Last Day of Kindergarten for Clara Haeger’s Class-This Day in Norwood History-June 9, 1946

The last day of kindergarten is always a milestone, and for the children enrolled in the class conducted by Clara M. Haeger at the Junior High School, May 29th marked the joyful close of their school year. The youngsters gathered for a commemorative photograph — a tradition that captured not only their faces, but the spirit of early childhood learning in Norwood during this era.

The children, dressed neatly and brimming with excitement, posed in two rows for the camera of Surette Photo. In the seated row were Gerald Sykes, Ellen Winslow, Linda Burtt, Sally Burtt, Catherine Corbett, John Colwell, Edward Williamson, Marie Stupak, Peter Levine, Carolyn Evanson, Rena Mason, Peter Burns, Alan Danovitch, Jimmy Forrest, Eleanor Forrest, Lillias Pierpoint, and Patty Pierpont.

Standing behind them were Sally Mason, Bill Mahoney, Allen Chmielouz, Linda Chmieloux, Ruth Bagley, Jimmy Bridgeman, Bobby Bridgeman, Gibson Smith, Carol Smith, Virginia Ellis, Francis Doran, Kevin Dixon, and Peter Dixon.

The photograph reflects a moment of transition — the end of a year filled with early lessons, friendships, and the first steps into structured learning. Under the guidance of Clara M. Haeger, the children experienced the foundational routines of school life, preparing them for the grades ahead.

For families, this final day was both sentimental and celebratory. For the children, it was simply the beginning of summer — and the promise of returning in the fall as “big kids,” ready for the next chapter of their education.

Norwood Messenger