History of North Park District Number 39

District Number Thirty-nine bears the name "North Park" because its building is situated just north of the city of Abilene in a section that would make an ideal city park, since it has numerous and beautiful native live-oak trees. The district formerly extended as far south, as the College Heights School; when the Abilene city limits were extended some thirteen years ago, an attempt was made by Abilene to take over the entire district, but the boundary line was finally placed at Ambler Avenue. Later the Simmons College section came under the jurisdiction of the city, and the size of the North Park District was again reduced. In 1919 a small addition was made from the Elmdale District. In 1909 bonds were voted to the amount of $10,000 and a fifty cent tax levied. The splendidly located and well arranged two story brick building, now in use, was erected at this time. Because of its nearness to Simmons College and to the Abilene High School, North Park did not attempt to maintain a high school of the first rank until this year, although some High School work has been done there for many years. Had the district received the State Aid needed - this shortage being due to the limited amount of money the State Department had for distribution and had the legislature not fixed the limit of tax in a common school district at one dollar, which maximum this district was among the first in the county to vote, the district would this year have been able to maintain a first-class high school, offering two years work. However, because of the shortage indicated, after six months work, this department was transferred to the Abilene School. To the credit of the district and all concerned it may be said that these pupils fell right in line in the Abilene School and did a high grade of work. The North Park School has the distinction of being the only school in the county that has a nine months term, having had terms of this length for the three years past (thanks to the liberality of the good patrons and the work of Mothers' Club). This length of term, together with the good equipment and strong teachers enables the school to be classed as an elementary school of the first class.

North Park has had the good fortune for four years of having had as its principal Mrs. A. H. Howell, who has spared no effort for advancing the good work of the school. Mrs. Howell is in charge of the primary work. She has had a strong corps of assistants during her stay and an interested and ambitious school board. This year the faculty consisted of Mrs. A. H. Howell, Mrs. Mamie Barnes, Miss May Collins, Mrs. J. D. Reeves and Miss Mamie Turner, with Miss Katherine Barnes in charge of the Expression Department and Miss Beuna May Howard, the Music. The Domestic Science Department was in charge of Miss Collins, who also was teacher of the seventh grade; most splendid piece of work was done here. All of the teachers of this school are members of the State Teachers' Association. The trustees of the school are Messrs. S. A. Cooper, N. H. Evans, and R. N. McGuire, who succeeds Mr. W. M. Nelson retiring.

The school has the following ambitious and excellent program outlined for 1922-1923:
1. To maintain the classification of the Grammar School.
2. To introduce first.year Home Economics into the Seventh Grade.
3. To introduce Experimental Agriculture and first-year Manual Training with Practical Business Methods for the boys of Seventh Grade.
4. To have Physical Training through all of the grades.
5. To have Hand-craft through all of the grades.
6. To offer first-class Kindergarten work for children from five to seven years.

SCHOOL COLORS - Green and Gold.
SCHOOL MOTTO -"Where there's a will, there's a way."

SEVENTH GRADE
CLASS COLORS -Gold and White.
CLASS FLOWER -Daisy.
CLASS SLOGAN -"Not on the heights, but climbing."
CLASS OFFICERS -Texas Weaver, President; J.D. Ashburn, Secretary; Roger Bell, Treasurer; Martha Belle Sumrall, Prophet; Alonzo Welborn, Historian.

HIGH SCHOOL
NORTH PARK JUNIOR-SENIOR BASKET-BALL
BOYS TEAM: Lynn, Capt., Hutton, R. Griffith, E. Griffith, Evans, McHaney.
GIRLS TEAM: Nelson, Capt. Cowden, Floyd, Weaver, Sumrall, Bontke, Little.

Class Roll