The Last "First Day" of School

It was Wednesday, September 4, 1963.  Fifty years ago today most of us began our term as seniors, and our last "first day" at Glacier. We undoubtedly donned a new school sweater that morning, grabbed our new pee chees, and rushed to be on time for the First Period Tardy Bell at 8:00 a.m.  The weather that day would reach 87 degrees. 

Our Student Handbooks guided us through the schedules, rules, student fees and activities that would step us through the year.  A letter inside, co-signed by Mr. Anderson, our Principal, and Mr. Gordon, Assistant Principal, welcomed us to a new year and challenged us toward academic excellence and participation in activities.  The book included some yells, the Alma Mater, Highline District Dance Regulations, and the Glacier High School Constitution.  It also contained a map of the school, a list of faculty, and enrollment information for graduation with two credits in Home Economics specifically required for girls.  

The School Calendar in the Handbook showed the last day of school as Thursday, June 4, 1964.  At the time, it seemed forever until that day. Part of me couldn't wait for the year to be over, impatient to move on to new things. But there was a part, too, that wanted to enjoy this last year of school--our senior year--and all it would bring. 

New years always seem like fresh, blank pages waiting to be written upon and this senior year started out all clean and new.  As we worked our way through the calendar one day at a time beginning September 4,  "The Avalanche", newspaper articles, photos and more recorded our days. We'll do our best to gather the chronology of that time and share it here as we look forward now to our 50th reunion and revisit our past.  It was a time we shared together and this first day of school would be our last.  

HANDBOOK:  

WELCOME LETTER TO STUDENTS

CAMPUS MAP

The 200 Building has since been torn down.  But the other buildings still stand and are used for different community purposes, most recently an alternative college prep school and the gym for a Basketball Training Facility.

FACULTY LIST

Remember any favorite teachers?

Hmmm....where are the Teacher Planning Days and Winter Break? 

Gooooo Grizzlies!!!

FIFTY YEARS PAST BLAST:  HEADLINES -- SEPTEMBER 4, 1963
Like a time capsule from fifty years ago, here’s a blast from our past. 

News Headlines

• On this day in  history, Swissair Flight 306, destined for Rome, crashed on take-off from Zurich Airport when it caught fire in dense fog killing all 80 people on board.  As a result of this crash all Caravelle aircraft were modified to use non-flammable hydraulic fluids.  One small village lost one-fifth of its population in this crash, with 43 people from Humlikon on board traveling to visit a farm test site near Geneva.  The entire local council, the leaders of the schools and the post office clerk perished. Thirty-nine village children were orphaned.  Families and neighbors took in and cared for the children; people came from abroad to harvest and plant so the village farming could survive.

• Across the country, the first day of school wasn't quite so calm as ours. For the first time ever, black students registered at white schools in the segregated state of Alabama. In some places they faced State Troopers deployed by Gov. George Wallace who was trying to prevent integration. That night, the bombing of a black household in Birmingham triggered a riot, and a black 20-year-old was shot to death by police.   

Top Single Record -- September 4, 1963 (Billboard Hot 100 List)
(click on the title for the link; click the link  to listen)

"My Boyfriend's Back", The Angels

 

Around Glacier

The teachers and students were beginning their year and things would quickly settle in. The first football game would be Glacier at Auburn, September 20; the first Cross Country Track meet would be Evergreen at Glacier, September 27.  "The Avalanche" staff would be planning their first edition for the year.  We'll include highlights from there next time.  Be sure to subscribe to this blog (upper right corner on this page) so you won't miss any of  the events of our senior year!