Mr. Ward Scott (some sources name him as D.E. Scott) joined the Dryden Continuation School staff in 1929. Except for a leave of absence during the 1938-1939 school year, Mr. Scott taught until some time during the 1940s when he left the school and became editor of the Dryden Observer. He remained active in education as a board member with the Dryden School Board.
Many ex-students remember him as an excellent and influential teacher. He taught English and is also remembered as a very talented musician.
In 1929, during his first year of teaching, he was instrumental in organizing the annual field day activities. Initially, the field day activities were held on a Friday afternoon in early September at the grounds of the present day IGA grocery store. Some of the events were the 50 and 100 yard dashes, the slow bicycle and the potato race. Trophies were given to the top male and female athletes.
The activity day still takes place today at the school. It is now held in May at the Harry McMaster field located behind the school. Teams of 10 students and 10 staff members participate in various athletic and non-athletic activities. One of the most popular activities is the dunk tank where students pay to throw a ball at a target causing a teacher to fall into a tank of cold water.
During the 1939-1940 school year, it was Mr. Scott who encouraged the students to organize an editorial staff for the student paper called The Review. With Betty (Brown) Hawke as editor, the students produced a monthly paper filled with personals and activities at the school. The last issue of The Review was a summary of the events of the school year and became the first yearbook named the Argosy. Unfortunately, no yearbook was produced for the following 7 years. Since 1947 the school has published a yearbook and today the yearbook editor is Anhika Bruetsch with Mr. Dave Darling acting as staff advisor.
In a Dryden Observer article published on July 3 1942, Mr. Scott spoke to the Rotarians thanking the club for sponsoring some form of musical education. He encouraged the club to help support the formation of a high school band, adding that it would give the students of the school a chance to express themselves musically.
To this day, the study of music and band is a very important activity at the school and is guided by teacher Mr. Ryan Graham.
Finally, it was Mr. Ward Scott who wrote the words to the only song dedicated to Dryden High School:
Left to right: Principal J.D. Smith, Gordon Wood, Mr. Ward Scott
(seated)
Left to right:Mr. Ward Scott, Miss Molly Hasard (principal of DHS for a period during the 1930s)
