Central High School - Sword and Shield Yearbook (Victoria, VA)

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Along with the rest of the cast, Gregory Wo- mack sings Turn Back O Man . CAST: Billy Penland as Jesus, Gregory Womack as John the Baptist and Judas, Kevin Hodges, Milton Watson, Randy Hudson, Chris Walker, Gloria Barksdale, Darlene McIn- tosh, Grade Reese, Laura Lewis, understudies Jane Bridgforth, Tab Brown MUSICIANS: Sue Wilkerson, Dale Cordle, Harold Crenshaw, Daryl Rich, Grayling Drum- mond LIGHT TECHS.: Tony Jones, Scott Thompson ACOUSTICAL ENGINEERS: Bernard Tisdale, Tracy Estes, asst.. Tab Brown COSTUMES; Ruth Minnix, Linda Covington, Mary Mull MAKE-UP: Michelle Pavlov, Mercedes Williamson, Rosemary Williamson PUBLICITY: Nancy Clark, Ralph Smith, Robbie Pryor DIRECTOR: Dennis Dewey, asst. Jane Bridgforth MUSICAL DIRECTOR; Warren Powell CHOREOGRAPHER: Patricia Dewey December 49

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A FIRST A MUSICAL FOR CENTRAL The last dress rehearsal brought to an end a month of long, nightly prac- tices for the production of Godspell. Directed by Central ' s Drama teacher, Dennis Dewey, the Fine Arts De- partment produced the first musical play in the school ' s history. Cast members learned choreographed dance movements under the guidance of Patricia Dewey. The musical selec- tions were memorized under the in- struction of Warren Powell. The tech- nical crew smoothed kinks in the lighting while acoustical engineers combatted the poor sound effects due to the gym ' s high ceiling. Costume, make-up, and publicity committees detailed and publicized tbe play. Au- diences ranged from two hundred to three hundred. They showed their appreciation with applause and a standing ovation on each of the three nights of the show played, December second, fourth, and fifth. On December eighth, fourth period was cut from its usual hour to only ten minutes. Students were delighted with the season ' s first snow and the school day ended at noon. Eleventh grade General English classes and Seniors journeyed to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on the fifteenth. Students saw a review of Sir Noe! Coward ' s song and wit entitled Oh, Coward. Three days before Christmas vaca- tion, senior portraits arrived. Seniors, often excused by subject teachers, rushed to the office and bookroom to pay for and pick up their pictures. In the Nation ... Government financed mass inoculation against Swine Flu was suspended because the sho ts were linked to a rare form of paralysis. About Virginia . . . Cold weather bit fishing ports while the ban on fishing in the James River, due to Kepone contamination, continued. VEPCO was awarded 65.8 million dollars in rate hikes. Around the Towns . . . Central ' s Fine Arts Department presented John Michael Tebelak ' s Godspell, the first musical play to be presented in Central ' s history. Paying Shirley Underwood for senior portraits, Deborah Hicks and Gina Oliver take a peep at their pictures 48 December

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Even without the help of snow, and even though Christmas is a week away, Santa visits the Kenbridge stores and mentally checks the name of this child with several good marks. The countdown began the first day school reopened after Thanksgiving; twenty-six days till Christmas! Pros- pects of two weeks without school preoccupied every student and inter- ferred with daily routine. Mishaps tended to be overlooked and mischiev- ous misconduct seemed less childish than it normally did. Christmas fever spread evenly throughout school. Christmas involved the community, and workmen could be seen twisting decorations around light poles in both Kenbridge and Victoria, thus opening the season around the towns. Several school dubs draped crepe paper over tobacco trailers in freezing weather, waited for an hour because of a delay, and rode down Victoria’s main street in the parade held on December third. Overnight, decorations appeared on house doors and, miraculously, snow found its way inside business windows. These festive doors and win- dows were evaluated by out of town judges. As Christmas approached, Santa found his way to the towns and was met with great gladness and prac- ticed goodness. Central did not escape the season and the halls, bulletin boards, show cases, and cafeteria walls were decked with “The Twelve Days of Christ- mas. ’’ A ten foot tree, project of the SCA, consumed the lobby. Cafeteria workers served a turkey dinner com- plete with candy canes. The last day of school was packed with activity, finishing classwork and exchanging presents. The Christmas assembly, held during fifth and sixth periods, was crammed with Chorus and Band selections, French and Span- ish carols, the teachers singing a song, and a sing-a-long under the tree. “Merry Christmas’’ echoed from ev- erywhere as the bell rang. Prayers for a white Christmas re- mained unfulfilled, but Santa man- aged. New Year’s was ushered in with parties and Guy Lombardo. The snow that had missed Christmas hit after one Monday back in school. Two weeks of Christmas vacation was topped by almost two weeks’ absence because of snow. Easter vacation melted while white flakes fell. 50 Christmas