Paul M Dorman High School - Vanguard Yearbook (Spartanburg, SC)

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Project Transition came about as a re- sult of problems which had existed since freshmen first came to Dorman in 1978. Coming from middle schools of about 600, freshmen found it hard to adjust to 2600 students from three schools. At one time, the disciplinary problems of the ninth grade were greater than those of the three other classes combined. Fresh- men also had more dropouts and suspen- sions than other classes. Project Transition was formed to correct these problems. Under this new project, ninth grade is housed in Wings A and B and has its own principal, Mr. John Burgess and counselor, Mrs. Susan Norris. The ninth grade also has a Beta Club, service club, FFA, and spe- cial assemblies and pep rallies. Special tutoring labs help freshmen to improve their academic skills. According to principal Wray Smith, Project Transition has accomplished its goals so far. Suspensions, dropouts, and disciplinary problems of ninth graders are down. Students are attending school more reguarly, enjoying it more, and par- ticipating in more extracurricular activi- ties. The time before homeroom is the perfect time for Rhonda Woodfin and Darma Sloon to chat with friends Freshman principal John Burgess talks with a parent about the disciplinary progress of his son During the first freshman pep rat- ty. the Dukes and Coach Stan Byers get fired up over the sea- son opener Class president Traci Bagwell looks for friends while waiting for the second quarter to start Using his time wisely. Lyle Pote completes his algebra home- work during the last few minutes of class. 6 ProJoct Transition

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Changes are inevitable. Life changes, feel- ings change, friends and attitudes change. Things are not bad just because there is change. One must simply leam to adapt, and adapt is what Dorman students have done. Many of the changes this year came about as a result of Project Transition, an experimen- tal program that drew statewide attention to the school. The result of the new program, housing freshmen in Wings A and B, has result- ed in fewer dropouts and suspensions. Other changes evolved from Mr. Ralph Can- non's retirement and Mr. Wray Smith's ap- pointment as his successor. Smith was immedi- ately confronted with new policies and pro- grams. The new smoking policy has been, accord- ing to administrative principal Bob McDaniel, Outstanding. There are fewer smokers, and all seem to be complying with the new policy of smoking only on the old tennis court and of not allowing freshmen to smoke. The new policy of taking attendance by classes and of not having to bring notes from home has been generally successful. Satur- day make-up is working, McDaniel says. In early October there were twenty-five in the session. The beginning of in-school suspension has resulted in fewer repeaters. More students are choosing ISS because of the work they are allowed to complete. Parents also support and request ISS. “As with all new programs, says administra- tive principal Bill Dempsey, rough edges must be made smooth. Success in these policies is not easily measured in just one year. All of the changes initiated this year had one goal in mind, and that was to increase instructional time. There were sound reasons for the changes. It takes teachers and students who coop- erate to make a program work, says Smith, and these are the kinds of people we have. ... 3or Keal Zking Op«nlng 5 Even with the responsibilities of school. Don Sawicki and Barbara Michels find time for dating

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Mrs. Laura Jones explains the volume and density of a cube to Tamaha Lynch Latin I student Mochera Means asks Mrs Nancy Wetborn for help in conjugating verbs. Football players Jon Batte w. Da- vid Abercrombie. and Blake Rot- ton discuss the 14-7 victory over Boiling Springs