Minnechaug Regional High School - Falcon Yearbook (Wilbraham, MA)

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IM£ PA SSED THEM BY: Golda Meir • Robert Shaw • Karl Wallenda • Pope Paul VI • Pope John Paul I • Norman Rockwell • Lyman Bosto. Linda Bachand Karen Lin Bailey Kelley A. Ballard Diane Lynn Barnes

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CLASS HISTORY 1978-1979: We arrived in 1978, and the year of ' 82 seemed so far away. Intimidated or not by the notorious Alcohol, Pot, and Drugs scandal in the Springfield Newspaper the year before, we charged into the new world of Minnechaug life. At first confused by rotating blocks and maze-like hallways, we eventually began to discover the difference between the letter M . for the hall, and A , for the block. Finally, after watching The Gate at the Tinkam entrance be demolished and rebuilt, only to be demolished again, and noting how the newly erected speed bumps cut the number of tickets issued to speeding school busses drastically, we settled into normal freshman life. Each of us soon found how much Minnechaug had to offer. We experienced our first pep-rally, sitting dumbly in the bleachers as the cheerleaders tried to teach us the Battle of the Classes Cheer; started attending home football games on Saturdays, making the top center bleachers the home of the all-exclusive freshmen rowdie section; and reluctantly took the plunge, literally into freshman pool. The spring brought our first class fundraiser, the car wash, which although not very profitable, brought us together as a class and showed our spirit. As the year came to a close we lost our Class Advisor, Miss Winetrout, and stumbled through Arena for the first time. 1979-1980: We started sophomore year with the comforting realization that we were no longer the lowest form of life at Minnechaug and the stabilizing force of our new and enthusiastic Advisor, Mr. Mina. Right away we were given the opportunity to prove how tough we really were in more interesting gym courses like Project Adventure and Basic Lifesaving. The latter eventually taught us water rescue if we would keep from being drowned by our unexperienced friend and partner during the course of each class. The former emphasized both teamwork and individual motivation in activities like scaling a 15 foot wall, and crossing a log suspended 25 feet in the air. Then, there was the big fundraiser, the Candy Sale. We were instantly transformed into miniature salespersons who wouldn ' t take No for an answer. Our persistant sales pitches paid off, as our candy sale became the most lucrative class fundraiser in Minnechaug ' s history. We were a much more vocal group at the Pep Rally this year (some even thought we out-yelled the Seniors!), and as the year wound down, we received our rings. With this, came the tradition of turning the ring 82 times for luck. Was it just a coincidence that turn number 82 (the one with an accompanying kiss) came up with who we thought was the best looking guy or girl? 1980-1981: As Junior year arrived, we had climbed the ladder to become official upperclassmen. With our new position in the school, we discovered some of the least popular aspects of high school life — PSAT ' s, SAT ' s, and ACH ' s. Standardized College Board tests, whichever you took, there was always that same cold feeling in the pit of your stomach. Another horror of Junior year was Disco. On the positive side, most of us gained our long awaited driver ' s licenses, and with them, a new unequaled freedom. There were also more great football games and our teams push all the way to the Super Bowl at UMASS where they lost a close one to Westfield. The Punk Rock dance was a first. Once again, our spirit and salesmanship proved outstanding as our magazine drive became another record breaker. Finally, the many changes instituted, including a new bell schedule, shorter days, the 4:00 late bus, and final elimination of snack break, all foreshadowed the possiblity of even greater changes on the horizon as Proposition 2 Vi was passed by the voters. The year ended with uncertainty about the jobs of many teachers and the future of many programs, but the spirit of the Class of ' 82 was undiminished and we worked, relaxed, and partied the summer away in preparation for the Big Year. 1981-1982: Senior year started, surprisingly, with a newly positioned Arena. Other factors of Minnechaug life stayed the same, like a student parking lot littered with trash and broken glass. There were traditional fall activities like the Kickoff Dance, which although not well attended, was a great time for all who did go. Every one danced the night away, and the Senior girls did their best impression of a Las Vegas chorus line while the Black Apple Band played New York, New York . The Turkey Raffle, the endless fight for Senior Privilege, new exorbidant prices for the same old lunches, and our class love for dressing-up will all be remembered. From Halloween to the Outrageous Garb Dance to Hat Day, many ingenious costumes evolved. The rest of senior year was a whirl of working, studying, partying, and college applications. As the year progressed and our high school career waned, we enjoyed the 50 ' s Day Dance, distribution of class mugs. Senior Breakfast, and the Big Two , the Prom and Graduation. These memories of our trend-setting class would mark the end of one phase in our lives, and our passage through one of the many important doors of life into yet another. Pam Getchell Jim O ' Shaughnessy Tim Ross f

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Wicked • OPEC • Nuclear protests • Urban rehabilitation • UFO ' s • Moonies • Billy Beer • Shah Exiled John McEnroe • Skateboards Aili M. Bond Richard Booth Laurie M. Brayton