West Springfield High School - Olympian Yearbook (Springfield, VA)

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the Student Body Rinc hiqh school pRouoLy pResents eOwaRO tempLeman, eOitoR fRAnces AnPRews, eOitoRiaL AOvisor Ch Rlene QiBBens, financial Advisor 6100 RoLLinq RoaO SpRingfieLO, ViRQinia

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the BiRth op a school As early as 1963 the Fairfax County School Board foresaw the need for a high school in the West Springfield community, but it was not until March 1966 that S. John Davis was appointed as principal, many months before ground was actually broken for the campus complex on Rolling Road. From his small office in Robert E. Lee High School, Mr. Davis amassed a faculty and set up a master schedule of classes slated to begin operation in September 1966. Assistant principals Frank C. Kley and William E. Jackson, Jr. were appointed shortly after Mr. Davis, and together they super¬ vised activities during the summer months which resulted in a nucleus of students from W. T. Woodson and Robert E. Lee High Schools who formed a provisional Student Government and made plans to welcome the student body. Classes met at Lee High on a staggered schedule for the first semester from 10:30 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. Clubs were organized, athletic teams formed, and musical groups assembled which held their practice sessions at 7:30 a.m. Most challenging task of the new student body was choosing a school emblem, colors, and theme that would become an integral part of the sixteenth high school in the county. Navy blue and burnt orange exemplifies the Spartan spirit which already manifests itself in the student body as they adopt the Greek letters TRUTH, WISDOM, AND HONOR as their motto. New publications, deciding to follow the Greek theme also, chose Olympian to be the name of the yearbook, Oracle for the newspaper, and Symposium for the art-literary magazine. Literally brick by brick progress on the new school was reported daily by students as they rode by the site. Anticipation ran high as word was spread that we would move on January 30, 1967! Two hundred members of clubs came on the Saturday and Sunday before the transition to move furniture, unpack books and equip¬ ment, and arrange bulletin boards for teachers. The Pep Band and Baton Corps met Spartans at the doors with rousing music on January 30, and classes began in the new building with no lapse in instruction time. This is unique, says Mr. Davis, but I ' ve already seen evidence during our first semester that nothing can stop a Spartan when there ' s an unusual job to be done! Nearly ail of the staff and faculty have given needed support and encouragement to the scores of newly formed extracurricular activities which characterize a modern high school. The challenge of such an eager student body seems to bring out the best in all of us, says another principal. Parents have been equally active in their support of all activities and most generous of their assistance where financial aid was needed. For their response, we thank our community. . . . And so in 1966 a school is born . . . may it grow in wisdom, stature, and honor, and in favor with God and man. 2