124. Winchester School News

Sept., 1959. Kindergarten.

  Launching an in-service-training-program, the kindergarten and first grade teachers of the Metropolitan School District of Winchester-White River township met at the Willard kindergarten with chairman, Principal John Kidder.
  The subject for discussion was "Number Readiness in Kindergarten and First Grade Students." Grace Meeks presented the kindergarten readiness program and enrichment uses of number aids.
  The group plans to further its program with a discussion of "Phonics" with Virginia Crew at the Baker first grade room, the second Tuesday of the second grading period. The teachers will study "Reading Readiness" with Verna Emminger at White River first grade, the third grading period of the present school year.
  Members of the Kindergarten and First Grade Teacher's planning program are Principal John kidder, Morton; Grace Meeks Baker and Willard kindergarten; Margaret Moore, Morton kindergarten; Glenda Myers, Willard first grade; Bernice Parker, White River first grade; Kay Mendenhall, White River kindergarten; Verna Emminger, White River first grade; Doris Jones, Morton first grade and Virginia Crew, Baker first grade.

Aug. and Sept., 1959. Band.

August.....The Driver high school marching band began rehearsals Monday evening with 53 students present. Total enrollment for the band is 75 students, with 63 instrumentalists and 12 twirlers. The band will participate in the Indiana state fair marching contest on Thursday, September 3.
  Also beginning this week, band members will practice in groups of 10 students, learning the fundamentals of marching under the direction of six upperclass students. These student leaders are Ramona Arthur, Mary Paul, Judy Welbourne, Betsy Green, Pat Meek and Bob Keys.
  The 12 band majorettes have been rehearsing separately and include the following students: Judy Mills, Martha Roskosz, Barbara Walters, Jeanie Shively, Mary Ann Campbell, Jean Simmons, Carol Jennings, Beverly Barnhart, Evie VanLandingham, Joan Hendrickson, Pamela Lowe and Betty Ayres.

September....The Driver high school band has begun its annual magazine subscription campaign which will be held September 4-18. An effort will be made by the 76 members of the band to contact every home in the city and the township before the campaign closes.
  The band has been divided into four teams of 19 members each. Each team will be headed by a captain and two co-chairmen who will handle the money and check all the subscriptions for accuracy.
  Students heading these groups are: team one-Mary Paul, captain, Janet Hoerst and Sharon Drill, co-chairmen; team two-Betsy Green, captain, Max Spencer and Lonnie Pitman, co-chairmen; team three- Ramona Arthur, captain, Judy Mills and Karen Burkett, co-chairmen; team four-Elaine Murphy, captain, Susan Thornburg and Ginny Rinehart, co-chairmen.
  Proceeds from the magazine campaign will be used to "start" a new uniform fund for the band. At present the Driver band is wearing both sets of uniforms used by the two former high schools.
  Prizes to the ten highest salesmen will be awarded at the close of the campaign. A total goal of $3,400 has been set by the band for the combined efforts of the four teams. Each student will be given a letter of introduction which will be handed to each customer who is contacted, whether they purchase a magazine or not.


Homecoming Parade, 1968.

  Miss Roberta Terrell was crowned queen of the Winchester Community high school Homecoming in ceremonies Saturday evening. WCHS Principal Robert Jones presented the tiara (a gift of Webb Jewelers.)
  "Songs of the Twenties" was the theme of the annual Homecoming, carried out in the designs of the four class floats. The Sophomore float, which won the first prize, used
Tea For Two" as its theme and the freshmen second place float's motif was "I'm Sitting On Top Of The World."
  Even though the Centerville Bulldogs downed the Golden Falcons 7-6 in the Homecoming football game, the entire program was considered the most successful to date, including the postgame dance and the large pre-game parade.
  City officials and a city fire truck led the parade. The WCHS band, under the direction of Richard Buehler, provided the marching music. Varsity cheerleaders were driven by Rusty Symmes, B-team cheerleaders by Roy Bowers and convertibles carrying queen candidates (Leesa Horn, escorted by Steve Chalfant and driven by Larry Horn; Lynne Houser escorted by Boyd Skinner and driven by Larry Pugh; and Roberta Terrell, escorted by Ron Anderson and driven by Harvey Caupp) preceded by the senior float.
  The senior's float was on the theme "Who's Sorry Now?" and depicted a large scoreboard on top of a dog house, showing a Falcon victory over the Bulldogs. All of the floats used some mechanical device to dramatize their theme.
  Heather Helms, junior princess escorted by Jerry Browne, junior class president, was followed by the junior float "Varsity Drag", showing a football player dragging a bulldog back and forth. An antique auto pulled this float.
  Shelby Longnecker, sophomore princess, escorted by Kevin Wallace, class president, was followed by the winning sophomore float; Bobbie Ertel, freshman princess, escorted by Chip Loney, freshman president, was followed by the second place freshman float, "Sitting On Top Of The World."


Sept., 1959. County Schools.

  School consolidation has come a long way in Randolph county and more is coming, according to Supt. Paul Beck who spoke at this week's meeting of the Winchester Kiwanis club.
  Ten years ago, said the county school head, there were 18 high schools in the county-two city corporations and 16 township schools. The largest was Winchester with an enrollment of 217, the smallest was Green with only 38. Two others had more than 100 pupils, Union City 155 and Lynn 126.
  Now 10 years later, there are nine high schools, the largest of which is Lee Driver in Winchester with 446. Smallest is Spartanburg with an enrollment of 88.
  The results of reorganizations-such as Union Twp., Monroe Central, Ward-Jackson, Winchester-White River, Union City-Wayne? Said Supt. Beck; Better curriculum, stiffer competition among students, better buildings and facilities, improved commissions. There are now two first-class commissions, the remainder being continuous.
  In smaller units there is limited opportunity to pupils and per capita costs are out of line with the benefits received.
  Supt. Beck has seen the system under his supervision dwindle from 16 to a mere five, but is convinced that consolidation for the benefit of the pupils is a "must."
  In his domain now are Spartanburg, Union, Ridgeville, Lynn and Ward-Jackson, where not too many years ago the list included Lincoln, McKinley, Huntsville, Spartanburg, Lynn, Modoc, Losantville, Wayne, Jackson, Saratoga, Jefferson, Ridgeville, Parker, Farmland, Green and Stoney Creek.
  If some county superintendents lose their jobs in the process of progress, that's all right with him. He's of the thought that schools are for the kids.
  Supt. Beck drew considerable interest when he advocated special training and facilities for retarded children. This is a must, he said.
  It will cost money, he stated, and warned that "men like you" (Kiwanians) will have to dig down deep in their pockets to finance it.
  In relating past history of reorganization progress in Randolph county, Supt. Beck gave these:
1950- Union Township formed by uniting West River and Nettle Creek townships, becoming effective January 1, 1951, with the schools (Modoc, Huntsville and Losantville) operating as before.
1952- Huntsville and Losantville high schools were moved to Modoc. Lincoln was closed and pupils transferred to McKinley.
1955- Jefferson school moved to Saratoga.
1956- Monroe Central School corporation was the first consolidation. Plans now are to build between Farmland and Parker on St. Rd. 32.
1957- Wayne consolidated with Union City and Wayne high school closed. Ward-Jackson school corporation formed, with high schools operated as before.
1958- Stoney Creek high school moved to Farmland, Green to Parker, Jackson to Saratoga.
1959- Metropolitan School district of Winchester and White River formed.
  Speaking of the future, Supt. Beck says it is in the hands of the county school reorganization committee of nine members. This committee, under Senate Bill 6, has the power to revamp, (subject, of course ,to public approval) any school district and school districts now organized and to suggest future consolidations.


New School Song, 1959.

  Dr. Earl B. Marlatt, who recently retired to Winchester to live after a career as a university professor, is author of the words of a new Winchester-White River school "fighting song."
  Dr. Marlatt, who acquired fame for his hymn-verses, many of which are incorporated in standard hymnals, has written the words to the tune of "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
  The song will be heard for the first time at Friday night's Driver-Clinton Central football game at Goodrich Park.
  The half-time show is entitled "The Tombstone Story" and depicts the story of the famous "Gunfight At The O.K. Corral" at Tombstone Arizona. Featured in the gunfight will be students taking the part of Marshall Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the Clanton gang.
  A special feature of the half-time show will be the presentation of the floor show at the "Bird Cage Theatre" with the band twirlers presenting a special dance routine.
  The band will conclude the half-time ceremonies with a salute to the Clinton-Central school and a special presentation of the "Fight Song."




























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