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

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Valentine’s greetings await Susan Curry as she eagerly reads a Valogram delivered by members of the Spanish Club on Feb. 12. For an extra cost, that she received. More than 50 Valograms were purchased and were the purchaser could have the message sung to its recipient. A personal interest . . . Boredom? Most EPHS students would say that, however hard one looked, boredom could not be found, for there were always plenty of activities to keep busy with. As the school year began, traditional activities were revived. During homecoming week, each class put hours of after-school effort into float building and hall decorating. As basketball season arrived, cheering on the teams at away games took on a new twist. For a handful of enthusiastic fans, “road trips” made each away game into an extravagant party. Cheerleading also filled many a student’s empty hours. Far into the afternoon, cheerleaders occupied the student center practicing routines or making posters for the next game. In preparation for upcoming parades and concerts, members of the band and jazz band could also be found at school after regular hours. Of all activities that kept students late, publications was one of the most notorious. Once a month, when the school newspaper was “put to bed,” most publicators did not get to bed until 3 or 4 in the morning. On the opposite end of the scale, many activities got students out of bed and to school early in the morning. With matches as early as 7:15, intramural volleyball attracted a large number of sleepy participants. The year’s numerous field trips also commanded the students’ presence at early hours for a prompt start on the day’s out-of-school learning experiences. Still, there were • students who would argue that every aspect of high school was boring and the day’s biggest thrill came when the bell rang at 3, excusing them from school to pursue other interests. 4 Activities division page

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A new day begins — signaling new opportunities, new challenges and new learning experiences. School is a stepping stone to meeting these challenges and to reaching our potentials. Some students made the most of learning opportunities in high school; others were content to just scrape by. But the school offered something for everyone. Changes enhancing these offerings included a new track, an enlarged computer system, a juke box in the student center, a ’60s day during homecoming week and prom in the student center. Marked by an informal atmos- phere, the year brought less vandalism and more students on honor roll — 89 first semester — than usual. It witnessed a trend toward math, science and business courses. “Kids are becoming more concerned about how to get a job,’’ Principal Gordon Rudel reflected. At the same time, extracurricular activities gained popularity, luring more than half of the student body from their books. Band, intramural volleyball, plays and numerous other activities rounded out school life. Spirit and pride rallied in all school events. With two new members, Richard Putney and Jean Menning, the school board took steps to improve education in the district. It developed an ongoing five-year plan, required by the state. Through board action, human physiology and computer literacy were added to the curriculum. Every student had the opportunity to follow “a personal interest,” to enjoy “a change of pace” in sports and to earn an education, “a common goal.” In all school functions, EPHS students were the “margin of difference.” Their decisions shaped the school year. Together, students and teachers determined the quality of education as they “brought good things to life.” Opening 3

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Preps, Pac-Man, Porky’s popular By the end of the year, many EPHS students wondered if they weren’t surrounded by a bunch of trendy youngsters who were addicted to designer jeans, rock and roll music, Pac-Man and movies about “growing-up.” But these were the trends, and the majority of the student body adhered to them as if they were sacred. Correlation with fashion trends was the most obvious, but students had different ideas about what was “in.” Most agreed that jeans and a “casual” shirt was stylish, but some indicated that the trend was toward being preppy, which entailed wearing sailor suits, leg warmers, topsider shoes, and shirts with either ruffles, baggy sleeves or little alligators embroidered on them. Others said that punk was the fad. Some students predicted that clothing styles will revert back to the short dresses and bobby socks of the ’50s. Musical trends were also apparent. By far, rock and roll was the most popular, followed closely by new wave and punk. Favorite musical groups ranged from the rock of AC DC, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Journey and Asia to the new wave style of The Cars, The Go-Go’s and The Human League. Other groups mentioned as favor- ites were Pink Floyd, Devo, The Rolling Stones, Loverboy and The Kinks. Experiencing their favorite groups in concert was also popular, as many students traveled to see AC DC, Journey, The Cars and The Kinks. Another trendy way of passing time was playing video games. The favorite was Pac-Man, followed closely by Asteroids and Tempest. Avid players noted that they played as much as they could and, in the process, spent as much as $14 per week. A few said that they don’t play video games. “I don’t want to waste my money,” commented one student. EPHS students did not have one TV program which was a definite favorite. Rather, most-liked shows included The Fall Guy, Magnum P.I., Fame, Hill Street Blues and The Love Boat. By far, the favorite movie of 1981-82 was “Porky’s,” which, according to its billing, was about “growing up.” “On Golden Pond” and “TAPS” followed in popularity. When a student was not in the arcade or movie theater, other school-related activities kept him busy. Dances were ranked as the most popular activity. “They were a good way to release tension and energy,” explained one student. Intramural volleyball was also well-liked and drew many participants. Attending basketball games via “road trips” was also a popular weekend activity. Even though some students complained that Estes Park is behind as far as fashion and trends, it is clear that, behind or not, Estes Park students followed the major national trends. Pac-Man fever was caught by many Estes Park students as the video game gained popularity over the school year. Among those with the disease was Ken Bush, who tries his skill at Ms. Pac-Man, a Pac-Man spinoff. Trends 5