Monacan High School - Legend Yearbook (Richmond, VA)

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ied , Monacan works. iversi dual. When di ivi Sea Of Ind students join in spiri 4 Opening '83-'84

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the crowd. ceptional. The Chief Appeal. A typical, sociable Chief, Jeff White, finds a new friend in You Can Be. The ability of students to excel in many areas, such as atletics and academics, makes Monacan ex- The Elements of A Successful School The elements of an ideal school are manifold. Among those most desirable are a strong academic program, a respected administration, a qualified faculty, and a di- verse extracurricular pro- gram. However, a definite difference exists between a functional school and an ideal school. If all the afore- mentioned elements are present, yet present with- out an underlying tone of | brotherhood or unified spir- it, then the operation seems to be lacking. In an ideal en- vironment, such as that of Monacan, the harmonious blending of each separate part with the others proves to be the necessary link. In such an institution, all the elements together are re- sponsible for making it work. By considering each part of our special school, the dynamic uniqueness evident in the success of the school as a whole is a fusion of separate parts to make a thriving whole work in such an exceptional way. At the core of the suc- cess of Monacan is its rig- orous and challenging aca- demic program. Proving that amity, rather than con- flict, makes Monacan work, the good relations among the various scholastic de- partments have resulted in an intelligent and chal- lenged student body. A stu- dent who can feel at home in both the English and the mathematics department, for instance, can develop seemingly very diverse skills, resulting in a well rounded individual. When a physical education teacher can admire a history teach- er, and vice versa, the mu- tual respect can be im- pressed upon their stu- dents, furthering the complete development of that person. Finally, when each department in a school is all-encompassing, progressive, and challeng- ing, the products of such an environment are of the high- est quality. Certainly, aca- demics are a large part of what makes Monacan work. Also helping to make Monacan work are the re- sponsible administrators and the highly qualified fac- ulty. Without a strong ad- ministration and a caring faculty, the remaining ele- ments of a successful school would be superflu- ous. At Monacan, the staff not only is highly qualified and hard-working, but it is also helpful and diverse. Principal, Larry Elliott has expressed his opinion of the importance of communi- cation. As long as the lines are open, he has said, any- thing can be worked out. Perhaps this is a big factor in the way that the faculty and administration at Mona- can make it work. contd on pg. 4 Opening '83-'84 3

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Challenge And Joy Makes Monacan Work Along with expertise in the office and in the classroom, Monacan’s staff provides support and encourage- ment. The knowledge, the concern, and the amity of the faculty and administra- tion combine with the other excellent aspects of Mona- can to ‘‘Make It Work.”’ Dedication to the devel- opment of happy, well- rounded students is at the core of Monacan’s diversi- fied and comprehensive ex- tra-curricular program. From devoted sports teams to magnanimous ser- vice organizations to de- manding honor societies, the foundation of extracurri- cular activities enhances the academic tradition and the exceptional staff to make Monacan work. By providing supplements to classroom study, organiza- tions such as the language clubs, the yearbook staff, and the forensics and de- bate teams afford Monacan students the opportunities to broaden their knowledge and experience in an enter- taining and beneficial way. When these students also are encouraged to meet the rigorous requests of a lan- guage or National Honor Society, the mind is made even stronger. Finally, if this student has a gift such as theatrical talent or athle- tic ability, he or she can also develop that range. The result is the method in which the extracurricular program makes Monacan work — the emergence of a well-rounded, happy, and successful student. Of course, this is not all there is to an ideal aca- demic environment. Behind each major area are humer- ous, essential factors in the success of the Monacan environment. Academic programs need planning and supplemental material, faculties and administra- tions need workers other than themselves. Plays need stage crews as well as actors; sports teams need managers as well as athletes. The intricacies of a school that work are in- dispensable, yet often over- looked. Supportive back- ground figures definitely help make Monacan work. In conclusion, the suc- cessful fusion of the ex- tremely strong areas of Monacan is what makes it work. The productive coex- istence of academics, staff, extracurriculars, and be- hind the scenes elements create not only a functional but also an ideal environ- ment. Everyone involved in the working of the school can be credited for the pos- session of the attributes that make Monacan work. Beautiful Music. The combined ef- forts of Jim Cummings and the girl's choir create a joyful sound. Display Of Talent. Freedom to devel- op and display talent such as that of dancing is an important factor in Mon- acan’s uniqueness. aie’ oe Is This A School. Students find fun as well as challenge at a successful school. Opening '83-'84 5