Thurston High School
From Lane Co Oregon
A high school in the community of Thurston was constructed in 1913 (Jones 1958:32).
As of 2007 the school is larger, with more facilities and classrooms than it had thirty-nine years ago. Thurston Senior High School was built in response to the growing population of Springfield on a cornfield far out of the city limits. The earliest Springfield claim records show that an Irish immigrant named John McNutt claimed all of the land between 58th and 66th streets and Main Street and Thurston Road. The Thurston area was originally named for George H. Thurston, whose father, Samuel R. Thurston, was Oregon's first territorial representative in Congress. THS was so far out of city limits that it had a turkey farm on one side and a filbert orchard on the other. There were only three grades, 10th, 11th, and 12th when Thurston first opened, as opposed to the four grades, 9th through 12th it currently has. The building didn't have an auditorium. Instead, a stage was placed in a classroom near the gym, and dramatic productions were performed there. There was only one gym, as opposed to the two we now have. When the student body grew too large, the Girl's Gym, later renamed the Auxiliary Gym to be politically correct, was built. The school had three indoor heated locker bays for each of the three grades. The 40s wing, the 50s wing, and the classrooms attached to the back of the library now stand where the locker bays were originally. Each bay had bathrooms and a trophy case, as well as benches. There were also many classrooms not included in the original building.
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Sports
The sports and clubs have changed drastically. When the school first opened, there were nine sports. Although in the 60s at Thurston women could not compete in very many sports, the school was still considered extremely progressive. In one of the other schools in the Eugene-Springfield area, the only competition girls were allowed to compete in was cheerleading. Now, in the year 2000, Thurston competes in many more sports. It now has an equestrian team, also.
Clubs
CLUBS
Many clubs and activities in operation in the 1960s either have become obsolete or against Federal laws, or have been eliminated due to lack of interest. Such clubs would include the Girls' League, the Boys' Alliance, Future Teachers of America, Youth For Christ, Future Homemakers of America, Future Farmers of America, Letterman's Club, Usherettes, Chess Club, and Teen-age Care Corps. The Girls' League and the Boys' Alliance, clubs that worked together to plan certain dances, were replaced by Leadership. Most of the ASB offices have stayed the same, such as the president, vice-president, and treasurer, but one office has been eliminated due to politics. The job of the student body chaplain was to lead prayer at pep rallies, something that is now politically incorrect.
Many clubs have endured, and others have changed or branched out, such as the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Thespians, Cheerleading, Future Medical Careers Club, now known as HOSA, the Journalism Club, which is now Quill and Scroll, and the "Ponie Tails" Dance and Drill Team, now Cabaret.
- Environmental Club
- French Club
- Key Club
- Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA)
- International Thespian Society
- Student Band Council
- Cabaret
- German Club
- Quill and Scroll Club
- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
- Cheerleading
- Bowling Club
- Close Up
- Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
- Spanish Club
- Leadership
- Distributive Educational Clubs of America (DECA)
Classes
Many educational courses have also been changed or been eliminated, and others have been added. There are no longer Russian or Latin classes taught at THS, but there are still Spanish, French, and German courses offered. As the economy has changed over time, Agriculture has been eliminated and CISCO has replaced it, as computers have become the "wave of the future." Other classes, such as Bookkeeping and Shorthand, have been eliminated as the occupations for those with these skills have been reduced. Other classes, such as Home Economics, American Problems, and Driver Training, have been eliminated for other reasons.
Computer Applications 1, 2 Word Processing 1, 2 Office Technology Advanced MS Office Accounting 1, 2, 3, 4 Multimedia Applications Marketing Principles Marketing Applications Advanced Marketing CISCO Networking Academy 1, 2 Cooperative Work Experience Personal Finance 1, 1-B, 2
Beginning Acting Advanced Theater Children's Theater Acting Ensemble Stagecraft
Beginning Foods Creative Foods Cultural Foods
Family Relations Child Development 1,2 Careers With Children 1,2
French 1, 2, 3 or 4 German 1, 2, 3 or 4 Spanish 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 or 5
Health Preparation For Adult Living Mental Health Health Occupations 1 Health Occupations 2: Medical Terminology Health Occupations 3: Anatomy and Physiology Health Occupations 4: First Responder Course Health Occupations 5 & 6: Advanced Health Occupations
Introduction to Wood Technology Cabinet Making and Design Advanced Woodworking Technology Construction Technology Leadership/Projects: Wood Technology Technical Drafting Advanced Technical and Computer Drafting Architectural Drafting and Design/Engineering Drafting Leadership Projects-Advanced Drafting Advanced Metal Processes Computer Aided Manufacturing & Machining Machine Technology Metal Fabrication Leadership/Projects: Metals Welding Technology
Literature and Composition 9, 10, 11, 11 honors AP Literature and Composition Basic English Creative Writing Senior Writing Senior Writing 121-College High Shakespeare Literature of the West Heroes Women in Literature Poetry and Short Science Fiction Satire College High-Literature Speech 1, 2 Newspaper Newswriting Yearbook Journalism Projects
Math Skills General Math Transition Math Integrated Math 1, 1.5, 2, 3 Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry Pre-Calculus AP Calculus
Percussion Ensemble Wind Ensemble Symphonic Winds Jazz Ensemble Orchestra String Ensemble Choraliers Concert Choir Encore High Energy
Advanced Court Games Basketball Advanced Court Games Volleyball Aerobics Conditioning 1A Physical Education 9 10, 11, 12 Elective Physical Education Weights
Science 9 Biology 1, 2 Anatomy and Physiology Animal Behavior Chemistry in the Community Chemistry Chemistry 2 Earth Science Meteorology Physics
Social Studies 9, 10 Economics Global Studies: Western Civilization-College High Leadership Government Global Studies: the Nuclear Era U.S. History: College High U.S. History: Advanced Placement
Intro to Art Drawing and Painting Ceramics Advanced Studio Commercial Art Beginning Video Production Advanced Video Production Photography
Cabaret Academic Assistants Media Assistants Office Assistant Attendance Office Assistant Counseling Office Assistant Study Hall Honor Study Independent Study Peer Tutoring
Student Body Presidents
1960-61 Susan Jeans (Female)
1961-62 Tom Staten (Male)
1962-62 Roy Steege (Male)
1963-64 Richard Beeson (Male)
1964-65 Vernon Bates (Male)
1965-66 Ed Kemp (Male)
1966-67 Dave King (Male)
1967-68 John Hamilton (Male)
1968-69 Bob Shultz (Male)
1969-70 Kevin Lucky (Male)
1970-71 Steve Kraal (Male)
1971-72 Sid Marks (Male)
1972-73 Kent Palnuk (Male)
1973-74 Cheryl Armstrong (Female)
1974-75 Mike Lloyd (Male)
1975-76 Jim McCalligan (Male)
1976-77 Rick McCalligan (Male)
1977-78 Brad Devos (Male)
1978-79 Dana Peterson (Female)
1979-80 Ruthann Thompson (Female)
1980-81 Erin Gillis (Female)
1981-82 Todd Alberts (Male)
1982-83 Jureen Toot (Female)
1983-84 Tim Cochran (Male)
1984-85 Jay Yates (Male)
1985-86 Diamelen McNealey (Female)
1986-87 Jamie Reed (Female)
1987-88 William Gilmore (Male)
1988-89 Kevin Dougherty (Male)
1989-90 LeGrande Lewis (Male)
1990-91 Sandi Thomas (Female)
1991-92 Erik Jespersen (Male)
1992-93 Amy Clocksin (Female)
1993-94 Summer Olsen (Female)
1994-95 Mike Galan (Male)
1995-96 Mandi Oglesby (Female)
1996-97 B.J. Belveal (Male)
1997-98 Sadie Wilson (Female)
1998-99 A.J. Smith (Male)
1999-00 Sara Pilgreen (Female)
2000-01 Brian Hart (Male)
