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

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N .1 .f me ,. tv 1 ,Ma gi 'W ,fb ,, i r is .M .t LUNCH LOCATION. BENCH TIME. With lunch confined to cam us so ho Finding the perfect uses for the addi- P I P ' mores Maureen Murrell and Kristina tional benches donated by the Booster Bednarski comforted themselves with Club, freshman Andrew Zimmerman sunshine on the newly landscaped grassy finds them just right for the Classic coke- areas. iPhoto by Jill Keirseyl on-a-warm-day routine. iPhoto by staf0 si Z I ,rf .Q ,ff l Change of place S 29,950 worth of shrubs put down their roots during the summer just before 1456 students returned to establish their identities in a new and improved environment. Other landscaping projects such as side- walks, overhangs and drainage ditches rearranged the landscape creating an obstacle course for re- turning students. lt was a shock to return to see the new shrubs, walkways and es- pecially the guardrails. I guess after all the construction last year and the year before, I didn't think they'd do more,' junior Tracy Collins said. In beautifying and altering the campus, the district spent nearly 330,000 on protective guardrails, brick sidewalks and greenery, Funds spent on the landscaping instigated both praise and criticism. 'l think the money was wasted in Z Z plants, it does not make it anymore 7 aesthetically pleasing and ecologi- f cally they do not benihtthe environ- Z ment,' senior James Fenelon said. f As some tagged the project an Q unnecessary investment, other f students and faculty enjoyed the Z new look. Teachers often con- Z ducted classes outside on the f newly landscaped hill and court- Z yard area and students spent 7 lunchtime outside instead of in. 7 sun . I riii outside . 0 1 mp escape rhelwwh 'sjrobmlfmrtiorkristy1 . . Home , , RENOVATIONS Edited bv Jennifer Bristol

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Z Z f 3 d ldon't think rve been . inisi,defethe,gcen- fer 516 lite time f ,Before having to go Z to class. senior f Tom Marquardt Z Z Z f i f Q a a f Z f Z f Z a Good news College center provides refuge, information 'What is it? Where did it come from?' Common out- cries as the commons area filled, the obtrusive new col- lege center located on the upper level of the commons, prompted remarks on taste, usefulness and purpose. 'I thought it was awful when ltirst saw it. lt looks so out of place, but I do find the information about colleges it holds useful and now, l sup- pose l'm used to it,' senior Jennifer Fletcher said. Inside or out, the college center's information provided students with helpful insights on available universities and colleges not to mention a cozy place to finish up last minute homework. i'fDLlflI1g sixth lunch, ., .,k . itfs the.bQ5i,S!HGe there .aretongrj5enrors. QAfte r all, wefrettherkingl of the hill! g l like the idea of an Zaltisenior lunch. senior Corby Logue Landscaping renovations questioned ver the hill ne project, the terrac- ing ofthe hill, met with disapproval from the students who said that the money could have been better spent and itjust didn't make sense to them. The terracing was bad because it isn't a hill anymore, it's stairs. lt's no fun sitting on a flat surface,' senior Mike O'Connor said. Besides ruining its purpose, others argued that the terracing of the hill hin- dered students. l don't like it because you can't walk straight up the hill anymore. l'm lazy and I don't like having to go around to stairs, senior Lisa Wells said. Despite the complaints about the change inthe complexion of the hill, stu- dents flocked in droves during good weather to catch the sun and make after- school plans. Still yet, seniors Tod Connor and Amy Pollard, suggested in a letter to the Pica- yune that the landscaping money could have paid a teacher's salary instead. 'lt's a great place to sit and have lunch. The commons is nice, but I like it because it's outdoors and an escape,' senior Corby Logue said. PET ROCK. The classic Hill, redistributed into three separate terraces, held its popularity with students as an after lunch, pre-test and sunny day spot. iPhoto by staf0 22 THA rs so TYPICAL

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Teen teachers work with younger children Take them, for example When were teachers notteachers, but ' ratherstudents? CedarCreek and Forest Trail third through fifth graders experi- mented in a teen teachers actual class- room which afforded experience in han- dling children and their actual problems and situations. tDealing with the groups has made me comfortable in a teacher role and as a role model for this age group. The kids themselves are really responsive and they seem to be impressed that high schoolers are taking the time and energy to be with them,' seniorTricia Boyer said. Teen teachers took the phrase learn- ing through teaching and turned the seemingly old contradiction into a freshly discovered reality. The new generation reveled for themselves that maybe teachers might be students themselves. PEER PREAG-IING. Organizing programs for the fifth grad- ers, senior Robby Wells emphasizes, for the record, that peer pressure can be harmful. iPhoto by staff! it i , One thing l picked up i was different ways to yell at my little sister, l use l- messages, like l don't approve ratherthan you did wrong. senior t Russel Phillips . t t I Teachers refresh themselves--at the same time, 3 trade places putting themselves... Z 011 the other side Z e Leaming never stopped as teachers retumed to looking at the chalk- board instead ofwriting on it.The BoosterClub recognized and encouraged educators to return to class by awarding scholarships. 'I believe that education never ends and any leaming is beneficial. I took World and Economic geography courses to augment my knowledge in my field but l'd wish to further my education whether using it directly in my job or not,' Rebecca Parks said. Benefits exceeded the four walls of the classroom and personal plusses qualified the time and energy as well as the book knowledge gained enhancing the education of students and teachers alike. f Z ? Z 7 f Teachers turned Z around and used 'i Z what they learned to V lg h Q better themselves - ' 4 X at their own jobs T X T and returnwhat lf'y ' 32 they learned to their , 1 , Z career. ii? junior .left ivianin T - Trucks OF THE TRADE. T is Stepping in for the teacher, junior Iancy V Darling gets a new view of her friends, if M D 1 from the head of the class. Students- law , ,if 3 ' K 2 turned-teachers leamed a new lesson by 'V , Q preparing and presenting the daily les- - f K xl' , son. iPhoto by staff? A' , ' 'gf' fb l ij' 'A tr. t. .f i. R' X... Qi. NWN 211 X THA rs so TYPICAL A stir E t . , k e slit S