Westlake High School - El Paisano Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Applause Performers work hard for minutes of audience praise Drama performers complained about rehear- sals, journalism staffers about paste-ups and aca- demic decathlon mem- bers about endless read- ing. For motivation and morale, organized groups found ways of making meetings, projects and competitions more bear- able and even enjoyable. The best kind of en- couragement is a hug from someone and a good word about the show, se- nior madrigal Amy Drew said. Every choir, drama and journalism member interviewed agreed that parties and an occasional good job said to them kept them motivated to do that good job. Even if I don ' t see a banner for my play, it does help if p eople tell me good luck before the per- formance, senior actress Fleur Fox said. However, less than eight percent of the dra- ma budget went for pub- licity, so few students knew that plays actually had been staged. I don ' t see many people saying ' yeah about the work that band does. They know we are there. HANG urs Showcasing works of art from student artists, senior Brian Land hangs one last sketch on the wall of the office. Art students achieved notoriety after their winnings at the state competition. Type cast While typing in a study sheet for the academic decathlon, junior Scott Defoy imitates the typical typist. Academic decathlon members prepared for weeks in advance for the grueling test. So LONG With costumes on, junior Tres Finley and senior Charles Hampton rehearse for their performance in Bye Bye Birdie. but nobody knows how much work we really put in, junior band member Lisa Wells said. Students involved in more than one activity weren ' t as concerned over the morale issue, but 15% of all performing partici- pants said morale builders made no real difference. Oftentimes, I say that student reaction to the newspaper doesn ' t matter, but it does, Feather duster editor Dane Reese said. It ' s great when we hear that students and teachers liked the issue and specifically react to its content. With each play, choir or band concert, is- sue of the paper or aca- demic contest, morale and motivation took the leading role, the solo and the banner headline. In the running Academic decathlon team gets into top mental shape saiooi 4X% f¥ A rA How MANY HOURS DO YOU DEVOTE TO EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES PER WEEK? [fi 3-4 HRS 9% 0-2 HRS 23% 5-6 HRS 11% 7-8 HRS 57% t 7X, From football to golf to swimming to academic decathlon. Students rarely considered the top honor students as subjects for spectator sports. I always thought of Westlake as a bunch of dumb, rich kids who bought their grades; I never thought of any one as a brain, sophomore Dottie Brown said. Unlike athletic teams, academic team members worked all their lives, not just a few days a week. The skills it took to win the decathlon couldn ' t be learned in a few weeks training. I tried to play sports, and be on the decathlon team but it was too much of a strain, so I dropped sports, senior Barrett Webb said. As students excelled in school, some parents placed pressure on their kids, pushing them more into the academic arena. My parents went in- I tried to play sports and be on the decathlon team, but it was too much... senior Barrett Webb sane when I said I ' d rather go out than study for an upcoming meet, senior Lauren Cassel said. Teachers took pride in the select students who participated in the de- cathlon. Seeing these few students accept such a challenge drove teachers on to keep coaching and teaching. Everytime I see one of my students name on the decathlon list,it lifts me up. 1 like to think that they owe some of that knowledge to me, English teacher Mrs. Jean Dahlquist said. Balls and other ath- letic equipment used tra- ditionally by competitive teams, demanded little attention from academic decathlon team mem- bers— they used books. Edited by Elise Rasmussen I TWO FOR THE SHOWl

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Trendsetter After shaving a W on his head, sophomore Will Petly shows off his new style. Al- though most didn ' t take such drastic measures, motivation for a football game prompted Will to go all out. Decathlon Regional Winners Sixth Overall Bryan Taylor-1 st math, 2nd science Mike 0 ' Connor-2nd sdence, 2nd economics Charles Hargrove-3rd fine arts Jason Fischcr-2nd interview Jennifer Bradley-lst all around alternate Final product necessitates teamwork All for one, one for all If one performer forgot the cue, another covered. If one journalist missed a deadline, another reported the event to fill the hole. From performance to print, cast and staff members joined forces to produce one-acts and issues to please their respective audiences. We work as a team, senior Houston Ford said. When it comes down to a deadline, we forget which section we ' ve been assigned to and work on everything until it reaches perfection. Deadlines not only forced the yearbook and newspaper staffs into a frenzy, but sent one-act play and full performance casts into panic just be- fore the opening night curtain. Before a performance , everyone runs around looking for props, getting make-up, helping others with lines; it becomes a bit of an organized chaos, senior Sharon Beynon said. Although exceptional end results remained key motivators for overlays in responsibilities, some complained that things would be more effective if everyone completed their own tasks. In yearbook, people are con- stantly doing assorted jobs in order to complete a section of the book, junior Alex Grossman said. In yearbook Utopia, everyone would pull their own weight. Little did the student audience know the behind-the-scenes pressure experienced by staffers. The staff devotes countless hours and most often they only hear complaints, but they realize that ' s part of the game, journalism student teacher Ms. Maelia Prendes said. The countless hours of prepara- tion resulted in productions and pub- lications made more special because of the dreaded deadline duties. Fine lines As deadlines approach, student life section editor senior Traci Kriss draws lay-out designs for her pages. Yearbook staffers spent hoursafter school and on weekends getting the yearbook finished and sent off to the printing plant on time. Big deal Negative motivators provide incentives in getting job done— but not like rewards To many, the best recognition came in a re- ward or at the least, an honorable mention. But sometimes, when the per- formance appeared less than spectacular, some stumbled over criticism, often much more elabo- rate than any reward. Some received re- wards for their good grades by getting an ex- tended curfew, clothes, tapes, or being unground- ed (if grounded at the time). Some also got punished for their bad grades by having an earli- er curfew, getting ground- ed, or having their car parked. When I make A ' s and B ' s, my parents are happy, but don ' t make a big deal out of it because it ' s expected. But if I make a bad grade, it seems to be a bigger is- sue, freshman Audra Rincon said. Other students de- monstrated less ambition towards their goals if a reward did not prevail. I wouldn ' t try as hard for something if there was not a reward given be- cause it would be a waste of life, time, and energy, junior Janine Bible said. When it came to grades, some students dragged on and had to be motivated. Money rem- ained one of the biggest enticements--even as a ploy for studying. Praise shows self satisfaction and is more beneficial than money. You don ' t go to school for money, Director of Coun- seling Mrs. Toody Byrd said. Stage hands During the drama department ' s performance of Crimes of the Heart , seniors Sharon Beynon and Lauren Cassel play their leading roles. Like their other productions, the show proved a crowd -pleaser. Take a Number ACADEMICS

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fU §@ mon Compliments My that ' s nice polyester you ' re wearing. The dentist did wonders with your teeth. I love your 1940s bouffant hairstyle. • Those stripes make you look thinner. Single file Band members organize their lines during their daily morning practice. In the fall, the band met for almost two hours at seven, weather per- mitting. Behind the scenes Outside time makes demands to perfect final performances So many hours of practice, too numerous to count, prior to that one minute of performance that seemed so short--until the applause. ' The drama squad put an av- erage of 100 hours into just one play production, Ron Dodson, di- rector, said. The drama squad put those hard worked hours into photo ses- sions, advertising, costume fittings and finally the performance. I get the happiness and satis- faction (of working hard) through just being in front of the audience, senior Fleur Fox said. Some performing groups re- lied on the help of other per- forming groups, including musi- cians. When the Orchestra goes to UIL competition in the spring, some of the band students volun- teer to accompany us. It turns out really great and everyone enjoys themselves, Dr. David Sloan, Or- chestra director said. Art is performing. You work hard on a project and then it ' s dis- played. You may not be there but your name is, senior honors art student, James Morehead, said. Among the diversity of per- formance activities, all shared a common relation. Practice behind the scenes resulted in perfection. Although it can be hard to put in a great deal of time it all pays off in the end, senior Sharon Beynon said. Pre-curtain call As he prepares for the Student Council- sponsored talent show in the Fine Arts Facility, senior Brian Johnson, focuses lights on the light bridge. Technical theatre afforded students the opportu- nity to leam theatre management and maintenance. An for the teacher Nobody, but nobody liked them except for the teachers. Brown-nosers, good- ie-goodies or more com- monly, teacher ' s pets, did their best work, showed- off their best behavior and earned the best grades in class. ' There ' s always some student in every class who kisses up to the teacher with cute jokes, nice comments or brilliant an- swers to tough questions, junior Leon Haven said. I ' m usually not one of them but some can be pretty entertaining. Take a Number ACADEMICS Brown-nosers seek good side ' of instructors Despite their lack of popularity among stu- dents, teacher-pets con- sider good points with the teacher more important. I try to be nice to all of my teachers because I figure that they ' ll be nice to me when it comes time to average grades, junior Tracy Church said. Some students feel that ultra nice students rely on free grades . It bothers me that I sit and work hard for my grades while others will sit and be really personable and get away with mur- der, junior Stephanie Liebcrmann said. Attention given to favorite students instead of equal distribution, caused some tension. I can ' t stand teach- ers who devote every ex- ample used in class to their favorite student, se- nior Diana Boyd said. It becomes so obvious that that teacher is favoring someone else. TAKE A TURN While they stand in line, seniors Chelsea Barker, Sean Lanahan and Thad Holt wait for Don Farmer ' s assistance. Students spent hours in class and out working on compositions and journals.