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

Page 54 text:

As the band finishes up their number, Drum Majorette l Sheryl Hawkey gets ready to call the next command. S O WS After pregame, Paul Milidge and Ricks Bennett keep in step while marching off the field. ‘Class “Band forward march, forward march.” Wow! this is finally it. This isn’t practice, it’s the real thing. Whew! | remembered that step, O.K., what comes next? During a half time show this thought, like many others, went through the heads of the 175 marching band members. Out of the five halftime shows, fwo were constructed within a period of five days. Yer both shows were full blown and consisted of circle drills and various formations, includ- ing the tradigional “MN” while leaving the field. Keeping the experience of the march- i ers in mind, Mr. Linton Lutje, sponsor, had the members learn the marching part of the show in three days and then polished it with music before thar Saturday's game. He also picked music that was nor difficulr ro learn but made the band sound very solid. With regards to performing a good show in so little time, Mr. Luetje replied, ‘The secret came in planning very carefully.” Drum Major Tony Hartsfield and Major- etre Sheryl Hawkey took charge of the marching band this past season. Both were new af leading the band through its many maneuvers, bur they had the necessary leadership qualities and did a terrific job. Tony said, “'l liked the challenge of being a drum major, bur | didn’t deserve much cred- it because the band did most of the worl.” When asked abour marching in the MN band, Junior Adams Briggs replied, ! felr proud when | was our there doing a show. Ir took a lot of concentration to play the music and move, but when the show was over and people came up to me and said, ‘You looked grear!’ it made those long prac- tices everynight after school worthwhile. Come on you can stay in step, 12345678-123 ... Boy! | sure am hot in this uniform but ya know, I really feel neat! Ar the end of fhe show when the band marched off the field and the familiar ‘Band dismissed” from the drum major was heard, the members experienced relief and excite- ment knowing thar fhe MN marching band had lived up to being “'A Classy Act!” When the weather was hor, MN marching band members wore pants, whire shirt, and suspenders as their uniforms as shown here by Lee Frede. 50 Marching Band

Page 53 text:

Ss Contributing to Brotherhood Day, Rhonda Bishop entertains the audience with her poem Still We Rise.“ The black national anthem ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing” is beautifully sung by senior Lilian Taylor, senior. Celebrate Qa month and more Afro-American Heritage Weel? Debu- whats? With the theme of “Afro-American Histo- ry: A Blueprint for Survival. Blacls History Month was set info motion on its national basis. McCiuer North's activities, thanks to the Blizzard of ‘82, however, were spread over a few weeks instead of the intended week of February 8-12, known as Afro- American Heritage Week. The celebration finally gor underway on February 16 with an African dress day, with the young gentlemen dressed in suits and the young laaies in bright colors. Dr. Barbara Woods, Chairperson for the Black History Department from St. Louis University, spoke in the Little Theatre on the 23rd and ar the Soul Food Dinner on the 24th. As a part of Brotherhood Day, performances from the Afro Ball, which normally closes the Afro- American week, were also done in the Little Theatre. Mrs. Morton, who helped or- ganize the activifies commented, ‘We Dinner in the cafereria. As a part of the month's fesriviries MN held a Soul Food have good students here participating in the activities, but we would lise to see a little more involvement of whites and the facul- nye” Debutantes (not whats) were an organi- Zation present only in MN, Berkeley and McCluer, founded by McCluer Assistant Prin- deal Anne McDonalds in 1969. The girls, sponsored by Mrs. Barbara Huffmon and Mrs. Jane Curry, raised money from candy and pizza sales to benefit birth defects and Sickle Cell Anemia and to send clothes and blankets to Annie Malone's Children’s Home. After meeting strict requirements and an initiation, the girl became a YLE (Young Lady of Elegance). Ending the initi- ation (in April) was the Corillion Ball where the Debs wore long white dresses and the YLE wore pinls, the traditional colors of YLE. Both of these activities played an impor- fant part in the role of McCluer North. They were certainly nor to be overlooked, but to be highly regarded. Afro-American Heritage Weelk and Debutanres 49

Page 55 text:

! wanted the ex- perience of directing a band and being in charge,” said Senior Sheryl Hawkey when asked why she want- ed fo be drum major- efte for the 1981-82 marching band season. Our on the field, Sheryl ser the tempo for the band. To im- prove herself as drum majorette, Sheryl af- tended camp at Northeast Missouri Stare for one week over the summer. Sheryl re- marked that one of the mosf important things she learned was to have confidence in herself. “You need lors of confidence to stand our in front of everyone,” she said. bs The rowdiness of rhe marching band while playing the fight song gets the crowd in the winning spirir. The banner is an important part of rhe colorguard. Here, Brenda Pitlyls and Rhonda Redmon show their form during the show. Marching Band 51