Stratford High School - Mnemosyne Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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W' we 'Y xt x, X swf xsfw s Sf N is Watching the Spartanaire high kick rou- tine, Sophomore Betty Hamilton and lunior Leslyn Harwell kneel on the side- lines. Both Betty and Leslyn performed the jazz routine, in which they were dance partners. Dressed as a clown, Freshman Kristen Simms and lunior Linda Grimsby are ini- tiated into Spartanaires as new girls. Initiation was a way to lighten the ten- sion of try-outs and provided a good way for everyone to get to know each other, commented Senior Davette Ince. Enjoying an evening at the Spartanaire formal, Spartanaire Director Shauna Baker, Principal Dale Stafford and Con- gressman Bill Archer escape the dance floortotalk. 26 spartanaires Sh V4 Nerflf , .L l Uh' .pfj !,vHL!4 g.?fiE'f' Thai At each pep rally the Spartanairf kept their group collected whi cheering and clapping for the tear Varsity football player Ronnie Stuki lin liked the school spirit the Spa tanaires always showed at the pc rallies. We always wished each othi good luck. Head cheerleader Charles Lloy called the drill team the best boos ers the team ever had. They kept tl pep rallies going and made the sei son more fun for everyone. Tr Spartanaires made it a lot easier fi us as cheerleaders, especially at tl' games. They really got fired up. Yet, Mrs. Baker recognized th, the state championship real made the year complete. It was tl motivating device. We all were 5 proud. Still, it was a very long seasc with five extra games. Kelley Smith said, No one w ever forget the championship. Th whole school was a part of it. Du ing both the Plano and Churchl performances' the band and tr Spartanaires worked together. Tl drill team formed a huge numbi one while the band made the ou line of the state of Texas arour' them. I Laura Gattis commented, It was fantastic experience to stand in th middle of the Astrodome floor. takes your breath away, especial, when I stood there and thougl about winning the state champioi ship. I really felt like I was a part of too. . Not knowing that they would E performing in the Astrodome for tlf playoffs, the band and drill tea, were also scheduled to entertai during the halftime at the Houstq Oilers' game Dec. 17. Mrs. Bakl stated, For the playoff games vi repeated what we thought wel some of the best routines of th year. We had one special danc using the new fringe uniforms ari bright props that we used for tH playoffs and the Oiler game, too. t The new fringe outfits were mac by the parents for under S600 and group of fathers led by Mr. Dav Ince built and painted the boxes f- SBOO. Props are usually used on twice a season, but, like everythir else, their usage was extended tl' year for more variety in the pg formance, accordingto Kelley. , Although the Booster Club helps with costumes and props, the Spa tanaires raised money for their tri through calendar sales, Christm

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ood, according to Mrs. Baker. For each Friday game two new Jutines were made up by Mrs. aker and the officers: Drum Major enior Kelley Smith, Captains Senior erri Fisher, Senior Kim Hightower, enior Tria lnce, Senior Dana Jeber, Lieutenants - Laura Gattis, inior, Antoinette May, junior, julie oush, Senior, and Tracy Surber, anior. iThe entire week was needed to each the routines, learn spacing, Hd go over each step, one at a time. ich of the 94 girls had to try out for bth the jazz and the high kick rou- hes. Drum Major Kelley Smith, sen- Ir, said, Usually everyone made je jazz except those on grade or .eight probation, about 45 to 53 'aiting to be judged for Spartanaire try- its, Vicki Vanduzee and jacki Thees tended practice sessions every day ter school for two weeks in order to arn routines. A panel of 4 judges .viewed the 81 girls trying out, and lected 41 as new Spartanaires. bpling during the LaPorte game half- me in the Astrodome, Spartanaires ways manage to get the crowd's atten- Jn. made high kick each week. Then two days of practice would be used to synchronize the perform- ance with the marching band. Band member junior jeff Falick commented that it was really strange because we never actually saw them perform. We always had our backs to them until we played in the Astrodome. There we had to stand behind them so they could hear the music because the Dome was so big. l as Sai-it J- A victory line looks easy to do, but we had to practice it a lot. Each girl has an exact count she must do everything on, and if one person messes up, then the whole line gets off count, explained Senior Leslie Willis. Lt. julie Roush, surrounded by Karen Hutchens and Ann Henderson, per- forms in the new uniforms and stands on what she calls really heavy props. -.nf Intent on understanding Algebra, junior Leslie Hagedorn gets help from junior Marihelen Millar while Tricia Koch, jun- ior, looks on. With practice, there is not much time to do homework, so I just study when I can, Leslie explained. spartanaires 25

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jazz... rd sales, a spaghetti supper and drking on inventory at local -partment stores. Some girls did tra service projects to receive erits that replaced demerits for 'diness, misconduct, and perform- lce mistakes. Even after the football season ded, Spartanaires kept very busy. is year's winter trip was to San itonio to perform in the Fiesta rade. Captain Dana Weber com- ented, I loved San Antonio and ruldn't wait. The seniors got to go it to dinner and to the Alamo. Marching competition be- feen the four companies on drills ey made up and perfected ended .victory for Company A and Com- iny D. The Spartanaires also ieered at the basketball games. As Laura Gattis stated, Our big- gie this year was a trip to Washing- ton, D.C. for four days tlvlay 2-6j of touring, performing, and parading in the Apple Blossom Festival. The Spartanaires dedicated their River Gaks Country Club formal to the seniors who were presented by their fathers and introduced by Texas Representative Bill Archer. Their March 27 banquet gave us an opportunity to reflect on what we've accomplished during the year, said Laura. lt was one of the most important times we ever shared together, she added. The banquet also featured the Along with perfectly executed splits, the Spartanaires, during the homecoming game, still manage to end in two con- centric circles. Addressing the Spartanaires, their dates, parents and invited guests, Congress- man Bill Archer presents the seniors at the formal. announcement of the Director's Award winner, Kelley Smith. lf I walked out today, she could take my job and carry on. That's the kind of person Kelley is, said Mrs. Baker. The Spirit Award, voted on by members only, was presented to Tracy Surber. jenny Elvig won the Cherie Rabulais Scholastic Award and received a S200 scholarship from the Booster Club. All of the girls received State in '78 letters for this year, but Captain Dana Weber said, l'll remember how everyone brought Teddy bears to the games after Kelley Smith's Teddy was so lucky at the Port Neches game. Mrs. Baker summed the Sparta- naire year saying, We strove for unity, respect for others and pride in the prevailing attitude of success. Striking a pose, Senior Cindy Simmons, juniors Brett Baudean and Suzi Hemin- ghaus and Sophomore jenny Drewa perform during halftime at the game against Churchill in the Astrodome. With her bouquet in hand, Senior Patti Walsh dances with her father at the Spartanaire formal. spartanaires 27