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

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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.

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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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HOMEMAKING DEPARTMENT The Homemaking Department offers a two year program of study. During this time students learn how to be- come more effective family members. Besides practice in the practical skills of homemaking, students receive instruction in personal and social de- velopment, foods and nutrition, child development, clothing and textiles, housing and home furnishings, and home management. A broad program like this, concerning the many phases of homemaking, helps students acquire an understanding and appreciation of the basic principles underlying homemaking. Happy and successful living begins at home. Through the study of homemaking students learn to improve their home lives. Diane Berryman. CHEMISTRY-PHYSICS DEPARTMENT The purpose of Chemistry is to develop in the student a basic knowledge of the composition of substances, the changes that occur in the composition of these substances, and a general study of scientific subjects. Integrated with this, a laboratory period is provided to acquaint the student with laboratory procedure and investigation. Physics, the culmination of sci- ence in high school, is the study of matter and energy. Its purpose is to acquaint the student with the principles of mechanics, heat, sound, light, and electricity. Laboratory is provided to enhance certain concepts related to these areas. It is the goal of the science de- partment to develop in the student a mode of thinking conducive to his future understanding of science in this highly scientific world. Wallace Frank, Margaret Kelley.