Westmont Hilltop Senior High School - Phoenician Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

Page 24 text:

PHOENICIAN MR. McILNAY Mr. Mcllnay, a teacher whom all students like and admire because of his leadership, is a friend in or out of the classroom. He is a member of the Commercial teaching staff, where he teaches Bookkeeping and Busi- ness Arithmetic. Being greatly interested in athletics, he may be seen aiding Coach Engh train the track athletes, or selling tickets at a football or basketball game. Mr. Mcllnay also works with several clubs about the school. Although he is a rather new faculty member, he is very active in the school and has won the friendship of all the students. MISS McGANN The great number of portraits of English and Ameri- can men of letters in Room 205 definitely stamps Miss McGann as a literary enthusiast. She is heartily en- gaged in her own life work, and her chief ambition is to have her pupils succeed in theirs. Together with her task of giving pupils a complete background in English grammar and literature, she encourages them to think clearly and constructively, and to express their thoughts forcefully. The goal of her English courses is to de- velop a personality in each student so that he may enjoy life to the fullest extent, and to prepare him to meet the problems of life so that he may ride on the crest of a wave rather than flounder in a bewildering flood. All her students appreciate Miss McGann’s earnest efforts to prepare them for problems they will have to face after ieaving school. Besides her work in English classes, Miss McGann is our very competent and likable Dean of Girls, and an active worker for the Girls’ Club. Moreover, she is the final judge of the manner of using English in any work such as newspaper, debate, and Phoenician. MR. MEALY What would we do without Mr. Mealy and the Art Department? Every poster for every play, game, or activity is willingly and delightfully made by them, and in an unbelievably short time. Besides applying their printing pens and brushes to posters, the students are every day painting lovely still life objects, sketching their friends, and making plaster casts from statues and plaques. Although the students do their own work, it is greatly influenced by the capable Mr. Mealy as he goes from artist to artist giving hints and adding touches here and there which increase the merit of the product. When the day is done, Mr. Mealy and his pupils can look back and see that they have accomplished something that not only adds to the beauty and rhythm of the world, but also prepares for a most enjoyable career. MR. OTT When one enters room 306—the room in which Mr. Ott presides—a feeling of enveloping mystery immedi- ately grips one; perhaps it is the Atomic chart which gazes serenely from the wall like the hieroglyphics of some forgotten Aztec temple. Perhaps the feeling of mystery comes from the case in the back where many ingenious, intricate, and scientific instruments repose. In Chemistry and Physics one learns about all of these mysteries and more; he becomes better acquainted with atoms, elements, and compounds by the performance of many experiments. In all. Chemistry and Physics are very interesting subjects which are made more so when studied under the genial and friendly “Professor” Ott. 20

Page 23 text:

PHOENICIAN MISS ELIZABETH GREER It is through Miss Greer’s vigorous and systematic training that our school can boast of so many healthy girls; the Physical Education periods twice a week have become periods of fun, looked forward to by most of the girls because of their informal, yet beneficial exercises and games. Supplementing the benefits derived' from Physical Education, Miss Greer has aroused the interest of the girls in basketball, tennis, and other types of ath- letics. By her unfailing cooperation with them, our school has attained the standing it has in girls’ basketball. MISS MARGARET GREER Having seen “Little Women” and David Garrick” ably presented in the last semester, we realize the efforts Miss Greer has made in coaching our amateurs in the presentation of such praiseworthy productions. At the same time she directs our histrionic abilities, in the ca- pacity of librarian she increases the value of our library by selecting new material and by better organizing and simplifying what we have. Miss Greer is always willing and ready to help us find the much needed material that always seems to be in the last place we would think of looking; always eager to advise us as to the best books to be read for book reports or for an evening’s enter- tainment. Many of us—especially those who have taken some sort of Math-—will remember Miss Greer as a great help in time of need (I’d hate to think of doing all the problems she has done this year.) Even though she has these many responsibilities, Miss Greer always has time to make the library more pleasant by the care of her plants. MISS KANTNER Besides teaching her students to speak French as Frenchmen speak it (well, maybe we ought to say as most intellectual Americans), Miss Kantner keeps them agog with interest through the French Club, plays, songs ,and games; with the French newspaper—“La Petit Courier”; and by the correspondence with students of English in France! Every student of French really should experience the thrill of conversing in French with a friend from across the sea. This is made a most sim- ple and attainable thrill under Miss Kantner’s supervision. Pourquoi non? Believing it is not possible to learn another language without a good background in the native language, Miss Kantner also teaches English to the Freshmen. MISS LANDIS That constant clicking of keys we hear in ths upper halls is a sign that the Commercial Department, unde- the excellent guidance of the skilled Miss Landis, is striv- ing to produce stenographers fitted for the commercial world. If anyone is capable of fulfilling the position of teaching accuracy and speed necessary to typing, cer- tainly Miss Landis is the one. The very atmosphere of her room—bright and clear—gives the students that “wide-awakeness” they must have when typing. To those eager to become proficient in the business world and willing to practice much, Miss Landis proves herself a most pleasant and capable guide in preparation. 19

Page 25 text:

PHOENICIAN MRS. ROBINSON Who is that person hurrying about, making the cafe- teria spotlessly clean, and preparing for the oncoming rush of teachers and students at noon? It is none other than the school’s smiling friend, Mrs. Robinson, who plans and oversees the preparation of the delicious noon meals served at our cafeteria. After the cafeteria work is done, she supervises classes of Cooking and Sewing. Mrs. Robinson is a good friend of the girls on the basketball team, for she not only practices with them, but often takes them in her car to their games. MR. TOMB The reason that History taught by Mr. Tomb is actually remembered is the thoroughness of the teach- ing. If a pupil is slow to grasp the material taught, Mr. Tomb devotes much of his time in helping him master his work and retain it. But he gives pupils more than facts; he teaches in such a way that enables one better to realize the trend of the past and better to evaluate the present. In addition to the teaching of History during this past year. Mr. Tomb has had the responsibility of coaching the Debating Teams which derived much valu- able experience through his coaching. The Hi-Y Club progresses steadily and the Sopho- more Class works efficiently with Mr. Tomb as advisor. We also know him for his support of sportsmanship and school spirit. MR. WOLF Full of fun, friendly with all the pupils, serious at the right time—that describes our Math, teacher, Mr. Wolf. Though he has been here only two years, he has already become very popular with the pupils. He in- troduces the Freshmen to the great unknown—Mr. X— and the beginning of Algebra. The burden of proving theorems, he lays on the back of the Plane Geometry students. The Juniors he greets with quadratic and simultaneous equations. And he buries the Seniors in polyhedrons and tons of cosines and identities. Besides all this, Mr. Wolf has been assistant coach. He has de- voted his time to the strong line on our football teams and to coaching the Junior Varsity. When in need of a referee for any sport, we have gone to Mr. Wolf who has always willingly granted our request. MISS WYMAN Do you hear that jolly laugh? Well that’s merely Miss Wyman chuckling with a pupil over some humor found in Latin—yes, humor is actually found in Latin under her guidance. Miss Wyman unearths all sorts of humor and interesting problems which make this study, which is usually considered so dry, “not half bad” after all. Although this is her first year as a member of our Faculty, she has opened the geniality of her character and of her heart to many pupils, including some not even taking Latin. With her challenging ambition and unique personality. Miss Wyman is sure to make success con- tagious. She has fulfilled the capacity of advisor for the Girl Reserves very capably. 21