Caddo Magnet High School - Odyssey Yearbook (Shreveport, LA)

Page 73 text:

The homeward ride was brimming with excitement as students eagerly questioned each other about their tests and the people that they had seen. Back at the ranch a few weeks later after the initial excitement had died down and the participants were growing impatient about their test results, an an- nouncement was made one bright sunshiny morn that Magnet had once again captured the District Rally Sweepstakes trophy! In the long standing tradition of excellence in education, a landmark event in Magnefs history occurred when we hosted thirty mid- dle schools from throughout Louisiana in the first annual Academic Pentathalon. Over six hundred seventh and eighth grad- ers competed in five categories: math, Sci¬ ence, speech, essay and the Super Quiz cover- ing the Constitution. The event was organized by Mr. Price, Mr. Trudeau, Dr. James and Mrs. Smith, who was heavily involved in bringing the Pentathlon to Magnet. In fact, ALL SMILES. Mr. Trudeau, Ms. Smith, Tracy Widiger, Jennifer Rowe, and Ms. McCathryn have plenty to smile about as they helped in hosting the first annual academic Pentathlon. THE LEADERS. Mr. Trudeau, Ms. Smith and Dr. James take time out to smile during the Super Quiz activities in the gym. she began contacting people about the event in 1986 and she has already started organiz- ing next year’s Pentathlon. The S.G.A. and R.O.T.C. were also involved in the festivities by organizing a few mixers, like a scavenger hunt, at a local hotel so the students could relax before the testing. Many students stayed up until the wee hours of the morning practicing their speeches and study- ing the ir notes for the Super Quiz. The competition Super Quiz was an excit- ing climax to the weeks of studying and hard work. The students roared with approval at correct answers from their teammates and cheered on their efforts. “It was terrifici exclaimed Mrs. Smith. “1 was so happy to see these bright young stu¬ dents stamping on the bleachers and chanting for their teammates and being so happy, and not for football or baseball, but for educa¬ tioni”

Page 72 text:

T I he Brainy Bunch What is District Rally?” You ha ve fi ve seconds ... 4, ... 3, ... 2, ... 1 ... BUZZ!!! Contestant Number Two, Michelle Gray, what is your answer to the $64,000 Question? “Isn ' t it that party at Shreve Square for Tech and Northwestern?” Contestant Number Two, Michelle Gray, vou are absolutely ... WRONG!! But don’t feel bad, Michelle, because fif- teen of twenty people surveyed didn’t know either. ‘‘That many people didn’t know!” ex- claimed junior Julie Asher. “That’s pretty bad, but there are a lot of Catholics that don’t even know what a Requiem Mass is either. Laverne Ferdinand, senior, specified, “Ac- tually it ' s a competition to test the aeademic knowledge of students in the Northwest Lou- isiana area.” WHERES THE BUS? Literary Rally students await their ride to take them to the competition in Natchitoches at NSU. In the wee hours of March 12, 1988 coma- tose zombies filed lethargically on to the two Caddo Parish School buses patiently waiting to whisk the students away to Northwestern State University. As the sprawling metropolis, Shreveport, Louisiana, faded into the dis- tance and the buses rattled south down High- way 1, the bleary-eyed students attempted to study their texts, but most just tried to sleep. Oh heralded Northwestern! It finally ar- rived! Suddenly the veil of lethargy was lift- ed, and the travelers were faced with two objectives: find the bathrooms and survive the tests. During the following three hours the stu¬ dents were subjected to a harrowing schedule of rigorous testing and manic boredom. The rally sponsors, Mr. Scott, Mrs. Houghes, Mrs. Ford, Dr. James, and Mrs. Smith hovered about the student union munching on colle¬ giate cafeteria food and asking students about their tests. TEST, TEST, TEST. Junior Rick Collins competes in the English III division at Literary Rally.

Page 74 text:

r xchanging Words Words. Lots of words. Bunches and bunches of words. A few put together like this and a few put together like that. The struc¬ ture of present and past tense verbs. The languages of the world depend on these rules. Some make sense, others don’t. Oui, je ne sais pas. Ci, muy bueno! Okay! Let’s see. How do we express our emotions? We talk. How do we gain more knowledge? We read. So what’s that got to do with a language, especially English? Lots. Not many people could express their wishes and wants without speaking and referring to a definite language. We’d be lost. This year several students have come to Magnet from foreign countries only to feel at a loss for culture and expressions. Jr. Vil Sommerbakk, a student from Norway, moved in with Sr. James Stavig and found life in America and at Magnet was not as he expect- ed it to be. “I was sitting on the plane think- ing about what to expect. I was just anxious. Most of us expect a foreign language to be something like French or German. But have you ever thought about English being a for¬ eign language? Of course it is! Especially to these students. Sr. Claudia Evans, from Co- lombia recalls trying to get used to life in a new country. “Even if I had been prepared for a change, at the beginning everything was so hard and different.” These students, both foreign and Ameri¬ can, have overcome their fears and turned their differences into positive aspects. Angela Hugo, from South Africa, has done just this. She tours, giving speeches on life and culture in South Africa. “Being able to go around Louisiana has shown me so much about this state that is full of such diverse ideas and styles. I have also been able to spread a little of my culture to the citizens of Louisiana.” OH! YOU DON’T SAY? Sr. English teacher Mrs. Conley marvels at the excuses her students present during a homework check. ALL WORK AND NO PAY! Freshman Shenita Gibson works on her ROMEO JULIET notes for Mrs. Boswell s English class.