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

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Samurai Band member Jay Nachbar entertains the SHO-Band troops. New recruits are a main objective for these Hari Krishnas • Steve Mormino. Eric Sekler, Phi Czarnec, Al Schellhorn. Chris Jorgensen, and Bob Derasmo as they chant, in front of Woodward Park way School. Spirited In the beginning, approximately 1962. the Dress Down Day tradition was in its formative years. Wait a minute. inter .upted Iris McNulty, senior. Why do they call it Dress Down Day instead of Dress Up Day? Well, we have come a long way. The tradition started with each of the four classes pouring enthusiasm and crea- tiveness into skits, costumes and food booths all related to a chosen theme. A noisy, colorful dance brought the school gym to life. (The Commons wasn't added until 1969.) After an evening of fun. which also included inaugurating the class offi- cers. a group of faculty members judged the classes by awarding points for each activity. The winning class was allowed for one day to deviate from the formal dress code and thus we now have Dress Down Day. In all the years I can recall. stated Mr. Clifford Mackin. Assistant Principal, the senior class had won the contest. It be- came an academic lesson in futility for the freshmen, sophomores and juniors. A de- cision was made by students and faculty to initiate Senior Dress Down Day. The date was moved to late October to incorporate the Halloween spirit, and a parade to Wood ward Parkway Elementary School bridged a gap between the young students and ven- erated seniors. It has become the seniors' privilege to leave school early afternoon and spend the day according to their lik- ings. Creativeness mounted in those twenty years as timely Mediterranean fruit flies buzzed about and Creatures from the Daler Lagoon attacked with loaded water pistols. Other strange sightings reported were a walking-talking-basketball hoop, five-foot tall Conair hair dryer, brush and comb as well as oversized Presidential Jelly Beans. Faculty and administration retained their active part by awarding a Dean's Award, prize for funniest, group recognition awards, etc. The spirit lived on as well, as seniors spent afternoon and evening busily prepar ing. Donna Dudek. jock-in- the-box ex- plained. Building Santa s sled was the har- dest part; yet it was all worth it. The name of the game was have fun. forget all inhibition and go for it! I think we had great participation this year. announced Ondine Stettner. Presidential Jelly Bean. But I don't want to see another jelly bean again. Accompanied by the Samurai Pep Band, the colorful parade greeted the elementary school students much to the excitement of both. The 1981 Dress Down Day was such a success that bubbling juniors could be heard discussing plans for next year. I can't wait until our turn. I’m already think ing about what to go as and with whom. blurted Mary Winterfeldt. junior. And the tradition goes on. Our own version of Beauty and the Beast — Paolo Scagliarini and La Se- nora de Perez. Minney and Mickey Mouse. Sue Ho- horst and Maureen Buckley, came all the way from Disneyland to join in the festivities. Dress Down Day 19

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 Santa's reindeer. Tina Kosteas. Doreen Lieursi. Nahry Kretchman. Liz Boy Ian and Carol Morris, arrived with Toys Marie Cramsic. Joe Bruno and Donna Dudek a few months early Seemingly lost. Tom Ferrity, Larry Ji- menez. Carol Abato, and Angelo Latona try to find their was back to Sesame Street The devil made me do it”, claims Angel Tracey Ronca as Tracie Boccafola gives a devilish grin. 18 Dress Down Day

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Behind The Scenes Picture a barren stage, costu- meless actors and actresses fumbling around in the dark. What would Oklahoma have been without the bails of hay, ears of corn and the marvelous musical score? Luckily we don't have to imagine because the hours of preparation contri- buted by the Livewires, Daler Pressman, Pit Band, cast and crew produced acclaimed re- sults, such as this year's Fall production of Rodger's and Hammerstein's Oklahoma. Master carpenter, Wayne Snyder, senior, initiated pro- duction. I had to interpret Ken Glric's flat designs, then as- signed jobs to the various crew members, stated Wayne. For weeks the crew’s lives were filled with drybrushing and splattering. The corn fields proved quite a hindrance to perfection. Crew members struggled to repaint the set amid the bustle of a dress re- hearsal. Simultaneously, an electric sewing machine running at full capacity was heard in the hall as Ken Glric, director, shouted instructions to the lighting crew on the catwalk. Props were assembled by Lynn Slonim, sophomore, who com- mented. It’s a demanding, yet rewarding responsibility to col- lect and distribute all the neces- sary equipment for the play. The major spotlight, playfully nicknamed Bertha, was cared for by Dave Falco, sophomore. ‘‘I treat Bertha well and she co- operates. stated Dave. Life ran smoothly until a set wouldn’t open, but extra hands were always ready. “When the equipment is operating, we know what we re doing and everything comes out great, most of the time,” confirmed Steven Wolk, junior, a member of the audio squad. In the final weeks choreogra- phy was perfected; audio was checked and the pit and cast finally work in perfect synchro- nization. Rehearsals lasted a grueling six to seven hours weekdays and ten hours on Saturdays and holidays: The hours are long, but the friendships you make and the fun you have is worth it,” explained Doreen Li- cursi, senior, crew member. As closing night neared and each contributor took pride in the finished product, there was a feeling of satisfaction on all faces and everyone knew coo- peration made it happen. 20 Play Preparation