Melrose High School - Log Yearbook (Melrose, MA)

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Do Your Own Thing Though most of us were part of the usual 8-2:30 routine, some members of our class found a way to branch off and explore new opporunities. Stu- dents in the cooperative program with the Northeast Regional Vocational School arrived at Melrose High at 10:45. After four classes, usually including English, Math, Gym and Science, they took a bus to the Voke, where they worked until 5:40. They could take courses in areas like auto body and electricity and benefit from the school’s excellent facilities. Each student had a very specialized pro- gram, concentrating on a major in one area. During the first year, they were introduced to fundamental concepts and broken in with basic work experi- ences. The second and third years were straight job training. It may sound rough, but they really got a good preview of their chosen careers with on the job training. Better yet, everyone loved what they were doing! At graduation, they received certifi- cates showing the number of hours of i 3 William Reynolds Robert Riccardi Social Studies Data ProcessingCenter Gale Puntoni Art Robert Quinn Occupational Ed. James Reid Foreign Language Peter Reilly Science

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SATACH221375 SATACH221375 SATACH221375 T. O ' Donnell, D. Izzo, B. O ' Brien and C. Ferreira check the Guidance Office Bulletin Board for details .” “Late registration for the November 5 testing closes Friday. Check your ticket of admission for errors and for the test center to which you have been assigned.” Ever since Junior High we recall hearing upperclassmen grumble about those important sounding tests: SAT’s and Achievements. For many of us these horrors became significant realities during our junior and senior years. Constant emphasis was placed upon these awesome three-hour trials. College application forms contained countless boxes where you were to fill in your scores and numbers. Guidance Coun- selors visited homerooms to remind us to sign up for the right tests. And if we had only paid more attention, we could have avoided that $4.00 penalty fee! Within the school curriculum, we were offered courses in Math and English SAT reviews. Some took the courses hoping to “veg,” others were sincerely trying to improve their skills. There were moans of “This is worse than a major course,” and “Not another standardized test.” But most students profited from the course, or at least, were made aware of the weight placed on SAT’s by college admissions offices. Outside of school, SAT scores were a topic of national concern. All eyes were on us as we took the test; psychologists and educators were anxious to know what was happening to our scores. Why weren’t we all getting 800’s? Was it dependence on celluloid mass-media, breakdown of the family unit, inability of school systems to meet student needs, or the disappearance of indepen- dent leisure reading? If only we knew! Thoroughly intimidated, we psyched ourselves for the ordeal ahead. We filled in the countless ovals on the registra- tion form and student questionnaire and scraped together $7.50. Studious members of the class spent a quiet Friday night before the testing. Next morning, armed with three number two pencils, we headed for the “test center to which we had been assigned.” The butterflies in our stomachs were work- ing overtime as we strained to compre- hend. Hands shakily filled in the crucial ovals, often resorting to creating Miro- mosiac patterns with the A-B-C-D’s. “Three B’s in a row?” “This can’t be right!” “Say this isn ' t happening to me!” “When’s the next chance for a retake?” “Can I have a cherry lifesaver to stop my fidgeting?” “Did someone say plop, plop, fizz, fizz?” Despite the mass panic we survived. We ' ll never forget this time in our lives. Diana Packer Ronald Paula Science Occupational Ed. Susan Plume Art Lisa Pomeroy Foreign Language Arthur Poulos Language Arts Agnes Prescott Language Arts I

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“ Don ' t worry, it will grow back! assures Penny Graves. training they had. Because of this , it is fairly easy for them to become apprenticed in a field and start their careers. Through the Vocational In- dustrial Clubs of America they can join with other schools for placement opportunities. Cosmetology students were alwo busy preparing for their careers. The program, which was offered in cooper- ation with Michael and Betty DeSantis of the Melrose Beauty Academy, was a two year course for Juniors and Seniors. These students were dismiss- ed at 11:30 every day. From school they went directly to the Academy, where they trained until 3:50. Fine points, as well as basic techniques, were stressed. After completing 250 hours of instruction, including film- strips, lectures, and practice on mani- quins, students were given a work permit and allowed to “work on the floor.” With the completion of a thousand hours on the floor, students took two licensing exams: one admini- stered by Michael DeSantis, the other by a state board. With this back- ground, they’re ready to start careers as experienced hair stylists! Programs line these, in addition to the offerings of the MHS Occupational Education Department, made our times in high school really valuable and worthwhile! Robert Riccio F oreign Language Paul Roberts Occupational Ed. Norman Rockwood Jeffrey Rubin Mathematics Special Needs Melanie Schlegel Patricia Scialdoni Foreign Language Science 25