Wyomissing Area High School - Colophon Yearbook (Wyomissing, PA)

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Jlflatlzcmatics Because a sound background in mathematics is so essential in the sciences, this course at Wyomissing Checking the is a compulsory subject in the seventh h0mCW0fk- through eleventh grades. It consists of arithmetic, algebra, plane geom- etry, and, in the senior year, trig- onometry and solid geometry. This department, under the supervision of Miss Thelma Brunner, Mr. Clarence Weik, and Mr. H. Y. Brubaker, has as its basic aim teach- gown theorem. ing the students to think logically and then apply the rules in every- day life. In the seventh grade course known as math pupils re- view their arithmetic and study in- terest rates. Eighth graders, still hav- ing math , delve into such things as investments, insurance, bonds, ratios and proportions, and get a taste of algebra. First year algebra, under Mr. Weik, is taught to the ninth grade. Introduced to second year algebra by Mr. Brubaker, the tenth graders are instructed in solving equations, square roots, and factoring. This class helps the students develop quick and accurate thinking. juniors are introduced to' plane geometry, in which they study theorems and constructions and develop logical thought pro- cedures. In their senior year students may have, as a major elective, the course of trigonometry and solid geometry. Here they study the relationship between sides and angles of a triangle, loga- rithms, and also learn to visualize in the third dimension complex solid figures. This course provides an excellent foundation for those students who wish to continue the study of mathematics in college. Also on the curriculum is a math review course offered to seniors, which helps them prepare for the College Board Examinations, and an advanced algebra course for seniors who wish to continue their study of this subject. Deriving the Pytha- Senior mathematicians. Mr. Weik and ninth grade algebra class. j 27

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Sciences Science, an essential part of our educational background, brings the student into immediate touch with Magnetism demvrwtrafion- the universe. Because fields of science form so large a part of our human knowledge and because they are basic for many other fields of knowledge, Wyomissing welcomes it in its high school curriculum. The Science Department, under the direction of Mr. Sheetz, Mr. th -n ., Weik, and Mr. Manderbach, begins C gl 5. . . . . . with a generalized study in Junior high and becomes specialized for senior high. Seventh graders, with Mr. Manderbach, study such topics as air, fire, fuel, water, and simple machines. Through the outdoor ed- ucation program the students col- lected insects and made winter gardens. Weather, the human body, communication, and the solar system represent some of the phases studied in eighth grade, while matter, energy and work, heat, light, food, environ- ment, and plant and animal life, also taught by Mr. Manderbach, are studied by ninth graders. Mr. Sheetz, teaching biology to the tenth grade, acquaints the students with the organs and various systems of plants and animals. Dissections give the students a better understanding of their studies. Physics students, studying under Mr. Weik, make an intensive study of heat, light, sound, electricity, mechanics, and atoms, and then prove related theories by grt 41p experimentation. Chemistry, one of the seniors' science courses, also taught by Mr. Sheetz, involves atoms and their relations, solving chemical equations, and experimentation. Mr. Weik teaches Senior Science, which is an advanced general science course covering parts of chemistry and physics, to seniors not taking chemistry. These students also do experi- ments, although they have no specific lab periods. Junior high science courses are compulsory while those of senior high are elective. . . . and these are The mechanical advantage of pulleys. lt'll work! Please? 26

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Home fcawmics Wyomissing's Home Economics course presents numerous opportunities for girls to become better ac- quainted in various fields of home living. This year the department is under new guidance with Mrs. Margaret Stover advising and directing the classes. Some of the main facets which she covers during the year are: child care, housing for the family, personal, family, and com- munity relationships, and family health and safety. On the senior high level, the courses depend on the students' abilities and Now you can cut. Industrial ,Arts The Industrial Arts Department, under the leader- ship of Mr. D. C. Shirk, is divided into three main parts: woodworking, drafting, and photography, the first two be- ing compulsory subjects for boys in grades seven through nine. Woodworking and drafting help the boys develop skill in the use of various tools and machines, and in the reading of blueprints. In senior high these subjects be- come elective, with students taking as many periods a week as their schedules permit. Photography is also an elective in tenth and eleventh grades. The main objectives of this subject are not only to take and develop pictures but also to aid the students in understanding the mechanics of a camera. particular interests. Home Economics prepares the student for the future by helping her discover vocations in such fields as interior decorating, nutrition, and sewing. Examining the engine block. This is a good iob. Driver Zrnining The Driver Education course, headed by Mr. D. C. Shirk, strives to make good drivers of the tenth graders and to acquaint them with the Pennsylvania Motor Code. Meeting once a week, the classes use books prepared by the American Automobile Association, supplemented at various times throughout the year by films, pamphlets, and lectures. In addition, the students prepare a map of Wyomissing on which accidents in the borough are noted and then discussed by the class. When a student receives his learner's permit, he is started toward his driver's license by a road-training pro- gram given by Mr. Joseph Pitcherello, licensed driver- trainer instructor. 28