Blake School - Reflections / Call O Pan Yearbook (Hopkins, MN)

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WITH THE END PRODUCT Seniors have always played a vital role in the growth and improvement of the Blake Schools. Since the merger, each of the graduating classes has added new dimensions and supplied a special character to the school. Each year the Senior Class hopes to be remembered as a class that was able to provide the leadership for a successful year, a leadership which begins in early September on Senior Weekend. For three days in the northwoods, the members of the Senior Class, its advisors, and the administrators spend time getting to know one another. The class sets its goals for the coming school year. By the end of the weekend the class has a good idea of what its role will be for the year. The seniors’ decisions and actions affect the entire school. One of the class's first responsibilities is organizing Homecoming activities: ordering buttons, choosing dress-up days, electing royalty, and organizing pep-fests. The Senior-Nine program has grown to be a very important activity for seniors and freshman alike. When 16

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Individuals differ from one another, each in his own unique way, and yet ironically when these individuals form groups of people, they take on a special character just as one person can. The unification of many varied talents creates a quality unique only to that specific group of people. The student body is made up of over 400 individuals, and over 75% of these people are underclassmen. Thus it is important to be aware of, to understand, and to recognize their many qualities and special interests when we try to spell out the character and personality of our community. The freshmen, as always, go through an adjustment period. The new environment, which they soon become adjusted to. is the cause of many anxieties, insecurities, and first-quarter butterflies. One very helpful program which helps guide the freshmen through their first year of high school is the Senior-Nine program, in which each nine has a senior who will be a year long buddy. Soon, with time, the freshmen no longer feel so new, and they begin to develop a routine for their remaining high school years. The sophomores, who are neither involved in the Senior-Nine program nor J.C., always seem to have the reputation of being “in the middle. However, one cannot forget the vitality and vigor they add to our school life. They remain a vei7 united class with tremendous school spirit and many leadership qualities. Many people say, “Sophomore year is the hardest year ; yet still one never fails to see a gallant sophomore either watching or participating in a sports event, a play, or some other extra-curricular activity. The junior - oh those juniors - what a bunch of radicals! With a unique personality and insistence upon being different! Junior Concessions and other fund raisers are organized by the juniors to put on the Junior-Senior Prom. As college becomes closer to reality, they are working harder and harder and are letting their unique talents enhance their involvement and leadership in the school community. Each class has its own unique characteristics which contribute to the makeup of the school. Without the variety in its constituent elements, our school atmosphere would be a different one. not necessarily worse or better, simply different. Each year the atmosphere changes as new underclassmen replace old. So cherish these memories and qualities during the 1980-81 school year, for next year the scene will have changed. 15

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seniors aren’t being actively involved in school, they are usually thinking of college. Seniors are studying harder than ever so that they can get into the college of their choice. Seniors realize that choosing a college is one of the most important decisions they ever make. To get away from all these problems, seniors find refuge in the senior room, to relax a bit from the stresses of academics. This year’s senior class is the first graduating class of the Blake Schools to have gone through the entire Middle and Upper Schools. The class has learned how to be a successful one by the examples set by the previous graduating classes. They have realized that they have a responsibility to the school commu- nity and have striven to extend their role within the school, to make this school a better place for their having been here. During the school year, many seniors became involved in activities that have added new dimensions to Blake life. A Senior-Nine committee was formed to organize more activities for the Senior-Nine program. Besides having a fall party at Karen Mills’ house, other activities were planned with the freshmen during the year. Another group of enterprising seniors felt that they wanted to do something to increase school spirit, and the Blake Rousers Club was formed to organize fan support for our athletic teams and musical groups. Still other seniors have been able to devote their time to tutoring underclassmen. helping to keep the building clean, and involving themselves in various facets of Blake life.- Whatever the case may be, the class of 1981 has managed to not only to be a friend to the people involved in Blake, but also to the school itself. 17