We finally made it! It’s the 1979-1980 school year at Acalanes. This is the year when things were in flux.
Faculty advisor, Wendell Pleis, and several students who were involved in the FM Club at Del Valle came to Acalanes. The license for the station had been obtained, but without Del Valle, it was up in the air as to what was going to happen.
But first, there are mentions throughout the yearbook about the closure of Del Valle. We’ve included most of them below in order of how they appear in the yearbook.
Once again student government was changed, but this time because of a school closing instead of students trying to achieve more power in school administration. School closure made it necessary for an Ad-Hoc Committee to work over the summer because elections were postponed to allow Del Valle students a chance to get involved.
“We worked really hard for Orientation. The freshman seemed to have adjusted to the school more easily because of our efforts. Lots of students brought food and volunteered to show new students around,” said Sophomore Kim Troxel. Senior Kim Ballock, also one of the six Ad-Hoc Committee members stated, “I was pleased with what we did, but I think we could have done more for the new students from Del Valle. We probably should have tried New Games or some other activity.”
Del Valle was not forgotten as class skits and pyramid building were added to the activities of the week. In another sense, D.V. was left behind as students switched their energy to the efforts of their class.
Worries of segregation were dispelled as 100 former Del Valle students flowed smoothly into the swing of Acalanes’ life. Although at first emotions were mixed about the transition, as the year progressed students began to feel more relaxed in their new atmosphere.
“It was scary to come to a different school, but I wanted to. I was glad of the change,” commented Shawnna Bertolina. Sharon McCormick added, “I was excited to come here because I pretty much knew everyone at Del Valle, and here I’ve had the chance to meet so many different people.”
Making new friends was a common goal for the new people. Senior Dave Keith said, “I’ve made lots of additional friends, even though it was hard at first. I don’t think others really made the effort to go out and meet unfamiliar people.” Sharon disagreed, “I thought that individuals were generally open to making friends with the new students.”
Clubs, sports, and other diversions provided a way for the transferred students to become involved with their new school. Shawnna mentioned, “I like the dance program– Del Valle didn’t have one like this. Working on productions and choreographing dances is a good way to make friends.” Sharon stated, “I’m glad I joined swimming. The girls on the team are really nice, and they make practices bearable.”
In addition to the extracurricular activities, students were satisfied with the educational aspect of their change in schools. Senior Dana Lambert said, “I know I’ve gotten a lot out of coming here. I love my teachers and classes, and because Acalanes is great academically, I know I’m getting a good education.” Dave expressed, “When I had the choice to go to either Campolindo or Acalanes, I chose Acalanes because I heard it was better scholastically.”
In academics, sports, and social activities, new and old students began to blend together. Shawnna mentioned, “I hope we’re not always considered Del Valle students. Eventually everyone will have forgotten where we went to school last year.”
“Since coming to the Acalanes’ soccer program from Del Valle, I have had more free time. Coaching with Al Thurling has worked out really well; the team benefits from our combined knowledge and experience. With the two coach system, I am able to occasionally miss practice and referee soccer at the college level.
“Soccer programs are continually improving because kids begin playing on teams at early ages. The general increase in talent has made the game more popular to watch. I wish our track was renovated to make the football field wider so that we could have night soccer games at Acalanes. I really think a lot of students would come and watch, because there has been increased attention placed on soccer.”
-Rich Klier
The pre-season games were a time of experiencing and adjusting for the new JV coach, Mrs. Blanch Farnum, and her 15 player team, which consisted of only four returnees. Dana Nuzum stated, “The Acalanes’ team’s advantages over Del Valle are that the coach is much more with the players in spirit and enthusiasm; the team is more together, and it’s much more challenging.”
With memories of a winless season behind, the Varsity football team began its season with a considerably new look. Mr. Gordon Finn, who spent last season at Del Valle, brought his own coaching style to the team. Junior Paul Rosati commented, “The players had a great deal of respect for the coach. He took control of things early, and there were no problems.”
The girls’ swim team began their season in September with doubts as to the success of the team; the closing of Del Valle brought the new swimmers and a new coach, and a feeling that anything was possible. Karen said, “Nobody knew what to expect at the beginning of the season, but I guess that made everyone work a little harder. It showed, too; we finished the season with an FAL championship and second in North Coast, not to mention many individual records and personal accomplishments.” It was evident from their consistently outstanding performance that the girls’ swim team possessed the individual talent and spirit necessary to produce a winning team.
There were tables set up for a continental breakfast and patriotic music was playing as the seniors entered the small gym to hear the senior class speeches. The Parents’ Club added variety in order to honor the seniors’ last year.
After elections the officers were ready to discuss their plans for 1980. Vice President Janet Hilton said, “I’m working for a better Acalanes, so we can look ahead rather than at what we had at Del Valle.” President Ray Homan added, “I want seniors to feel good about their senior year.”
The officers seemed determined to bring the senior class together and get as many people involved in fundraisers as possible. Ray commented, “I want to be a leader of a class that puts out a lot of effort.” For the first fundraiser, Karen Bridges and Ann Whiting organized the class to sell senior suckers.
“If there is ever a year to get motivated this is it.” said Ray. Janet added, “We’re bringing the best people from Del Valle and the best class from Acalanes and putting them together to produce the best senior class ever.”
New students stared up at them from desks within a strange classroom, and among their fellow teachers they recognized only a few faces. They accustomed themselves to blackboards on unfamiliar walls and conformed to new policies. From ever angle, “Del Valle-turned-Acalanes” faculty made adjustments to their life at school.
Getting used to another environment was a major transition for teachers from Del Valle. Debbie Blendow observed, “I think the facilities at Del Valle were newer and more modernized than these at Acalanes. Other than that, the two schools are fairly similar.” Forrest Russell commented, “It takes a while to learn where to find things, but you can expect that type of problem whenever you change schools.”
Several former Del Valle faculty members noticed a slight difference in the student body at Acalanes. “There is a different attitude among Acalanes students,” remarked Haden Douglas, “They seem a little more relaxed in their relationships with teachers.”
On the whole, teachers from Del Valle found the adjustment to working at a new school a relatively minor one. Mr. Douglas stated, “It’s a bit hard to change offices after you’ve been with the same facilities for fourteen years, but as a lot of Del Valle students were transferred over with the faculty, I didn’t have to adapt to a totally new class.” Mr. Russell added, “It all depends on whether or not you’re young enough to make the transition. I feel my youth helped me a great deal.”
Although teachers from Del Valle had to accustom themselves to new surroundings in and out of the classroom, they did so without much difficulty. As Mr. Russell put it, “In the end, it all comes down to whether you’re cheering for a red team or a blue one out on the football field.”
There’s a section in the yearbook where they look back at the previous decade. In it, there’s a quote about the Acalanes Review and the school doing a radio station.
On the air. The “Acalanes Review” was a T.V. program produced, directed, and acted by Acalanes’ students in the early seventies. The show was on Channel Six at 6:30 p.m. once a week. “T.V. is not the best way to display Acalanes because people expect so much from it. I think a radio show would have been better.”
Even though Coons’ logic sounds right, the same show at Campolindo ran through most of the 1970s. It could have been the proximity to the station, but more likely, much like Wendell Pleis, they had a faculty advisor who had a passion for the subject. In their case, a teacher named Carl Shanahorn. If Coons had some knowledge about whether they were going to do a radio station at Acalanes is unknown at the moment.
There is no mention in the yearbook that we could find about the station or the Acalanes Radio Club. This changes during the school year of 1980-1981 when we see a fully formed club.
According to the senior section of the 1981 Aklan, the following students were members of the club during the 1979-1980 school year:
Douglas Edward Graff
Michael Brooks Koeing
Jeffrey A. Lehmann
Stephen Randall Lucido
Kendall A. Martin
John P. Murphy
Jeffry Cooper Voorhees
According to Wendell Pleis, when he and some of his FM Club students came to Acalanes, there was one in particular that didn’t want to let the station die. This student was Mark Jeffrey. He was only a freshman during the final year of Del Valle’s existence (1978-1979).
That’s all the information on this part that we have at the moment. As with all these posts, please feel free to share any information you might have.
For more on the Acalanes Radio Station KCEQ rabbit hole and other Lafayette History Rabbit Holes.
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