Plainfield High School - Silhouettes Yearbook (Plainfield, IN)

Page 18 text:

Labs may be interesting or dull, uproar- ious or sedate, but usuall) labs are a chal- lenging learning experience. They are de- signed to give a first-hand learning experience in a particular subject area. The Lnglish department at PHS offers two labs to students, the Reading Lab and the Writers Gallery. Both classes are indivi- dualized so that the student is assigned his own special work based on his own needs. All freshmen are required to take their grammar quarter in the Writers Gallery, but the class usuall) includes just as many up- perclassmen who are trying to improve their writing skills. The Math Lab focuses on renewing math skills and acquiring new ones. It is especially valuable for those students who have a difficult time with math and need some extra practice. The newest lab at PHS is the Computer Lab. It offers a chance for any student to become familiar with the language and op- eration of simple programs. Some of the ge- nius types learn to write their own pro- grams, and some of the Pac-man addicts use it as a school day substitute for the 25c variety. Nearly every science class from Biology to Advanced Chemistry offers labs to stu- dents. Most of the time labs go unnoticed by anyone not in the class, except for chemis- try. Everyone in the whole front hall shares the odoriferous sulfur concoctions which Mr. Effinger's crew put together. Business labs give students knowledge of running a real business office, besides the usual typing shorthand skills. Intensive Of- fice Lab even covers the more practical skills of how to dress and how to make cof- fee for the boss. “Ready, begin.” And the sounds of keys hitting paper break the silence of concentration for these beginning ty ping students. Checking the results of her chemistry experiment. Kathy Yeryar carefully inspects the crystals which, if the experiment has been done properly, should appear on the filter paper. 14

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Occasional!) high school students are still asked to write on the board (it was a favorite in elementary school, right?). Bet Clark is poised as she begins a diagram. Evers math class has its stud) time to get you started on tomorrow’s assignment. Curt Brodie rolls up his sleeves, clears his desk, and—with cal- culator help—digs in. Dozing off in class, Kim Kell) typifies the seniors’ attitude toward calculus and (by Spring Break I school in general. 13

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IjjI viiy representilites from various computer companies brought their wares to PHS. Student Todd Haver and teachers Kathy l atherman and Don Heald watch a presentation. As a result of this conference. PHS owns 19 microcom- puters for student use. An Individual Science Research student. Ijiura Smith designs a presentation to display the results of her hours of research on perception differences among ele- mentary students. A freshman in the Writers Gallery . Jeff Kishel completes an- other sketchbook; through satisfactory submission of a mas- terpiece students accumulate their grade points. 15