The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-05-26
HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT
Brilliant Exercises Mark Close OF
Highly Successful Session.

IiiSA oCAooi proved 1lLtlnS climax
to the most successful year. in the
history of this institution.
The first Of these events was the
reception given to the graduating
class on Tuesday evening, May Is, at
the South Louisiana Fair grounds.
The dancing pavilion was brilliantly
Illuminated and tastefully decorated
with American flags and the class
colors, and the forty or more couples
who took part in the dancing gave
evidence of their enjoyment of the
occasion by remaining until the small
hours of morning. At midnight
abundant refreshments were served.
Glass night followed on Thursday
evening, the following program being
enjoyed by the many friends of the
seniors:
Presidents address, Gay Martin.
Chorus, "Serenade," Glee Club.
Glass history, Tina Termini.
Class motto, Maude Sternfels.
Glass flower, Elvie Noel.
Glass prophecy, Lillian Winter
Piano solo, ".Grande Polka de Con-
cert" Letitia Thibodaux.
Class poem, Olive Stuart.
Glass will, Hazel Werner.
Juniors farewell address, Frank
Constantine.
Chorus, an Our Boat" Glee Club.
On Friday morning at 9 o'clock
took place the closing exercises of
the school, at which were present all
the pupils of the primary, elementary
and high school grades, as well as a
number of patrons and friends. At
ter ali invocation by Rev. R. H. Pros
ser the list of promotions throughout
the school was read, following the
principals explanation to the audi
ence that no promotions were made in
the lower grades where the pupil had
failed in any subject, nor in the high
school where the pupil had more than
one condition. It was further ex-
planned also that in case of failure of
promotion in any grade, upon salts
factory evidence being furnished the
principal that at least two months of
work had been done during vacation
under the direction of competent
teacher, and the pupil" should pass
the examination on the opening day
of school in September, promotion
would follow.
After the promotions were an
nounced the state spelling certificates
were awarded to those pupils who
had made 100 per cent in the 500
word contest which was held in April.
This years medal winners were
then announced, who in addition to
the members of the senior class, IN
cluded the winners of three medals
offered by Rev. r. FL. Prosser for the
best oral examination in Louisiana
and United States history, the con-
test having been held the day pre-
vious. These medals were won by
Marjorie Crawford in Louisiana his
tory and by Clarence Birckel and
Ruth White in United States history
The medals won by pupils of the high
school at the last South Louisiana
Fair in October We're then delivered.
Next followed a talk by the princi
pal on the subject, "It Pays to Stay
in School," addressed especially tt
the parents of the pupils. The full
text of these remarks was reproducec
on the first page of last weeks Chief
and is recommended to the prayerfu
consideration of those patrons who
although they furnished the chief in
spiration for the theme, were con
spicuous by their absence from the
exercises.
The. address of the principal was
supplemented by brief talk iron
Parish superintendent II. P. Brous
sard, who gave some interesting data
respecting the cost of educating the
pupils in the high school and the loss
entailed on each school in the parish
through the tendency of pupils te
drop out or absent themselves IRON
school unnecessarily.
The exercises were closed by the
whole audience joining in the singing
of "America" and "The Star Span
gled Banner"
The final event of the weeks com
mencement program was the gradual
ing exercises Friday evening at
o'clock in the school auditorium. II
the presence of a brilliant audience
composed of the relatives and friends
of the graduates, thirteen young la
dies and gentlemen who were charac
terized by the principal as probabl!
the best and most promising clas
ever turned out by the institution
were awarded their diplomas b.
Mayor Walter Lemann in the alb
sence of Hon. E. N. Pugh.
An eloquent invocation by tn
Rev. Father C. M. Chambon marked
the opening of the program.
Mr.. Lemann, in delivering the dip
ldmas, referred briefly to the success
full session just closed, which had beei
made notable by the improvements OF
the campus, especially the handsome
metal flag pole, and the various prac
tical activities inaugurated' by tn
school. such as the organization OF
well-armed and uniformed cade
corps. the initiation of thrift an
savings account system, the profitabl
operation of a waste paper industry
the beginning of a school garden, tn
phvsical examination of the pupils
The tentative plans formed for
canning club, and the installation o
a stationery store in the basement o
the school to be owned and operate
| by the pupils.
The commencement address wa
| made by DR.. Henry M. Gill, Of Ne!
Orleans, who with Service" as NJ
theme delivered an able oratlo
which touched in mastery manne
the living issues of the day. II
stressed the value of education IN it
practical and spiritual relation to Life