May 16, 1940 Commencement held May 17, 1940 in the school. The school auditorium was not nearly large enough to accommodate the folks who wanted to see the commencement program as an estimated 150 people could not be seated. Instead of following the usual custom with a commencement address, this year's event was presented in the form of a pageant entitled "Democracy Speaks," which was written by Superintendent G. E. Holmes. The young people in the case of the pageant did exceedingly well. The Valedictory address was given by Jeane Tipton and Salutatory address by Dorothy Kracht, with (Clara) Signs' citizenship award went to Jeane Tipton and Richard Holland. Class roll is: Juanita Bates, Doris Brown, Dorothy Carver, Donald Deal, Harold Hale, Ronald Hand, Richard Holland, George Kimberley, James Kimberley, Lois Kimberley, Dorothy Kracht, Opal O'Neil, Norene Oswalt, Garth Patterson, Glen Perin, Berle Robinson, Kathlene Snyder, Jeane Tipton, Mildred White. Class Motto - B What U R; Flower - Moss Rose Colors - Turquoise and Gold. )
Last Friday the junior high chartered two buses for a trip to Des Moines, accompanied by Mr. Holmes and Miss Signs. We visited numerous sites and returned home by late afternoon. We all agreed that we had a wonderful time.
The senior class was well repaid last Wednesday for its awaited "Sneak Day." Accompanied by Miss Swanson, they left for a visit to the Amana Colonies and Iowa City.
A large number of the 9th and 10th grade students attended Veishea (Iowa State College/University) last Friday and enjoyed a full day of amusement. Two buses transported the students, accompanied by Miss Harrington, Miss Holmes and Mr. Perkins. They arrived home at 6:00 P.M.
August 29, 1940 Classes will open in the Collins Consolidated Schools next Monday, September 2 at 9 A.M. for the 40-41 school year. School Custodian - Fred Renfeldt; Bus Drivers - Marvin Stevens, Byron Keagle, Marion Vasey, Harley Myers, Vern Halterman, and Mrs. Vern Halterman.
[Insert 2004: The way country students went to the new consolidated school district in 1921-22 and a few years thereafter was by horse-drawn school bus. A bus route south of Collins was Tom Jones' bus/horse owner and driver with passengers: Dave Ozmun, Iona (Crabb) Stratton, Catherine (Ozmun) McNamara, Ila (Crabb) (Atwood) Buck, Doris (Morrison) Duesbury, Leola (Toots) Stratton, Alma Stratton, Gertrude Smith, Velda Smith, Lela Stratton, Ila Stratton, Dola (Crabb) Romick, Esther (Ozmun) Taylor, Forrest (Crabb) Halterman, Orville Smith, Kenneth Smith, Lester Smith, Bill Vasey, Jeff Morrison, and John Crabb.]
[Insert 2004: The earliest (1923-24) Collins School motorized buses were improvised by the bus owners. They placed the horse-drawn bus body on a Ford Model-T truck chassis with a 22-Hp engine. The rear entry-exit bus capacity was 15-18 with the youngest sitting on laps of the older and a few standing in the aisle. There were no safety regulations such as bus color, stop sign, warning and stoplights. An early motorized route was northeast of Collins with W. E. (Bill) Luing bus owner and driver. Students on this route: Guy Robinson, Wayne Heintz, Harold Pointer, Wayne Southworth, Virgil Berg, Lowell Luing, Ramah Pointer, Willard Jones, Alice Heintz, Florence Jones, Mildred Pointer, Lester Pointer, Glen Pointer, Lillian Berg, Ben Jones and Ben Jones' sister.]