Mexico High School - Mascot Yearbook (Mexico, MO)

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English Department Introduces First Reader's Theatre Breaking the communications barrier became the main objective of the English department at MHS this year. New types of oral interpretation such as the Reader's Theatre were introduced along with new records, slides, tapes and research material. English I and II dealt primarily with English gram- mar while English III and IV specialized in American and English literature. Students were encouraged to express themselves through the use of oral and written reports, panel discussions, and psychedelic bulletin boards. Amid semester exams, college boards, and the in- telligence tests, seniors, juniors, and sophomores took time out to see a movie production of Shake- speare's Macbeth , This provided a general back- ground of information for the juniors and sophomores as they began their studies of Shakespeare. Students were familiarized with different countries of the world with slides, bulletin boards, and oral reports given by teachers and students who had visited the countries. Correlating with English I, II, III, and IV, Publications provided juniors and seniors with the necessary back- ground that helped them publish the Bulldog's Growl , school newspaper, and the MASCOT , MHS's yearbook. I I Applying library skills in the use of reference books, English stu- dents collect material for their research papers. tabovej Looking in his English folder, sophomore Steve Williams compares his re- cent work with that from the beginning of the year. 74 Academics

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. ifgtiteggg. 'W -z7:'msZ'1i'ii+?f T -f -.,fw.t5-- ii I 1' Academics 73 Top Math Honors Cro to Karla Baker Karla Baker became the year's top math student when she received the highest score on the annual high school mathematical examination. This year also marked a new high for the college boards with the scores achieved by jim Covington and Lewis Melahn. Mathematics courses at MHS concentrated on preparing students for the ever increasing math- minded world, while offering several degrees of specialization. Functional Math is designed to acquaint students with the basic mathematic principles needed in everyday life. The centuries-old abacus was used to demonstrate the ideas introduced in this course, which included a study of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percents. Algebra I continued with the concepts which were introduced in seventh and eighth grade math. Open to freshman students who had an M average in eighth grade and who passed a placement examina- tion, this course accented the number line, sets of numbers, and graphing. With the basis of proving theorems and hypotheses on previously accepted data, geometry provided interested students with the chance to tackle thought-provoking problems. Geometry progressed from lines and planes to three dimensional solids. Algebra ll examined in greater detail the principles of Algebra I, as well as introduced the students to the individual properties of four symmetrical curves -the circle, parabola, hyperbola, and ellipse. Logarithms, functions, and graphing were also studied. Helping students to gain an understanding of more complex mathematics, College Algebra and Trig- onometry is the most advanced math course offered at MHS. This course provided a basis for future study in engineering, while also giving advance college hours in some cases. Trigometric functions, data organization, and beginning calculus were all a part of the course content. Itopj Tim Baker, senior, seems to find something to chuckle about in his College Algebra book. john Reaves studies intently for to- morrow's Algebra test.

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Reader's Theatre panel members Kathy Heerboth, Kathy Baker, Suzette O'Connor, Lee Danser, and Debbie Brooks pause for a breather before continuing with their presentation of john Brown's Body, lleftj Freshman students study diligently for an up- coming IGSI in their English I class. Academics 75