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

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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.

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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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14 THE CRIMSON AND GRAY COMMITTEES Prompter — Pauline Madore. Senior Play Committee — Veronica DiFederico, Bargara Armes, Tom O ' Brien, James Roberts, Anne Damian, Mary Jones, and Margaret Jones. Ticket Committee — Richard Bennett, Chairman; Doris Paul, Jean Swan, Carl Olson, Claire Boehm, Pauline Proulx, Gertrude Kornasky, Islay Palmer, Pearl LaPlante, Mary Curran, Christie Legori, Pete Theodoss, Betty Boudreau, Victoria Themistocles, Wanda Boksa, Tina Cucuruto, Bessie Kraly, Patricia Hyland, Anna Denault, Mary Rydensky, Julian Benvenuti, Phyllis Maloney, Doris Bibeau, and Margaret Douty. Properties Committee — Mary Jones, Chairman; Rachel Jalbert, Claire LaForce, Bessie Michael, and Georgette Gatineau. Candy Committee — Veronica DiFederico, William King, Richard Bennett. Ushers — Catherine Costa, Chairman; Lorraine Staves, Theresa Kwiatkowski, Dorothy Allard, Claire LaForce, Mary Curran, Caroline Alger, Olga Cleri, Laura Ciesla, Jean Small, Barbara Armes, Helen Welk, Rachel Jalbert, Mary Marino, Dorcas Renaud, Laura Lupa, Stefanie Slota, Pauline Proulx, Jean Swan, Vic- toria Themistocles, Pearl LaPlante, Phyllis Letournsau, and Wanda Boksa. Stage Committee — James Rapo, Albert Brousseau, Pete Theodoss, Bob Shaw, and Lawrence Simonds. Checking — Robert L ' Homme, Chairman; James Mogavero, and Robert Harmon. Make-up — Barbara Steiger, Gertrude Kornasky. Music — Gerald Gregoire. Programs — Mary Rydensky. Publicity Committee — Rachel Jalbert, Chairman; Rachel Trudeau, Helen Welk, Gertrude Kornasky. DECEMBER 14 The Readers ' Guild will sponsor a Crystal Dance December 14 from 8 to 1 1 in the auditorium. Gerry Gregoire ' s orchestra will play for dancing. Music Committee ' Chairman: Murat Regip, Ernest Duquette, Roger Hebert. Decoration Committee: Chairman: The resa Swir- bliss, Tina Curcuruto, Ann Tobia, Nita LaRcchelle, Barbara Salva. Refreshment Committee: Chairman: Christie Le- gori, Pete Theodoss, Robert Shaw. Ticket Committee: Lionel Clement, Hank Moriarty, Louis Theodoss. DECEMBER 21 The Class of ' 47 will sponsor a Christmas Dance to be held on December 21 from 8 to 1 1 in the audi- torium. Admission will be $.60. Gerry Gregoire ' s orchestra will play for dancing. Dona Beulieu is chairman of the dance. Music Committee — Robert Vailliancourt, Chairman; Roger Dion, Normand Paulhus Aline Guilmstte. , Decoration Committee — Florence Brzeis, Chairman; Jane Howarth, Kelly Kollios, John Ferguson, Robert Lusignan. Refreshment Committee — John Sotir, Chairman; George Egan, Sylvio Durocher, Leonard Brodeur. Publicity Committee — Beverly Fox, Chairman; Elizabeth Migala, Theresa Tetreault. Ticket Committee — Helen Matys, Chairman; Evelyn Polomski, Alfreda Carpik, Albert Coderre, Vangel Sotir. Invitation Committee — John Simonds, Chairman; Roger Woodbury, Edna Joslin, Barbara Brown. Checking Committee — Clara Checka, Chairman; Harry Chapell, James Borey, Vasiliki Costa. Maintenance Committee William Rowett, Chair- man; Richard Martin, Edwin Mozley, Normand Loiselle. DECEMBER The Dramatic Club has chosen for its annual Christ- mas Play, The Topaz of Ethiopia. THE CAST Charlie Kelland, station agent at Milltown Murat Regip A Traveler John Fcguson Ezra Hammerstein, formerly of Germany Thomas Stoupis Leah Hammerstein, his daughter Lois LePage Hashimura Obata, formerly of Yokohama Robert Orsini Tom Harris Mrs. Harris, his wife Mrs. Truslow Caldwell, of Chicago Four girls of teen age Jane Howarth, Irene Boudreau, Jean Mannis Readers Marjorie Anderson, Clara Bernadone Coach Miss Flora Tait Scene: Waiting room of the way station of Milltown on a main line to Chicago. Time: Christmas Eve. FACULTY This year we are happy to welcome back Miss Pauline Aucoin, the head of the Commercial Depart- ment, also Mrs. Kyrios of the Household Arts De- partment. John Sobieski Marilyn Sheriffs Barbara Steiger Lucille Proulx The student body and faculty welcome Miss Elsie Benoit, Wells ' 39, and Salem Teachers College ' 44 to the Commercial, Mrs. Small to the Math, Mrs. Robertson to the Science Departments. In June 1945 Miss Winifred King retired as school nurse. The best wishes of the school go with her for health and happiness in gratitude for her many kind- nesses. Mrs. Laakso is school nurse this year. Miss Norton this year is teaching at the Avon School for the Blind in Avon, Connecticut. Mr. Hoyt is our new Director of Guidance replacing Mr. Paul Dion who has accepted a new similar posi- tion in West Springfield. CLASS OFFICERS 1946 President Bernard McMahon Vice-President .... Margaret Dandurand Treasurer Samuel Athanas Secretary Bessie Kraly Faculty Adviser Miss Frances Troy 1947 President Lionel Clement Vice-President Ann Tobia Treasurer Edmund Gillon Secretary Natalie Hazelton Faculty Adviser Miss Rose Brodeur 1948 President Philip Cheney Vice-President Helen Boucher Treasurer Ernest Duquette Secretary Jean Meunier Faculty Adviser Miss Persis Howe 1949 President Robert Arsine Vice-President Nita LaRochelle Treasurer Richard St. Martin Secretary Joy Wilde Faculty Adviser Miss Grace Palmer