North Mesquite High School - Trailblazer Yearbook (Mesquite, TX)

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flomczf ond LUUQI ension. Although laughter and low talk- ing could be heard, stu- dents knew that a careless slip of the hand could mean ruining the experiment and possibly injuring themselves or someone else. I am careful about what I do when my class does a lab, Steph- anie Nguyen said. Stephanie is one of the students who took Chemistry. Most stu- dents take this course to get in their science credit. What they did not know is that hours of studying is involved, plus keeping up with the labs. I did not go into the class thinking that it was going to be easy, but I was not expecting it to be so hard, Regina Leonard said. Students who take Chemistry usually have careers in mind in- volving some kind of problem solv- ing. Labs help in other careers be- sides science, because they promote logical and analytical thinking as well as qualitative thought and in- terpretation. Problem solving is the key to chemistry - not just mathematical Adjusting a burner to ai blue flame, Gabe Rotltiquez heats up the water so that a white precipitate will form. The precipitate will tell you that a reaction has taken place. Pham byjobn Woolartl. problems, but it teaches how to think, Chemistry teacher Patsy Spikes said. Because I am going to be a paleontologist, chemistry labs such as the ones we do are important in training and preparing me for my career, Roz Rommel said. Detailed workbooks with in- structions on how to set up the labs come with the textbook. The book helps the teacher save time so she will be able to spend more time reviewing the chapter. Sometimes it takes me four days to set up the labs, not in- cluding running off the mime- ographed worksheets. It just de- pends on what lab I want to do, Chemistry teacher Phyllis Grady said. Groups of three work together to see hands on what the chapter is trying to teach them. Labs give the students an overall view of what chemical solutions will do in com- bination with other mixtures. Working as a group is fun, and better than working by yourself, said Steve Getstung, I really like those labs.

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Lroking over the procedures for the up- coming lab, Danny Chapman examines his worksheet, Glasses were worn to protect his eyes from the fumes coming from sodium hydroxide. Phulo by-john Waolaru' l At a social at Robert McCarry's, Patsy Spikes relaxes after a game of volleyball. The social was held for all of the teachers. Photo by Bob MrCar1y Questions! Questions! Chemistry teacher Phyllis Grady assists Ronnie Syblik in mease uring out 24 drops of MnO4. Amounts of chemicals must be exact for the experiment to work. Pbolo byjobn Waulara' if Assisting his group, Donny Wirten drops a chemical in a test tube, while Cindy Mclnrurff and Rusty Rodgers review the instructions for the flame test lab. Pham byjofm Woolard Cleaning out a test tube with distilled water, Christina Williamson prepares it for the next class, This is just one ofthe many tasks that must be accomplished during a lab, Pham by john Woolara'

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aff 7 weary palms, two sharpened encils, and a feeling of quea- siness in an unfamiliar school where you do not know where the bathroom is must be a sign that some student is about to sit down and take the SAT or the ACT. I felt nervous, but I was con- Hdent in myself, Denise Ball said. Denise was one of the 418 students from the Mesquite area who took the SAT in 1987, compared to 280 in 1986, an increase of 50 percent. Scoring an average 431 on the verbal and 467 on the math, MISD high school students taking the SAT scored 23 points above the Texas average of 875, Similar to the SAT, the PSAT was given to students who wanted to get an overview of what the SAT would be like, The PSAT made me realize what my weak points were, and let me see what I needed to study, Yoli Lozano said. The PSAT was given on Oct. 17 in the cafeteria. Counselor Sue Braden was in charge of issuing the test to over ZOO students. 1 felt it was necessary to be there so I could further my education, said David Eddings, Afterwards I went to Chili's to celebrate fin' ishing the test and I am now one step closer to getting into college. To be in the running tional Merit scholarships for Na- students must take the PSAT as a junior. Stephen Crabtree was named a Semihnalist and remains in com- petition for a scholarship. ACT is a more achievement based test. Evaluating math, sci- ence, history, and English usage. Most colleges accept either test for entrance. The results of either test are im- portant factors in determining the college a student will attend. With the future to consider, sweaty palms and a little nervousness was only natural as a student sat down to take the test. Michelle Chapman said, The SAT was very impor- tant. It will give me a chance to compete for scholarships and in ef- fect will help shape the rest of my life. The SAT was a good way to pre- pare myself for college. It helped me learn to study for the difficult tests that I will have in the future. It gave me the s e lf- C 0 n fi - dence I need for entering a col- lege. -Marlene Waters Discussing possible questions that may appear on the test, Counselor Bill Scott gives the students some pointers, Denise Ball, Gary Collins, Rhonda Smith, and Wade Hollingsworth tune in to pick up some information. Pham byjohn Woolard. I att it English ril. 1 ii 2896 was . S 24W Your Point of View Math The juniors were asked what their favorite sub- ject was, Their responses I-l1St0ry are shown in the graph. ll' 5 . ., af 155 -2' 1 -fi .fi 4 ,Y