SUPPORT YOUR
BASKETBALL TEAM
THE BLACKBIRD
Published by Journalism Class of Rocky Mount High School
HONESTY IS THE
BEST POLICY
VOLUME XXII
ROCKY MOUNT, N. C. TUESDAY. JANUARY 16. 1951
NUMBER 7
'Wish I Had Studied Before’
—Photo by Janies Reid of Barringer Studio
The above picture shows a group of students cramming for coming
exams. They are Aileen Griffen, Albert Parker, Barbara Blanford,
Peggy Searcy and Doris Ellis.
Glass Rings Received
By Juniors And Seniors
What’s going on?
Why all tW excitement?
To find an answer to these
questions consult one of the many
juniors who received their class
rings last waak. In every part of
the building juniors could be seen
proudly displaying their rings,
while underclassmen
enviously looked on, waiting for
the day when the privilege of buy
ing class rings will be theirs.
There are a great variety of
rings, although black is one of
RM’s colors, blue and red stones
could also be seen. Many rings
were of plain gold and some stu
dents seemd to prefer these. Al
though the rings are not all the
same, they still are a symbol of
RMHS and the juniors are very
proud of them.
Bacic Campus Receives
Face Lifting Operation
The first step in reworking the
back campus has been taken.
The Senior Steps have received
their face lifting. The old front
railing has been taken down and
just the straight railings are used.
The money for remodeling the
Senior Steps was given by the
by the Board of Trustees.
The water fountain has been
moved to the center of the cam
pus. Plans have been made to make
walkways from the water fountain
to the different entrances which
are to be started on within the
next two or three weeks. Grass
and shrubs will be planted between
the walks. A placque will be plac
ed at the foot of the water foun
tain in honor of the Senior class
of I960 whose generous donation
will make this possible.
School Spirit Week Observed
For the first time in the history
of Rocky Mount high school there
has been designated a “School
Spirit Week’’ which began Janu
ary 2 and ended Friday, January
12. The purpose of this week was
to encourage students to express
their school spirit through sup
port of our basketball team.
During this past fall the stu
dent body of R M H S energetical
ly and wholeheartedly supported
their football teams. Now that the
football season is over, the stu
dents are urged to direct their en
thusiasm and support where it
rightfully belongs—to their bas
ketball teams.
A school spirited student is one
who shares in and supports the
activities of his school. By doing
this he feels that he is a part of
the school. Though support of our
athletic teams is only one way of
showing school spirit, it is a vital
one.
The really school spirited stu-
game. The least he can do is to go
to the game and give the team his
support. The school spirited stu
dent will be enthusiastic and optim
istic about his team’s chances for
victory, but he will not “boo” or
“hiss” anyone. He will be a good
sport whether his team wins or
loses. The school spirited student
will cooperate with the basketball
teams by helping them to train and
to observe training rules.
The Student Organization, the
Good Sports club, the AFOS, and
the cheerleaders worked together
to make the “School Spirit Week”
a success.
To introduce the “School Spirit
Week” an assembly ^as held to
present the basketball team to the
student body. Following this a pep
rally was held. During the week
posters were put in the halls, vic
tory ribbons were sold, and school
spirit thoughts were put on the
daily bulletin and classroom black
boards.
Student Organization
Reviews 1st Semester
Looking back over the first
semester, shows it to have been
a successful one for the Student
Organization.
The ten standing committees
have done their work well, the
Publicity Committee, with Hazel
Rawls as chairman, has had a fea
ture article in the Sunday Tele
gram once a week besides the
traditional “Hi-Lights.”
The Social Committee, headed by
Barbara Land, has been very busy.
They supervised the election of
lootball sponsors, operated a con
cession stand on the train to Fay
etteville, planned the annual
Christmas Dance, and gave the
.■’reshmen a party to climax their
Orientation Program. The Traffic
Committee has functioned well
i.hus far. Chairman Bobby Chand
ler decided that members would
serve only twelve weeks this year
instead of one semester. Jimmy
Thornton, as chairman of the Pro
gram Committee, has had his hands
full with an assembly every week.
The assembly programs have been
good and one of the three bought
programs was very well received
(Continued on page 4)
Publication Staffs Plan
Journejf To New York
R. M. H. S. is really buzzing
lately. Why? That’s simple. The
“Blackbird” and the Hi-Noc-Ar
staffs are making plans for the
annual Columbia Scholastic Press
Association Convention to be held
in New York City, March 8-11. It
is at this time that the Blackbird
and Hi-Noc-Ar are judged along
with papers and annuals from
hundreds of other schools.
For the past two years, the
Blackbird has received a one rat
ing. The staff is hoping to bring
back another high rating this year.
For the first time the Hi-Noc-
Ar received a “one” rating last
year.
In addition to attending the
sessions held at Columbia Uni
versity, the Blackbird Staff ac
companied by the adviser, Mrs. T.
D. Young and the Hi-Noc-Ar Staff
accompanied by Miss Alma Mur-
chinson, will also see several
Broadway shows such as “South
Uacific” and “Call Me Madam.”
They also plan to take in many
other attractions during their stay.
The convention program will
provide well known journalists
cartoonists and authorities in the
newspaper world.
Mimo Presented Tues.
By Miss Agna Enters
The Literary Council of the
Rocky Mount Wonian’s Club
sponsored another appearance of
Angna Enters, famous artist, au
thor, dancer, sculptor, and illus
trator at the Rocky Mount high
school last Tuesday evening.
Miss Enters presented a one-
person show, in which she was
costume designer, dressmaker,
musician, stage-designer, actress,
director and also manager of the
production.
16 Nominees For May Court
—Photo by James Reid of Barringer Studio
The girls pictured above are contestants for the Junior-Senior Queen
and her court. They are back row: Norma Pittman, Anne Bulluck,
Alice Joyner, Jean Cooper, Becky Griffen, Fay Reynolds, Sarah
Joyner; Second row: Nancy Bartholomew, Bruce Carr, Ann Bailey,
Blanche Wilkins; First row: Bettey Lou Davis, Ann Page, Tamara
Holliday, Dot Whitley, and Jane Allsbrook.
Eight seniors and eight juniors
have been selected by the junior
and Jtenisr-filasses for
the coveted title of beauty queen
and court attendants sponsored
annually by the Blackbird staff.
The seniors who were chosen
are Ann Bailey, Nancy Bartholo
mew, Anne Bulluck, Bruce Carr,
Alice Joyner, Sarah Joyner, Faye
Reynolds, and Blanche Wilkins.
The juniors are Jane Allsbrook,
Betty Lou Davis, Jean Cooper,
Becky Griffin, Tamara Holliday,
Ann Page, Norma Pittman and
Dot Whitley.
Following the custom of the
past four years, the Blackbird
sponsors this May court during
the intermission of the annual
Junior-Senior dance. A celebrity
is chosen by the staff to choose
the beauty queen from the eight
seniors and six attendants from
the^emaining seniors and juniors.
This year the staff has written
to Conover Modeling Company of
New York city and have asked
them to be the judge. No answer
of acceptance has been received.
Judges in the past have been, A1
Capp, Charlies Justice, Alan Ladd,
and Billy Rose.
Each year Mrs. Dot Bai’ringer
makes portraits of all sixteen girls.
These pictures along with the
measurements of each girl are
sent to the judge. The winners are
announced the night of the Junior-
Senior dance.
The four girls who have been
chosen in the past four years as
queen are Hazabelle Pearsall,
Nancy Yelverton, Robin Arring
ton, and Peggy Edmondson.
Edsonians To Present
3-Act Suspense Drama
Dramatics have cut loose again.
The first and second year drama
tic students have begun work on
a three act suspense play, “Fog
Island” under the direction of
Mrs. Mildred Kramer. This play is
a Row-Peterson production and
is written by E. Clayton McCarty.
It will be presented in the high
school auditorium on the night of
February 9.
The casting of the eleven
characters has been completed.
Those taking part are Kay Finch
as Mrs. Williams; Joe Beard as
Williams; Bruce Miller as Jerry
Martin; Billy Gupton as Sheriff
Doolittle; Charles Haislip as
Brock; Julia Jordon as Margy 0’-
Laughlin; Jean Cooper as Hazel
Sommers; Hazel Rawls as Ann
Wickcliffe; Barbara Rowland as
Maurin Gardner; Fay Renolds as
Johannal Green; Irma Luper as
Priscilla Ralston.
Mrs. Kramer has chosen “Ashes
of Roses” for one of the contest
plays. It is a play of the eighteen
th century. The other play has not
been chosen as of this date.
Trophy Case Receives
Early Spring Cleaning
Have you noticed how the tro
phies and the trophy case on the
first floor shine lately? If you
haven’t seen it lately go by and see
it. The project of polishing the
trophies and case was undertaken
by the House and Grounds Com
mittee headed by Billy Powell.
The committee noticed how dull
and unattractive the trophies w’ere
so they set about polishing each
one. Later members of the com
mittee arc going to put cards with
each trophy telling who won it,
how and when it was won.
The other members of the com
mittee are Anne Zimmerman,
Preston Bradshaw, George Strick
land, and Jimmy Selby.