Estes Park High School - Whispering Pine Yearbook (Estes Park, CO)

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Working for Serendipity, the business department’s office simulation, Debbie Campbell (above) practices her accounting. Students in the human physiology class (right) learn about parts of the body by dissecting “Morticia,” the cat. 28 Academics — lower hall

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Reaching beyond continued Levels of English taught in the upper hallway ranged from freshman fundamentals of English to the junior American cultures class to the senior college composition class. Juniors in American cultures met two periods a day, three days a week. They also attended four seminars; social reform, in search of the American dream, creative writing and Centennial. As part of the course, the juniors read the novel “Centennial” and then took a trip to eastern Colorado where they explored different areas described in the novel. The majority of seniors enrolled in both practical college skills and college composition, both semester courses. These courses included study in speed reading, preparing for ACT tests, job interviews and speeches. Students turned in one major paper each week during the second semester and they were required to write a 20 30 page research paper. Seniors also were required to take the American government class, taught by Charles Whiting. The class took a field trip to the state Capitol and took part in student government day, where the students replaced town officials for a day. These activities were sponsored by the Elks Club, the Lions Club, the Optimists Club and the American Legion, all of Estes Park. In the upstairs hallway, students had an array of social studies classes to choose from. Courses in history ranged from ancient civilizations to contemporary world history and United States history. With the wide range of classes offered upstairs, teachers included outside activities into their curricula to provide new methods of learning besides the usual textbook method. Peering through toilet paper. Jon Firnhaber (above far left) grins while nocturnally decorating the Spanish room. Lee Ann Wehr (above left) demonstrates Spanish customs to her students. Seniors in a college composition class (left) listen to a classmate’s speech. Academics — upper hall 27

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Working diligently In their architectural drawing class, Brian Russell and Dean Kossuth (left) complete in-class assignments. Making sure their volume measurements are correct, juniors Joy James and Nancy Cho (above) prepare an experiment in chemistry. Changes mark lower-hall classes It wasn’t the same as the year before, or the year before that. In fact, some of the changes that were made downstairs had not been seen before in Estes Park High School. Teachers were switched around, new classes were added, others were dropped and new activities replaced plain old bookwork to make the lower-hall classes more interesting for the students. In the business department, the vocational business and office education class started a new business — Serendipity, Inc. Serendipity was an occupation simulation where students gained hands-on experience with the inner workings of business, through handling the books and paperwork of a cosmetics company. Other business students participated in the simulation by acting as customers and filling out orders for merchandise. The session was 50 hours long, with each student gaining 10 hours of work experience in each of five areas. In addition to the office simulation, other business classes were changed. Personal typing was dropped, while Typing I took up the slack. A new computer literacy class was required of all sophomores not already taking a computer class. The 7:30 a.m. typing class remained popular as students sharpened their typing skills outside of regular school hours, or just received an extra hour of needed credit. Accounting and general business classes were taught for those students wanting a stronger business background. A better drawing background was offered by Frank Faiella’s drafting department. He taught classes in drafting and architectural drawing, with the best works by students being entered in the Industrial Arts Fair. Down the hall, the school’s computer facilities came into increasingly widespread use as fast as they were expanded. The main system, a Data General minicomputer, was expanded with increased memory and three new terminals, providing easier access for computer students. It was a good thing. too, because enrollment in computer classes shot up from 35 people the previous year, to 100 students enrolled in the various computer programming classes. Classes for beginning, second-year and third-year students were taught, including one class in which the students received college as well as high school credit. For the teachers, an after-hours faculty computer course was taught in January and February and was so popular that it was offered again in the spring. As a result of the class, teachers used the computer more and more in their classes — some using it to grade tests, and others to keep track of students’ grades. Because of the computer system’s popularity, math teacher Dennis Snell was switched from teaching both math and computer science classes, to computer classes alone. This left an opening in the trigonometry and math analysis class, which physics teacher Dave Ohlde filled. Seniors in the advanced math continued Academics — lower hall 29