West Mesa High School - El Chicote Yearbook (Albuquerque, NM)

Page 39 text:

Mathematics Department Courses designed to meet changing world In Calculus, Mr. Bartlett explains the application of derivatives to Lynn Thunborg and Dan Caffrey. ii Distinguishing the differences between 4 geometric solids are sophomores Brent Espinoza, holding a triangular prism, and Martha Martinez, with a hexagonal. prism. Looking on is Doug Lawrence. Mathematics continues to change as the world changes, and West Mesa High School continues to offer a varie- ty of mathematics courses designed to fulfill the needs and desires of as many different students as possible. Upper level courses include Algebra II, Math Analysis and Calculus which are mainly for the college-bound stu- dent. Computer Oriented Mathematics provides basic computer programming of mathematical problems for those in- terested in the everwidening computer field. Algebra I and Geometry provides in- troductory work in the abstract field, knowledge of shapes and sizes, and leaming how to solve problems pre- sented by these concepts. An increase in the number of students taking Business Mathematics has oc- curred and an even larger number is expected next year. This course pro- vides practice in mathematical problems occuring in the business world. General Math I and II and Pre-Alge- bra provide basic concepts and skills as well as pre-requisites for more ad- vanced work. This year some of the teachers have been doing team teaching and it is planned to expand this aspect of the mathematics program. Academics 35

Page 38 text:

lll'llill'l'l5l'l Frogs, fishes, and worms made the science scene this year in biology. Students studied the anatomy of living things and then disected small animals. Here, students are preparing to disect a frog. Discussing plans for an astronomy project in Mr. Sam Allred's General Science class are Renee Stephens, Dennis Obermiller, Kathy Sandoval and Gary Moody, freshmen. 34 Academics Science Department New techniques challenge old ideas Today in our advanced world, science is the key to the future. For it is through research and exploration that the unknown is discovered. At West Mesa the Science Depart- ment tried to provide courses for the interests of all students. General Science, an introduction to the basic laws of astronomy, chemis- try, geology, meteorology, biology and physics was a required course for all freshmen. Biology, the study of life, was a re- quired course for upperclassmen. Upon completion of required science courses, there was a variety of courses for students to pursue. These included Biology II, Chemistry I, Geology I or Physicsl. A new member of the Science Department, Sammy tne Salamander, is shown to biology students.

Page 40 text:

Social Studies Department Learning the workings of the court system was a unit in Sociology classes this year. Here, judge Larry Wolfe and lawyer Robert Guitierrez listen to witness Joy Noffsinger while defendant Jerry Austin and police officer Richard Martin look on. Striving for a better future is social studies objective To meet the needs of minority group students, the Social Studies Depart- ment offered two new courses this year, Black Studies and Southwest History. To comply with state requirements, World History and U.S. History were also offered. Freshmen students were offered Civ- ics, while upper classmen had the op- portunity to take Sociology, a study of social problems. Juniors and Seniors could take Hu- manities instead of History and Eng- lish. These courses blended the cultural aspects of the United States or the World, from past to present, into a form that could help students learn from the mistakes of the past in order to work for a better tomorrow. 36 Academics Poster-filled bulletin boards for World History classes set the background for students in South- west History as they read material which has been assigned to them.