The various clubs and organizations at Maine have held their annual Christmas parties, heralding the beginning of the Christmas season.


The Future Nurses' Club had its annual Christmas party last December 13. The party, "Where the Action Is," began immediately after school and ended at about 4:30 p.m. The girls were served punch, candy canes, and cookies while they played games. The future nurses played a new version of the old game of charades called "Song Charades" and another using traditional Christmas carols.

In "Song Charades" the girls tried to draw on a blackboard the scenes behind various Christmas carols. After the member had finished her drawing, the other members of the club tried to guess what carol she had drawn. The girls then played a game devised by the club sponsors, Mrs. Bernice Gundelach and Mrs. Frances Ringl, school nurses. The Christmas carols were typed out, and each typed line was cut out and placed in an envelope. The club members then attempted to put the carols together in their proper order.

Mrs. Gundelach said, "The annual party is usually well attended and the meetings, too. Everyone enjoyed it and had fun. Club membership is still open to all girls considering the field of nursing."


The Girls' Business Club held its annual party on December 21 immediately after school.

This year the club again held its party for the younger children at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines. Each child was sponsored by members of the club. Because there were not enough children to allow each club member to sponsor a child individually, girls jointly sponsored one child.

The children's sponsors were on hand to give them their presents, to help with the refreshments, and to do everything possible to show the children a good time. Santa Claus made an appearance during the party and handed out a gift and a bag of candy to each child. Club members baked their own cookies and made punch to give the party "a home touch," according to Mrs. Nancy Kerby, club co‑sponsor.

Refreshments, decorations, and entertainment committees were under the direction of the club officers: Lynell Plas '67, president; Vickie Marrese '67, vice‑president; Barabara Meyer '67, secretary; and Kathy Higgins '67, treasurer.

Mrs. Dolores Rowlee, co‑sponsor of the club, and Mrs. Kerby both felt that the party was a great success, "due to the splendid cooperation and enthusiasm of the club members."


The French Club Christmas Party was a bit of "Christmas in France" when it was held on December 20 immediately after school. Refreshments and decorations were made to present an authentic picture of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in France.

Christmas in France is essentially a religious holiday. Yule logs are burned on Christmas Eve in the French homes, and the family sing carols. The adults then go to a midnight mass and return to their hearths for a traditional dinner with the customary dessert of "Buche de Noel" or Christmas Log.

"Buche de Noel" is actually a chocolate cake with coffee icing swirled through it. The outer icing is designed to look like the bark of a tree with holly sprigs decorating the top.

French youngsters set out shoes on Christmas Eve instead of stockings. "Le pere Noel"

(Santa Claus) appears riding a donkey and carrying a basket of toys. Children leave carrots for the donkey and coins for Santa. Good boys and girls find oranges and candy in their shoes and gifts under the Christmas tree. However, children who have been bad during the year are supposed to find only switches in their shoes. Adults do not exchange gifts on Christmas Day in France, but they exchange gifts with one another on New Year's Day.

The French Club party theme was based on these customs with refreshments of hot cider and the "Buche de Noel." Club members also made and served Christmas cookies.

Kevin Dole '68 played the organ while those present at the party sang Christmas carols in French, and Santa Claus appeared during the party with a gift for each member at the party.

Several members of the French club presented a skit showing a typical Christmas Eve in France. The skit was done in pantomime with a narrator explaining the actions.

Miss Joan Rittner, club sponsor, commented, "Through the cooperation and enthusiasm of the club members, the party was transformed into a culturally authentic experience."


Members sold their Christmas cards, which they themselves designed, beginning the week of December 19. The cards were four inches by nine inches so they could fit into a business ssize envelope.

The Christmas cards sold for $.08 each or 12 cards for $1. The money from the sale of these cards will go toward field trips and future Art Club sponsored projects.

There was a great variety in the cards, 12 different designs in all. The cards were designed in the traditional styles, symbolic of Christmas and the Christmas spirit.

Mr. Earl Meitzner, sponsor of the club, commented, "The cards reflect the individual. New detail and less bold quality make the cards different than before. I feel the students have done quite well in adjusting their designs to the new printing and in using the traditional designs. There is a more precise detail to the cards this year."