All the pages in this section of the website may take tme to load as it is made up of pictures and graphics. Every effort has been made to make them as small and fast loading as possible.
The pictures are as represented in the Woodrow Wilson High School, Portsmouth, Virginia yearbook or annual of the year indicated on the page. The Memory pictures may not be complete and pictures and names may have been removed by request of the person involved. Also, it does not offically indicate the year of graduation and/or that the party in question graduated. This section of the website is dedicated to the memories of all alumni and are found in personal items that alumni have saved and were kind enough to allow it to be shared with others. Thank You. If you are not represented in your class, or have other pictures for the memories section you may submit a photo to be added. John “Eddie” Lee ’68.
Principals With Principles
From the office of
The President
The Literary Center
The principals were the people at Wilson who always seemed to know what was going on; hardly anything escaped them. They could be expected to show up anywhere in the building at any time.
As administrators, they were officially charged with the task of making sure school life ran smoothly. Their jobs ranged from acting as disciplinarians, to attending all school functions, to evaluating teachers. In addition to performing their official duties, they could always be counted on to make a friendly comment or to lend a helping hand to teachers and students alike. These qualities made the principals seem more accessible and gave the school a calm, relaxed atmosphere.
At long last, Mr. Burton has a chance to relax over lunch with Mr. Johnson, Mr. Laguta, and Mrs. Person.
Consultation with teachers is one of Mr. Burton’s most important tasks.
In a rare private moment, Mr. Burton reflects on the day’s activities.
In a frequent setting, Miss Avery ts seen here in her second floor office.
Hearing about a student's problem, Mr. Joyner ponders a solution.
Mr. Laguta and Mr. Gatling find their lunch hour rather upsetting.
Exhausted at the end of the day, Mrs. Costner tries to complete her work before the bell.
Both Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Rogerson are carefully studying students’ records so that they can make accurate recommendations.
A warm smile reflects Mrs. Babbit’s personality.
Balancing the budget keeps Mrs. Gooden occupied.
As the attendance clerk, Miss Elliott checks up on a truant student.
A “jack of all trades,” Mrs. Harmon is often seen running between the office and the library.
Often called upon, yet seldom thanked were those wonderful ladies who worked diligently to keep our school running smoothly. The services they performed and the tasks they accomplished were things to be marveled at. They seemed to be geniuses at organization and efficiency, able to control any crisis that might have arisen. It was to these trustworthy individuals that we owed much gratitude.
Double-checking attendance records keeps Miss Arrington busy in the eighth grade office.
Librarians Mrs Dickerson and Mrs. Sledge try to interest Fred Burgess in a book.
For the librarians, there was never an idle moment. There were always books to be returned to the shelves and overdue books to be tracked down. They had to maintain order in the library at all times so that students trying to study, do research, or just read could do so with little distraction. In addition they students in locating books and information for school projects as well as for pleasure.
Readying herself for a new day, Mrs. Hawks jots down some notes for herself.
Presidential Advisors
Hectic is one word that accurately describes a day in the life of a guidance counselor. Our counselors were always available to answer questions or to help with any personal problems that a student might have had. They were kept busy with student schedules, parent conferences and much more. No matter how work-laden or weary they became, they always maintained cheerful, helpful attitudes.
Gazing into space, Mrs. Palmer wonders what surprises the rest of the day will bring.
The look on Mrs. Blanford’s face is one of determination as she fills out a complicated forms.
Mrs. Jones shows school spirit by wearing a homecoming flower.
Master Of Expression
Leslie Hall gets ready to present a rose to a member of the Homecoming Court while her mother, Mrs. Hall, offers some encouragement.
Decked out in her '50’s clothes, Mrs. Spencer looks like one of the students.
Busily working in the English work room are Mr. Mabry and Mrs. Ward.
Advanced senior English students work diligently on a literature assignment. Below, Mrs. Cherry takes roll during homeroom.
Wrapping up this decade has brought us back to an earlier decade—“back to basics.” The thrust for more emphasis on basic skills has involved the English classroom as much as, if not more than, any other discipline.
1978 was the year of the statewide minimum competency tests for the class of ’81. Sophomores were given the additional graduation requirement of proving that their functional reading skills were sufficient for later life.
The English curriculum is destined to become in the next decade a package that contains all things for all people. It will be a package wrapped in speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, and presented to the student as language proficiency for today’s world.
The stoics of the English Department, Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Shumaker, pause for a moment to chat.
Mrs. Paige carefully goes over a student’s grades to make sure she has averaged them correctly.
Drama teacher Mr. McGlothlin and journalism teacher and “shoot the bull.”
