Baton Rouge High School - Fricassee Yearbook (Baton Rouge, LA)

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-— S$f‘ Opening green and gold and our mascot is still the bulldog. But we, have not limited our vision to the past; we have established new traditions and new standards. Academic standards have been raised high. A 3.0 average is required in a stu dent's major and a 2.5 overall average must be maintained Our drama and music departments have been greatl expanded. The physical education classes now concentrate on life sports; sports which a student may participate iff throughout his life. One of the various activities was the new, annual Fall Fair, sponsored by the Student Council. Of course, the seniors and the freshmen are representative o the old and new, but for all purposes, all students attending Baton Rouge High are new to its concepts and high stand ards. All in all, the new Baton Rouge High has based its present establishment upon the best of the old Baton Rouge Spirit exists to High with our own new ideas included as well. Individualism is the key to Baton Rouge High’s success. The establishing of the magnet program was a risk, but we took it and we succeeded. Each of the persons that partici pated in the planning of the new program gave their individ ual ideas and efforts. We are not just the ordinary stereotype high school. Each student as well as each faculty has left their individual imprint on the school. The way each individual president runs a club affects the club the same way the individual personality of a teacher affects her class. Where else but Baton Rouge High would you expect to find a Procrastinator’s club? One teacher told us that each morning two students enter her class face the east, bow three times, and sit down. Now try telling us that isn't a first.

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the magnet curriculum has been successful. Some didn’t believe we would make it through the first year much less the second, but we did. We did, but only because we had the courage and determination to make it happen. In just 2 years we've increased the enrollment from 800 to 1200. We proved that the absence of a football team does not hinder a school from having spirit. Over thirty new clubs have been formed and a radio station has been added. We are a body with a great spirit. The respect we each show for the individuality of every person has allowed us to bring about a unity that can vouch for the success of Baton Rouge High School. The faith we have in one another allows us to look to the coming horizons in great optimism. We can envision many of our graduates climbing the ladder of success as they go through life. Our volleyball and tennis teams may one day be state champs. The gymnastics’ teams will all score perfect tens, and our radio station will broadcast all over the nation. Our future is full of hopes and dreams and goals. There are no promises that these hopes and dreams will be fulfilled or that every goal will be met, but if we keep our eyes open and on the horizon, what seems to be, with tomorrow's dawning could happen today. Baton Rouge High is a collage of the old and the new. Yesterday we saw school spirit based on a football team. Today we see a spirit based upon our own student body's name and very strong will to succeed; to be the best. Not all of the old traditions have been discarded. We still retain the proud history of the old Baton Rouge High School and the atmosphere which combines academics plus social activities which every high school strives for. Activities such as Belles and Beaux are still annual traditions Our colors are still Enrollment reaches maximum. op f na 13

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I Something else unique about Baton Rouge High is their lack of a major sports program. In the past year their has been much argument over whether one should be estab lished or not. The general opinion of the students is split. Yet without a major sports program we swept every category we i I entered in the Jr. Olympics at L.S.U. in the fencing division. | Fencing, a sport not taught in most schools, has readily 5 become very popular at Baton Rouge High. All students who attend Baton Rouge High have made an individual decision in coming here. We are the only public school in the parish which has a student body based on voluntary members. Most schools draw students from a small area, but we draw them from the entire parish. Baton Rouge High School was set up to •‘attract” students from throughout the parish. But for a variety of reasons, the pull of the magnet is far greater in some areas than others. The zip code area with the largest number of students is 70808, generally in the vicinity of LSU, St. George. Walnut Hills, Kenilworth, and the Southdowns area. Some 230 stu dents come to BRHS from this ”08” part of town. The zip area with the fewest students is 70777, the East Baton Rouge part of the Slaughter area, which is represented by only three students at the school. Pride (70770) to the postman) sends only five. One factor that probably contributes to the scarcity of students from some northern and eastern sections of the par ish is a feeling of cohesiveness and identity with a commu mty school. For example. Baker sends only 10 students to BRHS. This is because the original Baker High was established at the turn of the century and has rich community tra dition. The students of BRHS come from at least 18 different subdivisions. Baton Rouge High is as unique as its students.