National Honor Society Initiation - Tuesday, May 31, 1960

Tonight I became a member of the Mid-Prairie chapter of the National Honor Society. The initiation was held at Wellman. It was a very impressive ceremony. Membership is based on scholarship, character, leadership and service. There are twelve senior members, nine juniors, and eight sophomores. Grandma and Grandpa left for Ohio for his 50th high school class reunion.

A High Score Among Juniors - Monday, May 30, 1960

I'm dog tired! The school paper came back today. Mrs. Small was a little disappointed in the pictures, but I was pleased. I wasn't expecting too much. Mrs. Kephart said I had the highest score on the English tests among West Chester and Kalona juniors. I'm not getting excited, but Wellman's aren't back yet.

In Case of Fallout - Sunday, May 29, 1960

This was Phyllis's 15th birthday. I gave her a pair of "kloppers" - beach sandals. We had supper at Grandma's. Cuddebacks were there for a little while. Marion said she's boiling water and storing it and groceries in case of fallout! Maybe she's right! This afternoon the WCHS band appeared for the last time at the Memorial Day services. It rained at West Chester so we had it at the church.

From Short Cut to Permanent - Saturday, May 28, 1960

Mom gave me a permanent today - my hair has been a plain short cut for two years. It will seem different! Don Bishop stopped to talk for awhile. We went to town this morning. I bought a pair of beige shorts and two pairs of socks - to help out at Iowa City. I had a good hour's visit with Marilyn and her yearbook.

West Chester's Last School Party - Friday, May 27, 1960

The sophomore party, West Chester High School's last school party, was tonight. Actually, it was almost boring - especially compared to the freshman party. They served pizza and root beer. I still taste mine. We finished up our beloved school paper - with the pictures of the seniors and faculty.

New Members of Honor Society - Thursday, May 26, 1960

I found out by reading the Wellman paper today that I'm now a member of the National Honor Society. Also from this school are Gerry, Beth, Sheryl, Tom Bauer and Ronnie Bombei. I was "shocked" to see in the paper that Karen Baker is getting married July 1. The kids had said she was, but I couldn't make myself believe it. She's just 16--heavens! I guess we've about got the paper under control.

Cooperative English Tests - Wednesday, May 25, 1960

I have my column in the rough draft, but I"ll have to retype it. I've been working every spare minute on the paper. We finished our Cooperative English Tests. Mrs. Kephart told Mom I ranked very high on the percentiles.

Last Commencement - Tuesday, May 24, 1960

Tonight was the last commencement for West Chester High School. I think it left everyone sort of out of spirits - or maybe it's just me! Grandpa gave out the diplomas. We took an English test that is being given to all Mid-Prairie.

A Journalism Workshop Scholarship - Monday, May 23, 1960

We're the oldest class in school - a climax of twelve years waiting. I'm being awfully sentimental about this! I'm up to my knees in school paper work. Before this time next week I'll be drowning! By the way, I got a "Kalona-paid-scholarship" to go with Shirley Slaubaugh from Wellman and Mary Ellen Miller from Kalona to a journalism workshop at SUI.

When Seniors Were in First Grade - Sunday, May 22, 1960

Tonight was baccalaureate. If next year goes as fast as this, our own baccalaureate will seem like next month. I remember when the seniors graduated from eighth grade and when they were in first grade. I'm going to be glad for a rest in vacation.

Piano Lessons - Saturday, May 21, 1960

I slept till ten till 12:00 this morning!! Mom had to come up and get me up (and to see if I was still breathing!). I was still sleeping like a log! Heavens! We had piano lessons this afternoon. I didn't have time to practice as Daddy and Mr. Moody were still in the house when Mrs. Janacek came.

Yearbooks Came Today - Friday, May 20, 1960

Tonight was the very successful freshman party. The yearbooks finally came today. They're very nice and quite different - the last West Chester High School yearbook. The Journal didn't put in the pictures of Beth Bauer, valedictorian, and Doug Peterson, salutatorian. The seniors had their last day of school today.

Mother-Daughter Dessert - Thursday, May 19, 1960

Tonight we had the mother-daughter dessert at church. I was a "high school graduate" in the program. Mr. Fudge had me write up the valedictorian and the salutatorian in my column - with pictures - an honor for me. Mrs. Kephart yelled "Where do you think you're going?!" at me for leaving the typing room after she must have said not to leave it.

Kindergarten and First Grade - Wednesday, May 18, 1960

Tonight slipped by with just my writing the beginning of a story for English - I'm not too enthused with it - and writing the rough copy of my column. I have a geometry test I really should study for. The days for the seniors (two left) are going fast. Then, for the first time in twelve years, we'll be the oldest class in school. I remember when the seniors were first graders and we were in Kindergarten. Now the seniors will soon be "gone."

"Please Don't Eat the Daisies" - Tuesday, May 17, 1960

We went to the show, "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," at Virginia's request. It was pretty good. I'm dog tired! Washington is on daylight savings time - confusing. I just missed three of 29 (a B) on our electricity test in physics. Geometry is done for us Friday when the seniors leave.

Voted to Stay in Mid-Prairie - Monday, May 16, 1960

Daddy and Mom went to PTA and just now Daddy and someone who stopped have been chasing someone else's cows, that were in the road, into our field. He got his good suit and shoes caked with mud. At PTA, by a straw vote, they voted to stay in Mid-Prairie. I should hope! We've been lining up the school paper. It's going to have senior and faculty pictures in it.

Ugh! Bugs! - Sunday, May 15, 1960

Ugh! Bugs! They're coming in my window after me! We had youth fellowship tonight. Mom had to run the projector for "Boy Dates Girl." Rev. Peters wasn't there. Now I'm doing geometry. I did English all afternoon. Most of it was makeup since I spent two class periods working on my impromptu theme.

Party For Honor Roll Girls - Saturday, May 14, 1960

This afternoon Phyllis and I drove to Mrs.Foster's house in Wellman for a party honoring the Mid-Prairie honor roll girls. We took Irene Hole along. It was really a lot of fun. I'm meeting so many friendly girls ahead of time, including Shirley Slaubaugh who I guess I'm to be co-editor of the school paper with next year. In town this morning Mom got a permanent. I bought some red material for shorts.

"Two Toads in the Pond" - Friday, May 13, 1960

Friday the 13th! I finished typing my autobiography and theme, "A Toad in the Hand is Worth Two in the Pond." I keep feeling I did something wrong. I just now started making up my English and now find out, "Don't put your humor in quotation marks." I mowed some grass, played softball, rode the horse. Phyl and I didn't go to the FFA party tonight.

FHA Weiner Roast - Thursday, May 12, 1960

We had a nice FHA picnic at Kleinschmidts. We left school at 3:05 and spent a lot of time hunting for weiner roast sticks, playing Flying Dutchman, having our meeting, and the weiner roast, yet were done around 5:00. Gerry, Sheryl and I gave our state convention reports. I'll crack up yet! School work!

"What Literature Means to Me" - Wednesday, May 11,1960

I'm not going to get my column written! FHA - FHA - school paper! I took my impromptu theme test during the last period. I had to write on "What Literature Means to Me." I made it through in the hour that I had without any cross outs or insertions. Then at the last minute I wrote "to" next to the red line in the outside of the margin on my notebook paper. Drat.

FHA Candidates' Carnival - Tuesday, May 10, 1960

Tonight we had the FHA candidates' carnival at Wellman and also the election and installation. I gave my speech for parliamentarian, but my "foe" won. She is Phyllis Batterson from Kalona. Mary Lou is secretary, Nancy Statler, treasurer, and Gerry, historian. I'm exhausted!

Up Late Doing Homework - Monday, May 9, 1960

I'm up late again trying to get all my homework done. I've a feeling I'm going to be a "rugged sounding" parliamentarian candidate tomorrow night! I sure haven't done much preparing! I wrote my autobiography. I'll have to do my English in the morning. Dear little Ink Blot, Bernie's puppy, got run over.

Mushroom Hunting - Sunday, May 8, 1960

Something gets me down. I finally got my character sketches and Moby Dick analysis done for English tomorrow. I feel like they're sort of sloppy. We went out to Grandma's this afternoon. Phyllis, Jim, Larry and I hunted mushrooms in Bady timber but with no luck. I feel like I didn't help Mom for Mother's Day. I gave her a box of Peggy Ann chocolates that the sophomores were selling.

Venetian Way Won Kentucky Derby - Saturday, May 7, 1960

I'm about too pooped to pop! This spring weather (though cold today) gets me down. We took piano lessons this afternoon. We watched Venetian Way win the Kentucky Derby. He was Phyllis's choice. I got my geometry done, started my speech for parliamentarian candidate, mowed my share of the yard, and vacuumed my room.

A Smoky Teachers' Lounge - Friday, May 6, 1960

I took a 70-minute test today for the NCTE writing contest. I had to take it up in the teachers' lounge and some of their smoking about drove me bats! We had another nice looking seven page school paper out today. However, some of the kids sure fussed about Tom Bauer's girls' basketball letter. At least they "enjoyed" the paper.

NCTE Scholarship Contest - Thursday, May 5, 1960

Today I was 17 1/2 years old. I started the National Council of Teachers of English scholarship process by taking a 40-minute test on literature. I will take a 70-minute one tomorrow. I'll have to write an autobiography and an impromptu theme. We got the school paper finished. Margaret Trier came home with Virginia and Ann went home with Darlene Lampe.

Babysitting - Wednesday, May 4, 1960

I babysat for Fudges tonight. I fed them their supper, washed the dishes, put Craig to bed on the couch with a hot water bottle since he didn't feel good, took two phone calls, changed Jeannie's dirty pants (ugh!), etc. I gave her enough milk to feed an an army! All she said all night was a continuous "milk!" We are about to get the school paper done. I sure have a heap of homework!

Moby Dick Discussion Group - Tuesday, May 3, 1960

I worked two periods today on the school paper and 45 minutes after school - but I'm a Quill and Scroll member now! I also spent the last period on FHA credentials. In English class I was in a discussion group on the last chapter of Moby Dick.

A Quill and Scroll Award - Monday, May 2, 1960

Tonight was the awards banquet. They decided to have a potluck supper instead of a Class Day. Just Phyllis and I went up. I got one of the three Mid-Prairie awards for Quill and Scroll, the International Honorary Society for High School Journalists. (I feel honored!) I also will get awards for declam and library club. Sheryl Eckles came home with Ann.

A May Basket for a Teacher - Sunday, May 1, 1960

We had youth fellowship. We had a filmstrip, "Boy Meets Girl." Frieda and Gary had a baby boy, Mark John, today. Everyone went out to Grandma's at chore time but me. I worked on my history report. I bet I'll be the first to hand mine in. I finished Moby Dick. The Bauer twins brought Mom a May basket.