West High School - Shaheen Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

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From Four to Five Just what is the special quality that makes a school great? As in any successful production or business venture, it is the bread and butter, behind- the-scenes activity of those who feel dedication, de- votion, and yes, love, for theirjob. Behind-the-scenesi' at WHS are the students and teachers who remain during the magic hour following that final 3:50 bell. This is the hour when ambitions and ideas turn into realities. For some, the hour following the dismissal bell is characterized by a quick dash for jackets and books, and a race to the door and freedom, But some remain. What do they stay for? What happens during these sixty minutes at West? Custodians emerge suddenly to ready corridors and classrooms for the next day's onslaught of crumpled notes, broken pencils, and sundry rem- nants of an average school day. Falcon Days means laughing girls and boys making chicken- wire and crepe paper with hopes of prize-winning floats and displays. The main hall becomes a com- mon workroom as girls dressed in shorts and sneakers crawl on their hands and knees to create gigantically colorful posters and decora- tions. A happy blast of music reminds everyone that the band is practicing. Horns blare with the West High rendition of Bill Bailey. The Beak 'n Eye will come out in fine shape tomorrow because dur- ing this special hour a human assembly line briskly inserts pages and puts the copies into order for ready distribution first thing in the morning. A sci- ence teacher and her students gather materials that will be needed for the following day,s lab assign- ments. They make solutions and bacteria cultures. The hour from four to five is a time to get to know the teacher better, a time for people too shy to ask questions in class to find answers. Here is the op- portunity for a boy or girl to discuss personal prob- lems with the teacher. In the gym, it is the hour of athletics. Coach Wessel briefs the basketball team and emphasizes points on the blackboard. His voice echoes in the stillness of the gym. The swim team knows that hour after school well, for it is a time for swimming lap after lap until it feels impossible to go any further, but they do! It is almost five o'clock now. A very few remain, but those who stayed leave for home with a very real sense of belonging to West, or more likely, of West High belonging to them. 28 Two girls help Miss Knopick prepare biological specimens. Many rush to the automobile at the day's end, but many rem

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Kathy Hirth and Judi Rowlands assist parents during Open House. Directing confused parents through the maze of West corridors are Janice Kuehl and Donna Nix. 27

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by Sharon Asplund Swimmers und other athletes practice for hours Lifter school classes Teamwork is the key tqthe successful distribution ofthe Beak'r1 Eye. it .EEST ws... F' . in -Ili X flew X .. i .kr J