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

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Activities, academics and awards combine to make Spring Valley a recognized educational institution. Students can find almost any type of extra-curricular activity which may interest them, and the Excellence in Education award presented in 1983 by the Presi- dent’s commision is an illustration of Spring Valley’s stress on academics. SPRING VALIEV HIGH SCHOOL Signing up for clubs is important in getting involved in student activities. Student body vice-president Rebecca Humphries supplies information about var- ious clubs during club sign-up week to an array of interested students. Band members add music to pep rallies which unites the classes under a common symbol of spirit. Beth Shackelford, SENIOR, contributes her efforts to the 1983 state champion Viking band. theme 5

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A Tip Of The Hat My first day as a freshman. What a riot! I mapped out my classes and that was all I worried about! I felt so little and out of it. The upperclassmen had it all together. They were always so busy with band prac- tice, student council, service clubs, Wilson activities or sports. It seemed like a com- plicated dream to me. I had waited so long to get here and be a true Viking and now I was scared and didn’t really know what to do. The teachers were nice and under- standing, but they showed us real quick that high school was different. We better expect to work. I tried my first house meeting, track meet and Junior Achieve- ment. The upperclassmen were my “mo- dels” and by watching them I learned what SV was all about. Giving my best all around became a goal for me. By the end of the year I was involved, on my way to being an upperclassman, officially and un- officially. No longer a freshman! Yea!! I can pick on people! My life was established and secure and becoming very complicated as a sophomore. The school work was always there, but now there was so much more — equally important. I was now receiving re- sponsibilities. My range of friends grew — people actu- ally asked me for input on the homecom- ing float and the sophomore’s first dance. Our debate and drama teams took state. We hosted Southern Association of Stu- dent Councils ... “The Greatest Show on Earth” ... It was excellent!! I was so proud of the ... of my school. It was so wild to tell people that I was a sophomore at SV — they would just stand there and tell me all the great stuff I already knew, of course! --------- I 4 theme Sportsarama sparks the football season as rivals Spring Valley and Kichland Northeast meet for a summer clash. Cheerleader co-captain Tracy James and captain Pam Martin prepared Har- ry Parone stadium with balloons and bulletins. Sportsarama was held at Har- ry Parone stadium in 1984 for the first time. Singing the alma mater at the Irmo pep rally, senior Monica Bookard joins in the scene of loyal pride. The senior class has always had the privilege of singing the alma mater on the gym floor, the final event of a pep rally.

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Hats Off To Excellence “Your junior year is the best year of all” was all that I’d heard for two years — now I could decide for myself. I finally got to sit on the floor at pep rallies — and be able to see the motorcycles come in, not kick anybody doing the hoochie-koo, and no more straining to hear the cheerleaders. It was great!! I got to order my class ring — I was so excited trying to decide what kind, and then standing in line in the gym — finally it was mine!! Now I could prove and show off my school. Trying to get peo- ple to turn it — without touching the stone, always to the right — and keeping count ... I had to start over so many times! I didn’t think anything could top that feeling. After six years of losing and taking sec- ond place, the SV Viking Band took State. My gosh! They were so awesome in their performance. When the drum majors sa- luted and flashes went off!! (I love this school — the people.) The junior-senior came and the “Stairway to Heaven” was complete. I’m almost a senior! — Sweet sixteen — but not for long! I just won’t think about it!! Oh, I almost forgot . . . The National Award for Excellence. I’ve never seen such satisfaction and pride as our faculty and community had for that award. It didn’t seem like that big of a deal to me — until that “official” assembly. The band played the Star Spangled Ban- ner and tears came . . . The President of my country was commending my world. For the first time I really saw that this school was different. The teachers who voluntarily gave of their time to plan ac- tivities, coach teams, teach me how to con- nect wires, edit my writing or tutor me in algebra. The community members who supported SV always — they never missed a football game or a band competition, they bought cookie pies and wrapping pa- per from me, they worked at school or just took the time to ask about SV. The stu- dents — my peers and my friends. We shared losing RN games, close friends moving and all school activities — togeth- er. It was all making sense now. The peo- ple made Spring Valley great. Graduation came and all the seniors said, “A junior marshal today ... a graduate tomorrow!!” — Oh, please, I have a whole year left . . . Tomorrow came . .. 6 theme