Hammond High School - Dunes Yearbook (Hammond, IN)

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Isn ' t the idea of cutting down a living tree and placing it in the front room rather absurd? ponders Phil Rittenhouse as he searches for the perfect spruce. RISTMAS TREES CHRISTMAS eather Outside Was Frightful Dij ' ya ever notice how the Christmas season takes up approx- imately 1 6 of the year? Well, it does! Starting in early November the moment all greedy-minded mer- chants can clear their shelves of Halloween costumes and then restock with Christmas supplies, and ending when a new holiday, New Year ' s, (that comforts like a security blanket) takes over preoccupations, the yuletide season can be counted as taking eight weeks. Although Christmas hasn ' t been covered in a yearbook for almost 40 years, this year ' s editors agreed that since the season takes up 1 6 of the year, it must be covered once again. Besides, this year ' s Christmas was so unique. Before Christmas break started on Dec. 22, there was a special excite- ment pressure felt around the school. The school almost exploded from it the week before vacation. Not even Homecoming can bring the same feeling. Nobody can possibly keep his mind totally on his work Miss Fisher, an English teacher, said she liked to stand in the hallway dur- ing this time and watch the excited students. Several Christmas activities at school helped the students get into an even more Christmasy mood. The Spanish classes wove God ' s eyes an- dhung them around school. They also had a pinata party. German classes decorated their room with handmade German Christmas cards. The French students practiced French Christmas carols and shared them with other classes the last day of school. With all the language classes making such beautiful contributions, the school had a type of Christmas Around the World. ' ' Watch out Museum of Science and Industry! For the first time in several years, the chorus and band presented a Christmas concert. Students watched the well-done show on Tuesday the 20th and it was again presented that evening for the parents. Two H.H.S. students had an op- portunity to share their views in the TIMES ' Curbside Comments that appeared in the Sunday, Dec. 18, 1983 paper. The question posed was - Which do you enjoy more - giving Yule presents or receiving them? Yvette Isom responded, Giving, because I feel good after making someone happy. On the other hand, Shanita Bowie answered, Receiving, because I like the thought that people are thinking about me. Record breaking low temperature dictated the students activities during the beginning of vacation. The -25°F Christmas Eve temperature not only spoiled the National Honor Society ' s plans to carol, but it also prevented students from much visiting to family and friends. The -80°F wind chill fac- tor was deadly. Pudgy dolls with unique outfits and adoption papers were the fad (not only for children) during the season. All over the U.S. desperate parents waited in lines all night so they would get one of the few coveted Cabbage Patch Dolls when the store ' s doors opened. The prices of the dolls were hiked up substantially. Some stores refused to sell the dolls because of the maniac attitudes of shoppers for the dolls. Other stores held Cabbage Patch Kid raffles to answer the pro- blem. As usual, the fad inspired Cab- bage Patch Kid slumber bags, wat- ches, plastic figurines, games, t.v. shows, etc. )ust as the students ' main conver- sation point before Christmas had been based around the season — What are you doing for Christmas? , after vacation it was the same topic — How was your Christmas? Does the season ever end? 20 Student Life Christmas

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Hoosier Boys ' State sent back three informed citizens — Garrard McClendon, Mike Monberg, and Dallas Creighton. Kristen Hill strikes a pose she might have learn- ed in a French cabaret. Find the symbolism in this picture — (Answer; Garrard McClendon is climbing the ladder of success after attending the Ball State jour- nalism Camp.) Kathy Aubruner and jill Wagner think the photo of them represents the topsy-turvy life of Hoosier Girls ' State well. 19

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Twas Ihe nig ht before Christmas and all through da flat, Nutten was movin, not even a rat. Da stokins was hung by da stove pip wit care In hopes dat the wind would take out da bad air. Wid me in my flannels, me brudder in jeans, We T ote settled down full a ' bis- cuits and beans When all of a sudden we heard such a clatter. We jumpt out of bed to see what was da matter. When out on da crest of da new fallen snow, I seen me old man and me big Unde Joe. Dair arms was loaded with pre- sents and a tree For Mudder (Sister, Louie, and Me) It ' s da nite after Christmas and all through da flat Notten is moving ' , (we gotta da rat.) Me fodder ' s asleep in his warm little bed. While visions of bill collectors dance through his head. Da toys is all busted and broken, I fear; Guess Louie and 111 just wait till next year. Renee Sims found and entered the 1984 X-mas Tree Contest with the winning Chicago Mar- shall Field ' s Toy Dept tree. It appropriately had teddy bears on it to honor the stuffed animal ' s 80th birthday. I thought it was a toaster, said Deb Dar- rough after she opened the present given to her by a friend in physics. By Gerald Bkalar, 1950 Graduate Appeared in Ihe Dec. 16, 1955 HERALD