Whitman High School - Spotlight Yearbook (Whitman, MA)

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of the old monitor system. Until this time we had passed between classes in regimented form, but Mr. Johnson decided to allow us more freedom on a trial basis. Since we proved to be capable ofliving up to his standards, the old monitor system was abolished. About the middle of March we started working on our research essays. Those who wished could enter the Spellman Essay Contest. Two of our classmates were wellrewarded for their work. Roberta Harriman and George Johnson were among the winners on the night of the contest. Our social season was highlighted by our first formal dance, the Junior Prom, The decorating com- mittees worked many long hours on the colorful arrange- ments which completely transformed the gym into a beautiful spring garden. Everyone who went to the Prom agreed that it was one of the most enjoyable evenings they had ever had. As Juniors we were proud of the success of the school baseball team, which won the Eastern Massachu- setts Small School Championship. The Junior boy to have his name inscribed on the Athletic Cup this year was William Powers. We were glad--especially the girls--to welcome as class members Michael Capelotti and William Clark. Before leaving on our summer vacation, we had one final task that of decorating for the Senior Class Banquet and graduation. This is the fourth and final year at W. H. S., and we have come a long way since that morning in September, l95l, when our class was born. Although we had looked forward to the day of returning as Seniors, we dreaded the thoughts of spending an extra hour in school each day. However, we hardly noticed the added time, as the periods were shortened andthe lunch period lengthened. Because of the press of class duties, it was imper- ative that we hold class elections immediately. Our choices were George Johnson, president, Kathleen Deehan, vice-presidentgGeorge Harrington, treasurer, and Louise Shea, secretary, This year we had two new members join our class Roberta DiPersio and Gerard Lentini. The first event on our calendar was our success- ful Senior dance, Kickoff, The school was surprised when we arrived on the day of the Thanksgiving rally dressed--at Mr. Johnson's suggestion--to display our maturity. 26 At the end of October Miss Gilbert held tryouts for the Senior Class Play, Our Miss Brooks. The cast was chosen, the parts were assigned, and rehearsals were underway. For six long weeks we rehearsed faith- fully, and on December 3, 1954, the play was success- fully presented to a full house with Hazel Buckman in the leading role. By sponsoring a record hop at Christmas time, the Dramatic Club introduced a new idea which was popularly received. Immediately after returning from the Christmas vacation, work was started on our class yearbook, The material had to be written, the advertisements gathered and everything typed. So that we could have our books on Class Day, the members of the yearbook staff worked many long days and nights rushing to meet the deadline, which came early in May. About the same time that we started work on the yearbook, we began preparations for examswhichwould help us in our choice of careers after graduation. Those in the general and commercial courses were to take the State Employment Tests, and those in the scientific and classical courses were to take the College Entrance Exams. By the middle of April these dreaded tests had been taken and most of us had made our decisions. One of the most amusing events in the school year was the second annual faculty versus varsity basketball game. Despite the many handicaps under which the varsity boys were playing, they still beat the old men in a very closely contested game. George Harrington, who had set an Old Colony League record in 1954, this year broke his own record by scoring fifty three points. For the commercial students it was an exciting day when we attended Brockton Superior Court. The law suit being heard that morning proved very interest- ing, and we eagerly watched the local paper for the verdict. At lunch time we went toa Chinese restaurant, which was quite a novel experience for us. On April 26, 1955, the final dance of our life in W. H. S. was held. With April Showers as the theme, the decorating committee turned the gym into a shower of memories. There was a scene depicting each event sponsored by our class in the past four years. Soon after this dance, a near tragedy almost took our beloved science teacher from us. Mr. O'Neill, while giving a demonstration to a phyics class, came in contact with some wires which were electrically charged. The resulting shock rendered him quite help- less and threw him to the floor. He recovered quickly, and we were all relieved to hear that no serious harm had been done,

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an Hisio We entered this world of W. H. S. on the bright, sunny morning of September 5, 1951. We were duly tagged with names and room numbers. Our daily sched- ule soon became routine under Pop Bayley, and we began to make satisfactory progress in our growth. It was not long before two of our more lively class- mates, Audrey and Evelyn, wandered forth into the adventurous world as cheerleaders. Soon after, the rest of us totteredforth to the first rally. We shivered with pleasure at the rahs and booms of the upper classmeng but, try as we might, our childish trebles could not compete with the roars of our elders. Like all children we were delighted in the antics of an animal. Our attention was drawn from our first English classes by Daisy the Cat, who strolled back and forth along the sill of Miss Taylor's room. In the next few months we grew rapidly. Almost from the beginning some of our classmates took part in school sports. This year the girls proved to be the stronger athletes, since the girl's basketball team was undefeated. In the early spring the team was given a testimonial dinner as a reward for their hard work. June came, and we were well on the way to matu- rity. We looked forward to our long summer vacation. Happy as we were in June to leave school, we were even happier in September to return as Sopho- mores. By this time we were sufficiently organized to elect class officers. Our choices were George Johnson, president, Nancy Hogg, vice-presidentgRobert Emery, treasurerg and Janice Butler, secretary. This was the year in which we began to take part in all the school activites. There were Sophornores on the Spectator staff and in Student Council. All the teams began to call on our classmates more and more frequently. One of our former classmates, Mary Whalen, re- joined our group after a year's absence. Our class was so large that we joined with the Freshmen for our own Dramatic and Glee Clubs. For two years we had anticipated our first dance, and in February the time finally arrived. We decided on the theme Moonlight Sleighride. We worked harder on this dance than on any other, and it was our most successful venture, both socially and financially. At this dance we presented our class advisor, Mr. Howland, a gift, since he was leaving to take another position. Mr. Bayley's resignation, as principal, to take the position of guidance director, was a surprise to us all. In March our new principal, Mr. PhillipJohnson, arrived. After two years of adventuring in this world of books and activities, we now had confidenceg and we eagerly anticipated the beginning of classes in Septem- ber. The day finally came when we returned to school- - now as upper classmen. As we stood by and watched the bewildered expressions on the Freshmen's faces, we realized that we, too, were once that young ourselves. Again one of our first duties was the election of class officers. They were George Johnson, president, Nancy Hogg, vice-president, George Harrington, treas- urer, and Judy Nelson, secretary. This was a year of decisions, for we were to select our class rings and our class photographer. Two com- mittees were chosen, one to present a group of rings and one to present a group of photographers from which the class could make a selection. We finally chose a rectangular shaped ring witha small W in a red crest mounted on white onyx for the girls and black Onyx for the boyS. For our photographer we chose the Warren Kay Vantine Studios of Boston. On November 20, 1953, we held our first dance of the school year, taking as a theme World of Songs. Much fine work was done by the decoration committee under the direction of our class advisors, Mrs. Brewer and Mr. Collins. Earl Hannafin and his six-piece orchestra provided the music. About this time we bid good-bye to Mr. Fox, who had worked so capably with school dramatics. When we returned after our February vacation, we found that a new P. A. system had been installed, We were surprised and happy untilwe realized that the days of underhandedly summoning other classmates from the various rooms had come to an end! Another change, about that time, was the expulsion 25

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