In September 1954, half-day kindergarten began, bringing students as young as four into the school. Because of the dreaded disease polio, the 1955 school year was delayed. Students were part of Jonas Salk’s vaccination trial, and were given shots at Squantum School. In 1957, and influenza epidemic raged through the country; on one day, only three of Miss Paulina Robinson’s 29 students came to school.

Because of the threat of the Cold War and nuclear arms race, Squantum’s air raid siren, which could be heard from all parts of the peninsula, was tested each Friday at noon. Students crouched down under their desks or in the hallways, although none remember actually entering the bomb shelter beneath the school. Principals during this decade were Mr. Hanlon, Theodore Sylva and Ruth Waring.