HERE'S SOME GREAT NEWS
From our WC Florida Spring Fest 2005 hostess, folks! (Jo Ann Stemley Hall-ed.) She has done some hotel research for our event. Thanks, Jo! Read carefully and be sure to book your arrangements very soon. I'm SO excited! We are only a flat 5 weeks away. We had SUCH a great turnout for this event last year. Remember, if you were there last year, we're expecting you doubly this year. Also, we want you to bring someone else, too. Don't let us down! We've had lots of confirmations already. Read Jo's e-mail carefully. She has given us all the info to log on and get precise driving instructions. If you've never been to this event before, get on down here! You can believe me when I write, "Y'er gonna love it!!" We'll see you all soon, hear?

---And there you have it! More at 11--- B

Subject: Hotels for April 2 and 3rd.

Feb . 25. 2005
Hey Fellow WCHS'ers, Springfest is April 2 and 3rd this year!

The Hotels in Orlando are filling up fast. I have found two next door to each other, the Fairfield Inn and the Best Western on Vineland near Universal Studios that have a few rooms left. also a bit more pricey is the Holiday Inn on Major Blvd. which still has a few rooms. All are walking distance within each other and TGI Fridays and the Orlando Ale House and several other restaurants - Carrabba's Italian Grill, Burger King, Wendy's Ponderosa, IHOP just to name a few.

Some may have rooms at the Quality Inn on Windhover Dr. but last I heard they are filled up that weekend. Might give them a check maybe someone has canceled.

If you are looking for an address to look up info on the Internet the Party Club house is:
5987 Windhover Drive
Orlando, Florida, 32819

My phone is 937-252-8172 Dayton or 407-248-8324 Orlando call either and I will get the calls.
Hope to see you all soon, and temp. was 79 here yesterday.

Love to all,
Jo Ann
- posted by Mikey @ 1:48 PM

 
SECOND ANNUAL WC FLORIDA SPRING FEST - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Let's get updated on our upcoming events, shall we? We are booked for the clubhouse of Windover Condominiums in Orlando, Florida, for the Second Annual WC Florida Spring Fest on April 3, 2005. It would take me forever and ever to describe to all of you the great fun we had last year at this event. It started as sort of a fluke, due to the realization that so many WC folks live down here in Florida. We expected we'd gather up about 10-15 people from the surrounding counties and just have ourselves a good, ol' time. Well, I was HALF-right! We sure did have ourselves a good, ol' time. But the number of people who attended was spectacular. I'll bet there were about 40 of us. The best part was, about 10-12 of those people came all the way from Ohio, JUST for that event. It's a great time of year to be in Florida, if you don't live here already and a welcome respite from the northern winter. We already have several non-Florida residents who are planning to attend, I'm happy to report. Just as last year, our hostess will be 1960's JOANN K. STEMLEY, a condo owner there. So listen, if you were there last year, BE SURE you're there THIS year, and make sure you bring along another person this time. Do NOT miss this event! Plan for it NOW! With the terribly sad occurrences we had in January, the point should be brought home without my saying it again, right? Do NOT miss our WC events. We DON'T have the option any longer of saying we'll, "go next year."
- posted by Mikey @ 9:43 AM

 
LIST OF ALUMNI KNOWN TO HAVE PASSED, OCT 2003 THROUGH OCT 2004:

This list was scanned directly from the program published for the October, 2004 reunion. Please do not take it as complete or wholly accurate! It is the list compiled by the alumni association and is by definition only as accurate as information that they receive from you. If you have any additions or corrections, send them to Steve Shade ('65) at SFShade@ameritech.net and to Bonnie at WLCMCTR@bellsouth.net

Steve is the official curator of the one true alumni web site

Gerald Cribley - Teacher
Winifred Butters McNabb ‘29
Mary Winifred Gebhart Herman ‘33
Goldie Maston Taylor ‘36
Dolly Myers Stupp ‘38
Marjorie Gressbach Shell ‘40
James E Bennett ‘40
Mary J Blackburn Flint ‘42
Robert Strader ‘43
William Case ‘46
Robert “Buck” Wickline ‘47
Mary Zennie ‘48
Jeannette Jonas Avery ‘49
M. C. Collins ‘49
Rudolph “Rudy” Smith ‘51
David E Phibbs ‘52
Nancy Schroeder Cline ‘54
Joanna T Clouse Clay ‘55
Harry Thompson ‘58
Norman J Hall ‘60
Joseph A Miller ‘60
Gretchen Tyson Cooper ‘62
Bruce A Hudgens ‘63
William Rice ‘65
Richard Russell Wilson ‘67
Kathleen Hughes Clendening ‘70
Jeff Carr ‘70
Alan R Sehee ‘70
Bonnie J Standafer Riffle ‘72
Sharon Haynes Lantz ‘72
Johnnie E Knight ‘73
Mark T Hoskins ‘74
Richard Vitale ‘75
David Balonier ‘70
Jeffrey E Young ‘80
John D Banks ‘84
Becky Hagwood ‘91
- posted by Mikey @ 2:47 PM

 
The WeCaTon News Report is now sent by email to over 300 W.C. grads and friends!

To receive the report by email, send a request to Bonnie Risner Miller '60 at wlcmctr@bellsouth.net

You may access the entire archive of reports right here! Bookmark this page.
- posted by Mikey @ 3:00 PM

 
PS to WECATON Report Below:
Due to the "e-mail debacle" of last month, I managed to miss a couple of messages and I wanted to be sure to include those. First of all, I want to thank MARY JO CONDON, for filling in the info I needed on her mother, 1935's PAULINE GRESSBACH. What a thrill it is to have someone from that class, on our list! Thanks, Mary Jo!

Also, I forgot to advise everyone of the yet another add-on for our bulletin list. It's none other than DONNA PARKS, 1968, who is the younger sister of my close childhood friends, ALICE K. PARKS. By the way, Donna lives right here in Ormond Beach, Florida, just as I do.

So my apologies to all of you, for overlooking those mis- directed messages, and I believe this brings us all up to date. Thanks!
- posted by Mikey @ 2:23 PM

 
WECATON NEWS REPORT!!!--- 12 FEBRUARY 2005:

The messages are arriving in droves, day after day. My bulletin list is rapidly approaching 300 (!) and this whole thing is just thrillingly overwhelming!! We now have class years ranging from 1935 clear through 1990, can you even believe it? (I can't!!) But let's get to the tremedous volume of news we have and I'll try to plow through it all, little by little.

As you all know, we suffered a devastating January, with the loss of no less than 5 WC alumni. Those, of course, are just the ones of which we are actually aware. I hope there weren't others, but we never know. In any case, let's hope February brings us a much brighter outlook. Since we have a few new bulletin list members for this edition (who will subsequently be announced), I'm going to recap our lost WC alumni for January. They are, as follows: MARIANNE LOGAN, Class of 1988 (we think), due to cancer; RONNIE L. GREENE, Class of 1957, so-far-unknown cause); DAVID LEE MICHAEL, Class of 1958, complications suffered during a surgery relative to heart and respiratory; LAWRENCE EUGENE ZINK, Class of 1960, liver failure: JUDY RAE LINDSEY, Class of 1957, cancer. Hopefully, I will not be writing anymore such announcements for quite a spell.

Let's get updated on our upcoming events, shall we? We are booked for the clubhouse of Windover Condo- miniums in Orlando, Florida, for the Second Annual WC Florida Spring Fest on April 3, 2005. It would take me forever and ever to describe to all of you the great fun we had last year, at this event. It started as sort of a fluke, due to the realization that so many WC folks live down here in Florida. We expected we'd gather up about 10-15 people from the surrounding counties and just have ourselves a good, ol' time. Well, I was HALF-right! We sure did have ourselves a good, ol' time. But the number of people who attended was spectacular. I'll bet there were about 40 of us. The best part was, about 10-12 of those people came all the way from Ohio, JUST for that event. It's a great time of year to be in Florida, if you don't live here already, and a welcome respite from the northern winter. We already have several non-Florida residents who are planning to attend, I'm happy to report. Just as last year, our hostess will be 1960's JOANN K. STEMLEY, a condo owner there. So listen, if you were there last year, make SURE you're there THIS year, and make sure you bring along another person this time. Do NOT miss this event! Plan for it NOW! With the terribly sad occurrences we had in January, the point should be brought home, without my saying it again, right? Do NOT miss our WC events. We DON'T have the option any longer of saying we'll, "go next year."

Our crown jewel event, as I'm so fond of calling it, is the annual WC alumni dinner/dance, which is held each year on the second Saturday of October. Another thing I'm so fond of saying is that it seems always to be held on the grounds of a hotel which is located in Miamisburg, our "arch enemy." Ha! I unfailingly travel up from Florida for this event. Make sure YOU travel from wherever YOU are, in order to also attend this event. I'm simply amazed and befuddled (and TERRIBLY disappointed) by those who live right there in Montgomery County, yet make no effort to be there. If you live ANYwhere in Ohio, and you aren't there, then shame on you!! You need to make this event a habit. We also have the Frisch's Frolic on the previous night and I'll bet we had a hundred people or more who were there at the Moraine City Frisch's, just this past October. Again, it was a great time, and not to be missed. All events (as well as this bulletin) are for ALL our WC people, regardless of the class year and regardless of whether or not you actually graduated. Just be there!!

During this bulletin period, we had the usual number of folks checking in with jokes, psa's, chain letters, and just general info. They included PAMELA K. SHIPLEY,1971, ROBERT W. "SMITTY" SMITH,1958, DARELL LEE TOBIAS, 1957, PAUL R. BEARSDLEY,1961, STEVEN M. KOKOT, 1960, BARBARA T. O'NEAL, 1962, GARY E. BARNES, 1959, CRAIG A. VAN DYKE, 1983, CAROLYN S. MCCLOUD, 1960, JUDITH A. STALDER, 1960, SUE E. SOWERS, 1958,, SALLY L. GILLETTE, 1961, SANDRA S. HOLLINGSWORTH, 1961, CAROL A. MUMMA, 1961, RICHARD E. KNEER, 1961, LINDA L. SHANK, 1960, RICHARD C. CALL, 1962 (via spouse Lola Jean), EULA FAYE TAULBEE, 1960, DAVID G. OTT, 1960, WILLIAM O. WALKER, 1960, THOMAS L. WOLF, JR., 1960 (via spouse Susan, I suspect), and DONNA G. TUDOR, 1955.

It was also during this period that I had a "hissy fit" about my husband using my e-mail account on HIS computer and fouling up my entire account, as most of you will clearly recall. I thank you for a lot of knowledgable ideas on how to resolve this problem and yes, they did work. We now are both back to normal (whatever that is.) The problem, though, was that a number of my WC e-mails went to HIS computer and I fear he may have deleted some of them before we pinpointed the problem. So if your news tidbit is not included in here, please re-send it, so that I can put it in the next one.

Among those was one from 1961's DALLAS K. MATHIS and he was very interested in the retirement areas in the state of Florida. How's that going, Dallas? Are you here yet? Have you decided on an area yet? Good luck and keep us posted.

During this horrid and frustrating "e-mail nightmare," I got e-mails from 1985's CYNTHIA CARRINGTON, 1954's WILLIAM L. MCNABB, 1958's ROBERT W. "SMITTY" SMITH, and 1960's MICHAEL S. WEST, which hit the nail right on the head. You all wrote the same thing, so I checked what you said and that was exactly what it was, too. Many thanks. SHIRLEY ANN HILE, `1957, was pretty much in the same boat with me, and had no idea how to proceed. Don't feel badly, Shirley. I find myself wondering about that, all the time!

BRUCE E. CHENOWETH, 1958, wrote than there were so many WC people at the visitation for Dave Michael, even during a blizzard. I'm not surprised. Dave was a very popular fellow in school and so was his WC spouse of 44 years-plus, 1959's SANDRA RAE KINNEY. We're all pulling for Sandy and her family right now, I know. He also thanked me for his birthday card and I know a lot of us complain about growing older, but just look at what the alternative is! GARY E. BARNES was also very good about providing updates and information on Dave, as it became available, as was WILLIAM R. HOWARD, 1958.

Eula Faye reported that her 6-years-younger brother, MICHAEL BAILEY, had emergency open-heart surgery at the Dayton Heart Institute last month. She said it was touch-and-go for a bit, but that he has pulled through and is doing GREAT now. We're all happy to hear that, Eula Faye.

Just recently, I have become aware that a former WC attendee (and I don't know if he's a grad or not) passed away on February 8. He lived here in Florida. He would have graduated in 1964, I believe, from whatever school he attended. His name was LOUIS GEORGE HECK, JR., and he was once a member of the WC marching band. We know that much, for sure. Also, he was a founding member of the singing group, The McCoys, who had a flash of fame with the novelty rock song, "Hang On, Sloopy," many years ago. Does anyone out there know him? I don't. Perhaps our former marching band director, HARRY C. HAGGERTY, can help us with this one.

Our "fashion fair pair," the dashing and suave T. BARRY RUSSELLO, 1960, and his chic and glamorous spouse, 1959's BETSY R. MURPHY, checked in to let us know that they are once again steadily receiving bulletins. We hope to see you both soon!

Many thanks to cousin JUDITH LYNN SAMUELS, who let me know that PATRICIA LYNNETTE GARRETT was at her mother's home in Orange Park, during the e-mail debacle. I dashed right up there during the third week of January and Lynn and I got to spend several hours doing what we do best---talking, talking, talking!!! Lynn had a horrid trip back to Ohio, with delays all along the way, she wrote, but at least she got back safely.

DONNA JEAN RICHARDS, 1961, took the time to let me know that she thinks Terry Kerns was the spouse of WC's SHERRY HOBBS, and not someone who now has cancer. She thinks he was the one who passed away.

From GARY L. WARLAUMONT, 1960, came thanks for his birthday card and also a promise that I'd be seeing him, during this trip to Florida. Well, let's see, Gary, you got here on January 28, you wrote. Right now, it's February 12. I wonder if you are still here? Oh, by the way, I have NOT yet seen you, just in case you might be wondering about that.

JAMES E. CURTIS, 1961, and DARELL L. TOBIAS, 1957, called me on an evening in mid-January. We all chit-chatted for a bit and Jim has assured me he's on board now, with his bulletins, and successfully receiving them. Darell is possibly moving to North Carolina, but I have no confirmation just yet, on that. Be sure to keep us posted, Darell!

Listen, folks, we need to make welcome, several new members on our bulletin list. We have KAREN LYNN KLINE, 1960, JEAN ANN MILLER, 1973, RICHARD LEE JOHNSON, 1958, and I'm thrilled to report that we have now regained 1958's RONALD D. "TOM" FEE. He'd been offline, for quite a spell. So if anyone wishes to contact any of these people, please be sure to let me know. Okay, you newer folks, be sure to make it a point to get to the WC events, hear? We're all thrilled to have you on board!

Thanks to the WOLF household, Tom and Susan, for getting me the info on the Miamisburg/West Carrollton News. I'll be subscribing to that little rag. I appreciate it.

Our girl, NANCY E. "COOKIE" BOWIE, 1960, checked in with her usual wonderful and newsy e-mail. Cookie has changed her annual visiting plans again this year, to include Spring Fest. But she and I just may sneak in a little "private luncheon" of our own, once she gets here. Her sister and brother-in-law are here, just 30 miles from me, and we think we just might have a little rendezvous. I can't wait!

DONNA RICHARDS and PAULA R. WILSON's visit came and went and I screwed up the dates and didn't get down there, as I think I already wrote, but I'm sure looking forward to seeing you both in April!

Of late, I've spoken several times with WALLACE W. ROBBINS, who told me a good bit about the illness of Judy Lindsey, for whom he provided care, prior to her passing. Currently, Wallace is at the home of his sister, SHIRLEY ROBBINS, who lives in Brandon, Florida, but is preparing to move back to Ohio. Many of us, including 1961's CAROLE J. LEWIS, were puzzled by what was the apparent absence of any sort of service for Judy. I can't say what happened there, but since he was not an actual relative, I feel fairly comfortable in saying that Wallace would have had no say in that matter. Perhaps her 1959 brother, JAMES L. LINDSEY, can enlighten us on that, at some future date.

Also maintaining good contact is 1960's MICHAEL S. WEST, who continues to monitor our blogspot, post photos, and do whatever is needed. So does our girl, NANCY J. ERTEL, 1961, who just might be downsizing, she writes, to a smaller place in Bonner Springs. Nancy promises to maintain contact, though, and she just had a birthday last month. As many of you are now aware, Mike West is quite a talented photographer! It was also Mike who recently reported to me the 40th birthday of the Harry A. Russell School. An awfully lot of us remember Mr. Russell, I'm sure.

The hurricane madness continues for 1960's WILLIAM O. WALKER and WC-honorary spouse, KAREN MURPHY. They remain in Florida, working claims, as do many of the adjusters. On the plus side, they feel certain they will once again be attending Spring Fest, come April 3, so that's good news.

To 1957's BERTHA JAN HOERNER, I extend thanks for letting me know about Judy's passing. I also extend my condolences, for I know that you and Judy were lifelong friends, Bertha. I do so hope we will see you in April, but if not then, at least in October.

My dear friends, BRUCE E. CHENOWETH, 1958, and EULA FAYE BAILEY, 1960, continue to keep me afloat and informed, and I expect to see both of them again this year. Also, 1960's SHIRLEY J. TUDOR is progressing well from her horrible November accident, which resulted in a skull fracture. At this writing, I have no updates on 1963's DOUGLAS M. MAYS, but I feel it's certainly safe to assume that we all still need to keep him in our good thoughts.

Where are you, LINDA L. MCAFEE, 1958? You were getting married, you wrote, and I've heard not a word, since that time. You write me, hear?!?! We need an update on you.

As for me---well, I've just completed the restoration of 15 items which are family heirlooms. I've learned a great deal about rust removal and I must have presented quite a sight, as I purloined my husband's work bench, broke out the sander, the Dremel, the heavy-duty drill, and a few other tool items. Wearing an actual shop apron, heavy leather gloves, safety goggles, and a face mask, I spent about 32 hours removing the rust from 19th-century items which now look great, and dressing out the worn leather and putting lemon oil all over the wood. It was a truly rewarding project, of which I am very proud. All of the items are now displayed and tagged with their history and will never again be neglected (I hope.)

My current undertaking is that of the planning of a "Risner Cousins and Descendants Reunion," which is tentatively scheduled for May 22, 2005, in Tipp City, Ohio. We have a slew of second and third cousins who don't even know each other. I intend to change that, if at all possible. Also, I continue to write for the newspaper, write for 7 motorcycle publications, sit on the Bike Week E-Board, sit on the Bike Events Board, chair the Neighborhood Watch Program, serve as the liaison for the CrimeWatch American program, and write the monthly newsletter for my subdivision. I've also been recently approached to sit on a city advisory board and run for the city commission. But my plate is pretty full right now, and I'm no Spring Chicken anymore. So some of this stuff just might take a back seat and I'll see where it goes. My husband often says, when I take on one more project, "That's just what you need---another frigging project!" (Gee, do ya' think he's tryin' to tell me somethin'?)

Besides, beginning next week, I'll be hosting no less than six sets of houseguests, who will range from February 18 through April 8---three sets from Ohio for several area events, 2 sets from British Columbia for Bike Week, and an entire family from Great Britain for Spring Break. I'm terribly excited!

So in closing, I sincerely hope this finds each of you faring well and doing all right. Please, please send in our news items. Without all of you, there IS no WeCaTon News Report. I cannot do this by myself. You are all the very cogs in the wheels which make this turn. I leave you with my usual wish for glowing health, great happiness, peaceful serenity, and boundless prosperty. Ciao!
- posted by Mikey @ 2:03 PM

 
A HISTORY OF THE WEST CARROLLTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
by Dickinson T Guiler, teacher (deceased)

Local histories mention that there was a teacher, Samuel Bolton, in Carrollton as early as 1802. In 1817 an adjoining community, Alexandersville, became the site of the first building constructed for school purposes.

Alexandersville later became part of Carrollton, and Carrollton became West Carrollton to distinguish it from the other Ohio Carrollton in Carroll County.

In 1825 a two-room school was built in West Carrollton. The school district organization within Miami Township was established in 1830, and in 1889 the newly-created West Carrollton School District elected its first board of education. There were 149 students in the eight-grade school in 1889.

A two-year high school began in 1894 and graduated five girls and one boy in 1896. It became a four-year school in 1909. By 1913 the first high school building was erected. It had three classrooms, vocational and domestic training facilities, an auditorium and an office.

In 1923 a large addition made possible the consolidation of all classes from West Carrollton, Alexandersville, the District 3 School on Lamme Road, and the District 12 School on Vance Road into one building (the core of the present junior high).

This building had an unusual gymnasium with no room for spectators. However, the common wall between the gym and two classrooms could be folded back; and the audience sat in the classrooms to watch the games. A few additional spectators could stand on a four-foot deep balcony, which ran with the length of the gym.

The consolidation meant that some students rode to school from Moraine City on the traction (interurban). Miss Helen Wellbaum, a first grade teacher, also rode the traction and was responsible for student behavior, including keeping some older students out of the smoking portion of the traction. By 1932 the district bought another school bus so Miss Wellbaum no longer needed to proctor the car.

The Work Progress Administration (WPA) helped add an auditorium-gymnasium in 1936. It, too, was unique. Connected to the 1923 building by a “tunnel” (an enclosed walkway), the gym and auditorium shared the same auditorium seats with a hydraulically-lifted wall between them. In 1937 WPA also shared in the building of the cement stadium at the football field.

Moraine City Elementary (C.F. Holliday) School opened in 1950; the West Carrollton Elementary (Walter Shade) School in 1954; and the Frank Nicholas School (in what is now the city of Moraine) in 1957.

Moraine became a village in 1957 and a city in 1965. Students in the city of Moraine are divided among three school districts. Those living in what used to be Miami Township in the more heavily populated southern part of Moraine attend West Carrollton Schools. Those living in the former Van Buren Township in the northern section of Moraine attend Kettering City Schools. Those living in the area annexed from Jefferson Township in the western part of Moraine attend the Jefferson Township Schools.

The Harry Russell School opened in 1965 and was the first elementary school with a library—and a rabbit. Thumper lived in the enclosed courtyard from 1965 until 1972. One of the teachers’ duties was to see that students didn’t over-feed him. Thumper particularly liked Saturdays since the custodian let the pet follow him about in the building. Prior to taking up residence in the school courtyard, Thumper had spent his summers in Kentucky, where he terrorized the local dogs with his rear-feet kick!

The Valley Hills School opened in January of 1969 after a 180-day construction strike delay. It is an open space building with room for four classes in each “pod.” In 1975 it was renamed the Harold Schnell School for the retiring superintendent. With the addition of a wing at Schnell in 1974, the elementary schools were complete.

The new high school was designed to be built in phases beginning in 1960 and with additions in 1962,1963 and 1967. The most recent addition, the auditorium wing, was completed in 1990. After the high school was built, the 1923 building housed only junior high students. It was renovated and enlarged in 1978-80.

In the 22 years from 1949 to 1971 the West Carrollton student population jumped from 1,253 to 5,918. Such rapid growth meant that rental space in churches and other buildings was common. In 1953-54 a first and second grade were housed in the basement of the Assembly of God Church, with one light bulb in each room but no toilet facilities.

At morning and afternoon recess the students walked to the unheated public restrooms in the stadium, and at noon they walked four blocks to the 1923 building for lunch. An emergency meant that one teacher stayed with both classes while the other walked the child to the stadium restroom.

Double sessions—four hours each for the morning and afternoon groups—were common in one or two grades in the 1950s and 1960s, but the most innovative solution was the year-round school.

Beginning in 1971 with a committee of seven district residents to study feasibility, the project was enhanced by sub-committees involving over 130 additional people. Presenta­tions were made at each school and at nineteen public meetings. On July 19,1972 the Board of Education adopted the 45-15 year-round plan for kindergarten through ninth grade on an as-needed basis.

The plan went into operation in 1973 at the junior high school and at one elementary school, and was in effect for eight years. Under the 45-15 plan, the student body was divided into four “tracks”, three of which were in session at any time. Students attended school for nine weeks, and then had a three-week vacation. This plan increased the number of students who could be housed in a school building by one-third.

Additions to the junior high and a gradual decrease in enrollment by 1981 brought the district to the point that the space saving provided by the 45-15 plan was no longer needed. However, a number of parents of elementary school students requested continuation of the program on a single track, and Schnell School continues to provide an alternative calendar for those who request it.

Prior to the 1950s the upper-elementary grades were departmentally organized, which meant that each student had a different teacher for each of the six courses taught. Teachers taught a single subject, but at two or three grade levels. Departmentalization slowly evolved into self-contained classrooms. Now some teachers of the same grade level trade students in reading and mathematics to provide for ability grouping.

For many years the foreign languages taught were two years each of Latin and French. In the early 1940s West Carrollton followed the national trend and changed from French to Spanish. Latin disappeared about 1965, four years after Spanish classes were available to freshmen and sophomores. German was first offered in 1962, and French was re-intro­duced in 1965. Each language is now offered for four years.

Vocational Economics, a full-year required class for ninth-graders, was “invented” at West Carrollton and attracted attention from educators all over the state. Originally taught by counselors/teachers, the course emphasized vocations, economics and geography.

Vocational classes were added in the 1960s, including distributive education, diversified cooperative training, vocational home economics (which had been discontinued in the 1940s), cooperative office education, occupational work experience, vocational auto mechanics and others. Most were discontinued in 1971, or soon thereafter, with the opening of the Montgomery County Joint Vocational School. Vocational home econom­ics, occupational work experience and occupational work adjustment remain in the West Carrollton curriculum.

Fifth year mathematics was first offered in 1966, but students were required to take the fourth year math in summer school until first year algebra was offered to eighth graders.

Bachelor Living was a popular home economics course in the late 1960s. It was dropped in 1973, about the time that Title IX was raising questions about single-sex classes and activities. A similar course called Life Planning now enrolls both boys and girls.

Because of Federal Title land Title III funding, both a reading and a math lab were added to the junior high in 1966. An inquiry science program was instituted at the junior high school in 1969, with the teachers serving as facilitators. At the same time, West Carrollton began offering mini-courses, each a quarter in length and designed to allow students greater freedom. These mini-courses were phased out during the 1980s, but some semester courses are still offered. Computer courses have been available in the high school since 1974 and the junior high school since 1984.

Special education first began in 1954 with one speech and hearing specialist; currently there are four therapists. Education of the developmentally handicapped began in 1959 with one upper-elementary class. That program expanded to neighborhood schools educating special education students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.

The first school psychologist was hired in 1966, and as more special programs were “mainstreamed” into the public schools, more services were added. There are three psychologists now serving the system.

Learning disabled students were first taught in the system in 1970, and a high school LD program, the Life Lab, began in 1972; there are now eight LD units. Tutors also assist students who need help but can remain in regular classrooms for most of the day.

There are now four classes for the multi-handicapped as well. A preschool for three, four and five-year old handicapped students was begun in 1989, and home instruction is available for students. Since 1984 West Carrollton has also added work-study coordinators who aid the handicapped in gaining and keeping employment.

Gifted elementary students attend a special unit one day per week. At the junior high school level, four teachers each teach a gifted class for one period per day. At the high school level, selective classes and individual mentoring are provided.

Beginning before 1920 with two co-educational literary societies, extra-curricular activities increased dramatically over the years. An early highlight was the annual Miamisburg-West Carrollton speech contest with debate, oration, essays, readings and female and male vocal solos.

The school orchestra began in the teens and continues to provide excellent musical training for our young musicians. Hi-Y and the CTU (Christian Temperance Union) Girls in the 1920s were followed by the Girl Reserves and the Y-Teens. Both the marching and concert bands grew to become sizable organizations in the 1930’s. Now they are comple­mented by the pep band, the jazz band, and flag corps.

The yearbook, originally called the Wecaton, now the Piratan, can trace its beginnings to the teens, as can the student paper, The Cutlass. Sketches of the Mind is a literary magazine published annually since 1966.

The National Honor Society began in the 1930s and since 1958 has admitted juniors. Also dating from the 1930s is the schoolboy patrol, now co-educational and used only for elementary schools. Among the duties of the original patrol was riding the buses and getting off at the railroad crossings to make sure that no train was coming.

Some clubs are no longer functioning. As in many other schools, increased academic requirements make it difficult for students to participate in many activities. Future Homemakers of America was discontinued in the late 1940s, and the Latin Club disap­peared with the dropping of that language course.

Allied Youth (alcohol-free recreation) was the largest club in the 1950s but died in the 1960s, as did the Future Business Leaders of America, JCOWA (Junior Council on World Affairs) ceased operations in the early 1970s, but was re-established in 1989. Students are now members of SADD and the CARE team, both were established to provide student to student assistance in solving social and personal problems.

The Chess Club, the Art Club, Future Nurses of America, the Ham Radio Club, the National Biology Honor Society and the Future Teachers of America have been replaced by the French, German, and Spanish Clubs, the Varsity Club, Junior Achievement, the Drama Club, the Ecology Club and the Muse Machine.

The West Carrollton Education Recognition Association (ERA), originally known as Community Awards Recognition for Education Scholarship (CARES), was formed in 1963 to provide the same recognition for students who achieve in the classroom that student athletes and musicians receive. At evening programs each spring, students with honor roll grades receive appropriate awards. In addition, ERA presents scholarships and merit awards to graduating seniors.

The West Carrollton Education Foundation, a tax-exempt, non-profit organization, was created in 1989 to provide funds for the promotion of excellence in education within the district. The monies raised from private donations supplement school dollars by awarding grants to parents, educators, students or any interested persons through the grant proposals.

Starting with football and baseball in 1915, sports increased to 16 interscholastic sports offered today. Full schedule girls’ interscholastic sports have been offered only since the 1970s.

The 1989-90 list included football, cross country, boys’ and girls’ soccer (the girls’ soccer replaced field hockey which had been played for almost 30 years), girls’ volleyball, basketball for boys and girls, wrestling, baseball, softball, boys’ and girls’ track and tennis, golf and swimming.

The West Carrollton School District is proud of the good learning environment. Students are challenged, but there is no cut-throat competition, no elitism. There is cautious movement towards educational innovation, and individual teachers have considerable autonomy within broad parameters. West Carrollton is a diverse community with a basic belief in the value of education, resulting in an unusual amount of citizen involvement.
- posted by Mikey @ 12:53 AM

 
NEW DIRECTORIES IN PLANNING STAGE

Watch your mail for a notice. Even if you don't want one, PLEASE return the information questionaire.



- posted by Mikey @ 3:07 PM