Belleville Township High School East - Yearbook (Belleville, IL)

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1. The curriculum at Belleville East has both breadth and depth and is designed for students ranging from the gifted to those with extreme handicaps. Throughout the four-year experience, a student is encouraged to select classes basic to his general education and designed for his personal ability level. Honors classes are offered in several departments, including English, mathematics and science. Special Education programs serve mentally and physically handicapped students. Trainably and educably mentally handicapped stu¬ dents. children with learning disorders, autistic students and the physically handicapped spend their education day on campus with the other high school students in the community. And. during the junior and senior years, students are encouraged to select courses corresponding with their future vocational and educational plans. 2. The professional staff at Belleville East is experienced, well- qualified. and dedicated. With a majority of the faculty hired before or immediately following the opening of the campus in the late 1960’s, the staff’s remarkable stability over the years has contributed to the continuity of education. Their diversified backgrounds reflect extensive formal preparation, as well as a wide range of co-curricular experiences. The Belleville East faculty is a major part of the outstanding education offered by the school. 3. In addition to the regular curricular offereings. students are afforded a wide range of f extra-curricular activities. Participation in these activities is encouraged by the school. Activity involvement in extra-curricular activi¬ ties enhances the students’ regular curricular experiences, as well. East is extremely proud of both the quality and quantity of the extracurricular program. In addition to the more obvious athletic program. East is represented state-wide each year by outstanding speech and debate teams; a theatre program; an expanding graphic arts program utilizing commercial art classes; the monthly newspa¬ per. and the 300-page yearbook; a variety show; a student produced literary magazine published yearly; choral and instrumental programs; mathematics teams; and an extremely active Student Council directing the completion of numerous events during the year. 4. A full array of guidance services are provided by the Belleville East counseling staff. The guidance process begins during the spring of the eighth grade year when all perspective freshmen are administered high school entrance examinations. The counseling staff discusses the test results, along with an evaluation of grade school records, during an individual conference prior to the freshman year. During this discussion with the perspective student and parents, a curriculum plan is designed for the individual’s ability level and interests. Throughout the four years in high school, the counseling staff assists the students with educational and vocational planning as well as working with personal problems. 5. East’s educational facilities are extremely up-to-date. Both the biological and physical science laboratories compare with any high school in the state. Recently, the school purchased a student utilized, central computer and smaller, individualized instruction computers. In 1977. a new vocationally oriented building was completed. The structure houses the auto and welding shops and classrooms designed for the physically handicapped. In addition to the typical classroom concept, the art. business, homemaking, industrial education and reading laboratories are modern and accessable to all students. 6. Belleville East has a supportive central office administration and non-certified staff. The routines of the school’s daily operations are handled efficiently with the help of the secretarial, cafeteria, and maintenance staffs. 7. Belleville East strikes a highly desirable balance in achieving an orderly, well disciplined, and relaxed learning atmosphere. Unnecessary restrictions are held to the learning atmosphere. Unnecessary restrictions are held to the minimum necessary for the orderly functioning of our educational community. East strives to maintain a realistic understand¬ ing of the students’ present needs and future demands A smooth, effective transition from high school to the rigors of beyond is paramount in the East philosphy. “A CLOSER LOOK AT i BELLEVILLE EAST”