William A Wirt High School - Sandscript Yearbook (Gary, IN)

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Effective communication is the ultimate goal of any speech course and the speech class of Mrs. Margaret Labb Jones, held third period in the auditorium, was no different. Here interested students learned not only how to prepare and present a meaningful public speech, but were made familiar with the basic elements of debate, discussion, and dramatization. Also stressed was the improvement of the students' conversation habits, diction, and pronunciation, all essentials of good speaking. Class members represented Wirt at various area speech contests, including those sponsored by the Rotary and Optimists Clubs, and left these meetings with the satisfaction of having accomplished their jobs competently and efficiently. They had learned what Mrs. Jones had taught and were now able to use their newly acquired speech skills for personal and business advantages. — Ti ictteti, ecui, cutcC Sutup SPEECH CLUB, first row, left to right: J. Forney, S. McChesney, L. Garcia, L. Hersch, P. Christine, D. Gross, L. Koplow, and R. Schwanke. Second row: R. Nelson, J. Bradley, W. Hubbard, D. Ballard, R. Nehrig, and Mrs. M. Jones. The smartly decorated showcase and bulletin boards with reading suggestions kept Wirt's small library warm and educationally attractive while students did research, studied, or browsed through the rows of numerous books. With Let's Go Frogging and the Place the Face contest, both library science projects, we found ourselves investigating all types of sources the library had to offer and stimulating our interest in its facilities so that we could accurately accomplish frogging or name the face of a well-known personality from society or history. Reward for winning the Place the Face ' contest was a dictionary, but the greatest rewards were what we experienced through our contact with the library. Under the guidance of Mrs. Mary Oppman, the library science class and the library assistants have worked together to serve the student body and faculty. The members of the library organization studied the operation of the reading-research room and assembled lists of reference books, and bibliographies that coincided with the subjects requested by teachers and students in homework assignments. With well-organized projects the library assistants focused attention on the students and sharpened the minds of inquisitive individuals. r LIBRARY ASSISTANTS, first row, left to right: Mrs. M. Oppman, A. Ponto, L. Cupka, W. Pettit, L. Humphries, K. Chicos, V. Jens, and J. Paul. Second row: C. Martin, W. Troxel, H. Beyer, and L. Cupka.

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 CONCERT CHOIR, first row, left to right: P. Owen, W. Pettit, C. Williams, N. Grimmer, J. Paul, J. Moore, L. Cupka, and V. Pet-rucci. Second row: K. Bowman, B. Murway, J. Kirby, M. Terus, R. Mattingly, W. Troxel, M. Smith, P. Seay, and J. Dolenar. Third row: G. Ripper, J. Van-Santen, C. Garris, R. Matysiak, K. Bryan, K. Paul, R. Larson, T. Boule, and Mr. R. Beckman. DRAMA CLUB, first row, left to right: Mrs. M. Jones, D. Nab-han, P. Thomas, T. Grady, C. Isaacson, G. Marlatt, B. Richardson, and I. Shapiro. Second row: J. Moore, G. Fox, and G. Cafeo. Oun t£e 02( ond As the curtains parted, the products of diligent practice showed themselves on stage as members of the 1962-63 Drama Club proudly presented the annual spring play. Action! was the watchword of Mrs. Margaret Labb Jones, sponsor and teacher, who gave her aid to the group in order to produce the best possible dramatic interpretation of the script which entertained the student body. Through daily rehearsals, held fifth hour in the auditorium, Wirt thespians were also able to receive rave notices for their traditional holiday play, which this year was entitled A Christmas Promise ' Speeches kept Drama Club members in practice for their roles, and amateur actors and actresses were able to smile over a well-done job as both the school year and the curtains slowly closed. The trying task of conforming the amateur voices of the Junior and Concert Choirs was met effectively with a detailed study of choral literature and routine practices under the guidance of new faculty member, Mr. Robert Beckman. An accomplishment of these highly trained groups was the Gary Public School Music Festival held at Memorial Auditorium. Under the direction of Mr. C. V. Hendrickson, supervisor of music education in the Gary Public Schools, Wirt students joined with those of other schools to demonstrate the self-expression that an intricate study of music symbols and styles can produce. Another high point on the year's choral scale was the traditional Christmas Concert which featured solos by Judy Moore and Rick Matysiak, bringing the warmth of the Christmas season to concert-goers. After the December concert, continual practices brought professional style to the group in its first year under new direction. The Spring Concert, a sundry musical program for Wirt students and their parents, proved the achievements of unity and persistence in the choral music vein.

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GAA Board members, J. Silver, C. Bole, C. Bode, K. Echle, A. Petkovich, T. Brown, and M. Chulak create a well-rounded sporting and social calendar. ‘pteld, You ain't got the money for the mortgage on the farm, sobs Kathy Echle in the GAA Board skit. Oct n O t6e A whistle shrieked and another GAA contest came to a close amid laughter, cheers, and exhaustion. In this spirit of wholesome fun, GAA strove to promote sportsmanship and athletic ability among girls. The year was not spent only in the four team sports—wallball, basketball, volleyball, and softball—but in refereeing, selling popcorn, sponsoring the turnabout Pirouettes in Pink, and planning a luau. President Noreve Cornea, Vice-president Natalie Barsuko, Secretary Karin Carsch, and Treasurer Charlene Isaacson joined with their executive board of seven and planned a busy social calendar. From the fall initiation of new members complete with skits and refreshments to the traditional awards banquet held at Marquette Pavilion, GAA's activity-filled schedule provided amusement and surprises. Soundings, a club newsletter under the editorship of Mary Chulak and Chris Bode, was a new endeavor which familiarized the girls with slated happenings. In an atmosphere of hotly-contested competition, diligent work, and spirited fun, the Girls' Athletic Association and Sponsor Miss Eleanor Brace worked in harmony to unite Wirt's young women and met with genuine success. A solemn air fills the auditorium as President Noreve Virginia Martin discloses the top ten standing Cornea welcomes new and old members to the formal of the records of GAA members, induction. Volunteer GAA girls sell reinforcements to hungry spectators at a home game. Virginia Jens and Annella Petkovich don't seem to mind the clean-up job after a GAA social.