West Mecklenburg High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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In Chemistry I Dannie Milholland, Bil Cranford experiment in the laboratory. Birmingham, and Jeff Steve Byers and Johnny Hager learn an important phase of physics in laboratory experimentation. Biology I pupils study the body structure of the coelenterate hydra as part of their year ' s work. Biology I, Biology II, Chemistry I, physics, and senior science offer choices for the two science units required for graduation. Biology I enables the student to understand the relationship which exists between organisms in na- ture. Biology 1 1 is a course which probes more deeply into plant and animal life. Chemistry I teaches the student the fundamental concepts of general chemistry. A higher-level science course is high school phy- sics. It consists of units in mechanics, heat, sound, light, properties of matter, atomic physics, and nuclear physics. Senior science, offered only to seniors, teaches basic science. Students Choose From Five Science Courses Miss Geraldine I. Anderson Senior Science, Biology I Science Club Advisor Mrs. Annette G. Caudle Chemistry I, Biology I Science Club Advisor Mr. John P. Coulter, )r. Chemistry I Mrs. Betty L. Hunsucker Biology I, Physics Miss Margaret D. Walton Biology I, 1 1 Page 20

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Mr. Sam P. Durrance French II French Club Advisor Miss Barbara A. Johnson Spanish I, II, English III Spanish Club Advisor Mrs. Frances K. Ross Latin I, II, English IV Latin Club Advisor Junior Class Advisor Miss Zelda H. Tyler French I, II French Club Advisor By carefully listening to Mr. Durrance, French prove their comprehension of spoken French. students im- Learning the basic grammar in Latin I enables a student to read about the Gallic Wars of Caesar in Latin II. Classroom Labs Enrich Language Studies Through more advanced methods, West ' s Foreign Language Department made great strides toward students ' comprehension of foreign languages. Two language labs were added, giving all foreign lan- guage students an opportunity to hear, speak, and comprehend each language. The Latin Department gives the student the abil- ity to read and understand Latin, and it provides a broader outlook of the English language. Two years of Latin are available to the students. Spanish courses are designed to enable students to comprehend and speak this language more ably. Both Spanish I and II stress grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. West offers two years of French. French I empha- sizes the fundamentals of grammar. French II em- phasizes more advanced grammar and readings. These courses contribute to the knowledge of French civilization, increase the comprehension of the language, and enlarge the vocabulary. Miss Johnson ' s Spanish classes learn not only by studying the Spanish language but also by studying the customs and dress. Page 19

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Mr. Laye instructs students in the fundamentals of geometry. Mr. Charles E. Boone Algebra I, Business Math Mr. Reginald L. Laye Geometry Tennis Coach I V. Basketball Coach Miss Julia E. Martin Algebra I, II Mr. Ronald B. Patterson Business Math Track and Cross Country Coach I V. Football Coach Mr. Vance Schrum Algebra 1 1, Geometry Mrs. Rachel Shannon Algebra III, Senior Math Beta Club Advisor Advanced Courses Offered in Math Senior math is a college preparatory course. West ' s Mathematics Department offers train- ing for students who will continue their education in college and also for students who will end their formal education in high school. Such courses as business math, geometry, Alge- bra I, and Algebra II are taken by the majority of students as basic math courses. Algebra, besides being necessary background for further courses in mathematics, is helpful, along with business math, in solving practical problems. This year ' s geometry texts brought to all geometry students the concepts of solid geometry as natural sequels to those of plane geometry. These subjects are needed by all students in the formation of sound methods of rea- soning. Especially challenging math courses are college algebra and senior math, both of which are favorite courses of students planning to go to college. Col- lege algebra, an extension of Algebra II, is consid- ered by many colleges as one basis for advanced placement in mathematics. Senior math, which in- troduces trigonometry in the first semester and solid aeometry in the second semester, is a pre- requisite for all students interested in a career in science. Page 21