Valdese High School - Impersonator Yearbook (Valdese, NC)

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A. Mark Newton works to improve his read- ing skills. B. From a variety of books, Kevin Smith selects one that appeals to his interests. C. Sophomores Gita and Jackie Smith examine the Roman Empire during the reign of Julius Caesar. D. Mrs. Braswell’s class finds tests are still as hard as ever. E. Allan Hunnycutt listens attentively in Sophomore English class. F. Freshman English students gain experi- ence through the use of the reading laboratory. Teaches: English Il Sponsors: Forensic Society Mrs. Betty Nesbit received an AB degree from Catawba College. She was the coordinator for the poetry class given in Dec. by Ross Talerico. She compiled the booklet “Fogging Up The Glass.” Teaches: English I Sponsors: Future Teachers of America Mrs. Myra Braswell attended Greensboro College and received an AB degree. V She was selected as a Leader of American Secondary Education for 1971.

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Reading Lab Introduced Perhaps the first and most lasting impression that every freshman has is that of Mrs. Braswell and first year English. The use of a reading laboratory presented a new approach to the study of literature. Another innovation that enabled independent learning was the use of the contract method to study Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. Time cannot change one tradition that is here to stay at V.H.S. — the course of grammar. Mrs. Braswell’s “BE Family” has always been a part of freshman English and always will. Robert Nathan’s Portrait of Jennie carried the sophomores into a world of fantasy and creative writing. Students began learning to express themselves with sentence writing and basic com- position. As spring began to blossom Mrs. Nesbit’s classes journeyed to the era of Shakespeare and early drama. The Roman forum came back to life with the enactment of Julius Caesar. As the end of the year approached each student gained insight and appreciation for one of the great masters of all time. 26 English

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Upperclassmen Explore Literature Junior English students drift down the Mississippi to meet Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Here they begin an exploration of American Liter- ature. Creeping through dark and gloomy corridors Juniors open doors to the strange short stories of Edgar Allan Poe. Continuing their travels of English III, students meet the characters from Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town.” While third year students tour our native literature, Senior English stu- dents pursue a variety of different topics. Mrs. Massengill’s class ventures into the world of English Literature. While looking at Shakespeare’s Mac- beth, students sample Elizabethan foods. A tour of the historical sites in Burke County rounds out this year, as these students review the story of Frankie Silvers. Students in Mr. Sweezy’s classes explore the subjects of creative writing and composition. Using a contract, these students com- plete twelve assignments each six weeks. A wide selection of projects permit a freedom of expression while improving skills. One unique exercise which challenges even the best pupils is writing a paragraph using only one- syllable words. One ‘‘favorite’’ study of students is the art of public speaking. Informative and Persuasive speeches of three to five minutes help all to over- come their phobia of talking before groups. A. Junior Donna Capps gives an interesting book report to Mrs. Massen- gill’s English class. Roxie Benton and Kyle McClure enjoy their enactment of Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town.” Senior “Playboy Bunnies” Ann Buchanan, Peggy Day, Cathy Oaks, Sherrie Moyers, and Connie Bounous entertain the class. Wayne Stacey shares his opinion of a book with the class.