Martin Van Buren High School - Futura Yearbook (Queens Village, NY)

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-..,.- -1- r ENGl.lS The English Department offers wide-ranging, diversified courses tailored to fit the needs of all our students. In addition to regular English classes, the Department conducts honor classes at each grade level, plus C1 number of electives-Journalism, Creative Writing, Great Ideas, and Shakespeare -which may be taken in lieu of regular or honor English. ln the near future, other electives, centered around poetry, the short story, and the novel will be offered. Two electives that may be chosen in addition to English 8 are English 9H, an advanced placement course, and English 9. English 9H is open to recommended seniors of exceptional ability, English 9 is open to all seniors who wish to improve their composition skills. Not all of the English Department's activities take place in classrooms. In addition to sponsoring publications, the English Department and its members sponsor other extra-curricular activities: The Lively Arts Club, The Future Teachers Club, and The Open Road Club. The Department has sponsored assembly programs, and has launched a series of poetry and drama readings. One of the outcomes of the readings has been the forma- tion ofa Poetry Club. H , N N Wal? f.iv15.1.wff we I KW' J, w MR. MORTON SELUB Chairman bf ,, .1 is A.. P 3 ,

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55 MR. HERBERT NESTLER Chairman BIOLOGY The teachers of the Biology Department at Van Buren are busy intro- ducing new students each and every year into the mysterious wonders of this world of ours. To guide them, they have a three-fold purpose to fulfill: first, to help the student to a better understanding of the function- ings of plants and animals in our environment, second, to help them gain a better understanding of our own bodily functions, and third, to help pupils understand the methods of science, as they are used in problem solving and development of scientific thinking. Students with a special interest in Biology may ioin the Van Buren Biology Club, where discussions about individual hobbies, as well as biology in general, form a maior portion of club activity. , a 4 Jar '..-ali' f- I 5 f tl

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FOREIGN LANGUAGES The Language Department, led by the recently-returned Mr. Bernstein, has expanded greatly during our stay at Van Buren. Presently offered are French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, and Spanish-one of the largest selections in the city. This year saw German ioin French and Spanish in offering a fourth year. The language laboratory on the third floor, another recent addition, boasts the latest sound and recording equipment, which has proved extremely effective in conversation and oral comprehension. This has been supplemented by the use of tape recorders in the classrooms, mainly for Regent's preparation. In addition to the actual speaking, these language courses offer the student a deeper insight into the people and culture of foreign lands. Due to the efforts of the language depart- ment, graduation day will see students bidding a long-awaited, but some- what sad, farewell to Martin Van Buren in six languages otherth an English. 5 I I ,EEZ N cl if A? 'N .fx