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

Page 21 text:

Identities are kept hidden as the long succes- sionof costumed students paradesdown Wood- ward Parkway. All eyes, whether anticipating their turn behind the masks or shining with awe. are directed towards the extravaganza. Who was that masked person, or rather, what was it? Perhaps, it was the girl that sat next to you in math everyday fourth period, or the boy that always stared at you in lunch. In reali ty. Dress Down Day 1982 had arrived bringing with it many surprises. Some awaited October 29 with an- ticipation, others with doubt. Many were worried how other classmates would react to their costumes. People actually thought Gumby was really a giant string bean, and who were those girls with green mops on their heads? Steven Wolk, senior, recalled, I really enjoyed my costume because nobody knew who was under the Chewbacca suit. I started walking up to people I didn’t even know and grunting at them.” What a sight the Commons was on the morning of October 29. Everyone was parading around showing off the results of hours, or for some, minutes of work. Preparing for Dress Down Day was more than half of the fun, especially if a group of people dressed up together. “I remember the first time our group had a meeting. We all had our own ideas on how we thought the behind the costume should be done. Towards the middle of the day we all had the same disgusted expressions on our faces. It was a miracle our costumes turned out the way they did,” recalled Jean- ine Ingrassia, an umpa-loompa. Others chose to do a costume by themselves. Billy Kurtz, a top hat, stat- ed. I felt I missed out on part of the fun by not dressing up with a group.” The special part of the day was that only the seniors were allowed to par- ticipate. For years, they had watched other classes have their fun. Now it was their turn. Lisa Praveto, a bumble- bee. remarked, Dress Down Day is a privilege that makes us seniors feel special.” Most agreed that the underclassmen should not be allowed to participate. I feel Dress Down Day is a senior activ- ity and should remain so. The under- classmen would only cause chaos. Anyway. I enjoy watching the seniors have their fun; it gives me something to look forward to,” stated Nancy Niemczyk, junior. Actually, Dress Down Day was the first activity the class of 1983 partici- pated in together. Something like Dress Down Day creates a special feel ing among the class and causes z closeness to develop, explained Sue Kestenbaum, an umpa-loompa. The Unknown Band led the proces sion down Woodward Parkway to the elementary school. There, a crowd of children ranging from four to twelve watched with amazement. Some were shy; others were very responsive. Pa- tricia Baumann, a capsule, comment- ed, We decided to do something that happened currently—the Tylenol scare. The kids were so little they real- ly did not understand what we were supposed to be. Dress Down Day was a letdown for certain people. Maria Milano, a Kity Ka-Do coloring book, related, My cos- tume was very uncomfortable and that caused me not to have as good a time as I had intended.” The crisp spring-like day added ex- tra enthusiasm to the already festive atmosphere. The day held different memories for everyone that would last a lifetime. Even twenty-five years after Dress Down Day classmates will still be wondering who was that man dis- guised as Death? Dress Down Day 17

Page 20 text:

 A potion may have been brewing, but It wasn't that of the traditional witch. Maybe Jamie Nico- sia plans to alter his personality Makeup proves to be a necessity in creating a desired effect. Tom Moffet is transformed into Adam and the Ants with the help of Lisa Hill Ever dream about joining the circus? Dreams can come true for several seniors who enjoy clowning around Some people just refuse to grow up. Sal Gar- guilo and Carmine Ratto revert to their child- hood fantasties. 16 Dress Down Day

Page 22 text:

IBS GREAT ESCAPE The monotony seemed to have reached a maximum, but yet there was more to come. Students trudged from class to class with thoughts only of the upcoming weekend. Each class seemed to go by at a snail’s pace. Fi- nally, the last bell rang, and masses of people made a mad dash for their long awaited freedom. However, escaping from school did not necessarily mean finding Gtopia. Many students found that every minute away from school was not des- tined to be one's own. Free time was still important even if it was dampened by nagging thoughts of those twenty- eight overdue art labs, the not yet started ten page report, and the 320 page book, due in two days, that was still nicely sitting in the library. Janet Gioia, senior, confided, Whenever I go out and have a fun time while my homework remains untouched at home, I always have a guilty feeling lingering in the back of my mind. Others didn’t let schoolwork burden their conscience. Free time is my time, a time when I’m doing things for me. Whatever I’m doing, I do for my- self and by my own choosing, posi- tively stated Jay Weinstein, senior. School and the activities that ac- companied it occupied a tremendous part of everyone’s life. Leisure time, although not always evident to overly active or employed students, allowed one to get away from the daily grind. Veronica D’Angelis, senior, comment- ed, Leisure time gives me an opportu- nity to breathe and to hang out with my friends! To other students free moments were non-existent; there was no time to think things out and rest. Diana Hibbard, senior, exclaimed, What leisure time? Between work and school there is none! Weekends for some students were planned to the second. Now the tele- phone changed from a weekday gossip grapevine to a weekend necessity. The phone was indispensable in order to find out what was happening. Without it I wouldn't know what my friends were doing or what was going on, said Janine Meunier, junior. For entertainment, the movies at the Sunrise Mall provided students with a wide selection of choices. Places like Pawnbroker, Whiskey Reds, and Mer’s often lured students who wished to be with friends and have a panic. If I didn’t have some time to relax with friends, I never would have been able to survive the upcoming school week, replied Paul Sheridan, senior. To get away from the hassles of school many students chose to be by themselves. Some preferred to blast out the rest of the world in a room with the stereo cranked all the way up, while others preferred the silence of curling up with a good book. A popu- lar form of filling up time was sitting in front of the tube escaping from the world of reality for a while with the ever continuing saga of soap opera characters. It's a chance to take my mind away from what is really happen- ing and get involved in something su- perficial, like if Luke will ever walk again or who actually killed Nora Ful- ton?” explained Donna O’Leary, sen- ior. The one major problem confronted by all was the question of money. Be- sides having to work to afford college, many students found the only way to pay for those Big Macs and fill the gas tank was to enter the world of work. I really enjoyed knowing that if I want to buy something, I don’t always have to run to my parents. Working makes me feel less restricted, remarked Mike Weisbrod, senior. The weekend and all the other pre- cious free time always seemed to fly past while everyone tried in vain to make every moment count. It was dur- ing the escape from school that we “hung out” with friends who will al- ways be remembered, and shared times that will never be forgotten. The phone is the next best thing to being there. By talking with a friend. Angela Maniscalco re- lieves the boredom of studying and keeps up with the latest gossip 1« 18 Leisure Time