Westport High School - Herald Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. 27 Stamp Sales The full meaning and value of Thrift Stamps is firmly imbedded in the minds of Westport students because of the fact that each one had to write an essay on that subject. Westporters, as in all other war activi- ties, joined in full swing with the move- ment and let their money flow freely in this worthy cause. Up to May 4, 353,393.80 worth of Thrift Stamps had been sold in Westport during the campaign. Y. M. C. A. Subscriptions Last fall, when the request came for money to support the Y. M. C. A. in the war, Westport responded very creditably. Four hundred and eighteen dollars has been collected already, and when some large subscriptions are paid the amount will increase considerably. A large num- ber of classes subscribed 3350, and others gave smaller sums. Most of the money, however, came from individuals, the High School Club running the campaign. The giving of money for the support of Y. M. C. A. huts and canteens at the front and in home cantonments was far from the least of Westport's patriotic actions. What the Sewing Department Has Done Would that the enthusiasm of the girls of the Sewing Department could be put into words! Besides having done most of their regular work, they have been untir- ing in their efforts in doing war work. Ambulance squares and numbers of all kinds of knitted garments were made for the Army, Navy, and little French or- phans. Both sewing rooms took on the ap- pearance of a downtown surgical dress- ing room when the girls, with the help of teachers, teachers' wives, and yes, some of the boys, turned out about 500 hos- pital pads. A Soldiers' Property Bag Drive brought in 230 hospital bags for our boys. Another drive for scraps of material brought men's shirts and large and small pieces of material f1'om which the girls made attractive little French and Bel- gian Relief dresses. By May 4 seventy- five had been sent over. Woolen scraps and samples were pieced and made into two comforts. Before the Junior Red Cross was or- ganized, our girls made for the Senior Red Cross over 150 garments, including base and trench hospital garments, baby sacques, bootees, etc. During the Spring some of our Junior Red Cross fund of 95629.25 was worked up into French Refugee garments. About 150 girls' chemises and over 200 boys' of working suits were made. The job 3,000 buttonholes and sewing on as many buttons was by no means one. Notes written by the an enviable French De- partment and other surprises were tucked away in the pockets by the girls. A Red Cross class was organized this last semester. These girls gave their en- tire class time doing Red Cross sewing. Many of the regular sewing class girls gave up their long planned Spring silk and fancy dresses just to help win the h war. Both boys and girls have generously loaned their cars to take materials to and from the building. The Business Department made type- written sheets of materials and articles which were brought from home. These sheets were given to the teachers, and the sewing girls acted as messengers in carrying the requests for special articles suggested by the various drives. In the last few weeks of school much Red Cross work was expected to be ac-

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26 THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. numbered, the '19-ers battled most val- iantly and nearly succeeded in dampen- ing the ardor of the winners of the pre- vious year's contest. But their handi- cap proved too much and twice the water was entered by the Juniors. After the contest eats, which had been brought by the girls, were distributed and soon made away with by the exhausted vic- tors and vanquished. Several slackers were seized after the pull was over and immersed, just as they were, in the flood. As a class-spirit maker, the tug-of-war is a great success and it should be made a regular annual event between the up- per classmen. Herald Cover The Herald cover contest ended with Charles Vance, a Junior, successful. Ten dollars in gold was his reward, and Grace Piper and Margaret Heinze, the second and third prize winners, received a copy of the Herald free. Wstport was un- usually fortunate in procuring judges this year, they being H. Wood of the Kansas City Star, V. A. Lambert of the Barrick Publishing Co., E. A. Huppert of Northeast High School, Mrs. A. H. Gregg, and Mrs. Hal Gaylord. While the num- ber of contestants was large, the judges were generally agreed as to the winners. City Thrift Stamp Contest Westport's representatives in the City Thrift Stamp essay contest, Lidabel Tracey and Beverly Williams went, were judged, and conquered. Winners of the school contest, they were entered against representatives of the other high schools, and they brought the laurels home to Westport. Lidabel Tracey's essay has been entered in the statewide contest, but the result is not known as yet. WAR WORK The Crier has from time to time men- tioned some of the things that Westport has done in the way of war service, but it has not mentioned all of them. We are glad of this opportunity to give you a rapid survey of the year's activities. Liberty Bond Campaigns During the Second Liberty Loan West- port was very active. The total amount sold through the activity of our pupils was il562,050. For this we secured a S550 bond and turned it over to the Y. M. C. A. War Fund. Many of the pupils bought bonds for themselves. Several of the clubs and many of the classes also bought bonds. Most of the bonds purchased by the clubs and classes have already been turned over to some worthy cause. The classes of Mrs. MacLaughlin set a good example, as each class bought a 2550 bond. Her second and fifth hour classes gave their bonds to the Y. M. C. A. The fourth hour class of girls gave their bond to buy milk for the Belgian babies. The first and seventh hour classes are saving their bonds for the next Red Cross drive. Other teachers' classes did the same thing. The classes of Mr. Roberts, Miss Wilson, Miss Jones, Miss Bain, Miss De Witt, Miss Borland, and Miss Leitch also bought bonds, but we do not know what disposition they have made of them. The Clionians bought bonds to the value of 9.52505 the Pundits, 5150, and the Round Table Club, 550. The Round Ta- ble Club turned their bond into the Stu- dent Aid Fund. We are not sure wheth- er the Clionians and Pundits have dis- posed of their bonds or not. The Westport Boy Scouts are , to be praised for their part in both the Sec- and and Third Liberty Loans.

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28 THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. complished which is not listed here. Even plans have been formulated for large sized Junior Red Cross organizations this summer. ' Books, Magazines, Music Records for Sol- diers Through the aid of several of the Fac- ulty members great stacks of magazines and books were sent out to the soldiers. Room 35 sent one hundred and eighteen music records to Camp l Doniphan to the soldiers of the former Third Regi- ment of Kansas City boys. ' Patriotic Knitting A knitting club of all girl members met at Miss Wilder's home one afternoon a week during the knitting rush. Many were working for personal friends. Aside from this, four complete knitted sets were turned in to the Elizabeth Benton Chapter of the D. A. R. A pleasant re- sult of this work was the letters and postcards from European ports which came from our sailors, acknowledging the receipt of the knitted articles. Afghans A service that stands for individual ef- fort is the knitting of blocks twelve inches square for afghans for convales- cents. Five large ones, each having eigh- teen blocks, and two smaller ones of six each, have been put together by the girls. A number of boys knitted for these, and their work bears comparison well. These comforts were beautiful indeed, and the soldier boys who have seen and admired them, deeply appreciated the spirit of these boys and girls of Westport. These afghans were given to our American boys, and the variety of color- ing design and embroidery will have at least carried a message of cheer and good will that it is hoped has expressed the sympathy and admiration their great deeds deserve. p Opera Glasses Mrs. McLaughlin took charge of the procuring of opera glasses for the army and navy officers, and five pairs have been brought in. Two teachers, Miss Liepsner and Mr. Hart, gave theirs, be- sides the others brought in by pupils. All were sent to an army camp. Salvage for Red Cross A Freshman in Room 28 fifth hour started the pupils of that room in saving tin foil long before the Red Cross Sal- vage Department began its work with us. Seventeen and three-fourths pounds were collected and brought in before the boxes were put in the lunch room. A Red Cross box was then put in 28 by the Salvage Department. Aside from foil, a quantity of jewelry was put into the box for the melting pot. Up to May 1 sixty-five pounds of foil had been turned into the Salvage Department by Miss Wilder. The salvage boxes in the lunch room also collected much foil and other ma- terial. One of the best things that can be said of these boxes is that they have done much to inculcate habits of saving. Red Cross Shipping Boxes Mr. Guisinger's classes were busy dur- ing the Spring days in making 100 heavy wooden boxes 3x2x2 for shipping Red Cross material to Europe.