Cliffside High Commencement 1928

Cliffside, May 23 – The closing exercises of Cliffside High School, which began last Thursday night with the finals of the Readers’ and Declaimers’ contest, continued on Friday evening with exercises by the Seventh Grade, the presentations of the Senior Class play on Saturday evening, the baccalaureate sermon on Sunday morning by the Rev. Dr. R. C. Grier, President of Erskine College, the Class Day program on Monday night, came to a successful conclusion with the graduation exercises Tuesday night when diplomas were given by Superintendent B. P. Caldwell to the following:

Names of the Graduates

Butler Pruette, Class President; Howard Hawkins, Vice President; Ferne Pruette, Secretary and Treasurer; Esther Allison, Lillie Atchley, Sarah Colvin, Selma DeBrule, Mae Greene, Avery Gillespie, Margaret Haynes, Eckles Hamrick, Marie Jackson, Glenn Kiser, Shella Matheny, Randolph martin, Ovie Padgette, James Padgette, Amorne Robinson, Vera Summey, Lillian Smith, George Thompson, Aubrey Thomas, Ralph Crawford and Jesse McCurry.

Medals were then given as follows: Declaimers’ donated by M. Hendrick, to John Robinson; Readers’ donated by Mrs. B. P. Caldwell, to Bertie Bridges; for boy who did his best during the year, donated by Mrs. R. B. Watkins, to Lawrence Blanton; for highest average obtained, donated by Mrs. Walter Haynes, to Amorae Robinson; for perfect attendance for five years, donated by County Board of Education, to Jessie Jackson and Yates Howser. To the Grammar School, for the girl obtaining the highest average, donated by Mrs. Grover Haynes, to Inez Tate; for boy with highest average, donated by Mrs. B. P. Caldwell, to Herbert Lee Packard, with honorable mention to Herman Greene.

Exercises Tuesday Night

The stage was decorated with flowers and potted plants and when the processional was played the Senior Class, wearing caps and gowns, entered and took their seats, facing the large audience in the auditorium and gallery. The Invocation was made by the Rev. D. H. Rhinehardt and address of welcome was given by Butler Pruette. A quartet, Lindsay Hicks, Avery Gillespie, Howard Hawkins and Jesse Lancaster, sang “the Old Fields at Home” and then Amorae Robinson gave the Valedictory. The quartet followed with another song and then B. P. Caldwell next introduced the Rev. Mr. Rinehardt, who delivered the literary address. It was excellent and held the close attention of all. The diplomas were presented by the Superintendent and afterwards he gave the medals, and then read the list of pupils who had previously been awarded Certificates of Perfect Attendance.

Perfect Attendance Certificates

Owing to the fact that there was an epidemic of measles during the year and 263 pupils were out of school for varying times for this reason, the number of Certificates for Perfect Attendance was comparatively small. In the High School they were awarded to: Eighth Grade: Jessie Jackson, Sue Smith, Myrtle Greene, Virginia Christy, Adelaide Hawkins, Max Pruette, Victor Martin, Bryant Henderson. Ninth Grade: D. O. Wall, Dora Taylor, Martha Hamrick, Kenneth McMahan. Tenth Grade: Kathryn Hawkins, Erma Moore, Nelle Davis, Hattie Lee Goforth, Oras Biggerstaff.

Grades in Elementary School

To the pupils in the Elementary School Certificates of Perfect Attendance were given to Connie Lee Bennick, Guy Ramsey, Ransom Whitesides, Billy Horton, Lilly Mae Bennick, Nellie Josephine Crow, Ruth Fowler, Virginia Mae Hill, Lois Lemmons, Dorothy Moore, Maud Scruggs, Leola Sizemore, Joe Stephens, J. W. Stephens, John McCarthey, Glenn Hawkins, Rex Rollins, Louise Carpenter, Fred Norman Crow, Theron McDaniel, J. D. Martin, Maurice Splawn, Raymond Whitaker, Etheleen Robinson, Eloise Ramsey, Macie Lee Ramsey, Lois Davidson, Howard Callahan, Oliver Prewitt, Yates Houser, William Donald Morgan, Edna Compton, Ethel Mae Grady, Emma Sue Horton, Evelyn Martin.

Grace Scruggs, Gertrude Ramsey, J. D. Hardin, Mal McMurray, W. P. Winn, Edward Fisher, Lois Carpenter, Lucile Gold, Margaret Martin, Mae Stephens, Paul Pruett, Dwi Ramsey, James Robbs, Merle Carpenter, Gynedall Clayton, Ethel Lee Hawkins, Ada Hill, Hazel Lemmons, Gladys Stevens, Louise Moore, Maude Blanton, Ganelle Ramsey, Gerard Davidson, Ruth Callahan, Lois Womack, Adelaide Hawkins, Sue Smith, Virginia Christy, Myrtle Greene, Jessie Jackson, Max Pruette, Frank Mashburn, Victor Martin, Bryant Henderson, Rose Hill.

Some Hard Working Pupils

Honorable mention was awarded to the following pupils: the first named for the highest grades in the class, the second for the best effort in work and behavior during the year and the teacher’s name is also given. Grade A1: Mary Lee Robinson, Melvin Watts, Miss Virginia Owen; Grade 1B: Ethel Ingram, Ola Mae Price, Miss Alice Davidson; 1C: Elizabeth Winn, Thomas Jones, Miss Ruth Beam; Grade 2: Rachel Fortune, Esmer Early, Miss Vivian Hairr; Grade 2B: Winnie Ruppe, Hartwella Smith, Miss Flora Morris; Grade 3A: John McCarthey, Pauline Scruggs, Miss Ocie Biggerstaff; Grade 3B: Keela Scruggs, Hurbert Howard, Miss Ruby Wilson; Grade 4: EmmaLee Jones, Eloise Ramsey, Miss A. Logan; Grade 4B: Elam Padgett, Lois Davidson, Miss Johnnie Player; Grade 5: Herman Greene, both honors, Miss Evver Bame; Grade 6B: Dwi Ramsey, Edna Mae Scruggs, Miss Almeyda Parnell: Grade 7: Robert Lee Packard, both honors, Miss Workman.

On Thursday Evening

The Readers’ and Declaimers’ finals were held in the auditorium on Thursday evening with the Superintendent, B. P. Caldwell, presiding, and Eckles Hamrick as secretary. The judges were Mrs. D. H. Rheinhardt, John G. Roach and George Shuford. Those taking part in the contest were Mabel Ferree, Thelma Whitaker, Bertie Bridges, George Blanton, Dorothy Padgett, Mattie Summey, D. O. Wall, Lawrence Blanton, Solon Smart, Willard Metcalf, Butler Pruette and Zon Robinson.

Seventh Grade Exercises

At eight o’clock Friday evening Graduating Exercises of the Seventh Grade were held in the auditorium before a large audience. Miss Sarah Workman had general supervision of the program, which was in the form of a voyage with the president of the class, Samuel Thompson acting as Captain. After a welcoming song had been sung a pretty moonbeam dance was given by several of the girls. An address of welcome followed by Samuel Thompson a piano solo by Helen Goforth came next. Than a reading by Gerard Davidson and it was followed by the recitation of an original poem by Jack Atkins. The Class fairy then came and carried the members of the class into a wondrous fairyland, there to read the wish expressed by each pupil in the poem of a prophecy, and to grant the request. The reading, by Helen Green, of the “Last Will and testament” and the Valedictory Address, by Robert Jones, ended the program and after it the medals won were awarded by the Superintendent, B. P. Caldwell.

Seventh Grade Graduates

The graduates of the Seventh Grade were Neta Bridges, Inez Bridges, Maude Blanton, Ruth Callahan, Flora Condrey, Helen Goforth, Helen Green, Pauline Green, Louise Moore, Agnes Padgett, Bernice Parkard, Goulitt Price, Harriett Rhinehardt, Ganelle Ramsey, Virginia Robinson, Gladys Stephens, Lois Womick, Muriel Scruggs, Melba Jarret, Jack Atkinson, Leburn Carpenter, Gerard Davidson, G. C. Fisher, Richard Horn, Robert Lee Packard, Samuel Thompson, Robert Jones and Robert Hawkins.

The ushers were Solon smart, Maverian Lemmons, R. K. Ledbetter, Grace Cantrell, William Rhinehardt and Eunice Lemmons.

Baccalaureate Sermon

On Sunday morning the Rev. Dr. R. C. Grier, President of Erskine College, Dewey, S. C. delivered the Baccalaureate sermon in the Baptist Church. There was special music by the High School quartet. The congregation listened attentively to the fine sermon.

Senior Play Saturday Night

At eight o’clock Saturday night the Senior play, “All On Account Of Polly,” was given in the auditorium before a capacity audience. It was an amusing comedy and well acted. Among those taking part were: Avery Gillespie, Howard Hawkins, Butler Pruette, Eckles Hamrick, James Padgett, Ralph Crawford, Lillian Smith, Lillie Atchley, Selma DeBrule, Amorae Robinson, Vera Summey, Glenn Kiser, Ferne Pruette, Mae Greene, Stella Matheny and Marie Jackson. The costumes and scenery were good.

Class Day Exercises

The Senior Class Day program was held in the auditorium Monday Night at eight o’clock, and there were few, if any vacant seats when the curtains were drawn. The proscenium of the stage was decorated prettily with greens and the scene represented a garden. At the rear was a trellis with vines, vases of flowers on stands were scattered about as were may benches and chairs. Just before the curtain rose little Mary L. Robinson and Sarah Evelyn Allhands came out from the wings and met in the center and had a short dialogue. Said one, “I’ll be glad when I get big enough to be a senior.” “What would you do?” asked the other. “Just wait, and I’ll show you,” and with that they walked off the stage and the curtains were drawn to disclose six little girls, dressed in mortar board black caps and gowns, the regulation dress of university and College graduates, and ten little girls, all arrayed in white and carrying a daisy chain. Miss Owen, their teacher, played a little tune from off stage and the children began to sing, “And we are senior! A senior!”

The Little Actresses

The little actresses were Daisy Prince, Louise Womick, Rachel Fortune, Ruth Scruggs, Annie Mae Brooks, Virginia Burgess, Jessie Lemmons, Sara Alice McGinnis, Mary Frances McGinnis, Pauline Carpenter, Mary L. Robinson, Sarah Evelyn Allhands, Connie Lee Bennett and Doris Fay Hardin.

Seniors Make Pretty Scene

The Seniors, grouped becomingly about the stage, presented a pretty sight. Their class day program was a novel one; it was given in the form of conversation, each telling about himself or herself, his or her wishes and what they left to others in the school. The class history was read in the form of a diary by Randolph Martin and prophecy was given by Lillian Smith. There were some songs and incidental diversions. It was an enjoyable program and applause was frequent.

This item was printed in The Sun on May 24, 1928.