Elkhart Memorial High School - Monolith Yearbook (Elkhart, IN)

Page 19 text:

4 sea of Red and Gold fans tries to keep the eam “up,” but couldn’t keep the Blue Blazers from scoring in the last seconds to win a tight game, 13-12. : Mr. Frank Catanzarite, Mir. Dale Rems, Mrs. Carolyn Shelton, Mr. Tom Firestone, and Mr. Clyde Riley were the ‘“almost-qualified” judges for the Mangy Roar contest. During Mangy Madness Week, Mr. Ted Nofts- inger wonders why he entered the banana split-eating contest. Partner Mr. David Foutz went on to win the contest. pirit Spirit shows up Spirit is a great thing to have on your side, and Memorial students did everything they could to keep it there. The school song was played at the end of morning announcements each day that Memorial teams were ac- tive; school lockers, the student center, and the cafeteria were all decorated in a successful attempt to keep the spirit on Memorial’s side. Freshman Troy Flickinger said that less spirited kids groaned about having to listen to the school song in the mornings. Should the school stop playing the school song? “No way. The song helps to fire up the teams and the students,” Troy said. Junior Andy Sekora, a transfer from Concord, said that he was very impressed with the lockers that are decorated for the athletes. ‘It (decorating the lockers) shows the support you have for your athletes,’’ Andy said. Sophomore Sharren Fager, who decorated two lockers for Memorial’s Locker Pal program, said she did this because if an athlete worked hard in his sport, then he should be encouraged in that way by the other students. Band members were also inspired when other students decorated their lockers. And people sometimes decorated a friend’s locker for a birthday, or other special date. Students who wondered where the decorations in the student center and cafeteria came from were happy to find out that it was not elves, but Pep Club who worked so hard to keep the decorations up to date. Pep Club, sponsored by Mrs. Janet Hales, worked Sunday afternoons and after school making Memorial look so spirited. Pep Club also pass- ed out Treat Bags—bags full of can- dy that were given to each team before a special game. It also spon- sored Cake Days—during lunch the chosen team was given a decorated cake to eat in the school cafeteria. Pep Club was also responsible for the Spirit Weeks that students par- ticipated in to show support for the team in action that week. “Pep Club does a lot for the school. It helps give the students an outlet for their bizarre behavior,” said Junior Hope Gary. “Spirit Weeks break the tension of regular school weeks,” according to Junior Karmen Kelly. With two back-to-back Spirit Weeks, Pep Club was kept busy. The first bonfire in three years was planned for the night before the Central game. Three truckloads of donated wood were burned despite the drizzly weather. Steve George, custodian, said that it was a good bonfire. “‘It (the bon- fire) was hot. You really had to stand back. It was a good turnout, despite the weather.’’ About 60 cars drove in the caravan the night of the Central game, including one driven by Prin- cipal Miss Carolyn Cook. Students also showed their spirit by dressing in red and gold on Fridays, participating in Spirit Week activities, and showing up to yell at the games. Junior Jeri Berkey said, ‘Memorial has lots of spirit just because of the atmosphere; the students and the teachers all work together to keep us full of spirit. It really helps to keep school more bearable. | don’t think | could handle it (school), if Memorial weren't so full of spirit.” -o-

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Atop their decorated car, Tania Hayes, Gret- chen Bohs, and Lisa Holland get ready to roll to the Central game. About 60 cars were in the caravan. . Charger mascot champion, Jodie Nelson Kristin Reames, Tip Arbaugh, Kris Foy, relaxes before starting to cheer again at the © Heather Clark, Trisha Plank, Kindra Talbott, ‘ Central game. Later in the game, she fell and Laurie Harris hope the Chargers can At the bonfire before the clash with Central, - , and sprained her ankle. “trash” the Blazers. fans cheer the team. The bonfire had been . reinstated with the “go-ahead” of Mr. Dale Rems, after a three-year absence. Wearing their overalls tor the Plow ’Em Under Day, Amy Alley, Lanier Archer, Stephanie Blake, and Kindra Talbott dress to show their spirit during Spirit Week. (Top to bottom) Willie Graham, Jerry Red- mond, Sean Bean, Jeff Young, Fred Her- shberger, and Melvin Thompson “act up” during Spirit Week.

Page 20 text:

‘Special’ aspects make Memorial stand out From the outside Memorial might have seemed to be a very conser- vative school. Memorial had no pep rallies, no crowning of kings and queens at any school dances, and, forthe past 15 years, had no Homecoming. The school al so had slightly stricter dress codes than other-area schools, which outlawed such: things as sweat pants, sun glasses, shorts, and half-shirts. But from the inside, people might have felt otherwise. Principal Miss Carolyn Cook described the mood of the school as ‘‘conservative strengths mixed into a contemporary atmosphere.”’ The open lunch privilege is a very contemporary aspect of the school. The privilege was almost lost two years ago when freshmen were add- ed to the building, but the SSAC Superintendent's Student Advisory ouncil) worked toward and suc- ceeded in keeping the lunches open. Elkhart was a forerunner in the SSAC program, which enables stu- dent representatives from Memorial and Central to meet with Superinten- dent Dr. Frederick Bechtold once a month to advise him on the opinions of students. Memorial students had the advan- tage of easy access to the Elkhart Area Career Center. Over 260 Memorial students attended the Career this year. Students also utilized Cooper’s Outdoor science lab, a forest area behind the school donated by Mr. George Cooper in 1978. The lab was used by the science department to study natural life as well as by the physical education department to ex- ecute the ‘Project Adventure Pro- grams’ where students were to figure out how to get their group over “the wall,’ among other group activities. WOSS (Work Orientation for Selected Students) was yet another asset in Memorial's academic pic- ture. Through the program, students with learning handicaps or students who were having trouble competing academically in the high school at- mosphere had the opportunity to gain work experience in school. Memorial was the only school in the Elkhart area with such a program. In addition, Memorial was assign- (continued on page 18) The young as well as the old were able to enjoy Memorial’s mascot at games. Memorial was one of the few area high schools that had a live mascot. Many students took advantage of the open lunch policy by eating out for lunch. Fast food and pizza from Nappanee Street were among the most popular foods to munch.