Thornwood High School - Thunderbird Yearbook (South Holland, IL)

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Thornwood H.S. celebrates tenth anniversary When an infant is born, the people around him are thrilled and en- chanted with the new challenges that face all of them in the future. As a child grows, he matures and learns during his daily activities. When a child reaches the age of ten, he still requires guidance. The opening of Thornwood High School occurred on January 24, 1972, but the birth of Thornwood transpired in 1968 when District 205 inhabitants ap- proved the 310,000,000 referendum to construct a third school in the dis- trict. Thornwood's opening is com- parable to the birth and growth of a child. Through the aging process, Thornwood has grown, learned, and, most of all, matured. Dr. Robert C. Mitchell, principal, talked of this growth, but stated that too many schools grow into a daily routine. I hope that Thornwood and its staff never becomes too routine or blase. The educational process includes the daily encounters and surprises. Thornwood's existence for one dec- ade has brought many changes and much growth for the staff, the ad- ministration and the students. Being very concerned and quite active within the first decade, Dr. Mitchell has persisted in making Thornwood more than an average high school. Functioning on a school within a school basis, each assistant principal had a school to handle. Each school had its own counselors and deans for a specific part of the alphabet. Students re- ceived the necessary help from their particular administrator to guide them through their high school years. Operating on this idea, Dr. Mitch- ell oversaw the additions of more classrooms and shops opening in the fall of 1978 and the addition of an indoor track and fieldhouse during the 1980 school year. Through these additions Thornwood's capacity could peak at 5,000 students. Although Thornwood has the ca- pacity of housing 5,000 students or more, in the earlier stages it played berth to 4,500 students and present- ly accomodates 3,100. Some adminis- trators have divulged that al- though we now manage with over 3,000 students, a comfortable num- ber of students to have in attendnce would be approximately 2,500. Even though Thornwood's staff has undergone several changes over the years, eighty-six of the original staff members prevail at Thorn- wood. These dedicated administra- tors and teachers have supplied the foundation for Thornwood's learn- ing experiences. Because of their support, fine work, and dedication, these staff members all received in- vitations to attend the Tenth Anni- versary Reception at Thornwood on January 29, 1981. All members were given corsages and boutineers in honor of this accomplishment. The reception in honor of the Thunderbirds' Tenth Anniversary had been planned by two dedicated staff members, Mrs. Marilyn Bauer, Assistant Principal, and Mr. Eric Kennedy, Director of Student Ac- tivities, who designed the format for the evening. The invitees included such honored guests as the mayors of District 205 communities, Board of Education members, and a cross- section of 1981 students and faculty. The celebration commended every- one on a successful first decade and included best wishes for the years to come. an . - .. Q. -.l 148 FEATURES 'Vik 117515 --I '

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