Granite Falls High School - Pilchuck Yearbook (Granite Falls, WA)

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Top Left: The Old Granite Falls High School presently the Middle School was built in 1936. Top Right: Students skipped class to decorate for Homecom- ing. In 1964, their theme was “The Magic of Laughter.” Above: Marie Louise Loga, a 7th grade teacher at Granite Falls in 1921. Loga was 20 years old. Bottom Left: In 1969, our players were honored for keeping high spirits, so was Ti”, our mascot who always attended our pep assemblies and games. She’s still around helping out with the cheerleaders today.

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Time after time— our Generations remodeled to serve as a middle school. In 1987 facilities fora Kindergarten were built at the Community Center and two modulars were added to the elementary and one to the high school. The passage of the 1987 Bond has allowed plans to begin for a new high school facility. One hundred years have gone by now and look at our town today! School enrollment has increased, the size of the town has grown and is still growing. Some of the alumni of Granite Falls established homes here and their children are going to school here. The educa- tion in Granite Falls is very important to the town. Education was im- portant then and it still is today! Above: In May 1922, Marie Loga Ashe was teacher of the 7th grade class. Back then the girls wore aprons over their dresses and skirts to keep them clean. The aprons protected the skirts and dresses from the ink and all the dirt that was around them. by Beckie Ohm While schools have changed in Granite Falls, community concern for education has always been present. One hundred years have gone by and the schools have increased in size as the town has grown. Many of the students in school today are the children of alumni. Other alumni have left the town but they return each year to celebrate their school years. 350 life members always, sometimes many locals also. It all started in the late 1800’s when grade school students living in the outlying communities sur- rounding Granite Falls at- tended eight different satellite schools. These schools including Monte Cristo, Scherrers, Silver- ton, and Outlook, were built and maintained by parents and took the students through the eighth grade. To go to the high school, students had to find a way into Granite Falls. Some families moved into town to keep their children in school. Other students fought the mud and ruts of primitive roads to make the journey. Students from Silverton and Robe visited Monte Cristo on a hand propelled rail car. Finally, in 1922 a driver was paid $50 a month to pick up six to eight students from the satellite schools and bring them to Granite Falls to complete grades nine to twelve. Robert Wright’s old cabin was the First pioneer school in town. It was located southwest on Granite Avenue. The First teacher was Eva Andrus in 1887. Andrus taught in the cramped quarters of the little building for two years. In 1889 a two-story frame building replaced it on Kristner’s property now the 400 block. But, even after adding an addi- tion to this building, it too soon became overcrowded. The average enrollment between 1898 and 1906 was 15 students. Just 155 people lived in Granite in 1903. A year later, the population had doubled to 350 people. In December 1903 the town incor- porated and surveyed for its city boundaries which was limited to less than one square mile. The town continued to grow, attracting people to the mining of Monte Cristo and easy access to the Stillaguamish and Pilchuck rivers. The pro- mise of farm land and the opening of new sawmills made Granite Falls a place to live and work. The land was already cleared because of the “Burn,” a forest Fire. There were no roads leading into Granite Falls, so Joseph S. Enas had to build his own road. Enas was the First settler (1884) in Granite Falls, having come from the Azore Islands to ac- comodate the mining com- munity of Monte Cristo. The present high school complex was built in 1974. This building has expand- ed with additions as they became necessary. In 1981 the old high school was .. Students tought mud and ruts primitive roads to make the journey.”

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Seven period day is depressing by Tom Bergan The seven period day is the biggest change in 1987, affecting students and faculty equally. This change was brought about for a variety of reasons. Class offerings such as physics, journalism, and Advanced Placement English were not possible in six periods given the limited staff. These courses enable GFHS students to compete in the harder courses offered in colleges. Donaldson feels there is at least an extra hour before and after school spent preparing for his classes. He doesn’t like to prepare for six different classes because it cuts into his weekend time with his family. He agrees with Foss that there isn’t enough hands-on time. “It offers more classes that we didn’t have before,” said sophomore, Trisha Hansen. Wendy Mason, who teaches English, said, “It’s .. more homework, less time in class, and it affected the whole schedule!!” The seven period schedule in effect adds two teachers to the staff, thin- ning out overcrowded classrooms. Although Principal Jack VanVleck would prefer to have six periods and two more teachers, he feels the seven periods offer a more economic solution. “Most schools our size state-wide have seven periods,” said Van Vleck. Some teachers, such as Jim Foss and Chuck Donaldson, vocational teachers, are not in favor of the change. Foss doesn’t like the shortened periods because, “there isn’t enough hands-on time.” He says e has 23 percent less class time than last year, and there aren’t enough projects made because of the shortened periods. a lot of work, but at least this way the high school can offer the courses other schools do.” Rich Bates, who teaches English and art, would rather see quality art work than a quantity of available classes. He noted that the shorter class period makes more, homework on weekends if not done in class. On the other hand, he thinks it gives the kids a study hall, and “that’s great.” To one junior it means “... more homework, less time in class, and it af- fected the whole schedule!!” Some students try the ‘ignore it and it will go away approach.’ “I forget about the last period and when I remember, it’s depressing,” said senior, Sharon Platt.