‘Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men’
As we plan for our pleasurable activities of the Christmas Season,
may we also plan for the true observance of the birth of Our Lord, Jesus
Christ. In a land where freedom still reigns supreme, niay we pause a
moment during this season to express our gratitude to the Giver of All
Good Gifts for the blessings of freedom, plenty, and security that are
ours.
At a time when much of the world is clothed in darkness, and when
the threat of -another world conflict is impending, we should be truly
thankful that we can still observe Christmas in a free and democratic
land. We should pause to give thanks for the brave men who are
fighting and dying in far away places to preserve world peace.
May our Christmas be a joyous one and may the New Year bnng
“Peace on Earth and Good Will toward Men.”
C. M. Edson, Principal
THE BLACKBIRD
Published by Journalism Class of Rocky Mount High School
VOLUME XXII
ROCKY MOUNT, N. C. TUESDAY, DECEMBER, 19, 1950
Newsees
CHOIR ENTERTAINS
The high school choir and Mr.
Harold Parry, director, had a full
calendar during the gala Christ
mas holiday season. They practice
daily and presented programs to
various groups in Rocky Mount.
The following groups were en
tertained: Edgemont and Battle’s
1’ T S A, the Universal Church,
the Rotary club, Civitan club,
Kiwanis club. Lions club. Current
Topics, the PTSA of .R M H S and
the students of RMHS.
Ann Dennis, Nell Harris, Jane
Warren, Betsy Lockamy, Benny
Wrenn, were the soloists. Some of
the numbers were “March of the
Toys,” “Winter Wonderland,”
“Ave Marie,” “Silent Night,”
“Adeste Fideles,” “The Messiah,”
“Alleliua,” and “Evening Pastor
al.”
The choir worked hard to pre
sent a program which would be
NUMBER 6
JUNIORS ADOPT PROJECT
The Junior Class has adopted as
one of ite major projects of the
year, the development of the honor
policy.
A series of programs on this
topic are to be presented in the
Junior class group guidance as
semblies. These programs are to
enlighten them on the subject of
honor.
The first of this series was Hon
or in the Family. Three speakers
were invited to talk on this sub
ject. Mrs. J. M. Gray, whose topic
was Honor to the Mother; Dick
Gregory who spoke on Honor of
the brother and son; and Ellen
Williams who took the sister and
daughter’s view point.
At the close of the speeches, an
open forum for discussion was
held.
Margaret Moore Eason had
charge of the program.
By Barringer
he above students join the journalism staff in wishing ^thT^iJtire student body a merry Christ
mas. They are left to right, back row, Jack Bloodsworth, Wilton Holiday, James Johnson, Fred Pat
ton; first row, Barbara Boone, Jean Smith, Chrystal Beecher, Margaret Eason, Frances William* and
Lois Starling.
FHA GIVES LUNCHEON
Miss Grant and the FHA club
have been busy with Christmas
plans this year which not only in
cluded themselves but also others
less fortunate. For its project this
year the club helped a colored
family with small children who
would not have had any pleasures
which most children enjoy with
out the help of someone. The gifts
for this family were' wrapped and
packed by the girls.
The girls and Miss Grant also
nad a treat for themselves this
7uletide season. On December 12,
they had a Christmas luncheon
during their regulai‘ club period
and lunch hour. From all reports
it was a wonderful luncheon and
everyone had a good time.
Wallace And Gray Win
TB Contest Awards
The winners for the Annual
School Press Project sponsored by
the Tuberculosis Association were
Alva Wallace and Virginia Gray.
Mrs. Calena Brothers, Executive
Secretary of the Rocky Mount
Kiwanis Tuberculosis Committee,
who gave instructions for the pro
ject made the announcement Dec
ember 12. Mrs. Brothers stated
that she found the papers all so
good that it was a difficult job to
m.ake a decision.
Alva, a senior and editor of the
Blackbird, wrote an editorial on
‘How the Christmas Seal Fights
Tuberculosis.”
Virginia, a junior and PTSA re
porter on the Blackbird also wrote
a feature article on “How Christ
mas Seals Fight Tuberculosis.”
The other participants entering
the contest were The Members of
the journalism class.
Supt. Sends Greetings
From the superintendent’s office
came the following greeting of
holiday wishes for principal, teach
ers, students and all other school
personnel.
“The Christmas holidays will be
gin with the close of school Tues
day afternoon, December 19th,
with classes being resumed Wed
nesday morning, January 3rd. It
will be quite impossible for the
administration to send an indivi
dual holiday greeting to each
teacher or student in the system.
It is the wish of those of us in
the Superintendent’s office that
your Christmas may be Merry and
your New Year happy. In the
chaotic situation in which the
world finds itself at this Christ-
mastide, may we not lose sight of
the true significance of Christmas.
May the message long ago pro
claimed among the Judean hills
truly be the sentiments of people
throughout the entire world:
Angel Scene Planned
For School Decoration
Last year the art class put up
a Christmas scene in front of the
auditorium as decorations for the
Christmas season. This year they
have planned another Christmas
scene to be placed before the
school.
This year’s scene is carrying
out the idea of the angels in the
sky over Bethlehem when Jesus
was born. There are six angels
over a skyline of Bethlehem hous
es.
Last year, a scene with the
shepherds in the fields was also
in front of the auditorium.
These decorations are under the
direction of Miss Doris Meekins.
“Peace on earth, good will to
wards men.” Best wishes for the
holidays go to principals, teachers,
students and all other school per
sonnel.”
Christmas Dance Held;
Play Given In Assembly
Red candles, bells, holly, and
ribbon were the decorations for
the annual Christmas dance which
was held December 14th in the
gymnasium at 9:00 o’clock. The
music was furnished by a jukebox.
Every student in Rocky Mount
high school received a written in
vitation. Guest bids were also is
sued and all parents were invited
as spectators.
The students were served
punch, Christmas candy and cook
ies.
Each year the social committee
of R M H S puts on this dance as
one of its duties. The student
council contributed $25 toward
financing the dance and the of
fice gave $35. The money went to
get decorations, bids, and refresh
ments.
Chairman of the social commit
tee is Barbara Land. Those on h^r..
committee for the year are Vir
ginia Gray, Velna Motley, Edith
Ann Johnson, Bobby Grimes, Ed
ward Johnson, Albert Rabil Jr.,
Kay Finch, Janet Fulcher, Betty
Ann Cross, Frances Riddle, Ed
ward Halfard, Catherine Speight,
Emily Ryals, and Dick Gregory.
Two Clubs, Homeroom 8 Complete Project
Under the supervision of Mrs.
Bowden, the typing service club is
just what its name implies. It
serves others by typing. It is com
posed of students who work for
the teachers. Each student choos
es the teacher which she wants to
work for and then is responsible
for going to that teacher each
week and getting their assign
ments which they type in class.
Mrs. Bowden herself gives no as
signments unless someone fails to
have any work to do and then she
puts them to work for her.
TEACHERS ARE PEOPLE
“Teachers Are People” a one-
act comedy by Don McDonald was
presented in assembly by Mr.
Chapman’s homeroom. The play
showed what students think of
teachers. In the end, the teachers
turned out to be entirely differ
ent from what the students
thought.
The cast included Miss Brown,
a music teacher played by Peggy
Alexander; Mr. Johnson, an Eng
lish professor by Charlie Putman;
Geraldine by Jane Edwards; Par,
played by Wilson Pitt; uncle Ned
Quinn by Bobby Cobb. Grant by
Ben Williams; Daisy, played by
Mary Evelane; Bobby by Grady
Gardner; David by Fred Sexton;
Kate by Barbara Drake, and May-
oue by Delores Weaver.
(Continued on page 3)
‘A SIGN UNTO YOU’
“A Sign Unto You” was pre
sented to the student body Wed
nesday at a special assembly by
the Edsonian Dramatics Organiza
tion under the direction of Mrs.
Mildred P. Kramer.
The action of the play takes
place in a fashionable home in
New York City on Christmas Eve.
The family which has become
hardened by world affairs is soft
ened by a small boy’s need as he
stumbles into their house.
The cast of characters included
Charles Haislip as Edward Hallo
way; Kay Finch as his wife, Mar
garet; Barbara Rowland and Irma
Luper as Janice and Patricia, his
two daughters; Bobby Chandler as
his son Howard; and Joe Privette
as a newsboy.
The student directors were Mar
garet Boone and Anne Blunt. The
prompter was Shirley Robbins and
call girl was Katherine Dove. Jim
my Shine was stage manager. His
assistants were Cavelle Batchelor,
Robert Searcy, Charles Williams.
Light technicians were Billy Gup-
ton and Monroe Brinson and
the sound technicians wore Mon
roe Brinson and Robert Bur
gess.
The same production was also
presented to the Rocky Mount
high school P T S A at their
regular meeting on Wednesday
night.