Woodbridge High School - Valhalla Yearbook (Woodbridge, VA)

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Is this my class?l Dr. Daniel Gormley found himself teaching American Studies II once again. The opening day proved to be stunning for both student and staff as the responsibility of a new year dawned upon them. “Are you sure that’s your name?” Sophomore Mickey McDade tries to obtain a copy of his schedule so that he could find his classes. Counselors often worked long hours with students to help them find their way to the correct classes. “What do you mean I’m late?” Sophomore Tim Layton looks through his 1‘ocker at the end of the day. The lockers were often hard to find the first day and many students couldn’t find the time between classes to stash books and paper away. I almost forgot what it looked like. Sophomore Gary Vanderveen steps off the bus as he arrived at school. This was the first day back after a summer break and the first few moments were disorientating in the large and intricate building. “He looks even better this year!” Sophomore Dawn Campbell talks with a friend as they met old friends in the front lobby. The front lobby was the meeting place during lunch and many people found time before school to compare notes and talk to friends. Opening 3

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Now that is a true Viking! Valhalla, the Viking equivalent of heaven, can be easily applied to our own modern society. The Vikings believed that only the best and most spirited of warriors could make it to Valhalla. Social maxims governed much of the life of the Vikings. Clothing and practiced ways in social contact and warfare were set in ritualistic patterns. In these ways, Viking culture was close to our own. Only through achieving scholastic recognition can one make it to higher education. Just as the Viking society was geared toward warfare, the scholastic world has emphasized academic or athletic achievement. Senior Steve Manley remarked, “With academic pressure at its peak, the Vikings of old may have had it easier!’’ There was much pressure on the individual to conform to the norm. Spirit was also regarded highly in team sports and club participation. This could give the individual the edge needed to make it to college. Jim Knapp pointed out, “Our great spirit and com¬ petitive nature could easily be identified with the Norsemen attitude.” Conforming to social maxims was also a large part of Welcome back! The cheerleaders opened the year on a cheery note by writing signs emphasizing welcome and good times to come. The cheerleading sqi ad played a large part in class morale and rolled-out the welcome mat in style. But you have to be on the list! Helping organize the effort to help students find their classes, Mr. Douglas Dean finds that the size of the school often dictates the amount of paperwork. In this case, the paperwork was endless. school life. Dress codes allowed for imaginative at¬ tire and many students experimented with the new-wave styles. Others kept to the preppy style or would rely on the casual look of blue jeans and a pullover shirt. Although many different styles of clothing came about last year, certain outrageous clothing was not acceptable. In this way, our patterned social structure was very much like the Viking’s set standards. Social codes and maxims of the Vik¬ ings, although applied differently, have managed to survive the test of time and change to become a strong part of our everyday life. The age-old original Viking culture has long since died out but many unmistakeable similarities linger on to re¬ mind us of our deep rooted heritage. 2 Opening

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“Do you know how old our school is?” “Is it seven?” questioned Kerstin Davis. “No, fourteen,” interrupted Ron Rodgers. This is a question that visitors and students alike may have wondered as they strolled down the halls. Marking the tenth anniversary of the school was a decade of change in students, faculty, and the building itself. The change was evident as one wandered through the school and saw murals with an ’82 or ' 83 painted in the corner. There were unrecognizable pictures and trophies such as the Russell Davis trophy left from a bygone era. New faces were to be seen in the halls, in the classrooms, and even in the office. Many graduating seniors have seen three principals: Mr. Haynes Davis, who was here when they entered the school; Mr. Frank Seese, who held a tem¬ porary position until a permanent prin¬ cipal could be found; and the most re¬ cent, Mr. Thomas Gaul, who vowed to make this the best school “East of the Mississippi.” In 1974 a new brick building appeared on Old Bridge Road where none had been before. Hoardes of students were ushered from their “home” on York Drive to this monstrous building. Overcrowded conditions turned into what seemed to be practical emptiness after having been squeezed so tightly before. However this was only the beginning... Over the past ten years the high school has varied in population from only 2000 students to over 2700 students. The class of 1987 had a record enrollment of 742, and their were 530 graduating seniors. To accommodate the numbers, many of the more recent changes were put into effect. Extra classrooms were built in the once open library. Stricter rules and Now what’s your name? ... Guidance counselor Miss Reba Branch helps Mickey McDade figure out what class he has first period. On the first day of school, students were sent to the upstairs cafeteria to straighten out their schedules. took who S have! .., Sophomores Michelle English ana Carolyn MacDonald compare their schedules to see- if they have any of the same classes or teachers. Schedules were aiways the “talk-of-the-town” with students on the first day of school. regulations were devised to control the huge masses of students. Mr. Gaul was very prominent in this phase of change. For instance, he devised the new rule of allowing only six tardies per semester. This was to stress the importance of get¬ ting to class on time despite crowded halls. However, some students did not believe this to be possible. “With the number of people in this school, it was unrealistic to think that we could have made it on time every day,” complained Liz Gulick. However, many things stayed th€ same. The same old football field anc bleachers held memories of past game and encounters. The worn tennis court! were always numbered one to ten. Anc the strange shape of our brick building was never any different. But no matter what changed and whaf stayed the same, students have always remembered it as their school. And future generations, the students of tods will be the memories of tomorrow the linger in its halls.