The Volunteer, 1960

The 1960 Volunteer opens with an essay, “The Magic of School Spirit,” written by the school’s director Dr. W. K. McCharen. Here’s what he thinks makes PDS so special: “…the sincerity of purpose and respect for human personality and the belief that every person has a right to develop his own personality to the best of his ability.”

These words, written more than sixty years ago, continue to ring true and resonate through the years – that’s what we love about USN today, too!

PDS in 1960 continued to be a busy place, with ever expanding options for sports, organizations, and activities. Boys Basketball was big: cheerleaders supported the players and students attended dances after the games. Girls played soccer, baseball, volleyball, and basketball on intramural teams, boys ran track, and both boys and girls played tennis.

French, Spanish, and Latin clubs allowed students to “enjoy the language” outside of class, and the newly formed Russian Club promoted an interest in Russian language and culture. Students who participated in Forensics faced this national debate topic: “RESOLVED—that the Federal government should increase its regulation upon labor unions.”

The school newspaper was called the “Paw Print,” the Science Club sponsored the school’s first science fair, and the PDS chapter of the Junior Red Cross conducted outreach at the Veterans Hospital.

PDS in 1960 was a vibrant hub of activity for students and teachers alike – that’s another thing we love about USN today!