Oakton High School - Paragon Yearbook (Vienna, VA)

Page 30 text:

Sunday, February 16, the Fairfax Ice Arena was reserved for Oakton students only and many took the opportunity to display or discover their glacial talents. For some it was a dangerous new experience, for others a relaxing evening. Bruised knees and stiff ankles were not uncommon and several students appeared to be limping back to school the following Tuesday. Regardless of the after effects, everyone seemed to have a good time. 28

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FREE AT LAST FREE AT LAST LORD A LMIGHTY, FM FREE AT LAST — Negro Spiritual Oakton’s Black History class and Human Relation’s Club sponsored the annual Black History Week at Oakton the week of February 10-15. Posters and a bulletin board dis¬ play as well as PA presentations announced the arrival of this special week. On Monday, an African Soul food festi¬ val was held in the auditorium-gym lobby. Dishes native to Africa and the black culture were made available for all to sample during A, B, and C lunch shifts. Sam Eure, a mem¬ ber of the school board, was scheduled to speak on black history and his school board duties at an after-school assem¬ bly, but was unable to attend due to schedule conflicts. Finally, on Friday, as a close to history week, a pride day was planned in which students wore the three colors symboliz¬ ing free Africa; red, black, and green. The red represents the blood shed for freedom, the black represents the color of the skin, and the green stands for the free land the blacks love. The week’s programs were well received as one of the most active and informative Black History weeks at Oak- ton. It not only gave everyone an insight into the contrib¬ utions and attitudes of the black culture but also helped ins¬ till a renewed sense of pride and accomplishment in mem¬ bers of the black race. 27

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Oakton Attends Pinkham Seminar 1 w ] m 7 i m - fj 9 fd February 14-15, the Oakton Chorale and the Advanced Girl’s Chorus attended a seminar at Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Va. Dr. Daniel Pinkham, a master composer of contemporary music, was invited to the seminar to critique compositions performed by the guest choruses. Friday evening the Conservatory orchestra and choir performed varied selections of Pinkham’s works. The following morning each choir was scheduled a 45-minute session in which to work with Dr. Pinkham. The Oakton group performed two compositions: the Christmas Cantata from the Winter Concert, and The Lamb,” a composition for female voices. The choirs returned impressed with the experience and awed by Dr. Pinkham’s many talents and his innovative musical compositions. The following week, Oakton hosted the All-Virginia Chorus audi¬ tions where All-Regional members could audition for the State Chorus, to be held at Fairfax. Of the twenty places available to this region, Oakton students took seven, the most from any high school in this area. Pam Bes- sler, Laura Franseen, Herb Hall, Mike Moyer, Rod Searcy, Rob Sommers, and Patty Stephenson made the cho¬ rus, with Pam Austin, Bene Blake, Keith Dowell, Penny Gates, Greg Harris, and Ramon Revilla being placed as alternates. 29