JS 2010 Class History

Class History
JS 2010
In 1947 the children who began first grade in Ridley Township were destined to become the graduating class of 1959. They attended the district's five elementary schools, grades 1 -6: Amosland, Folsom, Leedom, Leiperville, and Woodlyn. In 1953, this group entered grade 7
at the Ridley Township Junior-Senior High School. Half-day sessions alleviated overcrowding. Seventh graders attended school from 11:20 am to 3:40 pm. In January of their 8th grade year, the class of 1959 paraded down Morton Avenue to the brand new Ridley Township Junior
High School, housing grades 7 and 8.

Ninth grade meant returning to the newly-named Ridley Township Senior High School, where, as freshmen, the class became organized by faculty sponsors: Robert Aiken, Stella Economos, Jane Kauffman, Marilyn Nuss, and Peter Yacyk. Class officers elected were: Delbert Delozier,
president; Clifton Wagner, vice-president; Mary Ann Torchick, secretary; Barbara MacDonald, treasurer.

Highlights of the year were magazine sales; a class party; an assembly, “Homely's Odatsy”, which spoofed the 9th grade literature requirements, and a Freshman Hop in March.Marilyn Nuss changed schools, but wasn't replaced as a class sponsor. Class officers elected for the sophomore year were: David Lake, president; Robert Evans, vice-president; Beverly Trosley, secretary; Barbara MacDonald, treasurer.The sophomore class party was an old-fashioned square dance. Class
funds were raised through the sale of Christmas cards, and the class assembly theme was the toy department of a large store at Christmas. “Springtime in Heaven” was the appropriate theme for the Sophomore Hop. Thespians of the class performed 3 one-act plays for the
community.

Junior class officers elected were: David Lake, president; William Evonsky, vice-president; Beverly Trosley, secretary; Patricia Armstrong, treasurer. Fund drives were paramount with another sale of
Christmas cards, plus after school candy sales. The class party was a Halloween masquerade, but the highlight of the autumn was wearing new class rings and having classmates turn them 59 times. The class assembly was a football season/ Harvest Ball/ boy meets girl theme.The junior play was a murder mystery, “The Thirteenth Chair”. The junior prom was an “Oriental Fantasy”, with prom queen, Mary Ann Torchick, reigning.

Elected as the senior class and lifetime officers were: DonaldSellers, president; Delbert Delozier, vice-president; Beverly Trosley, secretary; Barbara MacDonald, treasurer. Student Council
leaders elected by the entire school were: David Lake, president; William Evonsky, vice-president; Patricia Armstrong, treasurer.Autumn was spent selling Christmas candles, sitting for senior portraits, and voting for fourteen class representatives: JoAnnBecker, Delbert Delozier, John Dunn, William Evonsky, Fritz Henn, Vince Jordan, Anna Kirifides, David Lake, Barbara MacDonald, Ann Moss, Richard Ortolano, Carl Payne, Donald Sellers, Beverly Trosley. The senior assembly theme was a typical teen day at Tony's Pizzeria. Instead of a senior play, the class opted to present the first Ridley
student Variety Show, which featured the multiple talents of the senior students.

The final months of high school featured major events. The class, with sponsors and parent chaperones, spent three days and two nights in April sight-seeing the highlights of Washington, D.C. An evening of dinner and dancing at the senior prom, “Colonial Enchantment”, on May 8 was held at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel in Philadelphia, with Barbara Dalson as prom chairman, and Patricia Armstrong as senior prom queen. Breakfast was at 1 am in the Garden Terrace of the hotel. Final exams were taken, the class poll was voted upon, and the Class Night dinner was held on May 30. After dinner, the twenty-fifth edition of the Archive was presented to the School Board by Ann Moss,
editor-in-chief. A baccalaureate service was held on May 31 in the auditorium of the Ridley Township Junior High School. At the same site, the graduation ceremony was June 2, when Ann Moss presented the valedictory address and Harry Dunn the salutatory address.
Reunions have been held at 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and now soon-to-be 50!