Weldon E Howitt High School - Hi Life Yearbook (Farmingdale, NY)

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Left: The school's entrance is one of the many facets of the building's stunning architecture. Lower Left: The multitude of windows provide a beautiful place to study for Diane Molloy. Below: The auditorium serves as a center for entertainment in an attractive atmopshere. troom. Although these subtle ex- tras have been i n- corporated into the school for an overall improved aca- demic atmosphere, often the student only appreci- ates them subconsciously. A student is more apt to learn in pleasant surroundings, but few recognize this and the benefits our school offers. r EXPLORING CORRIDORS “Aesthetically the layout of the school is really nice. It's different, but when you have one class in the third hall and the next on the other side of the school you may have trouble getting to class on time” — Cathy Ringewald, senior. It's so big; there are at least three or four different ways to get wherever you want to go.” — Debbie Bauer, senior. This school is too Georges, sophomore. big and cold. — Thomas 15

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14 Below: The absence of students during class creates a serene atmosphere in one of the school’s four courtyards. Structural Beauty Revealed 1 Above: A rare view of the school from surrounding woods. Above Right: The front of the school serves as an early afternoon bus stop. In the hectic daily routine, students often neglect to take the time to observe the surroundings in which they spend their three high school years. While the high school's intricate ar- chitecture may appeal to some students’ sense of aesthetics, a great deal of them see it as just another school. If students could walk through the school without the distractions like crowded halls, squeaking chalk, and full classrooms, they might appreciate the maze-like structure. While traveling through the corri- dors, the numerous attrac- tive windows would be no- ticed first. The eight foot tall frames and small ledges look out onto the curved paths and deserted ben- ches of the landscaped courtyards. In their contoured design, the auditorium, the pool, the spiraled library stair- case, and the Commons serve as diversions from the box-like classrooms and long straight hallways. Although the classrooms are ordinary, many reflect a mood readily associated with the subject taught in their confines. A student’s favorite might be a science room with plants and dis- play cabinets, an English classroom with attractive posters, or a colorful ar-

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Changes and Events Make School Year Unique Dark tans, sun bleached hair, physically fit bodies, and rested minds entered the school building on Sep- tember 6th. The sophomores seemed lost and naive. The juniors were confident as they walked through now famil- iar halls, and there was the usual air of superiority about entering seniors. The common belief that another ordinary school year was beginning was merely a myth, since every year is unique. During the first week of school the students were greeted by demonstrating teachers. For the first time in history, members of the Farmingdale Federation of Teachers began the school year without a contract. The controversy between the school board and the teacher’s union, which con- tinued for two months into the school year, caused un- certainty for students and parents alike. The teachers demonstrated their feelings to the parents on open school night by wearing buttons which read, “I am working without a con- tract. Above: Announcers and camera men aid fans in cheering on football team. Top: Varsity cheerleaders spark enthusiasm among spectators. Students were also greeted by a revised set of rules and a changed calen- dar. The rules, which con- cerned cutting, truancy, and loitering on school grounds, had evidently been made more stringent and intentionally more bind- ing. There has been less cutting because of the new rules, and even less truancy since the penalty for two