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GRADE 1

    When school opened August 31, nineteen pupils were here for the first day of school, namely: Laura Britcher, Duanne Burmeister, Don Claney, Richard Elijah, Johnny Feddersen, Beverly Ginteret, Robert Hartig, Donald Hoffner, Dorothy Hoffner, Bethany Krafock, Darrell Lerch, Donald Long, Fonda Long, Robert Miller, Gordan Ribble, Joyce Shontz, Forrest Smith, Richard Thumma, and Alberta Wenndt.

     During the year Duanne Burmeister moved to Bennett and Joyce Shontz to Tipton. Marvin Schlemmer helped to make up for them when he moved here from Lowden. Richard Thumma moved to the Stanwood district March 1st but his parents brought him back and forth for the rest of the year.

     Here are a list of activities as they happened in our first grade room:

     September: Our unit on boats started when we made some walnut-shell boats; the sandbox was flooded to make a sea on which to sail them and Bobby’s motor boat which circled around for ten minutes at a time. A trip down town where Mr. Klatt demonstrated the fire engine for us, started us on a bigger unit of the fire engine. At Bobby Miller’s birthday picnic we were all treated to bananas.

     October: We made a fire truck of our own, and drove it in the Musicval parade. Some of us rode in pretty floats all the way down town. A field trip to Farrest Smith’s home to see the museum and rock garden was next. Dick Thumma’s birthday party with a big decorated cake followed. The intelligence tests. Alberta Wenndt’s birthday party. Our Halloween party with masks, jack-o-lanterns and bobbing for apples. Don Claney’s birthday party with candles for the cakes.

     November: Bethany Krafock’s birthday party. Making up an original flag drill for Armistice Day program, which we gave with paper hats and many flags. Miss Burrough’s birthday party. Another original dance, an Indian one with a turkey and some pilgrims woven into the plot; we gave it for the Thanksgiving program in the gym. Dorothy Hoffner’s little sister had a birthday so she visited school and treated all of us with candy. We gave our P.T.A. demonstration on character education. Fonda Long’s birthday party.

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     December: We made Santa’s palace in our sandbox and even Santa and his reindeer were on the snow drift outside. The children exchanged names for gifts and while we were having our program in the gym Santa came and gave us all a treat. We made cook-books for our mothers.

     January: Started our ABC books. Started spelling lessons. We had a birthday party in Laura Britcher’s honor; also Duanne Burmeister’s birthday treats.

     February: Started a circus unit with a merry-go-round and a ticket office but it was interrupted by a Dutch unit which we had in connection with our original Dutch play which we gave. Mr. Baker taught us a Dutch dance. We had a valentine party and Dickie Elijah brought us valentine treats that day since his birthday is in the summer. The Homemakers Club gave us a little cot for our room.

     March: We gave our grade program. All of us were little Dutch children. Darrell Lerch’s birthday party with Baby Ruth candy bars for all. Planned an Easter party and invited Marilyn Benner. Johnny Fedderson’s party with Easter egg treats. We had a week’s spring vacation. Marvin Schlemmer started to our school.

     April: Jackie Turtle came to live in our sandbox. We made a nice home for him. We took a field trip to see the bird houses around the town.

Grade II

    School opened August 31st with an enrollment of eight boys and seven girls, namely: Jimmy Bixler, Bert Kely, Robert Ehlers, Bricen Krafock, Dale Schroeder, Neil Kastler, Henry Britcher, Marion Long, Cornelia Ruther, Milda Long, Dorothy Winey, Mary Akin, Shirley Sheldon, Esther Feddersen, and Arlene Liercke.

     Since that time we have endeavored to reach standards and make our school life more interesting through various activities in our room.

     On September second we began recording some of our experiences in “Morning News” which also included a record of attendance, the date, and weather. This month we took several field trips to look for signs of fall.

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Many pretty leaves were found and pressed. These were made into a booklet. We planted flowers in our flower box. Bert Kelly brought some fish. Jimmy Bixler brought the bowl and many of us contributed shells. Watched the development of a tadpole brought by Bert Kelly. Study of pets. Made “Big Bear’s Walking Stick” into a movie. Checked health chores on a sunflower chart.

     October: Arranged our store and supplied the shelves. Took part in the Musicval. Had pictures taken with our floats. Made spelling booklets. Decorated our room for Halloween. Made Jack-O-lanterns and masks for our party. We made an autumn sand table.

     November: Dale Schroeder’s birthday party. Bert Kelly’s birthday party. He brought each of us a birthday cake with a candle on it. Attended an Armistice Day programme in the gymnasium. Education week and each of us wrote a letter to our parents inviting them to visit. Made posters for book week. Wrote an invitation to first grade to come to a dramatization of “Billy Goats Gruff” and “The Little Red Hen”. Mary Akin brought snails for our fish bowl. Studied the Pilgrims and Indians. Dressed Pilgrim dolls. Took part in a Thanksgiving grade assembly. Each of us colored chief Good Health’s feathers for our health chores.

     December: Made Christmas gifts and cards for mothers. Santa put toys in stockings for perfect health chores. Wrote letters to Santa. Took part in a grade Christmas assembly. Made decorations for room and tree. Had a Christmas party and exchanged gifts in our room. Bethlehem scene in our sand table.

     January: Studied the life of Eskimos and made a booklet about them. Studied habits of winter birds. Had health tags for health chores. Dramatized “The Elves and the Shoemaker.” Attended a high school pep meeting.

     February: The Homemakers club gave us a cot. We wrote them a “thank you” letter and mailed it. Visited the post office and built a post office. Studied about the mail. Had a valentine post office and party. Made lacy valentines for our mothers. Studied about Lincoln and Washington. Valentine race for health chores. Our tadpole died.

     March: Study of Holland. Read “The Dutch Twins”. Illustrated this book. Watched narcissus bulbs grow.

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Bert Kelly brought a collection of real Chinese things. Took part in the grade program, “Zip, The Sailor”. We represented the Italian Organ Grinder and Italian children. Planted oats in the sand table and watched them grow. Easter party and we dyed eggs. Recorded signs of spring.

     April: Brought branches and watched buds come out. Planted seeds in cans and watched them grow. Studied about birds and made a booklet.

     May: Made May baskets. Made gifts for Mother’s day. Held school exhibit. The community Picnic was held completing another enjoyable school year.

Grade III

    School began August 31st with an enrollment of seventeen in third grade: Robert Brendes, Margaret Britcher, Joan Davis, Doris Dohrman, Kenneth Ehlers, Neil Frahm, Velma Harness, Marilyn Hoffner, Eleanor Long, Elizabeth Long, Donald Meier, Kenneth Meier, Marvin Pruess, Joanne Robinson, Everett Ruchotzke, George Shriver, and a new girl Peggy Aldrich.

     October: we gave a music demonstration before the P.T.A. We were very sad when we learned of the fatal accident of our classmate Robert Brendes.

     In November we finished our Japanese garden. A frieze done in colored chalk covered the back wall. At each end of the frieze were cherry trees made by tieing pink blossoms on small trees. The girls made pillow and kimonos and painted them with Japanese designs. The boys made wooden sandals and painted them red. We wrote an original Japanese play entitled “Kite Day”. Peggy Aldrich and Eleanor Long were chosen directors for this play. We invited the fourth grade to come and see our Japanese garden, told them interesting things we had learned about Japan, and presented the play “Kite Day”.

    December: Our room was decorated for Christmas. For our mothers we made cook books of their favorite recipes and bound them in black oil cloth. We attended the annual Christmas party in the gymnasium and dramatized the story “The Kitten Who Wanted to be a Christmas Present” as our part of the Program.

     We studied Eskimos in January and read many interesting stories about them.

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     February: We studied winter birds. Kenneth Meier, Donald Meier, and Kenneth Ehlers were chosen to make a bird tray for our window to feed the birds. For Valentines day we made a white valentine box covered with red and gold hearts. We also studied the lifes of Lincoln and Washington.

     March: found us busy working on original dances for our Japanese act in the operetta “Zip, the Sailor.” When our act was ready for presentation it consisted of a dance by the group before the Gods. Two Japanese songs “Ye San” and “Sing Song” and a dance by George Shriver and Joan Davis. In the finale, each child was bowed low in complete surrender before the two Gods, Peggy Aldrich and Everett Ruchtozke.

     Three new pupils came to us in March. Lloyd Burmeister from a Cedar County rural school and Marvin and Melvin Lerch from the Stanwood school.

     April: found us finishing our library corner. We made 2 bookcases and 8 chairs. They are painted a Peking blue and trimmed in a light yellow.

     On April 20th we motored to Cedar Rapids to attend the play “The Sleeping Beauty” which was presented by the Junior League at the Franklin school.

     May: We were busy in May with the school exhibit and the many other closing activities of the year.

Grade IV

     August: On August thirty-first, twenty-two pupils were enrolled in the fourth grade. Two new faces were among the group; those of John Christophersen and Jimmie Shontz.

     September: found us busy becoming adjusted to our new surroundings and subjects. Until this time we had never before used a health or geography text. During this month Eileen Dircks and Gladys Pruess treated us on their birthdays. Then, too, on Saturday, September 26, the class was invited to a birthday party for Donald Ruther at his home. The rainy weather kept some away but those who attended spent a very enjoyable afternoon.

     October: In the Musicval parade in October most of us were children for the old lady in the shoe advertising Lubkeman’s Repair shop. Elda Wulff brought a birthday treat for us during this month. On Hallowe’en day we had a short party at which Vernon Goldsmith won the prize for a blindfold game.

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     November: Many things happened in November. Jimmie Shontz dropped from our roll. On Election day we had a straw vote in our room which turned out favorable for Mr. Rosevelt. During American Education Week we presented an Eskimo program for our mothers and the third grade. This summed up a unit in geography for us. During the same week we enjoyed a Japanese program given by the third grade. We presented a dramatization of “The First Thanksgiving” at the grade assembly before the holiday. Delores Boettcher’s birthday treats were enjoyed during this month.

     December: A hike in December inspired an interesting art project. We found pine cones which we painted and on which we blew gold powdered paint. Edward Bachman’s birthday was the occasion for another class treat. For the Christmas grade assembly we sang several songs we had learned in music class.

     January: Our first experience with semester tests came in January. Delores Boettcher, Shirley Bachman and Eileen Dircks were excused from all of them due to high averages. A birthday treat by Vernon Goldsmith was enjoyed during this month.

     February: Lincoln’s birthday and Valentine Day were observed by a part in our room. Many valentines were distributed from the box made by a committee of children. Birthday treats were given by Durwood Dircks and Verna Wulff in February.

     March: In March we took part in the grade program. The boys were German soldiers and the girls were nurses. The groups met in a German café and performed their drills and dances. For this we also learned the German song, “Ach Doo Leeber Augustine.” A spring vacation was welcomed by all in the latter part of March

     April: twentieth brought much excitement to our room. It was on this day that we attended the Junior League’s presentation of “The Sleeping Beauty” at Franklin school in Cedar Rapids. We were taken in cars by some of the parents.

     May: brought with it the usual “last year activities”- semester tests, community day, and final grades.

     We appreciate the interest the parents and friends have taken in our work this year. A total of nearly fifty visited while we were at work during the year.

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     The Class members now are: Edward Bachman, Shirley Bachman, Delores Boettcher, John Christophersen, Don Claney, Barbara Crist, Durwood Dircks, Eileen Dircks, Vernon Goldsmith, Vernon Gottschalk, Donna Miller, Gladys Pruess, Reta Ribble, Donald Ruther, John Sheldon, Bobby Shriver, Bonnie Sonnemaker, Veneta Wenndt, Elda Wulff, and Verna Wulff.

Grade V

    Enrollment: Max Crittenden, Josephine Eckert, Veneta Ehlers, Lois Eggert, Elsie Feddersen, Roger Gintert, Bethany Goldsmith, Viola Harness, Doris Hoffner, Mildred Horn, Arlene Long, Duane Meier, Glenn Merritt, Donald Pruess, Evelyn Ruchotzke, Barbara Sawyer, Gilbert Sheldon, Janet Shimerda, Barton Smith, Dorothy Twachtmann, Alice Winey, Darold Wulff, Harold Yock, and Harlan Yock.

Honor Roll

    First period—Janet Shimerda, and Roger Gintert.

    Second period—Roger Gintert, Mildred Horn, Arlene Long, and Janet Shimerda.

    Third period—Roger Gintert, Bethany Goldsmith, Mildred Horn, Arlene Long, Donald Pruess, Janet Shimerda.

    Fourth period—Max Crittenden, Roger Gintert, Doris Hoffner, Mildred Horn, Glenn Merritt, Donald Pruess, Janet Shimerda, and Barton Smith.

    Fifth period—Roger Gintert, Mildred Horn, Arlene Long, Janet Shimerda.

Spelling

     Mildred Horn received the most 100’s in spelling during the year. The Tigers won the scoring over the Lions in the first spelling ball game. The Lions defeated the Tigers in the second game.

Perfect Attendance Record

    Max Crittenden, Roger Gintert, Mildred Horn, Arlene Long, Duane Meier, Gilbert Sheldon, and Dorothy Twachtmann.

Members of the Junior Band

    Max Crittenden, Roger Gintert, play the clarinet—Donald Pruess, the Cornet.

    September: School started and everyone became acclimated to his new surroundings. The class was divided into two groups—The Tigers and the Lions.

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    October: Took part in the Musicval and parade. The Tigers entertained the Lions at a program and refreshments. Hallowe’en party.

     November: The Lions entertained the Tigers at a program and refreshments. Thanksgiving program for all grades. Our part was the Amateur Hour.

     December: Had a Christmas tree with flickering lights on it. Made gifts for our mothers by burning wood plaques. Christmas program for all grades. We presented an original play “A Merry Christmas.”

     January: Semester examinations. Wrote original health plays and presented them to the other groups.

     February: Valentine Party. Mr. Chas. Smith talked to us about the Carlsbad Caverns.

     March: The big event of the year, “Zip, the Sailor”. We were Mexican children dressed in Mexican costumes. We promenaded, danced and sang a song in Spanish. Janet Shimerda and Roger Gintert danced the Mexican Jorabe. We had our pictures taken in our costumes. Mrs. George Miller and Dr. and Mrs. Smith talked to us about their trip to Mexico.

     April: Enjoyed our spring vacation. We finished the study of the United States. For a review interesting projects were made by different groups.

     May: We had fun giving and receiving May baskets. Annual school exhibit. Community picnic. Final examinations.

Grade VI

     School opened on the thirty-first day of August with eight girls and ten boys enrolled in the sixth grade. Donald Bachman entered a day later and Lilleth Smith joined us late in September.

     The school purchased a health chart which we used to test the eyes of each pupil. Although the tests were not very accurate they were an indication that some eyes were in need of treatment.

     Our Hallowe’en Party was also a farewell party for Bernal Shontz who moved to Tipton.

     We were very proud to receive the P.T.A. Attendance Banner at the October meeting of that organization.

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     We enjoyed a two day vacation the first week end in November while the faculty attended the state teachers’ meeting in Des Moines.

     We gave our grade program in the gymnasium the day before Thanksgiving. Each grade contributed an interesting number for the entertainment of the rest of the group.

     William Kirstein joined our class in December.

     We were guests of the seventh grade at the December meeting of their Book Club. We enjoyed the business meeting and the program which followed.

     Santa Claus gave us all treats following the grade Christmas program which was presented in the gymnasium. We returned to our rooms to enjoy the usual gift exchange.

     The girls in the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades gave a physical education demonstration for the January meeting of the P.T.A. At this meeting we were again presented the P.T.A. Attendance Banner.

     January twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth were the dates set aside for the Iowa Every-Pupil Tests of Basic Skills. We spent the two days in the assembly writing those tests.

     Valentine Day came on Sunday so we had our party the preceding Friday, February 12th.

     We began study of Iowa History the second six weeks of the second semester.

     Luella Burmeister entered school here and became one of our class mates early in March.

     We gave a Gypsy song and dance as our unit in the grade operetta, “Zip, the Sailor”, which was presented March 12.

     John Bachman, Lelleth Smith, and Billy Ruther represented our class in the school spelling contest in April.

     We had a new experience when we came to school on Saturday, April 17th to make up a day lost earlier because of the muddy conditions of the roads.

     The following pupils celebrated their birthdays during the term by bringing treats to their classmates: October Kathryn Sawyer; November Donna Liercke, Phyllis Tacker; January John Bachman; February William Kirstein, and Wayne Goldsmith; March Lilleth Smith; May Virginia Crist.

     We are represented in the various musical organizations by the following pupils: Senior Band—Billy Ruther, Dorothy Mingst, Virginia Crist, and Paul Eckert. Junior Band—Donald Bachman, Paul Eckert, Dorothy Mingst, and Richard Kemmann. Junior Orchestra—Kathryn Sawyer, Elaine Boettcher, Lilleth Smith, and Wayne Goldsmith. The Little German Band—Billy Ruther.

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Grade VII

     At the opening of the school year, for 1936-37, the seventh grade roll included the following seventeen names: Dorothy Bradley, Harold Burmeister, Bobby Davis, Alice Dehne, Billie Eggert, Geneva Eggert, Alta Mae Gintert, Warren Goldsmith, Robert Hoffner, Irma Hulse, Verna Jean Joslin, Richard Lane, Mavis Long, Dorothy Miller, Roland Mingst, Phylis Ribble, and Avis Shriver. Donald Fedddersen and Mildred Chamberlin entered later in the year and Harold Burmeister moved to Lowden.

     The seventh grade classroom was located in the south-east classroom adjacent to the assembly. Eileen Rutherford, of Greeley, Iowa was the instructor.

     One of the outstanding events of the year was the organization of the Hickory Reading Club. On a book chart were recorded the names of books read. Bi-monthly meetings were held and officers were changed every six weeks. The accumulation of dues plus fines and close of the year enabled the group to go to Tipton on a theater party and to contribute a book to the seventh grade library.

     Opening exercise each morning included the pledge to the flag, “America,” the preamble to the constitution, and the reading of a story book. By the end of the year, the following books had been read to the group: “Pirates’ Loot,” “Circle Four Patrol,” “Circus Boys on the Mississippi,” “Miss Minerva’s Scalawags,” “Miss Minerva Broadcasts Billie,” and “Marjorie’s Busy Days”.

     A number of graphs were made during the year. Among them were some entitled, “Production of Sheep,” “Production of Wool,” “Production of Cattle,” and “Road Mileage.” We also made graphs of scores in arithmetic and in reading.

     A contest in percentage resulted in victory for the “Yellow Snakes.” The race lasted a week. The “Tigers” came in second.

     The seventh grade seemed to have a monopoly on the attendance banner for the most parents present at P.T.A. meetings. Winning it first in November, the title was retained during the months of December, January, February, March, April and May.

     The Junior Chorus, composed of seventh and eighth grade students, made two public appearances during the year. The organization sang “Here Comes the Flag,” at the Armistice Day program and “Dutch Gardens,” and “Gypsy Dance,” all by Churchell-Grindell, at the musical program in the spring.

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     A number of interesting projects were carried out under the direction of Edna Engelking. Some of them were book ends, letter holders, toothbrush holders, pot holders, embroidered towels, silhouettes, and a host of posters.

     Toward the end of the year, Miss Rutherford organized a tap dancing class. Approximately fifty students in grades two to eight, plus several high school girls, enrolled. Lessens were given twice a week to two classes, one made up of town people, and the other of country people.

     The two most outstanding protégés in the tap dancing field were Avis Shriver and Phylis Ribble. Their engagements included a number in the grade musicale, two dances at the Junior Senior banquet, two at a P.T.A. meeting in Greeley, Iowa, and two at the musical program in the spring.

     The seventh grade participated in two acts in the grade musicale. The girls, dressed as Irish citizens, sang “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” and danced the tory dance. Avis and Phylis tapped to “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover.” The boys represented cowboys. Donald Feddersen, accordion player, was the outstanding figure in the group.

CAN YOU IMAGINE

Wally Reid in Clarence without Norma Jean?

Esther not helping the teachers?

Henry without his “wise-cracks”?

Elaine without a straight “A” report card?

Harold Doerman and Marjorie Stanlike?

Everett Frink without his Geometry?

Vivan K. not talking about Wyoming and Tipton?

Stock twins not interested in Lowden?

George without a girl in every port?

Pruess twins without Lolita and Miriam?

Donna without Pike?

Buddy G. talking slow?

La Von Shoaf not in Oxford?

EmmaJean and Sally at school by the first bell?

Jiggers

Quick, back to your seat
Not a word, not a smile
Miss Brown is coming—
Just look down the aisle
Miss Brown is coming
To put down the riot;
But she’ll never find the
Offenders-they’re quiet
All eyes are turned on her;
Miss Brown just smiles-
She seems to enjoy this
Patrolling the aisles.