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

Page 114 text:

What are the most popular honors courses? v -- © ART IV us Government English s Oo : . ' Take this job and get to work Improvement makes rewards even sweeter As the student fixated on the television set, in- tently blowing on her wet nails, a shreik suddenly broke the silence as mom adamantly screeched the best known of all com- mands- Cet to WORK! I get restrictions if I do not get good grades- like I can get my car only so many weekends a month, and they will watch mc to sec how much 1 use the phone and they will cut down on how much I can get for my monthly allowance, ju- nior Brad Duncan said. If the cutting of priv- ileges and fun outside activities did not result in the improvement of grades, isolating students from anything but school work most often proved effective. If 1 don ' t get a B av- erage, I can ' t watch TV, visit anyone or read books outside of school until the next report card, junior Jeff Little said. Take a Number ACADEMICS W f z Regrets Students view honors classes as stress -filled For two extra grade points, students, who en- rolled in honors courses, often found themselves regretting the move after these classes demanded countless hours both in school and out of school. I had to get out of Honors English simply because the pressure was getting to mc. I never had time to do the things I enjoyed more because I had to concentrate on the English, ex-honors junior James Fcnclon said. Stress, resulting from the added workload of honors courses, took its toll on those students who enrolled in them with ex- pectations of a problem- free experience. The only thing that 1 don ' t like is that whenever you have problems with class work, they tell you ' It ' s an honors course, you have to expect it, sopho- more Anne Woods said. TO THE BEAT Outside in the courtyard, senior Thor Arnibruster finishes his homework assignments. Spring weather provided a warmer cnviroment and an incenlivc for studies. In the case of honors classes, these students applied themselves to the task of working hard with personal and parental approval as the ultimate rewards. I ' m interested in En- glish and my mother real- ly wanted me to take Honors English, but it was more for me than for my mother, junior Kristy Es- teppe said. For one reason or an- other, students completed homework, survived tests, pleased Mom and Dad, kept teachers off their backs, got to work... TirsY Relaxing in his room, sophomore Mark Raster reads aloud hi; German assignment Students in foreign language courses rcac dialogues in class for grades and needed the at-home practice for improvement on accents, rhythm and confidence.

Page 113 text:

TOUGH JOB With crayolas in hand, junior Missy Deal colors teddy-bears while taking a break from her homework. With the final days of school, seniors took much- needed breaks. During a college day, seniors Shannon Toothman and Kathleen Bcynon inquire about housing expenses at Texas A M University. College days brought representatives from colleges and universities across the nation to an informational seminar for students in the cafeteria. Down to the wire Registration opens up new ' possibilities ' As the red closed signs went up around the old gym, hundreds scur- ried to the nearest coun- selor ' s desk in hopes of filling their schedules. I think everyone should be more helpful with new students. People seem to think that we know our way around and we don ' t. In registration, I got so confused and only one counselor would help me. I didn ' t even get to pick my own teachers, freshman Patrick Blanton said. Close campus After touring The University of Texas campus on one of his college visitation days, senior Paul Herbert rests in the courtyard. Seniors received three college days throughout the year. Approximately 430 students changed their schedules after the spring walk-through so for next fall, the administration has opted to register with the assistance of a com- puter and eliminate the on-site registration. I registered last and none of the classes were open that I had in mind. So I had to just grab a class I didn ' t even want. But I did get my schedule changed after the new semester started, sopho- more Tana Zebelsk said. While some manag- ed to .solve their own pro- blems, others got stuck . I picked a certain teacher because he was the only one open and then the counselor said that just because I didn ' t like the teacher was not a good enough reason to get out of the class, junior Scott Gates said. National Merit Semi-finnlist James S. Hall Finalists Craig Dial Charles Hargrove Karen Lowe April Pearson David Wright Financial forecast An oral presentation to class enables senior Stephanie Koons to explain the economic aspects of her make- believe business. Edited by Patrick Blanton I FOUR TO G0|

Page 115 text:

Intelligence breeds academic advantages Not too Geeks, wiz-heads, nerds, brains, or more accurately, intelligent students challenging their minds via more challenging courses. Whatever their course choices, honors students faced more homework, more reading, more in-class discussion, and more earned grade points. Once an honors class size exceeds 20, there is a significant loss of student input in analytical discussion. This critical thinking easily turns into passive listening, honors history teacher Mrs. Kay Orell said. Although the occasionally- high student-teacher ratios affect- ed honors classes, students most often profited from the privilege of small class sizes. It is great to be in a class where all of the students can go at Tarzan two Scholarship winner senior Jay Lucas moves his way through Pedcrnales training. One of the most interesting parts of the experience involved swinging over the petrifying peanut butter pit. square an accelerated rate; my friends are mostly in that class and the teacher ' s great. In that kind of environment, much can be learned! junior Matthew Kaplan said. With the friendly enviroment that a limited enrollment provided, students found it easier to loosen up and express themselves in class. Honors US History was very relaxed, but very interesting. I learned a lot, and had fun, senior Shar Carter said. Unlike the fickleness that most students expressed in regular classes, participants in honors classes said they found most all their classes agreeable, if not favorites. I don ' t think anyone has a favorite honors course— just one that they don ' t dislike as much as the other ones, sophomore Shawn Orell countered. Regardless of what label had been placed on honors students, one descriptor certainly could be applied— smart! Homework overtakes free time Burning midnight oil Homework, home- work, give me a break. A slogan, worthy for an anti- school commercial, filled the minds of students as they spent an average of an hour and a half each night on homework— and that was only in math and English. It ' s a waste of time because I have better things to do. Schoolwork should all be done at school, sophomore Mark Kastner said. In most classes, slack- ing off proved detrimen- tal and with homework grades constituting 50% of a six-weeks ' average, stu- dents faced even more daily demands. To com- bat daily homework fa- tigue, upperclassmen plotted their strategies. The teacher assigns a lot of homework in ge- ometry, but I work ahead, so I don ' t have to do it at home, junior Charlton Perry said. In a poll, 14% of stu- dents said Algebra II en- tailed the most homework and a four way tie at 12% included English, Spanish, German and Geometry. Homework doesn ' t bother me as long as I have time in class to do it, sophomore Briana Bcrezovytc h said. While several meth- ods brought the desired results of avoidance of late-night assignments, many agreed the best route led to an earlier- than-usual, rushed morn- ing homework routine. If it ' s all done at school, then it ' s not home- work anymore, German teacher Mr. Herr Gardner said. Television, music, friends and the mall sub- stituted for doing home- work and provided the most honest excuses for being unprepared for class. My homework inter- feres with most of my free time, freshman Dan Baumel said, reflecting the sentiments of most homework haters. FAKING IT While pretending to read during his library class-time, sophomore Matt White rests his eyes and his head. The quid library created a re- laxing atmosphere for studies and sleep. Open arms, closed campus During a faculty meet- ing. Principal John Ma- tysck discusses open - closed campus issue. As one of the most debated issues of the year, most underclassmen spent se- veral months in limbo. s Synonym s N o u n s For Being Smart Tea Cher ' s Pet St uden t Brain Gee k N erd Pupil A djectives For Being Smart I n te llige n t Sagacious Astute Smart alec Brillia nt Cle ver Ingenious Resourceful Edited by Camile O ' Briant I FOUR TO GOl