- - -■ ■ - ' ■ The Gryphon RMSH Band Marches In Mardi Gras Parade VOLUME III Rocky Mount Senior High School SEPTEMBER 30,1974 The president’s cabinet presided over by President Nancy Davis. SRA Cabinet Begins Work Eleven committees partly compose the SRA this year in order to give needed attention to specific activities at Senior High. They have been working on plans and goals for the 1974-75 school year. The Social Committee, headed by Phyllis Goffney and each. Another important committee is the Human Relations Committee. Chairman Eva Bartley has said that it will create a new image this year by going out into the community and by doing work there instead of is working on the publication of briefolios for students and the Elections Committee whose chairman is Bryant Aldridge. The Rocky Mount Senior High Marching Band has received an invitation to at tend the Mardi Gras Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana in February. The festival lasts for ten days. The band plans to stay from February 4th until the 9th. During their stay, the marching Gryphons will participate in parades and other competition. The trip will cost ap- Parade Planned For Homecoming Homecoming has been designated for October 11, 1974 at Rocky Mount Senior High School. The Mighty Gryphons will be trying to defend their title against Greenville Rose. To promote school spirit and unity for the school, there will be a Mini-Parade, sponsored this year by the Service Club in the gym. The club is hoping for greater participation in decorating the floats, making posters and just showing school spirit. Every homeroom, club, and individual is encouraged to participate in some way. A prize wiU be presented to the homeroom or club with the best float. Following the Mini- Parade, the Cheerleaders will I»^ent a pep rally. on September 17. “Boundary Breaking” was a method implored to acquaint the participants with one another. Another active committee is the School Spirit Committee whose chairman is Sally Davis. This year, it will send Thank-you Grams to all deserving recipients. This committee will also be responsible for making banners and antenna flags supporting the Gryphs. Cammy Rierson of the Hwse and Grounds Com mittee has announced that no posters are to be put up on The Student Store, headed by Susan Kitts, is opened this semester every morning befwe school and during the latter part of second lunch. This committee is presently exploring money-making projects. It is considering selling football jerseys at $4.50 Boon McGoe, held a Hey Dav^ limiting work to the school. Myron UdringsUn of the Fire Drill Committee iias asked that homerooms report to the guidance office if they need a fire exit map. If any person desires use of a bulletin board, he should contact Laura Davenport of the Publicity Committee. Chairman Stephanie Branch of the Lost and Found Com mittee has reported that found items should be turned into the guidance office. To other committees which aid in carrying out school activities are the Publications Committee headed by Sharol Boyd which freshly pained walls but on tile only. Dale Potter, chairman of the Traffic Committee has reported that stickers are now required in order to paric in the RMSH parking lot and that students who have not registered their cars may do so in the guidance office. RMSH’s assistant principal, Richard Hicks, who replaces Carl Edge, who left the Rocky Mount School Systems to work for the Mental Health Clinic. Coach Hicks Takes Post proximately $18,500. Ten tative plans for raising the money are in the making. Contributions from civic organizations will be ac cepted. Clubs interested in supporting the band should contact Mr. Sykes or Prin cipal Elton Newbern. On February 4, buses carrying band members will leave for New Orleans arriving on the 5th. Their performance is scheduled for the 6th. The invitation to the Mardi Gras is the highest grade of recognition that the Rocky Mount Band has received. In the past seven years it is the most lengtl^y trip ever taken by the group. R.M.S.H. Seniors Gain Privileges The Senior Privileges Committee, 1974-75, would like to announce the accepted Senior Class Privileges for the forthcoming school year. Seniors will leave assemblies first; will have Senior Doors at Gym and Auditorium en trances; will have a Senior Patio between 100 and 200 halls with smoking allowed before school and during both lunches (ashtrays provided); will be exempted from all non- academic courses (according to teacher’s ruling) and from academic courses in which a Senior has 90 or above average; will have a Senior Day; will have one College Day as excused absence; will have Senior Parking Privileges (only in yellow parking spaces and with a senior parking sticker). The committee’s genuine purpose is to give up perclassmen advantages over lowerclassmen, somewhat as an honor and a reward for being Seniors. Frank Jolley served as Chairman of the committee with Jimmy Apostilaris as Co-Chairman. Other committee members are Lynn Goodsell (Secretary), Shelley Sullivan, Beverly Brinn, Ronnie Far mer, Wayne Alston, Walter Ricks, Tony Williams, Richard Lea, and Terre Kilpatrick. Mr. John Woolen is serving as Senior Class Advisor. Girls May Play Football Sex Bias Ends Football teams may soon have girl members, and P.E. classes may no longer be segregated according to sex. The U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has issued a proposal to enforce the law banning sex discrimination in schools. It will be reviewed and talked about until October 15 when it will become effective 30 days from that date. The law states that all schools must treat their ad mitted students without discrimination on the basis of sex. All students must have access to and participation in ex course offerings and tracurricular activities, Mmpus organizations, and competitive athletics. Where athletics is con cerned, equality may be provided through separate teams for males and females or through single teams open to both sexes. If separate teams are offered, there must be no discrimination on basis of sex in the provision of necessary equipment or supplies or in any other way, but equal expenditures are not required. The goal is to secure equal opportunity for males and females. Coach Richard Hicks has replaced Carl Edge as assistant principal. Mr. Hicks is a native resident of Rocky Mount. He attended the Rocky Mount schools. While attending the former Booker T. Washington High School, Hicks was elected President of the student body. He played three sports in high school: foot ball,basketball andtennis. He specialized in football and was able to attend college because of a scholarship for football. Hicks attended North Carolina Central University in Durham and graduated “cum laude”. From 1963 through 1966, Hicks taught and coached football, baseball and basketball in Winston-Salem before he returned to Rocky Mount. He had partial suc- c^s with the baseball team in Winston-Salem. The school team, while only four years old, reached the state playoffs. In Rocky Mount, Hicks was the head basketball coach and a teacher of biology. He helped coach football, also. Through his dedication to Rocky Mount and to Senior High, Coach Hicks gained much popularity with the students and faculty and earned a reputation of honesty, fairness, and a high desire for his team to win and succeed. Coach Hicks will remain head basketball coach along with assuming his new duties. His job will include distribution of textbooks, checking attendance, assisting Mr. Miller with the general discipline problems of the school, maintaining order in the school cafeteria, and aiding in other areas. Hicks stated that he had encountered no in surmountable problems; only those of being in a different and new situation. Hicks is married to the former Miss Geraldine Hargrove. They have two sons. Hicks and his family attend Immaculate Con ception Catholic Church. When questioned about his emotions in accepting the job, he responded, “The classroom has always been a. rewarding experience. I felt my decision was to be made with mixed emotions. However, I see it (the position) as a way of being of greater service to the staff and the great student body at Rocky Mount Senior High School.” Carl Edge is also a native of Rocky Mount. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and has a B.S. Degree from South Carolina State College. He has been with the Rocky Mount School Systems eight years. Edge has accepted a position with the Nash- Edgecombe Mental Health Center. He hopes to continue his work with young people through counseling.