ' t a disgrace. Everything from lipstick To different colored socks, And a 12 by 18 sign. That weighs you down like rocks. Oh, but this isn ' t anything, We know it ' s all in fun, Would you mind? I didn ' t, It ' s gone by and done. Now, someday we ' ll be seniors. Our turn to laugh at the rest, Remember that old saying, Those who laugh last, laugh best? So, come on, you freshmen, all over now: Better days are coming, Then watch our smoke. Wow! FRESHMAN WEEK WILLIAM CODERRE ' 49 At last the dreadful day had come But it was fun for some. High-water pants, the Seniors said, So up they went, by gum And when at last it has been done No longer will I run At each and every senior ' s whim! Good gosh, I ' ll be all in. The tallest and shortest Freshmen, respectively in each home room as selected at the Freshman Party ar as follows: Room 108 — Henry Bushe, Barbara Boksa. Room . 1 1 — Robert Freeland, Helen Checka Room 112 — William Lusignan, Ralph Marcelli Room 114 — Barbara Richards, Margaret Prince Room 116 — Roger Vincent, David Varnam VERSIONS OF FRESHMAN WEEK If you say the requirements of Freshmen Week didn ' t demand much courage, ask yourself if you could have lived up to those five days with a smile? I know it would have been hard for me. But they did. Every single day, they walked around the corridors, walked home, and came back at one o ' clock for more. The boys, especially, never went through that front door without a senior or junior putting on the finish- ing touch. Yet, did you see any long faces or marks of hurt pride? No, in fact they even laughed at themselves. That ' s the spirit of America and it ' s here in our own school. That ' s why I say three cheers for the freshmen, class of 1949. — Vivian julien ' 47 Freshmen week — to the freshmen of today, is a happy, carefree introduction into school fun and sportsmanship of high school. We upper classmen, in creating the rules and plans for freshmen week, often give them odd orders in deeds and dress, recall- ing our experiences, though our upper classmen were lenient in their rules. — Jeanne Sirnonds ' 4 7 I thought freshman week was a lot of fun and everybody who did the things we had to do were good sports. When I am a senior, I would like to see the freshman boys dress up as girls and the girls dress up as boys. — Jerry Caudette ' 49 I found freshman week most amusing as did every- one else, that is everyone except the freshmen. The strangers who visited the school that week must have wondered as to just what kind of students we had at Mary E. Wells. However, the freshmen were great sports and did everything just as they had been asked. I, personally, thought it was a simply wonderful idea. It seemed nice to h.ive the freshmen dis- tinguished from others. — Rachel Bonnette ' 47 This is a very good way of welcoming the fresh- men, for you welcome everyone. No one gets hurt Also everyone in school has a good time. -Virginia Chase ' 47

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DECEMBER, 1945 11 US POOR FRESHMEN ROGER VINCENT ' 49 What happened to us poor freshmen during the past week, shouldn ' t have happened to a dog. We had some fun out of it just the same, but woe betide the poor freshman who did not comply with the rules. When the upper classmen spotted him, they would swarm down on him like a pack of wolves going after one poor little sheep. The upper class- men would then decorate them the right way but to the very extreme. (The upper classmen, especially the seniors, took it as a great big joke to see us all decorated like a bunch of clowns.) My personal opinion was that Thursday was the worst day for the boys. The upper classmen surely smeared this poor freshman with plenty of lipstick. I myself had enough lipstick on to supply the whole school. In fact I might say that I looked like the cosmetic counter at our five and ten. The girls were the worst off on Wednesday. What they looked like is indescribable. They seemed to be all tails. What they should start around here is a senior week during which the freshmen push the seniors around. Boy, would that be wonderful. I believe that they have not such a week because the seniors would never be the same again. It was a swell week just the same and everybody, that is almost everybody, was happy. The party sure was swell! THE FRESHMAN BOY VINCENT DEL VECCHIO ' 49 The freshman boy, he goes to school Without a worry, he ' s very cool. He knows that this is freshman week, And goes to school dressed like a freak. He gets up early Monday morning, And goes to school tired and yawning. He gets to school and his pants are rolled high By a couple of seniors, and he dares not sigh, With one stocking blue and the other red, He keeps on blushing, ' til he goes to bed. He gets up Tuesday, bright and spry, And goes to school watching the clouds in the sky. He goes to school with his tie on nice, But the senior boys creep up like mice. He dares not struggle when they turn around his tie, Or he ' d see stars, and not in the sky. He goes to school with his hair slicked back, When all at once he thinks he ' s being scalped with an axe. For along came the seniors, and on him went a bow, Which the little freshman boy was bashful to show. Thursday was the day that went to the seniors ' head, For the freshman boy ' s lips had to be decorated in red. And his shirt went from front to back, Making him feel as though he were slack. Along came Friday, he wore a big sign, He showed the seniors he could take their design. FRESHMAN WEEK JOY WILDE ' 49 It seemed to me, that Freshman Week — Was fun for all, both strong and meek; The Upperclassmen had their fun, And laughed and teased when the week began. Eight different pigtails caused quite a riot — Even the Office was far from quiet ! ! ! Two colored socks caused quite a bark From outsiders- who thought we had dressed in the dark! Lipstick on the boys, a tie down the back- — I declare! Such legs! There ' s nothing they lack. The girls without makeup seemed out of a book; It was awful indeed, you never saw such a look As we got from the seniors met in the hall. They ' d always say, Freshman, get on the ball! With bows in their hair, the boys were forlorn — And a sign made of cardboard tattered and torn. The seniors would stop, look, then say Yippee! Then thinking they were funny, said this to me, Stop! Let me measure it! To make sure it ' s right! If it ' s not 12 by 18 kid, I ' ll see you tonight! When the Freshman Party was well on its way — Mr. Sibley came out and made it a day! Soon everyone started to push at once — He ' s taking my picture — do you want a punch? With Freshman Week over — Wells went back to normal. Even though the seniors were casual and formal, We all say hello! when we meet in the hall — And there is no Freshman — get on the ball! We ' re classmates now — and we ' ll play together And win football games, despite the weather! FRESHMAN WEEK ALDEN BENNETT ' 49 On Monday we were asked, if that ' s what you call it, to wear highwater pants and two different colored socks. Well, I got to school all right. Then Ka- pow, a senior, jumps on me, pins me to the wall, measures the height of my pants, and congratulates me on my sportsmanship. After this all I heard was Roll ' em up, Turn around, Hi! cutie!, Eighteen inches, to your knees, and dozens more. I got along okay. Tuesday was easy, all we had to do was wear a tie down the back. It would have been all right but for those eager beaver seniors that pulled my once artistic knot into something that resembled a hang- man ' s noose and felt the same. Wednesday ran along all right. Of course with a brush cut it might have been a little difficult to wear a bow, but with my mop it was easy. The bow on my arm got slightly crushed in the halls, but all went along pretty good. Thursday, Yipe, I wore lipstick, shirt back- wards, and a bow on my left arm. On the subject of lipstick I quote from the rule sheet, Lipstick on lips only. I am only a freshman, but I can read. On Friday we wore a sign 18 in. x 12 in. with various pieces of information on it. I got this cov- ered with autographs of those that could still write after the week ' s ordeal. I discarded it at the party Friday afternoon. This party was a lot of fun. I danced with girls, which is logical, and had coke (the type you drink, not burn,) and so-called cookies. This, to be serious, was very nice of the seniors. We were slightly warm and disarranged by six o ' clock but happy, for this closed the dumbest, silliest, most moronic week of my life, I hope; but all in all we had a merry time. I might also add that the one thing I live for is the day when I can put fresh- men in the kennel. FRESHMAN WEEK NORMAN LEIGH ' 49 Freshman Week was a very exciting one. The first day, Monday, September 23, 1945, we, the boys, had to roll our pants up to our knees and also wear two different colored stockings. It wasn ' t very funny for some freshmen, for they had nice, dark black hair on their legs. I was told by one of the girls, It is very interest- ing to watch the boys ' legs as they are always watch- ing ours. Do you think they are something to look at? I asked.

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DECEMBER, 1945 13 LOCALS «SSrtS8Jr«$SW«3 ACTIVITIES CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 24-28 This week was dedicated to all the freshmen who entered the sacred portals of Wells High. To make them live up to their title of freshmen, they were made to look ridiculous and do ridiculous things. It was all in the spirit of fun, though, because we are sure they enjoyed it as much as the upperclassmen did. SEPTEMBER 28 After a week of hectic initiation, the freshmen were royally welcomed at a party given in their honor by the upperclassmen in the auditorium at three o ' clock. Coke and cookies were served and enter- tainnment was presented. OCTOBER 3 Mr. Paul Sweet, our instructor of musical instru- ments, demonstrated playing the trombone, trumpet, clarinet, and saxophone. OCTOBER 9 Decision, precision, and vision were the key words in the speech given to us by the noted )oe Mitchell Chappie. Mr. Chappie said that without decision, precision, and vision one cannot succeed in the world. He also told us of some of the celebrities he had met. OCTOBER 20 The camera-minded pupils of Wells High have formed a Camera Club with Mrs. Katheryn Robertson as their adviser. Their first sccia! event was a Camera Club Festival in the auditorium. Cider and doughnuts were sold and the famous fortune teller, Miss Rosa Rekaf (Miss Hedwiga Swiacki) , read palms. Miss Claire Birtz sketched portraits and Fred Sibley snapped pictures. OCTOBER 26 The class of ' 47 chose their class ring. OCTOBER 31 What ' s Under the Hat of America? was the theme of a talk given to us by Commodore Long- fellow of the National Red Cress. Commodore Long- fellow made an unusual entrance dressed in a long white gown covered by a red, white, blue robe. He told the story of the Good Samaritan and the origin of the Red Cross flag. His unusual way of giving a lecture appealed to everyone. NOVEMBER 7 A group of Leominster ' teen-agers from the Leominster Canteen were guests at an assembly in the auditorium. The president of the canteen, Rene Rheault, talked on how to start a canteen and how to keep it going. Their adviser, Mr Martin Burns, also stressed the need of a canteen in the commun- ity. Mrs. Ball also spoke on the canteen. NOVEMBER 8 An illustrated lecture on customs and arts of Mexico was given by Dr. A. B. Keeler of Mexico City. His beautiful pictures showing the Mexican people at their work and play, the colorful fiestas, and the numerous sports furnished one of the year ' s best as- semblies. NOVEMBER 21 A football rally was held.. Cheerleaders led the assembly with cheers and songs. There were sev- eral speakers including Bernard McMahon, Cather- ine Costa, Superintendent Channing Greene, Prin- cipal James Robertson, Coach Harry McMahon. A good-luck wreath, presented to the football squad by the student body, was accepted by Captain Pete Theodoss. NOVEMBER 28 Preview of the senior play. NOVEMBER 30 Spring Green. The Class of 1946, Mary E. Wells High School, presented Spring Green by Florence Ryerson and Colin Clements on Wednesday evening, December 5, 1945, at the Auditorium, Mary E. Wells High School. CAST OF CHARACTERS Nina Cassell Margaret Dandurand Mrs. Rumble Lucille Lusignan Scootie Cassell Rita Leduc Private Snow Anne Damian Private Wood Joy Oker Tony Cassell Veronica DiFederico Pinkie Ames Louise LeClair Genevieve Jones Nancy Wilkinson Mrs. Jones Barbara Steiger Eula Hotchkiss Theresa Swirbliss-f- Mrs. Putnam Margaret Jones— - Dunk Doyle Sam Athanas Bing Hotchkiss John Ciprari Major Todd Paul St. Martin T. Newton Todd Charles Peloquin Dr. Luther Blodgett Mike Ziu Officer Ryan William King Mr. MacGruder James Rapo Billy Albert Brousseau Solos were sung between Acts II and III by Betty Boudreau and Rachel Trudeau, members of Girls ' Glee Club, accompanied by Claire LaForce. The Class of 1946 thanks the LePain Pharmacy for the loan of the wheel chair; The Edwards Com- pany for the perfume boxes and the mirror; Nipmuck Tribe, I. O. R. M. for the loan of an Indian costume; Mr. F. A. Couture of the Trade School for supervision of the electrical work; Miss Grace Palmer for super- vision of make-up; Miss Claire Birtz for her help with posters and stage; Mr. McMahon, Mr. Laakso, and Mr. Hoyt for assisting in the corridors; and its many friends who have loaned properties and costumes. Miss Thecla Fitzgerald was director of the play.