He’s In The Army Now!
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Penny Connell Applies
‘To See Elvis Presley’
Penny Connell, this year’s American Field Ser- ham, admirmg a picture of Elvis Presley, Penny
vice exchange student to Rocky Slount, is shown applied for her scholarship hoping to see tlie
above with her American “sister,” Frances Gor- famous rock-n-roll Idol.
“I think I’il apply for that
scholarship to America — might
even set to see Elvis Presley!”
casually stated Penny (’onnell, ex
change student to senior high from
Xonbury, EnslaiKi, when the ex
change program was offered to her
class.
Tiny a’ 4" Penny, who had never
dreamed of being selected, has dark
brown eyes and hair which set off
her lovely complexion. She has a
ready smile for everyone and with
it conies a charming dimple.
They “Jive” in England
She likes rock and roll music as
well as classical, but in England
instead of bopping they “jive” as
she has demonstrated for a few
ipeople. There’s not too much dif
ference between the two dances.
In answer to the question of what
she thought of Americans, Penny
commented, “What I notice most
about Americans is that they are
so friendly and so Informal.”
Penny makes her American honie
with .Mr. and Mrs. (ieorge («orhaiu
and their daughter, Frances, who
have introduced her to Rocky
Mount and have already made a
trip with her to the North Carolina
n\ountains.
Parties Keep Penny Busy
Busy describes Penny and her
adopted family, especially her “sis
ter” Frances. They have attended a
variety of parties since Penny’s
arrival, introducing her to many
American styles and enjoyments.
Already Penny has picked up
some teenage sayings, such as; “I
just love It to death.” Too she has
learned to like bermudas which
she disliked at first.
Subscribed to your school
paper and keep Informed of
all the happenings.
The Blackbird
Publislied by Journalism Class of Rocky Mount Senior High School
Support your school In all
its activities. Attend the H-
squud and Varsity games.
VOLUME XXX
ROCKY MOUNT, N. C. FKIDAY, SEPTEaiBER 19, 1958
>UMBER 1
Applications For Membership
To Clubs Take Place This Week
Applications for membership in
service and interest-type groups,
and organization of various clubs
took place thi« week. ..
Se^-vice-type groups are open to
juniors only. Leading clubs of this
kind are Good Sports, Service Club,
SOS, Kudos and Phalanx.
Good Sports’ purpose is to pro
mote good sportsmanship, win or
lose./this club is an all-girl society
under the advisership, of Mrs.
Mary Cuthrell. It sponsors the
sales of ribbons and decorates the
sale of ribbons before each football
game.
Oldest service organization in
school is the Service Club under
Mrs. Gladys Robbins. This group
sponsors many worthwhile activi
ties, among which are planning the
Homecoming Parade and getting
football game programs printed.
Service over self Is the main aim
of the SOS Clul), under the direc
tion of Miss Dorothy Cralghlll.
Selling ribbons before home
basketball games and selling year-
Ijook covers are among money
making projects of the Kudo Klub.
A yearly service project is to act
as ushers at the Back-to-School
PTSA meeting in the fall, but
members are ready to help In any
call for civic sei-vlce. Jim. S'. i».
Young has been the adviser In the
past.
Students In the Phalanx Club
conduct many civic drives and
honor the basketball “Player ot
the Week”. Mr. C. M. Edson was
the adviser last year.
The National Honor Society, the
Black Masquers, and the Quill and
Scroll are honor organizations.
Black Masquers recognizes out
standing students In dramatics and
the Quill and Scroll honor special
workers in publications. The Na
tional Honor Society has a tapp
ing twice a year for students ex
celling in character, scholarship,
leadership and service.
Interest or hobby-type clubs are
P. H. A., Junior Red Cross, Per
sonal Typing Club, Bible Club,
Musettes, Junior Classical League,
Radio Broadcasters, and drama
tics.
Enjoy This Free Copy
Of Your School Newspaper
Subscribe for More Issues
In your hands is a copy of The
Blackbird, a free one at that!
This copy Is free to show you
what a fine school paper you have.
The staff hopes you will enjoy It,
Today the subscription campaign
starts. There will be nine copies
in all and a subscription costs only
the small sum of $1.10. Rememher
future copies will not be free, and
Individual copies will JfOT he on
Bale. So, when a staff member of
The Blackbird comes around for
subscriptions, greet him or her,
with your ?1.10.
Students’ names will be found In
the advertisements of other copies.
These students will win free passes
to the Center Hheater. If your name
is there, pick up your pass at The
Blackbird office, room 110. These
passes are donated by Mr. M. L.
Street, manager of the Center
Theater.
Holiday Schedule
NCEA Meeting .. Oct. 21, 195S
Thanksgiving . Nov. 27-28, 1958
Christmas .. Dec. 19-81, 1958
Easter March 27-31, 1959
Lahii iiiijL uf iirimui ma'j 30,195S
School Head Tells
Of Permit Changes
Mr. D .S. Johnson, superinten
dent ot the Rocky Mount City
Schools, said that the changes In
the lunch permits were due to a
School Board action which took
place after a survey of the large
schools in North Carolina.
Lunch permits will be allowed
but restricted and will be given
with the assumption that the chil
dren eat at home or, if in public
places, with their parents. If the
rules are broken, the permits will
be revoked.
Parents have to sign for the per
mits but the Issuing permits will
be discouraged and no more given
than necessary. After the parent
has signed for the permit, the stu
dent is given a canl which bears
the rules.
Lunch periods will remain the
i-ame length as last year with the
promise of school officals to im
prove the condltioar. in which the
students eat. The cafeteria accomo
dates a little over 200 at a time,
and there will be some 300 students
during each of the two lunch
periods. This makes for crowded
conditions.
“Our type of regulations for our
lunch permits Is about midway the
scale of the large schools,” says
Mr. Johuson.
731 Enrollment Shows Increase
Of 140 Over Five Years Ago
“This year’s enrollment of 731
shows an increase of 140 Senior
High students over the 1956 total,”
•said Principal C. M. EWgon In an
interview last week.
Mr. Edson continued that al
though the increase means a
heavier load on the faculty, the stu
dents have not caused excessive
disciplinary problems in the school.
Salesman Compliments School
Principal Edson reported that a
furniture dealer had commented on
the upkeep of Senior High’s fur
niture. In comparison with other
North Carolina schools, students
here seem to have more respect for
school property. The dealer was
also favorably impressed with the
smooth f.!;w of hall traffic and the
general behavior of students.
In reference to smoking, Mr. Ed
son stated that only 20 per cent
of the student population smoke
(at school), and this portion have
special permits.
There is a minimum of rule-
breaking and racing in the park
ing lot.
Faculty Number 31
With the rise in enrollment, Sen
ior High’s faculty has grown until
now it Is composed of 31 teachers,
including the special teachers, the
librarian, the line coach and Prin
cipal Bdson. If the student popul
ation demands, there may be a new
social studies and English teacher.
With the high number of scholar
ships accredited to local students
and the lack of childish behavior in
mind, Mr. Edson remarked that
the coming year should be a full
and advancing year for the school.
Are You French?-Non!
Clark Lee Shuff, who speaks French fluently, seems to have
surprised the usually jovial Principal C. M. Edson, while Interview
ing him on the growth of! Senior High in the last five years.
Photo by Harper