Bloom Trail High School - Trail Blazer Yearbook (Chicago Heights, IL)

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(BELOW) Gifts like this were often donated to the school from different classes. (LEFT) This mural, 1984, was painted by the art classes, and show: different events that took place in 1984. Many murals have been painte for the school during the past 10 years.

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m. We dedicate this Special 10th tion of the Trail Blazerto the Trail zers; not only to the Blazers of today to everyone who blazed this trail, hy do we, the Bloom Trail Blazers, ourselves Blazers? Who were the f first Trail Blazers? Bloom Trail’s icot is the pioneer. But as research done, we found out that the pio- rs were not the first Blazers. The k Indians were the very first people blaze the territory where Bloom il now stands. This is the reason we se an Indian to be put on the plush 'et cover. The Indians established k Trail, which at that time was just a dirt road. Since then many gold pros- pectors crossed Sauk Trail in search of their destination. It was a main East- West roadway then. Bloom Trail High School lies on the corner of Sauk Trail and Cottage Grove. At this time the Sauk Indians were here this was nothing but a corn field. Now we have a large school with quality edu- cation, clubs, sports, and dances. We have a school with a prom and gradu- ation that are the best in the south sub- urban area. But most of all the students who take pride in their school, and the fact that they are Trail Blazers makes this school so special. Bloom Trail High School has experienced its share of troubles and changes in the ten years it has been a four year high school, but this “pride” still exists. This year the Trail Blazer staff worked hard and spent large amounts of money to make the Special 10th Edi- tion the best. A decision was then made to dedicate this edition to the people who represent Bloom Trail with the pride and spirit it deserves. It is our privilege to dedicate the 1985-86 10th Anniversary Edition of the Trail Blazer to the BLAZERS — past and present. — Lori Luther A hit a Mater Hail Hail to the Blue ami Qold. As u'e pledge our loyalty. Our Alma At a ter proud ami true. Bloom Zrail. our love to thee. We are not a shadow hiding in the night. Blue and Qold is flaming, sending out its light. Hail Hail the Blue and Qold. As we pledge our loyalty. Our Ahna At a ter proud and true. Bloom Zrail our love to thee. THEME DEDICA TION 3

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Ks we looked back on the tenth anniversa- of Bloom Trail High School, we saw that ny changes had taken place since we be- ne an independent 4-year high school in 76. These changes improved Bloom Trail d were the cooperative work of many pio- sring Trail Blazers. 3ne Trail Blazer to whom we owe a great 1, was our first principal and “Trail ss’ Eugene E. Neubauer. In 1950, Mr. ubauer first joined Bloom Township Dis- ct 206 as an industrial education teacher, ter that, he served as a counselor, depart- :nt chair, director of adult education and distant principal. [n 1967, when Bloom Trail opened as a shman-sophomore division as part of oom High School. Mr. Neubauer was ap- inted the first principal; and again in 76, when we became a separate 4-year 'h school. Mr. Neubauer was a strong supporter of tra-curricular activities. He believed 100I activities, their attendance and aca- mic records would improve. In fact, his al was to get every student at Bloom Trail solved in at least one extra-curricular ac- ity. He was also the Trail Blazer who guided e laying of the educational foundation on which Bloom Trail’s curricular and co- rricular programs were built. Because of his 30 years of service to the strict, his outstanding leadership as a ’rail Blazer” and his exceptional support the performing arts, the Bloom Trail ditorium was named the Eugene E. Neu- uer Auditorium in his honor. In 1980, William D. McGee was named e second principal and “Trail Boss” of oom Trail. He came from Rich Central gh School, where he had served as vice incipal. Mr. McGee immediately began blazing w trails to increase student attendance, iprove discipline, and give us all a greater nse of pride and school spirit. He also be- ime the Trail Blazer athletes biggest fan id supporter. Upon his retirement, in rec- jnition of his many accomplishments and years of outstanding service, the Bloom rail fieldhouse was named the William D. IcGee Fieldhouse in his honor. Gerald Lauritsen became the third princi- il of Bloom Trail High School in 1985, ter serving 18 years in the district as a acher, division coordinator and district of national education. Within that first year, [r. Lauritsen demonstrated his leadership jalities as the new’ “Trail Boss” and was iry popular with both the students and the aff. During the past 10 years at Bloom Trail, Trail Bosses” were not the only changes ade. There were also many changes ■ound the school buildings. In the cafeteria there used to be individual chairs at the lunch tables. But in the early days, they were sometimes misused by “renegade” Trail Blazers who picked them up and threw them at other Trail Blazers or through the nearest window. Today, the in- dividual chairs have been replaced with benches tightly secured to the tables; al- though in later years, there were fewer rene- gades and all the Trail Blazers seemed to be working together very well. Another change in the cafeteria was the ceiling, which had arches until it was dis- covered that asbestos was in the ceiling ma- terial. Asbestos had been linked to lung can- cer, so in the summer of 1984, the ceiling arches were replaced with an asbestos-free suspended ceiling. The fieldhouse also changed significantly. Although it was less than 10 years old, the special rubber-compound floor had deterio- rated badly. The entire floor was replaced with a bright red indoor track and gym area and the basketball court received a beautiful wood flooring. The old metal bleachers were judged unsafe and were replaced with stur- dier wooden bleachers. When the newly re- modeled fieldhouse was opened in 1985, Trail Blazers could show it off with pride as one of the best facilities in the area. In addition to the changes in leaders and buildings, fads and fashions were also changing. In the late 70’s, disco shirts, bell bottoms, and hippy hairstyles were popular. After that, there was the “valley girl look ” which was “totally awesome”; and then the “preppy” look, which became the symbol of all “Yuppies”, (Young Urban Profession- als). None of these lasted long as the “punk” movement from England invaded the Unit- ed States and Bloom Trail. Young Trail Blazers began modeling shaved heads or mohawk cuts. They wore gaudy clothes that did not match, or lacy outfits that looked like nightgowns and underwear. They pierced their ears 2, 3 and 4 times and wore earrings that looked like they would drag ears down to the floor. Parents just “loved” these changes as their children dressed wilder and wilder each day. Inspite of all this, there was a strong so- cial conscience as young people everywhere came together for a number of special “Aide” rock concerts to help raise money for the starving in Ethiopia and the farmers in the midwest, demonstrating that “We Are the World”! Another fad that hit Bloom Trail big in the early 80’s was “break” dancing. Break- ers would try to out-do each other as they performed various acrobatic moves and even spun on their heads, their backs, or a gloved hand.It required a lot of flexibility and fluid movement. Sometimes you won- dered why they didn’t break their necks. The music department also hit it big in the early 80’s with the British invasion and i “video rock”. More and more teens in the U.S.A., and of course Bloom Trail, were lis- tening and watching British pop stars. Some of the favorites were Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Paul Young, and the band from Ire- land, U2. Michael Jackson, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Cindy Lauper and Madonna were especially popular. Michael Jackson imitators could be found everywhere sport- ing his famous one-handed sequined glove and singing Thriller, Beat It, and many oth- ers. Prince not only starred in the movie, Purple Bain, but also produced several award-winning albums. Of course, some things never changed. The“ battle of the leaky roof' never seemed to end; inspite of repeated efforts to fix it. Students continued to smoke in the wash- rooms, even after the entrance doors had been removed. Students still had to get up before dawn to catch their old black and yellow school bus for the 7:30 AM first-hour classes.The Clark station continued to be a popular hang-out for some students before and after school, probably because it was the ONLY place off campus to hang-out. Changes are the price of progress and Bloom Trail made lots of progress during those first 10 years! Attendance was up. Dis- cipline improved. People were working to- gether cooperatively. National academic standings were higher. Just as the Chicago Cubs threatened to win the pennant and the Chicago Bears seemed on their way to the Super Bowl, sports teams in“Blazer Country” were get- ting stronger and threatening to become state champions in many areas, including basketball, men’s and women’s areas, track, and wrestling. In fact, the wrestling team did become STATE CHAMPS and a parade was held in their honor. More programs became available for gift- ed students and a wider variety of club ex- tra-curricular activities were offered, even though the after-school buses had been re- duced to twice a week due to budget cuts. Even the food in the cafeteria improved when area residents, who used to work for the old food service, formed their own busi- ness, took over the management, and proved that they could do it better. Yes, during the first 10 years that Bloom Trail was a 4-year high school, a lot of pro- gress was made in “BLAZER COUNTRY” because ALL of us, (students, staff and Blazer Boosters from the community), were willing to work together as pioneers with the courage to blaze our own trails! — Nancy Plamondon 5