Birch Run High School - Panther Tales Yearbook (Birch Run, MI)

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Kathryn VanDyke FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT The Foreign Language program at Birch Run High School includes two years of Spanish. It is the purpose of the pro- gram to introduce the Spanish language so that students will be able to under- stand, speak, and write Spanish. Dur- ing both years the student learns vocabu- lary, Spanish grammar, and something of the life and customs of Spanish-speaking peoples. While complete fluency in speaking, reading, or writing Spanish will not be attained in only two years, it is hoped that Spanish I and Spanish II will provide a foundation for continued study or use. Patricia Dudewicz LIBRARY The Birch Run High School Library aims to further the objectives of the school by pro- viding personal and class enrichment opportu- nities to meet the needs of all of the students, all of the teachers, and the curriculum.

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Diane Blomquist ART DEPARTMENT The Art Department of the Birch Run High School offers a course in the funda- mentals of art. It introduces the student to various techniques and media in the field. Art offers the opportunity for free-ex- pression. It brings out one's own per- sonality and advocates individuality and cultural growth. Sue Poellet, Walter Jakiemiec, Raymond Peters. PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT The objectives of the Physical Education De- partment are: to contribute to the physical and organic growth and development of the child and the improvement of body function and body stability, to contribute to the social traits and qualities that go to make up a good citizen and the development of sound moral ideas through participation under proper leadership, to contribute to the psychological development of the child and emotional stability resulting from stimulating experiences physically and socially, to contribute to the development of safety skills that increase the individual's capacity for protection in emergencies, both in handling himself and in assisting others and to contribute to the development of recreational skills that have a distinct place in leisure time hours both during and after school life.

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SPEECH AND DRAMA DEPARTMENT The Speech and Drama Department of the Birch Run High School provides the student with a course in basic speech, further enhanced by forensics, and various theatre activities. Its purpose is to help the student speak clearly and fluently in conversation, informal and formal speech situations in dramatics, on radio and television and over the phone. Equally important, it teaches the student to listen intelligently. Dramatics develops the idea of communication and understanding of others by the study and portrayal of other personalities. Charles Martin, Diane Blomquist. Kathryn VanDyke, Pamela Elliott, Margaret Kelley. Judith Gillies, Judith Erdmann, ENGLISH DEPARTMENT The English Department of Birch Run High School believes that the ability to communicate is vital in a democratic society. Therefore, the departmentattempts to offer to every student the op- portunity to develop his com- munication skills by providing classes and activities designed to develop each student's potential in reading, writing, listening and speaking. It is also the de- partment's hope that, within the classes and activities provided, the student will be led to an awareness and appreciation of opr literary heritage and of its role in the development of aesthetic, ethical and moral values. The department believes that its of- ferings will be valuable in the student's personal, social and occupational life.