Valley Central High School - Viking Log Yearbook (Montgomery, NY)

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Musical Genius heaas A Cappella family Students become crazy together fRightj The junior and sophomore members of the Concert Band are: ffrontj Tom Decker, Nick Palos, Mike Luft, Vincent Velasquez, Michael Decker, Phillip Basile, Linda Riley, Carol Hutchinson, Elizabeth Herries, Mary Kopaskie, Ioannc Morris, fsecondj Lisa Holzschuh, Denise Warrington, Kira Skala, Linda Smedes, Marlene Schulhoff, Kathy Hayes, Caryl VanSickle, Vicki Fitzpatrick, Sheryl Domfort, Lucy Montanye, Nancy Pomarico, fthirdj Kathy Kane, Andrea Stapinsky, Laurie Schaper, Mike Rabiet, lim Panaro, Steve Wilson, Steve Brola, Darryl Hey, Iustice Varwig, Wendy Cron, Maria Lazzara, Bruce Williams, Colleen OlRourke, Sandy Campana, tbackj David Bistor, Richard Draiss, William Matikiewicz, Iimmy Fogg, Michael Birch, Cary Harris, Kevin Davie, Chris Sitko, Carmen Delessio, Tim Smedes. Melanie Schick, Anne McDermott. fRightJ The members of the Wind Ensemble are: ffrontj Christina Meade, Sandy Campana, Nancy Weiss, Tammy Kaus, Paula Bastiano, Mike Decker, Vinny Velasquez, Steve Nelson, Glenn Marroon, Fred Theadore, Leon Swyka, fsecondj Mike Luft, Nick Palos, Steve Wilcox, Wayne Riley, Keith Pholman, Cliff Katz, Dave Bistor, Sue Brooks, Wendy Cron, Diane Hopkins, Diana Shiner, Laurie Schaper, Carolyn Schmoll, fthirdj Vicki Fitzpatrick, Sue Paglen, Eleanor Hedin, Denise Warrington, Marcia Birch, Sue Imbriani, julie Basile, Iackie Besser, Sue Ann Smith, Val Upchurch, lane Weiss, Lisa Holzschuh, Doree Fisher, ffourthl Carol Hutchinson, Sue Segall, Cathy McMahon, Liz Herries, Marlene Schulhoff, Brenda Swithers, Iill Taylor, Lori Spinelli, Melanie Schick, Mary DesGranges, lanet Hoffman, Carla Crist, Sheryl Domfort, Matt Damon, Mr. Iohn Nash, fbackj Iim Panaro, Mike Rabiet, Herbie Geiger, Gary Harris, Mike Hey, Chris Sitko, Matikiewicz, Bill Birch, Steve Brola. Darryl Bruce Williams, William Brooks, Ion Haggar, lane Fowler, Ieff Moore. 98 ACADEMICS usic, to most people, involves instruments as well as vocals, but the ancient voice is, perhaps, the most instrument of all. A Cappella, singing without accompaniment, is an age-old art. The members of VC's A Cappella choir enjoyed this form of musical expression and felt a closeness to each other. As one member, Pat Stacey, said, I think the togetherness is great! I love all the crazy peopleln Every year, the members of A Cap- pella have a Christmas party. This year the party was held at Pam Toth's house. Lisa Holzchuh said, A Cap- pella is really great. Everyone gets along really well. A Cappella is a close-knit unit. The reason for the tightness of the group, as Iulie Schmeiser put it, is the people work together Well and pro- duce a good sound. Knowing that they need each other brings them closer. Although the choir and the chorus didn't plan a musical production this year, they worked hard on their spring and winter concerts. Iill Lounsbury said, The music is basically difficult, but I don't mind . . . I like it. Along with the pieces they perform, A Cappella also worked on choral mu- sic. This year the choral pieces were basically show music selected from previous VC productions. The music was from productions such as: Porgy and Bess, An Account of Ourselves, and Oklahoma. Continued on p. 101

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Students geor to college . . . the act of learning is essentially up to the individual. ot all students learn at the same rate: some learn rapidly, and others don't. Since the act of Ulearningl' is essentially up to the individual, one of the few things schools can do to pro- mote better learning is to group stu- dents according to their abilities. VC is one of the twenty percent of the nation's high schools that offer AP fAdvanced Placementj courses. The AP program is intended, not only as an excellent opportunity for the more outstanding students to work up to their abilitiesf' as Mr. Shafer said, 2' --...., Y .L ' but to allow them to earn college credit for their work. Some students, instead of empha- sizing earning college credit for AP courses, emphasize the benefit from just taking college-level courses and sampling the work-load. lane Weiss said, I think it prepares you a little more for college. Tina Enright thought that AP courses were worthwhile because you get an idea of what college courses are like. This year a fourth AP course - So- cial Studies - was added to VC's Eng- lish, math, and biology APls. Ieff Hag- gar thought the AP program was definitely worthwhile, but wished the school offered a wider variety, like physics and chemistry NFA has around ten. Dave Hanson, like Ieff, wished more science AP courses were offered. An AP test in each course is given at the end of the year to capable stu- dents willing to pay thirty-two dollars. lf the student gets a score of three to five points, he is eligible for college credit. Iackie Besser, who enrolled in AP biology, English, and social studies, said, UI think the courses are worth it if youlre going to take the AP test at the end of the year. If you don't take the test, it's a waste of time because you really don't get anything out of it except a lot of hard work. fAboveJ lt's Monday! That's the only explanation Mike Schoonmukers slouch needs. fLeftJ School isn't just for learning - sometimes il's for fun. Tonya Lown laughs as Mr. Calvey wonders aloud: Mr, Kunkowski. did this work lose anything in the translation? At the end of each quarter, when report cards are made out, the BOCES computer adds ten percent to the grade of AP students. Some people feel the ten percent is too much, oth- ers feel it's not enough, and still oth- ers, like Debbie Wollenberg, think it's 'tfairf' Todd Wynkoop, who took social studies, English, and math AP's said, l think the ten percent is ridiculous, 'cuz the teachers don't make you work ten percent harder. Donna Halter disagreed. She thought the ten percent was fair be- cause there's a difference between the high school senior and the college freshman, and that makes up for it. In the same vein, Faith Kopaskie said, Yes it's fair! We're doing college level work here! AP courses: college level work in high school - Hto each according to his ability. fAbovel The comedian-spirit parades through schools more than jeans. Mutt Damon, considered very funny, cocks an eyebrow at the camera. ACADEMICS 97

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fLeftJ Flautists, Diana Shiner and Diane Hopkins, contribute to H23 Skiddoo during a school assembly in February. fAbovej Percussionsists jim Panuro, Mike Rabiet, Mutt Damon, and Brenda Swither maintain the rhythm for the Wind Ensemble. fBelowl Bellowing, jim Fogg vibrates the band room. ACADEMICS 99