Grade School - our introduction to formal education and group activities.
First grade was somewhat intimidating. Getting off the bus with a brand new lunch box fresh out of the annals of Hop-a-Long Cassidy, new blue jeans and a new flannel shirt, what could possibly be better? There's something about new stuff that makes a person feel about five times more important and seven times larger than what is really factual.
Stepping off that bus on the first day of first grade, well, some of us learned once more we were the little guys. A little advice about keeping one's mouth shut wouldn't have been all bad. In a few words...we learned life lessons as well as the three R's! Reading, wRiting and as a side benefit, they taught us to add and subtract (aRithmetic) as well. We may have done some artsy stuff, but not being of the artsy mind, I probably spent that time gawking out the window, much as I do today.
Jack, Jill and Spot created memories as vivid as the dandelions of a Midwest Spring. See Jack run. See Jill sit. See Spot jump. By Thanksgiving, we were into reading a complete multi-word sentence and never looked back. We also learned what the really huge pencil was for. With that pencil in the right hand and the large tablet with big blue lines under our left hand, we started to make sense of our ABC's in written form.
Those lessons weren't nearly as exciting as recess or asking to be excused to go to the washroom because of the banister waiting for someone to slide down it's spine seemed, but then what did we know at the time?
Yes, there was a purpose. What we learned in the first four grades by today's standards is a joke academically. But socially we learned volumes. The concept of common sense became ever apparent as we progressed our way through the higher grades. Courtesy, humbleness, respect and the world does not revolve around oneself were taught in many forms. Somehow we made it all the way through the sixth grade. A few of us had acquired musical instruments that we were carrying with our books and once more we had another milestone in our folders with a new one to conquer just around the corner. Junior High School. Just the sound of those words was an inspiration.
Stepping off that bus on the first day of first grade, well, some of us learned once more we were the little guys. A little advice about keeping one's mouth shut wouldn't have been all bad. In a few words...we learned life lessons as well as the three R's! Reading, wRiting and as a side benefit, they taught us to add and subtract (aRithmetic) as well. We may have done some artsy stuff, but not being of the artsy mind, I probably spent that time gawking out the window, much as I do today.
Jack, Jill and Spot created memories as vivid as the dandelions of a Midwest Spring. See Jack run. See Jill sit. See Spot jump. By Thanksgiving, we were into reading a complete multi-word sentence and never looked back. We also learned what the really huge pencil was for. With that pencil in the right hand and the large tablet with big blue lines under our left hand, we started to make sense of our ABC's in written form.
Those lessons weren't nearly as exciting as recess or asking to be excused to go to the washroom because of the banister waiting for someone to slide down it's spine seemed, but then what did we know at the time?
Yes, there was a purpose. What we learned in the first four grades by today's standards is a joke academically. But socially we learned volumes. The concept of common sense became ever apparent as we progressed our way through the higher grades. Courtesy, humbleness, respect and the world does not revolve around oneself were taught in many forms. Somehow we made it all the way through the sixth grade. A few of us had acquired musical instruments that we were carrying with our books and once more we had another milestone in our folders with a new one to conquer just around the corner. Junior High School. Just the sound of those words was an inspiration.
Early learning through WCCHS education set the table for our lives.
How many classmates consider 1963 as their graduation year? The West Chicago Community High School Challenge yearbooks show:
155 - pictured in the 1960 Freshman class
162 - pictured in the 1961 Sophomore class
159 - pictured in the 1962 Junior class
140 - pictured in the 1963 Senior class and the commencement program
What happened to the people that did not graduate with us but shared part of our wego experiences? If you have news about any of the missing classmates please let us know and we'll update his/her information. Visit the Community High School D94 website to find out what's happening now.
155 - pictured in the 1960 Freshman class
162 - pictured in the 1961 Sophomore class
159 - pictured in the 1962 Junior class
140 - pictured in the 1963 Senior class and the commencement program
What happened to the people that did not graduate with us but shared part of our wego experiences? If you have news about any of the missing classmates please let us know and we'll update his/her information. Visit the Community High School D94 website to find out what's happening now.
Emphasis is being placed on all of the schools that were active when we attended. We'd like to know who went to what grade school and gather more details about those schools, buildings, classes and after school activities. Pictures, pictures, pictures we'd love to add your pictures and stories of our schools please help.
Carey Roundy School
Gary School
Ingalton School
Lincoln School
McAuley School
St. John the Baptist, Winfield
St. Mary's Parish School (Closed)
Trinity Lutheran School
Turner School
Washington School
Winfield Public School
When the blog page is active please sign up and join the conversation. As we learn we will add new stories to the Remembering or Our Schools page.
The following schools were opened after we graduated:
Currier School
Early Learning Center
Indian Knoll School
Leman Middle School
Pioneer School
Trinity School (a unit of the D33 Early Learning Center)
Wegner School
Carey Roundy School
Gary School
Ingalton School
Lincoln School
McAuley School
St. John the Baptist, Winfield
St. Mary's Parish School (Closed)
Trinity Lutheran School
Turner School
Washington School
Winfield Public School
When the blog page is active please sign up and join the conversation. As we learn we will add new stories to the Remembering or Our Schools page.
The following schools were opened after we graduated:
Currier School
Early Learning Center
Indian Knoll School
Leman Middle School
Pioneer School
Trinity School (a unit of the D33 Early Learning Center)
Wegner School
School Districts that feed into Community High School:
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