Griffith High School - Reflector Yearbook (Griffith, IN)

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Manning the stoves at 6:30 a.m., cafeteria workers fed nearly 700 students daily. Welcoming relief from the hectic halls, students congregated on the patio and enjoyed a changing scene as Science Club varied flowers to match the seasons. To escape from the clamor of the halls between classes, senior Debbie Hughes retreats to the patio. Without the everyday rush of the student ' s race against the bell, the halls adopt a silent, errie atmosphere. By preparing meals four hours each morning, cafeteria employees provide nearly 700 students with hot lunches. Adult, high school and primary swimmers comprise several of the groups benefitting from pool facilities. 19

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Couple.” Approximately 4,500 students visited the 17,000-volume library monthly to cram for a history exam or compile data for a research project. “How much does college cost? ' When can I register?” Searching for answers to questions like these, upperclassmen flooded the guidance office. Helping sophomores meet graduation requirements, counselors focused on class schedules. A.V. Department distributed films and projectors and duplicated materials. Students employ school facilities by rehearsing plays, writing term papers, training for wrestling A maze of halls, piles of books and homework-loving teachers symbolized school to most students. Rarely did many look beyond to appreciate the myriad of facilities that make Griffith more than just a collection of classrooms. School services supplied students with conveniences like filmstrips, reference books and cafeteria facilities. A 1,020-seat auditorium offered students a place to produce plays including construction sets for “Oliver,” “Dolly and Odd

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Hour long classes, detention halls greet novices on first day while veterans return to familiar surroundings NAME GAME Principal adjusts to urban area, larger school, extra facilities “You may find it hard to believe, but my last school accepted ‘picking corn ' as an excuse for absence. This one thought epitomized the change for Principal T. J. White from a farm-oriented community in central Indiana to a suburban area in the shadow of one of the nation ' s steel-making capitals. In a Reflector interview the first-year administrator explained the differences between Griffith and Arcadia’s Hamilton Heights high schools. Only 460 students attended Hamilton Heights; here at Griffith I have two and a half times as many students and a faculty twice as large as before. Comparing Griffith’s set-up to that of his former school, Mr. White commented, “In Arcadia, we didn’t have facilities such as a pool or auditorium. Besides being principal, I had to take care of the duties of an assistant principal, for the latter position didn’t exist. Mr. White also explained that while GHS serves only one community, his former school enrolled students from five different towns and their surrounding farmlands. “During corn harvest time, students living on farms were excused to help pick. The others who remained at school felt it wasn ' t fair.” “At any rate, he observed smiling, “that’s one problem I don’t have to cope with now.” I came to Griffith because it is a bigger school and a greater challenge plus advancement personally as well as professionally. I’ve been very impressed by the friendliness of the community. As time permits I want to be out in the building as much as possible. I want to meet the students and work with them. My prime concern is that we as educators should do the best job we possible can with what we have to do it with. Griffith should be a good school, with the students and teachers proud to come here. Students want freedom, but at the same time they like and want control. We have a tremendous student body at GHS. 20 After three months of summer vacation, students groggily awakened at early hours to attend another nine months of school. To familiarize new students and remind old ones of school rules, dress code and teachers, administration members presented the annual orientation program in the auditorium. Bewildered sophomores roamed through halls searching for room numbers corresponding to their schedules. Unaccustomed to the longer classes, the