South Side High School - Totem Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

Page 26 text:

▼Chris Abernathy, senior, and they dance to the beat of the her date smile approvingly as Dick Seeger Band. Students Await Special Evening Out of the blue jeans and into the tuxedos. The rushing around to find the perfect flowers and the right dress. The mystical setting for this grand event was the Indiana-Purdue Ballroom. As people walked through the doorway, they couldn't help being caught up in the enchantment of the night. The room was filled with shiny silver stars flickering in the soft light. The music was provided by the Dick Seeger Band. They played a varied selec- tion, including rock, slow songs, current hits, and even a little bit of polka music. Following an hour of inter- mission, the action started again. At 1:00 the Lantern was filled with the sound of records. The after-prom was on its way. Disco, as one might have guessed, was the style of music. After a while, the music was dying away; and the night was coming to an end. At 3:00 a.m. the after-prom met its end. Some people headed for home; however, others discussed the night's events over breakfast. - Derek Blanks and Stacey Wemhoff, seniors, are one of the couples who enjoy each oth- er's company as they share a dance. AKurt Neal, senior, and his date, Angie Smith, junior (right); along with Lori Miller, junior (center), and her date, enjoy each other's company between dances at the 1980 junior-senior prom. 22

Page 25 text:

▼ Lau Group instructor Mrs. Janet Perez grades one of her students papers. Perez helped students learn to adapt to the United States and its customs. Accomplishment Seen Through Lau Program Boasting the only high school oppor- tunity of its kind in the school system. South began the Lau program this year. Headed by Mrs. Janet Perez, a teacher for 10 years, the program was estab- lished for students who had previous academic instruction comparable to that of a high school freshman. Fair- field Middle School was the school for younger students in the program. These students will come to South when they meet the middle school requirements. Perez taught 23 students during the year, with 17 of the class members com- ing from Laos. As the first semester began, the average length of time each student had been in the United States was just five months. With the mem- bers here such a short time, Perez was assisted by Mr. Jacques Phoumy Chan- savang from Laos and Mr. Dung Vu from Vietnam. The two aided Perez in teaching the students not only English but also mathematics, social studies, and American culture. By December, many of the students had been mainstreamed into regular South Side classes. Perez said this change had to be made in as positive a way as they could make it, and she slowly moved the members into classes which used very little English. These classes included mathematics and physical education, among others. The teacher wanted the students to be comfortable in this transition period and made sure that the members were not being rushed into the classrooms. Not more than a day in the school year had gone by before the Lau pro- gram students were noticed by the members of the student body and fac- ulty, helped out in opening lockers, going to games, as well as getting easily through the cafeteria food lines. Perez said as the year went along, We were concerned with what would come out of the exposure to the classroom situa- tion and South Side's students, espe- cially since this was the first test of its kind in the school and the system, but she added the members were looking forward to getting involved from the beginning of the year. 4f Tv ■ Mr. Dung Vu, Lau teacher, helps his stu- dents learn the English laungage. The Lau program at South was the only one of its kind in the city. ■ I.iiu Group: Front row: T. Vongphachanh, Bounket, H. Tran, Kongseng Xayarath, Chanthavong. Second row: Bounphisai, Mahasena, Khamkhoth, Nakasen, M. Southivong. Back row: Chansavang, K. Southivong, Trinh, Kesone Xayarath, Y. Tran, B. Vongphachanh, Phat, Sorisho, S. Keolasy, Ratsabout, P. Keolasy, Perez, Vu. 21

Page 27 text:

yMike Cunningham, Cheryl Hough, Scott Bush, seniors, and his date dance around the cen- ter decoration on the IL'-PU floor. walls as friends gather at a table for a break. AShari Schaefer, Alice Worth- and their dates dance as the man, Barbie Carroll, seniors, night nears its end. 23