Summary of Events During the 1947-1948 school year

It is not the goal of this site to include a summary of activities that happened at Dryden High School on a year to year basis. However, the years from 1947-1954 are of significance for two reasons. First of all, the student enrollment was increasing very rapidly, and thus a there was a burgeoning need for a new school with new facilities. Secondly, the scope of courses and extracurricular activities offered at the school was broadening. Within a few years the high school saw the inauguration of a number of well organized sports teams as well as a number of academic activities such as "Career Day" and an "Oratorical Contest".

Here is a brief summary of the activities that took place at DHS during the 1947-1948 year. These activities have been summarized from the Argosy of that year.

• The first student council was organized in April 1947, with Martin Euler as the first student council president. Doris Charter became the second student council president in the fall of 1947.
• After a lapse of 8 years without an Argosy, Jim White Jr. (a World War II veteran who returned to DHS to finish Grade 13) proposed the idea of a yearbook to student council. However, it was Roy Wilson who oversaw the planning and publication of the Argosy for that year.
• A standard school sweater (a blue sweater with three gold rings around the left arm) for the girls was designed and accepted as a school uniform.
• The first career day was held at the school in February 1948. Twenty-six representatives from various businesses and occupations came to the school to give students a pre-view of possible careers. The greatest interest was shown in nursing, tourist camp operators, stenography (office administration and secretarial arts), forest ranging, undertaking, civil and mining engineering, accountancy, home making and physical training
• The Dryden Chamber of Commerce organized the first Oratorical (public speaking) contest on May 1948. The theme for the evening was "It's great to be a Canadian". Connie Sfreddo won the junior contest and Bernice Euler won the senior division contest.
• A committee of students choosen by student council planned and officiated a Freshman Initiation. Friday, October 31 was choosen as the initiation day for grade 9 students.
• The cadet corps offered military training to interested students. Twenty-nine boys took the training offered by the corps.
• The High School Glee Club (a Glee club is a group that is formed to sing songs in harmony) made its contribution to the Commencement (graduation) program in the form of an hour of Stephen Foster melodies.
• Full tackle rugby (North American Football) was first introduced to DHS
• "The school letter program" was designed and awarded for students participating in various school activities. A committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. McMaster, drafted a list of school activities and accomplishments for which points were to be awarded. 25 points earned a student a large blue "D" on a yellow felt background. When a student earns the next 25 points, she is awarded a gold lapel "D"