Ellinwood High School - Eagle Yearbook (Ellinwood, KS)

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photo by J. Knupp STEP INSIDE: Senior Darren Doll invites junior Jimmy Rogers to join in the fun. photo by I .any I luslig ALOHA: Superintendent Ron LantafT gets the crowd excited at a pep assembly by. demostrating his version of the “Hula.” EAGLE theme DIVISION 3

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Students take risks and succeed Risk- (risk) n. 1. The possibi- lity of suffering harm or loss;danger. The Eagle staff chose the theme “Taking the Risk” because it was felt risk-taking truly expressed the events of the school year, beginning with the arrival of the new superin- tendent. U.S.D. 355 welcomed the new superintendent, Dr. Ronald Lantaff in July. Lantaff challenged the teac- hers at Ellinwood High School in his opening speech. Said Lantaff to the faculty: “The optimal performer solves problems rather than places blame. Optimal performers confidentially take risks after surveying their direc- tion and making an estimate of the worst thing that could happen. They lay out the most extreme consequen- ces, consider the absolute worst scena- rio and plunge ahead taking a risk. I encourage you to take risks-to move out with a plan even if the system docs not always appreciate risk- takers. Although some speculated that Lantaff would make many changes and that the school would be in upheaval, it wasn’t. “I thought Dr. Lantaff made the change from Mr. Wilson’s term veiy well. He intermixed with the stu- dents which made me feel confident in him,” said junior Doug Brubaker. The new superintendent, howe- ver, was not the only change for U.S.D. 355. In early 1987, Ellinwood had voted to join the newly-formed Central Kansas League, made up of 4A schools Haven, Hesston, Smoky Valley and large 3A schools Sout- heast of Saline, Ellsworth, and Lyons. Ellinwood and Minneapolis were the smallest schools in the league. After two years, each school had the option to go back to their former league. “At first, I wished we (the school) could have waited a year to change leagues.” said senior Steve Moris, “But, now that everybody is getting used to the new league, I don’t think it matters if we ever go back to the CPL.” A new computer installed in the main office during the summerchan- ged the way teachers and secretaries took attendance. Instead of having the teachers turn in a small slip of paper each hour with their absent students written on it, the office requested the teacher to mark an 8 x 10 computer scan sheet containing the names of students in class each hour. Besides counting absentee’s per hour, the computer was used to print out grade cards and pre-enroll students for the upcoming year. “I know, at first, lots of people grumbled about the new system; I even did at times. But, it is a year of experience and learning for eve- ryone. People must realize the more you use it, the easier it will be to understand,” said high school secre- tary Mildred Burroughs. No immediate changes came from the new superintendent, but midway through the school year, Lantaff initiated a school improve- ment program that he hoped would have long range effects. Students and faculty members evaluated both the administration and the faculty. “I thought it was good that the students got to voice their opinions,” said senior Lori Kelly, “but I think we wasted too much time doing it.” Along with the evaluation, all teachers attended a workshop on school improvement. “It was helpful,” said business teacher Larry Vogt about the workshop. “It was the first workshop I have attended that made me want to set goals and achieve them. In others (workshops), it wasn’t worth it. This one was.” After evaluating the upcoming school year, the yearbook staff came to the following conclusion: “Ellinwood High School understands that rescuing a student at risk demands turning the educa- tional status quo upside down. Cosmetic changes in education will produce cosmetic results. A student at risk will be saved only by a student body of risk-takers.” Thus, the theme was bom. by Audra Knop

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1987: a year of peace and conflict Jim Bakker resigned as head of the PTL Christian television ministiy amid charges of sexual and financial misconduct. After reports of an affair with model Donna Rice, Democratic presidential nominee Gary Hart dropped out of the 1988 presidential race. Hart reente- red the race in late 1987. The Reagan Administration became embroiled in the Iran-Contra Affair. One of the main figures, Lt. Col. Oliver North, testified about the illegal covert operation during the Senate hearings. The covert opera- tion apparently sold weapons to Iran in hope that the hostages being held in the Middle East would be released. Dr. Ronald Lantaff became the superindent of U.S.D. 355. The U.S. started to escort Kuwaiti oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. The first game was “Scratch It Rich” with prizes up to $5,000. U.S. Constitution celebrated it’s bicentennial on September 17,1987. Eighteen month-old Jessica McClure was trapped underground in an abandoned water well for 57 hours. President Ronald Reagan nomina- ted Judge Robert Bork for the Supreme Court. Judge Bork became a controversial nominee due to strong opposition from various minorities. Consequently, Bork withdrew his nomination. At E.H.S., a popular Parker Brot- hers game, Oujia Board, became a fad. The Oujia board was given mixed reviews. While some contended it was only a game, others felt it was a form of devil-worshiping. The G.O.P.’s grand ol’ man, Alf Landon, died on October 12,1987 at Apparently 500 billion dollars was lost on Black Monday Gulf became a popular battle field in the Iran-Iraq War. One of the largest plane crashes occurred in Detroit, Michigan. A Northwest Airlines jet crashed during takeoff. All of the passengers and crew were killed except four year- old Cecilia Cichan. The frigate U.S.S. Stark was attac- ked by an Iraqi jet. Thirty-eight sailors died in what Iraq called “unfortunate accident.” Ellinwood entered a new athletics league in the 1987-1988 school year. The Central Kansas League includes Ellinwood, Smoky Valley, Hesston, Haven, Lyons, Minneapolis, and Sout- heast of Saline. In September 1987, Pope John Paul II visited the United States for the first time. Kansas started it’s first lotteiy. The the age of 100. The Dow Jones fell 508 points on October 19. “Black Monday” eclipsed the 1929 stock market crash. Appa- rently 500 billion dollars was lost on “Black Monday.” Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie (Shawnna) Bieberle were proud parents of a seven lbs. 14oz bouncing boy. Clint Allen was bom on October 20. Minnesota Twins defeated the San Francisco Giants in the 1987 World Series. The N.F.L. players went on a 24-day strike against the owners. Replace- ment players were hired by the owners to play during the strike. President Reagan removed his nomination of Judge Douglas Ginsburg for the Supreme Court after media reporters uncovered his use of marijuana while teaching at Harvard. EAGLE r NEWS Ellinwood F.C.A. attended the Fel- lowship of Christian Athletes mini- conference at Rock Springs and an annual Kansas City Chiefs game this fall. The Area Churches Council and StuCo co-sponsored several 5th-quar- ter parties during the school year. The 5th-quarter parties promoted getting together for activities instead of drinking. Some of the activities inclu- ded bowling, Halloween games, Christmas dance and a movie night. German foreign exchange student, Ilja Tuechter arrived for a stay in Ellinwood. In November, Ilja left to live in Chicago, 111. with his parents. Cuban detainees fearing deporta- tion rioted at two federal prisons in Oakdale, Louisiana and Atlanta,