Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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DESPITE FEW CURRICULUM changes, many physical changes, including added classrooms for Thomas Jeffer- son, took place. aVN ONE OF THE many facilities offered by the Valparaiso Community School System to students is the indoor tennis court building located at Thomas Jefferson. “Our nation is at risk.” U.S. high schools are “surviving, but not thriving.” “A report card on public education is a report card on the nation. Schools can rise no higher than the communities that support them.” These quotes from various educational reports display the variety of opinions that have accompanied the wave of worry over U.S. schools recently. Education was in the news, but the news which people re- ceived was negative and, mainly, unclear. To many people, the decline of public education sounded disasterous. However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Especially in Valparaiso, schools managed to uphold a positive image. Although not perfect, the Valparaiso Community School Sys- tem, was a prime example of the excellence in education. “We don’t suffer from the feeling of mediocrity that is sweep- ing the country,” said Superintendent R. James Risk. He added that the success of the Valparaiso Community School System is, basically, based on the care and concern of staff, the curricu- lum, the facilities, and the raw product, the students. However, Mr. Garth Johnson, VHS principal, pinpoints the excellence not only on capable students, and competent teach- ers, but also on community support. “Community parents place high value in education,” said Mr. Johnson. “There are a number of communities that do not put priority on education,” he added. In fact, a telephone survey taken last November supported this fact. Out of the 1,000 people surveyed, 81% of the people in Center Township gave the school system an A or a B grade in the overall quality of education. This number is much higher than the national percentage, which is only 31%. Although the whole school system is considered to give qual- ity education, much of the credit for the success has gone to Valparaiso High School. According to Mr. Johnson, VHS is a little above average when compared to other high schools. Valparaiso is a small community, with many parents possessing a college degree, so education is very important, he added. VHS appeared in the spotlight in June 1983 when it was selected by the Department of Education as a finalist in the Secondary School Report Program, making it one of the top 144 junior and senior schools in the nation, and one of the top 85 senior schools. Even though the award was given specifically to the high school, the honor goes to the entire school system. Mr. Risk explained, “It reflects on the total school system and commu- nity.” No school is perfect, and the schools in Valparaiso are no exception. Changes take place constantly. This year, despite the fact that there were few curriculum changes, many phys- ical changes took place. Besides the classrooms that were added on to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and North- view Elementary School, a new Service and Transportation Center was built. This building, located on 55 Evans Street, houses 40 buses, vans and maintenance vehicles and pro- vides work space for mechanics and repairmen. All changes are derived from set goals. According to Mr. Risk, the goal for education in the future is for more individ- ualized programs for students. Although students should be given what they want, he explained, they should also be challenged up to their capacity. But, to continue improving public education, more money is needed. “More money has to be spent,” stressed Mr. John- son, who added that the money should go to improve teach- ers’ salaries. Even though Valparaiso teachers are paid some of the highest salaries in the state. Mr. Risk said that the system will lose good teachers unless they are paid competi- tive salaries. Despite the fact that money might be short and some public schools may be suffering, there are many schools in America that are doing a satisfactory job in educating pupils. Mr. Risk added, “Overall, this community is very fortunate to have such a school system.” — Stephanie Brown Valparaiso Community Schools Feature 13

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TO PROVIDE MORE working space for students, new art and music rooms were added on at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. Additional class- rooms were also built for Northview Elementary School. AFTER 14 YEARS at the same location, a new ser- vice and transportation center was built to provide more space for vehicles, repairs, and storage.

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WHEN LADY LARKEN (Jenni Carmichael) explains her ‘condition.’ chivalrous Sir Harry (Mike Buzinski) is shocked and decides he must leave immediately to find a princess to pass the queen’s test. DOMINEERING QUEEN AGGRAVAIN (Melissa Daniels) explains to her son Dauntless (Sean McGo- vern) that he must marry a genuine, bonafide prin- cess. DESPITE THE QUEEN’S sleeping potions. Princess Winnefred (Dee Dee Brauer ) finds it impossible to sleep due to a pea underneath the 20 mattresses.