Making the move to the junior high school was an eye-opening, scary, high pressure experience. All of the kids in town ended up at the junior high together for grades 7-9. So it was a chance to make new friends with kids from all parts of town.
For the first time, I was placed into leveled classes. I was placed into the 'A' group, the smartest group as a result of the 6th grade standardized tests. Very exciting to never have to wait for the challenged kids to catch up. My class could learn as fast as we could go. One did have to rise to the challenge and to do one's absolute best or a fall from grace could occur. I loved the challenges and I found junior high to be a place that I could thrive.
We moved from class to class in junior high, walking down crowded hallways and up and down stairs. The junior high was a monstrous building with a large auditorium with a balcony and a gym for doing athletics indoors. Very different from the neighborhood schools. The older 9th graders, who were excluded from the high school due to the lack of space, picked on the newbie 7th graders and it was a long time before we felt comfortable. It was hard to rush into the girls' bathrooms between classes and not be late for class. We had lockers but most of us had no time to stop between classes and we carried our heavy books from class to class.
Socially, we made new friends within our classes. I kept most of my good friends from elementary school because most of them were in the A group too. I also became friends with students who moved to Adams from out of town and other kids from Renfrew, Commercial Street, Howland Avenue, and Liberty Street Schools. Girls and guys really started to notice each other in the 7th grade and that was a new horizon.
Friday, April 23, 2010
More 6th Grade Memories
Some very significant events happened when I was in the 6th Grade.
1. The Beatles came to the USA and took over the minds and hearts of American teenagers. We loved them...yeah, yeah, yeah! Their sound was 'love' and we loved that sound! Their music was so fresh, so new, and so exciting. They said the thoughts that we had in our heads, so eloquently, yet simplistically, that we immediately identified with them. To this day, their lyrics still resound in my heart and I get the chills listening to their music.
2. President Kennedy died. The country was in shock. I remember the first person to tell me the news: Shirley, a girl in my class. She came up to us on the playground during recess and was bawling her eyes out. She blurted out the news, that I assume, she heard from one of the teachers. I will never forget where I was at that time. We were numb at the news and the assassination took over our minds and hearts.
3. The 6th grade went to Boston to the Museum of Science. I will never forget that trip...so exciting to ride a bus to the city! It was the first time that boys and girls could sit together...and they took advantage of it. A few couples came together on that momentous day. Of course, I was un-linked.
4. The 6th grade went to the nature center in south county. Wow, that was a fun trip too! We could hike along the trails and view the cool artifacts and animal exhibits.
5. And, the finale of the school year...dinner out with the principal and teacher...an annual event...kind of a coming-of-age celebration before you went off to junior high. Dress-up, of course...the 6th grade banquet.
1. The Beatles came to the USA and took over the minds and hearts of American teenagers. We loved them...yeah, yeah, yeah! Their sound was 'love' and we loved that sound! Their music was so fresh, so new, and so exciting. They said the thoughts that we had in our heads, so eloquently, yet simplistically, that we immediately identified with them. To this day, their lyrics still resound in my heart and I get the chills listening to their music.
2. President Kennedy died. The country was in shock. I remember the first person to tell me the news: Shirley, a girl in my class. She came up to us on the playground during recess and was bawling her eyes out. She blurted out the news, that I assume, she heard from one of the teachers. I will never forget where I was at that time. We were numb at the news and the assassination took over our minds and hearts.
3. The 6th grade went to Boston to the Museum of Science. I will never forget that trip...so exciting to ride a bus to the city! It was the first time that boys and girls could sit together...and they took advantage of it. A few couples came together on that momentous day. Of course, I was un-linked.
4. The 6th grade went to the nature center in south county. Wow, that was a fun trip too! We could hike along the trails and view the cool artifacts and animal exhibits.
5. And, the finale of the school year...dinner out with the principal and teacher...an annual event...kind of a coming-of-age celebration before you went off to junior high. Dress-up, of course...the 6th grade banquet.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
6th Grade Memories
The highest grade in each neighborhood school was the 6th grade. By the time each student had conquered each grade, it was a major achievement to leave the 6th grade for the junior high. However, before you could leave the 6th grade, there were several events that one had to attend.
One was the annual 6th grade concert. It was extremely embarassing to have to audition for Mrs Adelt, the district music coordinator. Each student had to make the trip alone to the second floor lunch room to sing certain tunes for her. And, if you couldn't do it satisfactorily, you didn't make it to sing in the concert...a major embarassment.
I will never forget my audition. I am no singer. But I was determined not to fail. After all, I had to save my mother from the embarassment of not having a participant in the annual concert. I was always an alto...never did have that nice girly soprano voice. Mercifully, Mrs Adelt took pity on me and, despite my voice's cracking try-out, I was somehow chosen to sing with mostly boys and do the alto part with the group. Once per week, we walked to the junior high to practice with the other 6th graders from all across town for the concert.
When the day of the concert arrived, my mother made me wear the most god-awful baby blue dress...a full skirted, bolero-jacketed creation, something my fashion-conscious Boston grandmother had sent for the occasion. I was so unhappy...and I fought the inevitable hair curlers and the dress I had to endure to get ready for the performance. My mother won, of course. I was expected to look like a lady and to give the performance of a lifetime.
The junior high auditorium was packed with parents, kids, and other relatives. We stood on risers on the stage and sang our hearts out. The repertoire was a collection of patriotic tunes but the only tunes I can actually remember singing were "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "You're a Grand Old Flag". I did feel like I accomplished something when I was done, but it wasn't one of my proudest moments. I was just glad it was done!
One was the annual 6th grade concert. It was extremely embarassing to have to audition for Mrs Adelt, the district music coordinator. Each student had to make the trip alone to the second floor lunch room to sing certain tunes for her. And, if you couldn't do it satisfactorily, you didn't make it to sing in the concert...a major embarassment.
I will never forget my audition. I am no singer. But I was determined not to fail. After all, I had to save my mother from the embarassment of not having a participant in the annual concert. I was always an alto...never did have that nice girly soprano voice. Mercifully, Mrs Adelt took pity on me and, despite my voice's cracking try-out, I was somehow chosen to sing with mostly boys and do the alto part with the group. Once per week, we walked to the junior high to practice with the other 6th graders from all across town for the concert.
When the day of the concert arrived, my mother made me wear the most god-awful baby blue dress...a full skirted, bolero-jacketed creation, something my fashion-conscious Boston grandmother had sent for the occasion. I was so unhappy...and I fought the inevitable hair curlers and the dress I had to endure to get ready for the performance. My mother won, of course. I was expected to look like a lady and to give the performance of a lifetime.
The junior high auditorium was packed with parents, kids, and other relatives. We stood on risers on the stage and sang our hearts out. The repertoire was a collection of patriotic tunes but the only tunes I can actually remember singing were "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "You're a Grand Old Flag". I did feel like I accomplished something when I was done, but it wasn't one of my proudest moments. I was just glad it was done!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
East Side Kid
We lived on the east side of the railroad tracks...a mostly Polish/eastern European ethnic neighborhood. Bill Owczarski's luncheonette/ice cream/candy/toy/bike store was on the corner, directly next to Hoosac St School. My brothers and I spent so much time there. Bruce was Bill's buddy, the kid who had to test every new bike that Bill put together. He would sit for hours while Bill patiently put togther the latest Schwinn or fixed up an old bike to resell it. Bill would let Bruce take it for a spin to make sure everything worked and Bruce would be in heaven. Bruce learned how to ride a 2-wheel bike at age 4, all by himself. Bill gave him an old beat-up bike and in no time, Bruce was motoring himself all over the neighborhhood.
Bill and his wife, Louise, made their own ice cream...flavors that you couldn't find anywhere else. My brother and I would sit on the front steps of Owczarski's store and wait for the latest batch of soft ice cream to be ready. Bill and Louise would bring us a small cup of the batch they were working on. It was just like Dairy Queen soft ice cream and so good!
We would sit on the stools at Bill's counter to ask for his wonderful cream sodas...Bill would put in the syrup, add a half glass of milk, stir, and fill with seltzer. The drink would be topped with a squirt of whipped cream. What a treat! They also made such wonderful sundaes, always topped with a huge mound of cream. High school and elementary kids were allowed to go out for lunch and many of them would end up at Bill's for a sandwich, burger, or hot dog. Bill did a great business and he was a great friend.
Bill and his wife, Louise, made their own ice cream...flavors that you couldn't find anywhere else. My brother and I would sit on the front steps of Owczarski's store and wait for the latest batch of soft ice cream to be ready. Bill and Louise would bring us a small cup of the batch they were working on. It was just like Dairy Queen soft ice cream and so good!
We would sit on the stools at Bill's counter to ask for his wonderful cream sodas...Bill would put in the syrup, add a half glass of milk, stir, and fill with seltzer. The drink would be topped with a squirt of whipped cream. What a treat! They also made such wonderful sundaes, always topped with a huge mound of cream. High school and elementary kids were allowed to go out for lunch and many of them would end up at Bill's for a sandwich, burger, or hot dog. Bill did a great business and he was a great friend.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Hoosac St School
The old schools in the 50's and 60's were like dinosaurs...with great broad stairways made of wood and smelling of oily wood polish. I'll bet the smell of that polish lingers in the schools today. They are all still standing, each now used for something else.
Each classroom was a huge room, standardized with the customary photos of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the American flag,and a huge wooden teacher's desk. But each teacher made his/her room unique, decorating it with A+ papers and drawings and bulletin boards with bright pictures. The floors were shiny with the wood polish and many were warped with the years of use.
My school had one empty room...the lunch room...where we were examined once/year by old Dr Macek and nurse, Mrs Lecuyer. We were checked over, making sure our posture was good, that our hearts were ticking, and that we had no head lice. Very embarassing. The room had other uses too...lunch for the kids that lived too far to go home, assembly-like sing-alongs, auditions for the 6th grade concert. And, when the new polio vaccine came out, we were all sent to the lunch room to get our cup of vaccine to drink.
My favorite part of the school, besides the playground, was the basement. Here were the boys and girls rest rooms...it was a long trip from the second floor down there and you never knew whom you would meet. The teachers monitored how long you were gone and if you stayed there too long, someone would be sent to fetch you. But the real reson I liked the basement was because, on rainy days, we got to have recess there. We would sing and play silly games the whole time...great fun...girls on one side, boys on the other. Awesome!
Each classroom was a huge room, standardized with the customary photos of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the American flag,and a huge wooden teacher's desk. But each teacher made his/her room unique, decorating it with A+ papers and drawings and bulletin boards with bright pictures. The floors were shiny with the wood polish and many were warped with the years of use.
My school had one empty room...the lunch room...where we were examined once/year by old Dr Macek and nurse, Mrs Lecuyer. We were checked over, making sure our posture was good, that our hearts were ticking, and that we had no head lice. Very embarassing. The room had other uses too...lunch for the kids that lived too far to go home, assembly-like sing-alongs, auditions for the 6th grade concert. And, when the new polio vaccine came out, we were all sent to the lunch room to get our cup of vaccine to drink.
My favorite part of the school, besides the playground, was the basement. Here were the boys and girls rest rooms...it was a long trip from the second floor down there and you never knew whom you would meet. The teachers monitored how long you were gone and if you stayed there too long, someone would be sent to fetch you. But the real reson I liked the basement was because, on rainy days, we got to have recess there. We would sing and play silly games the whole time...great fun...girls on one side, boys on the other. Awesome!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
'60's Winter Memories
It has been a really long time since my last post. The winter season has renewed my interest in writing so I'll continue with memories of activities popular when I was in elementary school.
Winter clothes were a challenge, especially for little kids. Snow pants, boots, hats, scarves, heavy coats...it was hard to move around with all of those items on. The back of Hoosac St School was one giant playground and we used every inch for sliding down the icy slight slope. At recess, we formed lines and we would run and slide with our boots, trying to keep standing the whole time. The challenge was to stay on your feet and not fall onto your rear end. Of course, all of the padding in the snow pants helped.
One grandmother lived at the top of Victory St. Sometimes we would take our flexible flyers or big flat pieces if cardboard to her house and slide down the alley in back all the way to Summer St. Of course, that was pretty dangerous and we only did that when the snow was fresh and not icy. My other grandmother lived halfway up Alger St. Across the street from her house was a giant hill that, on the backside, overlooked Rt 8 south to Cheshire. It was an awesome sledding hill and was one of our favorite places to go. We had flexible flyers, coasters, a jack jumper, and a toboggan. My brothers, cousin, and I would spend all day there. You really had to be careful not to land in the gully though. There was a small wet swampy area at the bottom of the hill that had a dry bridge area in the middle. You had to aim for that bridge or you would land in the wet and have to go home to dry off.
The best place to go in town was 8th hill at the Adams Country Club. It was a steep sledding area that had a couple of bumps at the bottom which acted like small ski jumps. Everyone in town went to 8th hill and on a nice sunny day, half the kids in town would be there. The hill became icy with so much use and the sleds would really be flying down the hill. Jack jumpers were popular with many kids. A jack jumper was a short ski with a post and a seat. The person sat on the seat and balanced all the way down the hill, using his legs to slow down or stop. It was scary until you became accustomed to balancing and staying on the seat. Toboggans were great fun too, the more kids on the toboggan, the faster it went.
Adams had some great outdoor skating rinks: Renfrew Field, Fisk Street, Howland Ave, PNA field. Free fun if you had skates to use. Some fields had concession stands for hot cocoa and a pot belly stove for warmth. We took advantage of all and loved every minute!
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