Blackduck High School - Quill Yearbook (Blackduck, MN)

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Improving Blackduck Public Schools grew out of community schools in the Blackduck area Three of those schools are pictured here. Pennington and Tenstrike are pictured on the facing page. The center photo and the photo above are both of the Blackduck School. The first is one of the school when it opened and the second is during the 1950's. The photo directly below is a photo of the old Hines elementary school. 5

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Over the years Blackduck Schools have grown and improved. Since the turn of the century there have been many new additions to the original building, the new library science building being the most recent. As construction moved from laying the foundation to the first day the library was in use, the annual staff was struck by the similarity between the construction and the senior class. The construc- tion, while in the foundation stages, is a lot like the elementary education Blackduck students receive. The junior high experience is similar to construction of the first floor. Of course, the second story represents the senior high years. The senior class has grown and changed over the years from a fascination with Barbie dolls and Tonka trucks to thoughts of college and life on their own. They have traveled from Sesame Street and Walt Disney movies to Days of Our Lives and Rambo. The construction of the new library science building has given this year's seniors something to think about. Building, Growing and 4

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BLACK DUCK — A half-dozen nak d faces at Blackduck High Sd ;ol attest to the fact that students there were motivated enough by a “You Bet Your Beard” contest to gather more than a ton of food for Bemidji Community Food Shelf. Five teachers and one student sacrificed their beards during aa assembly Monday after- having promised to shave their hairy visages if Blackduck High School Student Council reached its gdal of collecting 1.001 pounds of food. The prospect of watching six men lose their beards apparently inspirited the students indeed, for by Friday, the total reached 2.680 pounds. “Some of the teachers I talked to after the project got started thought their beards would be pretty safe. Ken Kalvig. student council president, said. When a ton of donations started pouring in last week, though, the bearded men started sweating. “I think it s great because without those people donating their beards. I don't think the students would have been as motivated. he said. “It’s a good project to do for needy people in the area, especially at Christmas time, when some families might not have as much food as other people do. said Kalvig, adding the project also was a way to boost school spirit and pride. About 30 student council mem- bers in grades seven through 12 oromoted the project, organizing :lass competitions for added in- rentiv.e. When the local barber. Kenny Gustafson, took a trimmer to the eards. the students “really went luts.” Kalvig said. Some students, n the thrill of the moment, started chanting. “Shave their hair off. too!” The objects of their chants were teachers Steve Bechtold. Jim Nissen. Jack Penn. Ward Merrill and Daryl Deno. who dressed as Santa Gaus for the event. The lone student a nong the shave-ees was Jasen Hendricks. Even though I'd become kind of attached to my beard — I think I'd had it for about 12 years — I was glad to see the kids do this well. Merrill, student council adviser, said. “The kids, of course, got a charge out of seeing us go through the shaving.” The last time Deno shaved his beard was several years ago. Merrill said. and. at that time, his young children thought he was their Uncle Marvin. Penn, a fixture at BHS with his long, long beard, promised to cut it only to half its length. “I’ve noticed it’s a lot colder, even in the building here, without the beard on.” Merrill said. Some people say the bare-faced Merrill looks older, some younger. The eighth-graders told him he looks like Captain Kangaroo without h:s beard, but someone else said he looks like Burt Reynolds. “That made me feel a lot better.” CD