Senn: Decade by Decade
Nicholas Senn High School
100th Anniversary
1913-2013
The 100-year history of Nicholas Senn High School has been chronicled annually by its students in Forum, the school yearbook that first was published in 1913, the year the newly constructed high school was opened. A member of the Senn Centennial Committee gleaned the historical entries that are shown here by decade. Read them and bask in the knowledge that Senn has been and is a great school, the legacies of its students, faculty and staff treasured. And as you read and reminisce, remember that the past is but the prologue. The best is yet to come!
Happy 100th anniversary, Nicholas Senn High School!
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1913-1922 |
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| 1913 | Newly constructed Nicholas Senn High School officially opens in February 1913 at 5900 North Glenwood with enrollment of 710 and faculty of 22 |
| School offers four-year high school curricula, two-year vocational (business) courses and mid-term classes (January, June) | |
| Motto adopted: Look up and not down, look forward and not back, look out and not in, and lend a hand. | |
| Green and white selected as school colors | |
| First issue of Forum, school yearbook, published | |
| Newly constructed Senn building dedicated in May | |
| Lunchroom completed late 1913 | |
| Senn Orchestra, first musical ensemble, assembled, followed by Girls and Boys Glee Clubs | |
| Camera Club is first student organization, prelude of many to come. | |
| 1914 | First commencement class of 14 graduates, one diploma (two-year business program) in February 1914 |
| Senn Library is officially opened to student body with gift of 300 volumes from Chicago Public Library system (VERIFY) | |
| 1915 | Senn wins city lightweight football championship and city featherweight basketball championship, first of many athletic achievements to come. |
| Dramatic Club is organized. | |
| First reference to Senn students as Sennites | |
| 1916 | First edition of Senn News, student newspaper, printed. |
| 1917 | Senn R.O.T.C. (Reserve Officers Training Corp) chapter established |
| First Student Councils organized. | |
| World War I (1914-18):560 alumni, 4 teachers enlisted, 13 alumni killed | |
| 1918 | Students raise $1,600 to buy, equip, ship ambulance somewhere in France |
| Student Welfare Commission created | |
| 1919 | Senn Honor Society established. |
| 16 portables built to accommodate mushrooming student population | |
| 1920 | Green Book, first of its kind in a Chicago high school, info about Senn (5th 1930, 6th 1936) |
| All-School Student Council formed with 21 officers | |
| 1921 | Novel theater-related clubs Players/Workers (stage craft) |
| 1922 | Senn Alumni Association organized |
| First Centurion (Forum and News merged) | |
| Single shift schedule changed to double shift to further accommodate mushrooming student population | |
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1923-1932 |
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| 1923 | Senior Council organizes Freshman Sponsors to foster closer relationship between 4th and 1st year students |
| 1924 | Senn Alma Mater song composed |
| Senior staff day (social function) | |
| Division period to convey freshman council reports to room | |
| 1925 | ROTC band organized, evolves into Concert Band. |
| Print shop added to shop instruction | |
| 1926 | Parent-Teacher Association formed |
| 1927 | Punctuality Committee (absence, tardiness) |
| 1928 | Administration petitions CTA for longer stops at Thorndale station, city Transportation Department to install stoplights at Broadway and Thorndale |
| Construction begun on first wing addition | |
| 1929 | Motion picture machine purchased, students “taxed: five cents each to hire licensed operator |
| Attendance 4,352, faculty 138 | |
| Senn band takes first place in city, state and national competitions | |
| Forum wins All-American Honor Rating national competition | |
| PTA issues first year book for parents, teachers | |
| 1930 | Alumni Association boasted 4,000 members |
| Traffic (indoor), No Smoking Committees formed | |
| Fire Drills (building cleared three minutes), | |
| CPS identified 10 Senn feeder schools – Armstrong, Boone, Budlong, Clinton, Goudy, Hayt, Peirce, Stuart, Swift, Trumbull | |
| 1931 | Student propelled Thanksgiving, Christmas Funds set 18-year record in giving to needy |
| 1932 | Senn admitted to National Honor Society |
| Two-year vocational programs phased out, subjects absorbed in four-year curricula | |
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1933-1942 |
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| 1933 | Senn teachers joined citywide protest marches demanding back pay |
| 1934 | Construction of two building wings completed, campus portables removed |
| Faculty organized Senn Teachers Council | |
| A Capella Choir assembled | |
| 1935 | Public address system installed in Senn Hall |
| 1936 | Junior Red Cross collects $219 for flood relief in the East. |
| Senn Historical Association founded, immediately assumed mantle of largest club on campus | |
| 1937 | Student-run charitable efforts continue to benefit needy through Chicago (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Children’s Aid Funds) |
| 1938 | Senn observes its silver jubilee |
| Public Relations Committee created to publicize Senn externally | |
| PTA membership at 576 climbs to record high | |
| 1939 | Coveted Kraft Cup awarded to Fencing Club |
| Bulldog adopted as school mascot, bullpups, bullfrogs to follow (freshman/sophomore teams) | |
| 1940 | World Affairs, Vox Pop and International Relations Clubs formed to discuss global trends and crises, spawned by state of the world |
| 1941 | Senn awards diplomas to 610 seniors, largest Senn graduating class to date |
| 1942 | War effort launched, Junior Red Cross organized, students collect $1,500 to purchase ambulance for “over there” |
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1943-1952 |
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| 1943 | War Bond, Scrap Metal and Stamp Drives launched, continue through 1945, end of World War II |
| 56 Senn alumni killed in action | |
| 1944 | With City Council approval, Senn acquired land west of school |
| Green and White Club formed to better student relations | |
| First Teachers Handbook published | |
| 1945 | Senn Conservatory opened |
| Girls allowed to participate in Military Corps (R.O.T.C.) | |
| Browsers (reading club) | |
| 1946 | All School Council divided into four separate councils |
| 1947 | Senn loyalty song (see 1949 Forum for lyrics) |
| Chess and Checkers Club | |
| 1948 | Senn News elected to national Quill and Scroll Society, honorary journalism organization |
| GED (Genera Education Development) implemented | |
| 1949 | PTA launched initiative to convert vacant property west of Senn to a park |
| 1950 | Key Club to improve school and foster community projects formed with backing of Kiwanis organization. |
| Friday night social dances begun, draw average 700 students | |
| 1951 | Teen-age Problems Club |
| Leaders Council formed to advise Student Councils | |
| 1952 | Student Service workers (Attendance Office absentees, tardies) |
| Administration develops publicity strategies | |
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1953-1962 |
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| 1953 | Survey establishes that 60 percent students go to college |
| 1954 | Tricks and Trumps Club for senior girls only |
| Drivers Safety Club | |
| Key Club named outstanding in country, four years after establishment | |
| 1955 | Senn is awarded citywide Bellamy Flag for student academic and faculty achievements. |
| PTA membership climbed to over 2,640 parents and 100 percent faculty, record highs | |
| All-school elections held (all students elected officers to lead entire school) | |
| Sound-proofed practice room for orchestra completed | |
| 1956 | Architectural drawing added to shops |
| College matriculation climbs to 75 percent | |
| Senn offered Advanced Placement courses, first Chicago high school to do so | |
| 1957 | Senn PTA largest in state |
| Community service group consolidates all giving activities | |
| 1958 | Student body numbered 3,400 |
| PTA 3,132 members | |
| Riding Club, Senn Equestrians | |
| 1959 | Junior varsity baseball team formed, first in Senn history |
| After-school Recreation Center opened | |
| 1960 | Business courses expanded, now include stenography, bookkeeping, office practice, business law, salesmanship, economics, basic business, typewriting |
| 1961 | Music appreciation added to curricula. |
| Spanish Club translated children’s books, sent to poor communities in Mexico | |
| Boys gymnasium dedicated to Albert Shaffner, baseball, basketball, fencing coach for 47 years | |
| 1962 | Senn established teaching alliance with Art Institute of Chicago |
| Sennaids service projects merged Senior Girls and Senior Hostesses | |
| Office Occupation Plan half day school, half day various businesses | |
| Work began on Senn Park west of school, Greenview Avenue is removed between Thorndale and Ridge | |
|
1963-1972 |
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| 1963 | Senn observed its golden jubilee |
| School offered five sets of classes – advanced placement, honor, regular, essential and basic | |
| Guidance office restructured staffed with six specialists (psychologist, teacher-nurse, truant officer, speech teacher, bed-side teacher) | |
| Urban program added to core curricula for migrants; Americanization class offered in English, prelude to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages | |
| Senn Literary Journal published | |
| 1964 | Medical Careers Club |
| Science Club yielded to Astro-Bio-Chemo-Physics Club | |
| 1965 | Student Administrative, Library, Office Aides assisted in those respective non-academic departments |
| Latin-American Club | |
| 1966 | Daily bulletins issued to all students, upcoming activities, meetings. |
| Great Books Club formed to discuss world classics | |
| Continental newspaper established, featured contributions from four foreign language courses (French, German, Latin and Spanish) | |
| 1967 | First computer classes offered |
| Senn’s skating team won first city sports title since 1937 | |
| January mid-term biennial commencements discontinued | |
| 1968 | School-wide exterior refurbishment completed |
| Executive Student Council, new system of student government, instituted | |
| 1969 | TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program established, first of its kind in CPS system |
| In wake of Democrat Convention confrontations and black student boycotts, Afro-American Club created | |
| CBOE established Afro-American History courses | |
| Work-Study programs expanded | |
| Female students allowed to wear slacks – first time in 56-year history of school | |
| Student Council held school-wide “sound off” sessions | |
| Future Homemakers of America, Health Careers and Allied Fields Clubs | |
| 1970 | Body of 70 formed to address racial tensions and limited student voice in school matters of import |
| Model Cities program implemented | |
| Black Arts workshop | |
| Israeli and Cycle (motor) Clubs | |
| 1971 | Senn is one of four high schools chosen to participate in CBOE’s year-round experiment |
| Girls admitted to 21-year-old Key Club | |
| SAVE (Students Against Violating Our Environment) | |
| Little Big Horn, Senn off-campus outpost for native Americans, is opened. | |
| Boys soccer team formed | |
| 1972 | Club Day, tool to recruit students for those extracurricular activities |
| Orchesis (modern dance), Asian American, Chinese Clubs | |
| Hostel Club | |
| First Arbor Day held | |
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1973-1982 |
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| 1973 | First International Festival staged; tradition continues annually |
| Reading Laboratory | |
| Senn Beautification | |
| EMH Department (Educable Yet Mentally Handicapped) established | |
| Indian Center (native American) | |
| Prep Center (Senn introductory for 8th graders) | |
| Pom Pom girls organized to perform at sports events | |
| 1974 | PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) organized |
| TACT (Teacher’s Aide Cooperative Training) program launched to introduce teaching process to grammar school students, only one of its kind in Chicago and suburbs | |
| Modeling Club, Pep Club, Senn Publicity Club | |
| New lighting system completed | |
| Library modernized, physical appearance revamped | |
| 1975 | Bilingual Program established for Chinese, Korean, Spanish students |
| Sennorama, school-wide classroom demos in fine arts and vocational studies | |
| 1976 | Massive interior rehabilitation, major exterior repairs completed |
| English curricula expanded, includes creative writing and African American literature | |
| Latin American studies new program | |
| Latin American Club | |
| Garden Club, Tutoring Club | |
| Reading Laboratory | |
| Multilingual Department, most diverse group of nationalities in city | |
| Filipino Club, Assyrian Club, Korean Club | |
| Star Trek Club | |
| 1977 | Coeducation physical education program mandated |
| Assyrian added to bilingual curricula | |
| Aspira Club (Latin) | |
| Full-time dentist available to all students | |
| 1978 | Time Magazine identifies Senn as most highly integrated public school in Nation |
| Armenian Club | |
| 1979 | Blizzard paralyzes city, schools closed for one week |
| Parking lot created west of campus | |
| 77 percent of seniors admitted to college | |
| Donkey basketball added to sports teams | |
| Senn Library Journal | |
| Vietnamese Club | |
| 1980 | Senn, with students representing 70 countries and speaking 46 languages, included in Guiness Book of Records for being most diverse high school in United States |
| To counteract parent apathy, Open House, forerunner of Report Card Pick-Up Day, instituted | |
| Access to Excellence implemented, included Senn’s bilingual, advanced placement, computer and accelerated arts and sciences programs | |
| 11-day teachers strike | |
| 1981 | Immunization shots mandated |
| National PTA bans soft drinks, Twinkies from school lunch rooms | |
| 1982 | Senn honor guard created to carry colors and perform at all public events |
| Student Council recommended wearing ID’s | |
|
1983-1992 |
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| 1983 | Hispanic Honorary Society |
| Public Relations Club | |
| ALL sports teams make it to playoffs | |
| 16-day teachers strike | |
| 1984 | Name changed to Senn Metropolitan Academy of Liberal Arts and Technology; curricula features wide range of technical courses |
| Uniform disciplinary code adopted | |
| Independent study | |
| First annual Green and White Honors award (perfect attendance, honor roll, extracurricular activities, scholastic achievement) | |
| Career Center for Business Computer Systems | |
| Computer Club | |
| 1985 | Senn Pride Day instituted, featured interior and exterior improvement projects |
| New computer laboratories | |
| Indian Pakistan Club | |
| Roller Skating Club | |
| 1986 | 70% college matriculation |
| Lunchroom renovations completed | |
| Cartoon Club | |
| 1987 | Senn switched to closed campus |
| Enrollment soars to 2,700; discipline policies tightened | |
| Aware Club (teen problems) | |
| Youth Advisory Council | |
| 10-day teachers strike | |
| 1988 | Senn observed its 75th jubilee |
| 19-day teachers strike | |
| 1989 | School Reform Act passed by Illinois legislature |
| First 12-member Senn Local School Council elected (six parents, two teachers, two community residents, one student, school principal) | |
| Computerized writing laboratory | |
| Academic Olympics | |
| 1990 | Peer tutoring |
| All Senn procedures, processes, including nearly 22,000 volumes in library, completely computerized | |
| 1991 | Major interior rehab of all classrooms completed |
| 1992 | Newsweek: Senn is one of most culturally diverse high schools in country |
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1993-2002 |
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| 1993 | CBOE threatened to end sports, extracurricular activities; businesses, individuals contribute over $1 million to salvage season |
| Boys allowed to join cheer-leading squads | |
| New attendance system installed, featured individual student bar-coded cards | |
| New chemistry labs | |
| Transportation Technology Institute established, auto tech expanded aviation, other forms of travel | |
| 1994 | New 50-minute scheduled for 1-7 periods |
| Metal detectors installed | |
| New swimming pool | |
| Tereca Woods first female football player in Senn history | |
| Gospel choir | |
| Open House changed to Report Card Pick-Up Day | |
| 1995 | Drug free annual parade |
| Ethnic History Club | |
| Girls soccer team | |
| New pool | |
| 1996 | Multilingual student newspaper |
| 1997 | 47 countries, 52 nationalities |
| Al-Salaam, Multicultural Clubs | |
| CPS cited low reading test scores, placed Senn on probation | |
| Service Learning program (volunteer community service) | |
| 1998 | Lincoln statue dedicated in Senn Park |
| Mayor Daley’s Book Club, then expanded to all high schools | |
| 1999 | International Baccalaureate program, offering challenging college preparatory courses, is authorized. |
| Principal’s Student Advisory Board | |
| Senn formed alliance with Chicago Police/Firefighter Training Academy for careers in public safety | |
| 2000 | Senn won U.S. Chess Federation K-12 scholastic chess team championship, 1st in school’s history |
| 2001 | All windows, lawn sprinkler system replaced |
| 2002 | Illinois Service Learning Leader school, 1 of only 5 in Chicago |
| Newcomer Center (transition program) | |
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2003-2012 |
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| 2003 | |
| 2004 | Senn Achievement Academy established for 8th graders who haven’t met promotion criteria for high school |
| 2005 | Students protest naval academy. Hyman Rickover Naval Academy, fourth military school in the CPS system, is dedicated and occupies west wing of the school. |
| Senn debate team | |
| Gay Straight alliance formed | |
| Student Health Clinic opened on campus | |
| 2006 | 60 countries, 40 languages |
| Senn Strategic Plan Committee mobilized to chart school’s course for the 20th century, four subcommittees formed (curriculum, safety/security, positive learning environment, outreach) | |
| Faculty spawned School Spirit Day (green polo shirts) | |
| Akhinsa (peace, unity, nonviolence), make difference local, national, global communities | |
| 2007 | Building With Books service projects, including travel to impoverished countries, Mali school house |
| Rugby team added to athletic programs | |
| New computer labs installed | |
| New athletic field built on west campus | |
| LSC unanimously approved Senn Strategic Plan | |
| 2008 | IB program expanded |
| Green initiative with community gardens established | |
| 2009 | AP offerings tripled |
| 2010 | AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) college preparatory program certified for third consecutive year, serving as statewide model |
| IB program expanded again | |
| New state-of-art science labs installed | |
| Senn Hall totally renovated at cost of $4.6 million | |
| New HVAC system installed at cost of $10 million | |
| 2011 | CBOE approved Senn magnet fine arts program |
| 2012 | Senn Centennial celebrations begin |
| Honorary street signs (Senn Centennial Way 2013) designated on four corners of school periphery | |
| Senn Centennial banners posted throughout Edgewater community | |
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2013 |
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| 2013 | Edgewater Historical Society mounts exhibit on Senn’s 100 years |
| Senn Centennial climaxes with gala celebration at Navy Pier Saturday, Oct. 5 | |
–prepared by Marilyn (Lynn) Pierce, 2012