Acalanes High School - Aklan Yearbook (Lafayette, CA)

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Leading roll. Mr. Dessler finds that taking attendance can be an amusing task. During seventh period even the most commonplace activities inspired bizarre reactions from the leaders in room 105. In the Lead It was a meeting of the minds. Some affectionate- ly referred to it as the think tank, while others thought of it as the backbone of student gov- ernment. I think it ' s great to see students working in such a productive atmosphere, com- mented Norm Dessler, who directed the class. It was seventh period Leadership, and each day students con- verged on room 106 to hash out the problems facing the stu- dent body. The dilemmas ranged from how to sell more Don ' s t-shirts to how to devise rules for Homecoming that would be ac- ceptable to both the administra- tion and the students. Although they struggled with very real and relevant prob- lems, it wasn ' t all work and no play in room 106. The usually tense atmosphere of the struc- tured classroom gave way to a more relaxed mood. Libby Dalcamo exclaimed, I didn ' t realize how much fun the class was going to be. I love the openness of it and the way peo- ple always listen to your idea. Class time wasn ' t complete- ly devoted to student body business, though. Three days a week, Mr. Dessler related lead- ership techniques to the class. Learning how to communi- cate your ideas makes it so much easier to work together, remarked Micheline Causing. Libby explained, Since it was my first year as an officer, Leadership was just what I needed to get me started. It opened my eyes to what being a leader means and what stu- dent government is all about. Leadership strayed from the conventional class format. It wasn ' t unusual to see Student Body President Mark Navone teaching the class or a group of Leadership students spending class time in the sewing room cutting bandanas for an up- coming rally. The class was MRS. HELEN DYGERT Special Education MR. TOM EGGERTSEN Drama; Spanish MR. RALEIGH ELLISEN Science; Freshman Football Coach; Senior Class Sponsor MRS. SANDY FALAHATI (NOT PICTURED) Secretary MRS.ANITA FARNHOLTZ Physical Education MR. WAYNE FARNHOLTZ Head Counselor MR. DUANE C. FEE Mathematics MR. GORDON FINN Physical Education; Junior Class Sponsor; Varsity Football Coach; Boys ' Athletic Director MRS. KARLYN FORD Librarian; Freshman Class Sponsor MR. LARRY FREEMAN English; Social Studies; Speech Club Advisor 202 FACULTY

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MR. ERNIE DEMARTINI Mathematics; Mathematics Department Chairman; Senior Class Sponsor MR. NORMAN A. DESSLER English; Leadership; Director of Student Activities MR. FRED DIEHL Counselor MR. DONALD DIETZ Industrial Arts MR. RICHARD DOBBINS Social Studies; Senior Class Advisor; Foreign Affairs Club Sponsor MISS RUTH DYER Social Studies Questions and Answers The routine ap- pears normal as various people shuffle in and out of Room 204 for first and second periods. Yet it ' s no ordinary class to the stu- dents inside. The circular pat- tern of the desks symbolizes one of the Quest class ' major goals — to tie people together. The enthusiasm builds, and at the end of the Quest period, one can almost see the energy radiating from each student. The class dealt with develop- ing communication skills and building self-esteem. Basi- cally its purpose was to give the students the skills neces- sary to relate well with others, explained teacher Ms. Holly Holmes, Through others, they learn about themselves. Activities such as group dis- cussions and simulations made up the nucleus of the course. Putting myself in someone else ' s position made me realize how that person felt, shared Arlene Vandermeyde. During discussions, blushing cheeks revealed the uneasiness some people felt when talking about themselves. Soon, however, comments flowed more easily. During group discussions, the members of the class really gave a lot of support to one an- other, J.R. Turner recalled. The Quest course was sug- gested early last year by a group of parents. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Holmes sacri- ficed one of her prep periods and started a semester course for interested students. We ' re proud to be the first high school in California to of- fer this course, Ms. Holmes stated. Two classes, each with roughly 25 people, were of- fered. By the end of the year one-hundred people had taken the course. J.R. commented, I wish the whole school could have taken Quest. Maybe that way there would be less fric- tion between people. Although a variety of stu- dents took the popular class, the after effects were similar. I could talk to people with more ease. I also learned not to put people down, explained Se- nior Amy Van Galder. The re- lationship between my family and me was strengthened, re- marked Arlene. Amy summed up the course by saying, I re- ally enjoyed the class and the people — it gives me a total ' high ' for the rest of the day. Dazed gaze. Jenni Smith hesitates before completing a questionnaire which evaluated people ' s feelings toward each other. Quest students developed an appreciation of each other ' s opinions. Questioning attention. Intriguing ideas about attitudes and perceptions prompted lengthy discussions among Quest students. Tricia Hughes turns curiously to Arlene Vandermeyde and Jim Freethy as they converse in their second period Quest class. 201 FACULTY

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overflowing with involved, in- terested people. Dana Fillinger remarked, It ' s an incredible class because it ' s thirty diverse people who know what ' s go- ing on; they ' re able to stimulate student awareness and hype up school spirit. Leadership students geared themselves for a productive year. Meeting once a day proved to be an effective way to put new ideas to work. It was a place where communica- tion and ideas flowed and well thought-out solutions were channeled into the administra- tion. It was the first class of its kind at Acalanes and it flourished. Dana concluded, It works because everyone is so school-oriented. It ' s no longer considered uncool to be involved. Material spirit. Class time was spent in a variety of ways. Before the western football rally, Leadership students ventured to the sewing room to make bandanas for the teachers so the faculty could display their spirit at the rally, lennifer Jacobs uses the pattern to cut out a red bandana for a senior class sponsor. t 1 1 ' KT ' . Kiss me. In September, Leadership students and other officers attended a workshop conducted by Bill Ames. The conference was scheduled during the school week and gave student leaders a chance to get acquainted with each other and learn to work together effectively. In keeping with the friendly atmosphere, Dave Cox gives chocolate kisses to )anet Carminati during the lunch break. MR. JAMES GARVEY German; Spanish MRS. DONNA GRANT (NOT PICTURED) Secretary MISS GAIL GRAY Art; Art Club Advisor; Photography MR. JOHN H. GUZZO Social Studies MR. RICHARD HANSEN Principal MISS TERRY HAUGEN Physical Education; Junior Varsity Softball Coach MR. STEVE HEASTON Mathematics; Physical Education; Water Polo; Swimming MR. ANGELO HERNANDEZ Spanish; Spanish Honorary Advisor MS. HOLLY HOLMES English; Quest; AFS Advisor MRS. NANCY HOLTON English; AKLAN 203 FACULTY