Golden West High School - Sunset Yearbook (Visalia, CA)

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Changing from the ‘me generation’ Today’s teenagers have been accused by some of forming the “me generation, ” a group, they say, that only thinks about themselves. There were many exceptions to that seen at Golden West High School in 1986-87. Future Homemakers of America students, for example, con- ducted a canned-food drive during Thanksgiving to collect food for needy families in Tulare County. Student govern- ment conducted a similar drive at Christmas which many students responded to. Several students, including mem- bers of the Science Club and FHA, took part in Hands Across Visalia, a community effort to raise funds for Visalia-area needy families. Students who took a Peer Counseling class together during the first semester formed a peer counseling group second semester in an effort to help other students with problems and concerns they encounter. TOP LEFT: Student Body President Frank Nctto looks over the canned food collected by students for needy families during Christ- mas. LEFT: Students who formed a peer counseling group to help students cope with their problems and concerns arc, front row - Melissa Loscc, Alison Gordon, Charlotte Berry, Lara McCaffcry, Christie Akkcrman. Middle row - Kara Trapp, Charicc Rchfcld, Jeanette Cook, Pauline Mendes, Pam Walker, adviser Dorothy Collins. Back Row - Vera Montanez, Brandy Caine, Nicole McGivcm, Larry Fishburn, Adam Davis. ABOVE: Kim Whyte takes part in Hands Across Visalia, an event held to raise funds for the needy in the Visalia area. Photos by Matt Black 221

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Change in priority? Not at Golden West Teachers and students were quick to react in 1987 when the Visalia Timcs-Dclta editorialized that Golden West may have a priority problem just because it failed to enter a team of six students in Tulare County’s academic decathlon. The editorial suggested that Golden West failed to prove that “getting kids excited about academics is the No. 1 challenge.” Had the Timcs-Dclta looked beyond the onc-day-a-ycar decathlon that invlovcs just a handful of students, - it would have dis- covered there arc dozens of activities and competitions at Golden West that get students excited about academics. The Math and Home Economics depart- ments competed against Valley schools in several competitions. Musical groups received excellent and superior ratings at a competition festival. Regular in-class com- petitions took place in science classes, agri- culture students competed for the title of State Farmer and other awards, journalism students won the Valley sweepstakes award, etc., etc. Our views No academic decathlon team? How can this be. « .. jij.'i iru vrrv What a shame Golden West High School I skipping the academic decathlon this year. Academic decathlons arc a swell idea. They give kids with brains who aren t exactly gridiron material a chance to show off nh»lc- Golden West should be P The o ficiM reason is lack of interest on thei part of Golden West students. Can this possibly be true? They don't seem to have any problem at Redwood and Ml. Whitney. True, teen-agers can be difficult to motivate (asx one to clean up his room), but no one expressed any interest at all? For Golden West administrators to ndmil they failed to persuade students to get involved — this is a chance to show off ;jc school- implies a priority problem. It also implies they didn't try very Educators' No. 1 mission Is to educate, to advance the cause of ih'nkmg analysis, skills essential to America's future well-being. If we can have football teams, which arc also part of education, we can have academic decathlon teams. In this day and age. w'tn japan and other nations nipping at our heels in the science and industry race. getting kids excited about academics Is the No. 1 challenge. Golden West knows that, so why not PIw'eVcfusc to believe that Golden West students aren't interested. School board President Elisa Maas has right. ” we can't RCt the students motivated. she said, then we need to work harder on It.” A TOP LEFT: Assistant principal Ed Jan .cn presents a trophy to Brian Doc following a Math Department competition. MIDDLE LEFT: Joe Viccnti receives congratulations and a trophy from assistant principal Ed Janzen after winning a math contest. LEFT: Home Economic students Henry Renteria, Joey Jeffus, Chris- tine Dias and Regina Powell receive a cake from the FHA for the awards they won at a competition in Delano. TOP RIGHT: Dan Parkinson won a physics class contest with this tower he constructed from one sheet of 8 1 2 X 11-inch paper. ABOVE: Pathfinder Editor Patrick Ban- and sports editor Michael Jordan receive the Valley’s sweepstakes award for journalism. 220

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Changing leaders New officers produce year’s most memorable pep assembly They didn’t walk out on purpose, but students who attended the first pep assembly produced by the new student government officers just couldn’t take it any- more. What they couldn’t take was the exhaust from the fire extinguisher used during a skit at the assembly. It seems that the wrong type of extinguisher was used and resulted in the wrong type of dioxide floating up into the crowd, causing some eyes to sting and others to gag. The assembly was the talk of die campus for several days and the new student government leaders, intent on producing a good pep assembly and disap- pointed, still managed to chuckle at the results. The new officers were elected in a campaign that began after Christmas vacation. Following the election, the group met to make plans for spring activities, including assemblies, dances, and other year-end events. TOP: Rally Commis- sioner Greg Bomid introduces Coach Bill Corliss, representing Redwood, to his oppo- nent, Mr. Golden West (Brian Doc) during the first pep assembly of the second semester. MIDDLE: In a blast of smoke, Mr. Golden West magically trans- forms into a more pow- erful opponent (Mike Bookman) after eating his spinich. RIGHT: Second semes- ter student government officers, front row: Rally Commissioner Greg Borrud, President Richard Kennedy, Treasurer Mike Fcil. Back row: Publicity Commissioner Jodie Hale, Club Commis- sioner Teresa Lee, Sec- retary Beth Christenson, Head Songlcadcr Pam Walker, Vice President John Bratsch. 222