Spring Valley High School - Saga Yearbook (Columbia, SC)

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They Sang Their Last Alma Mater . . . Our class, like many other classes, can be compared to one of the trees planted this year by the beautification committee. We all started out from roots, coming together as a single group — freshmen. But we were different. Our bark had a few cracks in it, but every tree does. Our spirit and pride brought out the green — the life. Four years ago, at the first varsity football game of the year, we lost to Lexington High School by four points. We were disappointed. Ev- eryone wants to be a winner. But, at the end of the game, everyone joined hands and sang the alma mater, showing the unity and strength that only a winner possesses. Our classes’ strong lungs and loyalty prevailed at pep rallies, during class competition, and at Sportsarama. As we progressed and grew, we branched out into separate limbs, ac- cording to our interests. Then each of us, as we worked with the others in our area, developed our trees’ small, pale buds into healthy, golden leaves, and formed some of the most majestic en- sembles in the state — in band, foren- sics and theatre. Even in the areas where we were not as strong, and others could climb high- er, we still had pride and never stopped displaying our colors . . . Never stopped running, jumping, swinging, singing, throwing, cheering, creating, comput- ing, writing, reaching . . . Eventually, after learning our way around the school, being the last class to have open pods — or multi-subject periods, after wearing garbage bags, yelling duck calls, coloring our hair, piercing our ears, ripping our shirts, watching three classes leave and enter, and after listening to — or trying not to listed to — almost two thousand P.A. announcements, we matured. Our branches began to flower. As we raised our branches proudly, the richness of our years of learning allowed the blos- soms to ripen into fruit. And now the time has come to break away from our tree that we all know so well — the time to start over, to being freshmen again, to moving away, and do what we will for the rest of our lives. What we must remember is that when we let go, we cannot let insects and other outside forces attack us, but flourish and grow and remember the heritage that we Vikings claim. Re- member the teacher that made you walk “gorilla war fare” style to the li- brary, the teacher that made you dis- sect an owl pellet, the teacher who told you to contemplate your naval — and the teacher that explained what con- templating your naval means. Remember all the special relation- ships you have had with the people who you thought were put on this planet for the sole purpose of stuffing facts into your brain. The teachers and staff of Spring Valley were the ones who nur- tured us, and helped us to grow. We must remember that reaching this height — receiving our diplomas, shifting our tassels and walking down those stairs — does not mean we are descending. We are taking a step ahead, because all the seeds of learning we have gotten from Spring Valley are go- ing to stay with us, for the rest of our lives, so that wherever we go, we will always be growing up towards the sun, never letting anyone forget that the Spring Valley class of 1984 will always and forever be number one. Stephanie Nankin Getting gowns on straight is a task for graduates Jennifer Berry, Sallie Freeman and Pamela Cole- man. Student Activities director Sharon Buddin says, “Anticipation and excitement fill the colise- um as everyone prepares for the ceremony.” Anticipating graduation ceremonies, graduate Brenca Outen files into place at the Carolina Coli- seum for the hour-long procession. student life 13

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Best friends and graduates Susan Welch and Mi- chele Berry help each other get ready before the graduation ceremony. So everything will run smoothly, Mr. Hendrick checks juniors Caroline Bell’s and Michelle Fel- ton’s list of graduates. Bach marshal led fifty sen- iors to their seats. r2 studenl life

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School Never Ends Summer didn’t mean school stopped. For band members summer meant marching for days in the hot sun in early June to rehearse for a National Band Association exhibition in Ten- nessee. Regular practice began the last week of July, and in August they went to band camp. For fall sports athletes and cheer- leaders, summer meant working out and extra practices. The cross country teams came to school to run. The girls’ team ran together weekly until August. “The girls had practice every Mon- day until August. Then we had it for one hour every weekday. I enjoy run- ning because it gives me time to think and sort out the day’s activities while also enhancing my physical fit- ness,” sophomore Dyanna Phillips said. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday the football players lifted weights and ran. “I got stronger and I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” junior Tra- cy Adkins said. “I could run three miles without any trouble.” For students working on the Vi- king Handbook, summer meant working for weeks to put the book together. “Although it was a lot of hours at first, the final product made it all worthwhile. We had a great deal of fun, and we accomplished a lot at the same time,” junior Brian Margarle, who contributed to the handbook, said. For summer school students, sum- mer meant hours of intensified study. Dave Oberly taught Algebra II in summer school and said students’ at- titudes are different. “Although we had fewer hours in class, we covered more material than the Algebra II class did in the regular school year. For Viking Shield staff members, summer meant shaping up the jour- nalism room, selling ads and rede- signing the paper. The dedication of the students during the summer directly affects the school. “Because of the dedication of those who prepare for the upcoming school year over the summer, we are able to begin the year with confidence and a purpose,” Sharon Buddin, student activities director, said. Leigh Toner photos by Ginger Pinson Lightning only strikes once — but once was enough for Jimmy’s Mart, a favorite lunch spot for students, which burned down this summer. It now stands 200 feet from its original location.