McCluer North High School - Polaris Yearbook (Florissant, MO)

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Filled with devoted people What makes McCluer North's Music Department stand out? The wide vari- ety of courses. There were so many courses to pick and choose from. Courses allowed students a range of activities from singing popular songs to playing Dixieland music. The man in charge of the vocal de- partment was Don Jones. Mr. Jones spent most of his free time helping Show Choir and Junior-Senior Madri- gal after school. He was also active in music outside of MN. He was State Treasurer of the American Choral Di- Practicing for Symphonic Band, Mary Hos- kins and Merri Wohlschaeger work hard at learn- ing a new song. 206 Music rectors Association. Linton Luetje was the Chairman for the whole music department. He was in charge of all the bands and also spent a great deal of his time after school di- recting the Marching Band and the Pep Band. Sophomore Madrigal was the special activity which Richard Banks was in charge of. He also directed Choir II and Girls Choir. The Music Department at MN was filled with people who were devot- ed to music. STAND OUT ST;xR ‘Music is me!’’ explained Wayne Hen- derson when asked why he enjoyd mu- sic. Wayne was chosen as a Stand Out Star in the Music Department because of his outstanding talent in singing bass. He gave credit to his Junior High teacher Mrs. Deckart for encouraging the development of his talent. He sang many solos during his three years at Cross Keys. As a Sophomore Wayne was a member of Choir II and Sophomore Madrigals. Wayne's ambi- tion is tobe jan entertainer.

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In one of Mrs. Hawkins Types of Literature classes, Lee Waller studiously reads trom his text- book. Among others, Tom Firasok and Jeff Lynch take notes on Ivanhoe in Mrs. Avioli’s British Literature Class. ‘Shock. Dispelict urede | According to Linda Eschen, these were common responses to the special propaganda slide presentation, part of the advertising unit in Mass Media. “At the end of the unit, there are very few kids who doubt the validity of what the slides show, Mrs. Eschen said. The presentation was comprised of over 350 slides of various magazine ads. The slides were collected by Mrs. Eschen and Carole Mulliken, also a Mass Media teacher. The huge collec- tion was divided into different group- ings, each one focusing on a particular advertising propaganda. “The whole collection shows how values reflect and are shaped by advertising,” Mrs. Es- chen explained. One group of slides illustrated how advertisers perpetuate different de- ‘Slide show suprising rogatory images of women in ads. An- other group of slides showed how some ads use fear to stimulate a person to buy a product. One of the most inter- esting groups of slides illustrated how “imbeds’ and ‘‘subliminals’ — mes- sages which only our subconscious re- ceive — convince us of a product's superiority. Mrs. Eschen explained, “Liquor ads, often have words spelled out in ice cubes in a glass. Sometimes just in the background of certain ads, different words and pictures can be perceived by our subconscious mind. ” When the ad was projected on a screen as a slide, even our conscious mind could see these hidden messages. This slide collection was unique to North. “It's totally ours,’ Mrs. Eschen said. ‘As far as | know, nothing like it can be bought anywhere.” samasosintscinsassntunasrenennenniiinsteenienh tenet ent iter eC nen Omen O CLOT TTT NON TTC TT OCLC ONTO A OO Communications 205

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Working toward perfection Sun. Dec. 7: The Christmas Vespers were about to begin, but not many peo- ple realized how much time had gone into the Vespers. Preparations started nearly four months earlier. Aug. 28: That's when it all started. For four months,the choirs had been practicing and perfecting songs. Even when Mr. Jones was absent, Choir III] and IV worked just as hard. With the help of Student Director Holly Frede and Pianist Chuck Larken, Choir IV worked hard. As the Christmas Vespers ap- proached, you could have walked by the choir room and seen the entire choir walking around in circles trying to memorize the Candlelight Proces- sional while being careful not to step on the heels of the person in front of him. Program Chairman Monica May and Linda Kueckler worked hard on layouts of the gym and decorations. When the battery operated candles were distributed, you got lucky if you grabbed one that worked and guarded it with your life. Sat. Morning 9:00 am: This was Helping out Show Choir, the Dixieland Band plays ‘Listen to the Music.” Practicing for Homecoming Review Cathy Moser and Gene Salerno sing “Save the Bones for Henry Jones.” the day before the Vespers and all the members of Choir I, II, Il], IV and Girls’ Choir were present. The last minute preparations began. The choirs walked through the Processional seemingly endless times, perfecting turns and steps. Sun. 3:00 pm: All choirs members were arriving. Familiar phrases such as ‘Who has my robe?” and ‘Wait my batteries have gone out! I can't find a candle that works! ’ were heard about the hustling and bustling room. 3:00 pm: Parents, Grandparents, students, and friends began arriving; as they entered the Concourse they were greeted with the carols of the Madri- gals. Inside the gym a small band played ‘Do you hear what I hear?” Meanwhile back in the choir room the choirs did some warm-ups. 4:00 pm: Lights in the gym went off, the audience became silent, an or- gan began playing. The Processional started. ““O Come All Ye Faithful.” It had finally arrived, the goal that was prepared for since day one of school. Music 207