Laurens District 55 High School - Fifty Fiver Yearbook (Laurens, SC)

Page 12 text:

 Displaying their disco talent, Lesslie Blakely and Amy Holtzendorff dance to a popular tune. Preparing for the prom, Mrs. Anne Sheppard and Mr. Sam Oakes put in hours after school to work on decorations. Class officers, Shannon Holland and Lori Sey- mour aid juniors in decorating the commons. Attending the Junior-Senior Prom, these stu- dents enjoy the refreshments provided by the Home Economics department. 8 Junior-Senior Prom

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STUDENT LIFE Many students’ schedules were full from sunrise until sunset; very few Fifty-fivers had a great deal of free time. The early birds got up in the wee hours of the morning to drive school buses, while the lazybones stayed be- tween the sheets until the last possi- ble second. Once at school, many friends mingled in the commons as others dashed to their homeroom classes to do last minute homework. Then, as the 8:20 bell rang, the school day began, and homeroom was the first stop on the agenda. Throughout the course of the day, algebra and citizen- ship classes frenzied the freshmen, just as calculus and government classes petrified the seniors. In biology labs, students, with looks of concern, carefully operated on their “patients.” English classes had top priority among the worries of all stu- dents, whether they were upper or underclassmen. As lunchtime neared, everyone looked forward to the much- needed break from the routine of day to day classes. The 2:50 bell was the end of the day for very few. For the majority, this meant only “halftime.” As some junior and senior girls learned to “Get Fired Up!” at cheerleader practice, some junior and senior boys reluctantly headed for the gridiron at football practice. The lecture theater was the next stop for the Drama Club, where they rehearsed for an upcoming pro- duction. The sounds of marching feet echoed in the minds of the band mem- bers while the new members of the Senior Honor Society scurried about trying to fulfill service hour require- ments. Drivers of foreign sports cars rushed to their jobs at Belk, McDonald’s, or Laurens Glass to re- plenish their unlimited need for more cash. Some students were involved in community and church activities, while others had all they could handle with their homework assignments for the following day. Students were involved in all sorts of activities ranging from National Honor Society to the Pep Club, from lunchroom servers to library workers, from bus drivers to band members; all showed their school spirit by partici- pating. One look at Fifty-fivers’ busy schedules proved a student’s work is never done. Student Life 7

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Southern Nights Saturday, May 10,1980, went down as the date of the first school-sponsored prom. Mixed emotions among the ad- ministration, the faculty, the community, and the student body emerged about a school-sponsored prom. After seven stu- dent representatives and several con- cerned parents presented the request, the administration and the school board of trustees agreed that the 1980 Junior- Senior Prom would be a school- sponsored, parent-teacher chaperoned event, and that the commons area of the high school would be the location. Under the guidance of Mr. Ken Alexan- der and Mrs. Sarah L. Smith, the student council began planning the occasion. Ticket sales totaled ninety couples. The decorating committee, headed by Mr. Gayle Gulick, worked for hours with the help of many willing faculty members, students, and parents to make the com- mons ‘‘squeaky clean. The prom’s theme, ‘‘Southern Nights, was spelled out in the entrance tunnel, and the com- mons area depicted a romantic southern evening complete with a sparkling foun- tain and lush ferns; each table was deco- rated with magnolia blossom centerpieces. The students danced to music from the popular top forty hits played by the band Toyzz and enjoyed refreshments provided by Miss Ruth Casey's committee. Every senior girl was presented with a single rose. Teachers, such as Ed Prescott who was in charge of school security, and parents acted as chaperones for the evening. Enjoying the romantic atmosphere. Greg Hen- derson and Holly Evatt share a dance. After several dances. Paula Madden and her date Continuous music provided by the band Toyzz George Rinker take a break from dancing. kept everyone on his feet. Junior-Senior Prom 9