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

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Late one afternoon in September at the Sanders Elementary Gym. Erral Stroud and Rickey Cheeks pair up for a game of one-on-one. Summer vacation ended early for marching band members who began practice the week of July 23. On August 1. John Kennedy. David Trammel. Jason Pressley, and Tammy Traynham board the buses to travel to Newberry College for band camp. Earl Robertson Student involvement is a focus of the band. One clear Sunday afternoon in early September. Richard Loper cleans the Raider band bus at Tim Wiley’s house. Johnt-ll Davis Richard Robert )

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Moving Into Action Student life—a combination of all daily, weekly, and monthly activities. Meetings, sports, clubs, academics, and jobs occupied students’ lives. From the first school day to the last, activity eliminated free time. School work, for many, started be- fore the opening day of classes; band members, football players, and cheerleaders endured long practice hours. Bus drivers began to learn new bus routes while teachers prepared for the onrush of pupils. In the fall, club advisors structured their schedules and selected their members. As the first nine weeks progressed, qualifications for entrance into specific clubs became apparent; for example, the National Hon- or Society required a “B” average. Later in the year, powderpuff football and Homecoming festivities exhausted stu- dents’ free time. Planning, practicing, and performing involved students of many talents. Academics played a major role in student life. Students struggled, year round, for excellence; a grade of merit demanded many hours of effort. Both teachers and students worked throughout the year to advance their skills. After the 2:50 bell, many students hurried to the cars and rushed to their part time jobs. These jobs financed weekend activities and exposed students to the working world. As weekends approached, students focused on fun. Relaxing or dating filled every weekend with action. Sunday closed weekly involvement with friendly games of backyard football or softball. Churches ini- tiated youth participation in community related projects. Student life involved students in many aspects of school and community and helped them to begin searching for their goals. Student life became part of the re- fining process. Or g (IriiL-y Drenched with perspiration. Matthew Walter watches as the final seconds tick off the clock. •n, o Student Life 7

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Summer Summer, synonymous with vacation, created a chance to relax from the every- day monotony of school. Although fun at first, relaxation quickly transformed itself into boredom. Having fun became an ob- jective worked for and desired. School’s end was usually launched by the envied Myrtle Beach week. Students from all over the state gathered to celebrate the beginning of summer. Tanning on the beach, swimming in the pools, and social- izing at the pavillion filled the week with activity. When the week ended, students returned to their respective homes to con- tinue the summer. In mid-summer, routines were established, and weekend skiers once again populated Lake Greenwood. While in Laurens, the YMCA and 3M swimming pool filled with people trying to escape the heat. Tennis courts became increasingly hard to find, At Jennifer Cogdill’s house on Lake Green- wood. Sandy Henderson takes advantage of sum mer vacation by relaxing at the lake with friends. With the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville. Ten- nessee. only 225 miles away, numerous Laurens County residents attended this exposition with its re- nowned Sunsphere and Chinese pavillion. Among the students who found summer jobs. Billy Horner cleans the meat counter at six o’clock —the closing time for Siebert's Grocery on West Main Street. Gu Youman Is a Verb and reservations had to be made to get courts either at the YMCA or the Jamie Pennell Park. Summer jobs played an im- portant part for students as McDonalds. Hardee’s, Winn Dixie, Food Town, Sky City, and others hired student job applicants. The 1982 World’s Fair attracted students, families, and friends out of state. Held in Knoxville, Tennessee, the fair provided a chance to see bits of the world. Foreign nations erected pavillions regarding the theme—energy. Toward the end of summer, last minute efforts took place to read that long- awaited novel or to plan final summer trips. Looking forward to entering old cliques once again, students also anticipat- ed meeting new friends. The windup finally came when freshman orientation began on August 11. Summer is a verb; whether one just swims, relaxes, or vacations, all symbolize involvement and action. Summer 9