West High School - Chieftain Yearbook (Torrance, CA)

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Poetry Man An overwhelming response from english classes last year brought the Poetry Man , ' Roger Steffans, back to West high for a special all-school assembly. Steffans is unique- a moustached, ' vivacious person who doesn ' t look at all like some poets you pictured in your mind. What Steffans gets from his audi- ence is response. What he creates in the air is magic. Steffans says his favorite audiences are full of people who hate poetry . He makes them love it. Unlike anyone else, he interpets poets, and tries to relate personally to every piece. He projects them onto the audience, gets inside them and lives them out dramat- ically. Following is a poem by Gwen MasEwen, one of the favorites Steffans performed at West called FLIGHT ONE. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen This is your Captain speaking. We are flying at an unknown altitude And an incalculable speed. The temperature outside is beyond words. If you look out your windows you will see Many ruined cities and enduring seas But if you wish to sleep please close the blinds. My navigator has been ill for many years And we are on Automatic Pilot; regrettably I cannot foresee our ultimate destination. Have a pleasant trip. You may smoke, you may drink, you may dance You may die. We may even land one day. 42 Poet

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Schoolroom Setting for Spring Play Lei it be a challenge means you ' re stuck with it, Inter- personal relationships , means a fight, File in alphabetical order means to throw it away, and It has come to my at- tention means you ' re in trouble. No, this isn ' t a normal chaotic day at West. Actually, it ' s the mess that the new teacher, Slyvia Barrett (Suzanne Ste. Marie), finds herself in on her first day of teaching school in the play, UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE. Slyvia soon seems to be fighting a loosing battle when she compulsively tries to defend a rude and difficult young man named Joe Ferone (Jon Cohen). She becomes involved in a romance, a confrontation with a disciplinary administration, and most of all, with the unex- pected problems of her students. v 3.SL . . . FACULTY AND STAFF Dr. Maxwell Clarke Kaysey Hoover Sylvia Barrett Suzanne Ste. Marie Beatrice Schachter Cyndi Mannion Paul Barringer Doug Todd J.J. McHabe Sue Livingston Ella Friedenberg Becky Teeters Frances Egan Bobbi Feist Charlotte Wolf Linda Miller Samuel Bester Richard Gralnik Sadie Finch Sharon Donning STUDENTS Lou Martin Bob Gruenburg Lennie Neumark Bob O ' Neill Carole Blanca Lisa Townsend Alice Blake Debbie Ayers Vivian Paine Aren Corrick Rusty O ' Brien Doug Webb Linda Rosen Hope Halligan Jose Rodriguez Albert Febbo Harry Kagan Wally Hollis Jill Norris Sharon Stefan Rachel Gordon Jana Gray Elizabeth DUis Page Gansemer Charles Arrons Tom Mosher Edward Williams Lyle Davis Joe Ferone Jon Cohen Helen Arbuzzi Diane Slick Francine Gardner Jeanne Rodinos Katherine Wolzow Shelli Hudson Ellen Denise Austin Director Ron Scarlata Assistant Director Dave Wentworth Stage Manager John Male Script Person Lori Dubowitz Jenny Brock Lighting Crew Head Ben Lytle U p the Down Staircase 4 !

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Fitting the Moments Together ■ ' m i. One day in the life of a student means actually having to fit each moment, and each activity together. With the fast, sped up pace of today ' s world, it is necessary for the students, now, to be prepared. The daily routine that students experience while they ' re here, is in fact, a major and integral part of the learning achievement. Out of the many activities that are provided through the year, this is the one that goes most unnoticed yet it is the one, vital activity that everyone participates in. The interaction between each other is a growing process that can ' t be ignored. Everyone is involved; that ' s the rules of the game. It ' s a game where losing the first try doesn ' t mean you ' ve lost the whole game.