Plainfield High School - Silhouettes Yearbook (Plainfield, IN)

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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

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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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in the classroom Lurking in the halls of our school, hiding in the daily routine schedule are students who on the outside seem to be ordinary, but in fact are quite the contrary. These stu- dents bear a talent that brings out their cre- ativity plain for all to see. Some students will go to extremes to insure their project is of the highest quality possible. In art classes students may have to carry weaving loom frames strung with var- ious colors of yarn, weaving shuttles, and a pattern paper. Other projects may require hauling large paintings and paint, or often times a student may spot someone with clay under his fingernails or pencil on light-col- ored clothing. Home ec classes require creativity and imagination, too. Favorite among students and staff is the class offering cooking chal- lenges. Terrific odors of cookies and cakes baking drift through the hallways. Other re- sults produced by the classes are clothing, home plans, wedding costs, better under- standing of human nature in different stages of life, and creative house cleaning. Perhaps the most amusing class offered is the famous Singles Survival. One story is told by a fac- ulty judge: as he was sampling a pie. he bit into an unusually dry. hard piece. Investiga- tion led to an explanation of why the boy had called his pie “educating : he had included his book in the ingredients! Shop classes prepare students for real- life work situations. Trade secrets are re- vealed in classes which instruct students how to print on various materials, work with cars, design in wood and metal, and create masterpieces in each. Working diligentis together in graphics. Colleen Hu- man (who is having second thoughtsi and Randv Brinker make a paste-up. 16