Table Of Content

m I o c BUILDING UP . . . We spoilt six yoars at Bel¬ lingham Memorial Junior-Sen¬ ior High Sc hool building up to one moment: GRADUATION. As a recent graduate. 1 believe1 that the1 time we have spent at BHS throughout those six years is what made us the1 peo¬ ple we are today, more than just graduates. We entered Bellingham Jun¬ ior High School in the seventh grade as unsure, apprehen¬ sive adolescents. Peer pres¬ sure1 surrounded us, not just about smoking or drinking, but about the clothes we wore, the people we hung out with, and the activities we joined. Junior high was a time of exploration and slowly, but surely all of us found our niche at BHS, wheth¬ er it was sports, student gov¬ ernment, performing arts, or clubs like S.A.D.D. or Peer Leaders. We all found that one group of friends that made us feel at home. Before we knew it junior high was over and our lockers moved downstairs, with the big kids. Playtime was over, the teachers told us, and the real schoolwork began, more homework, projects, term pa¬ pers, and even final exams. Our first two years of high school went by quickly, but things began to change a bit. We lost touch with some of the people closest to us in junior high and formed relationships with who seemed like the most unlikely of friends, and then there was the D-word, dating. In these very unsure times we started to forge our own identity, and began to make our own little mark on BHS. As soon as high school be¬ came comfortable to us the crucial junior year hit, and the work was piled on. We were bombarded with messages to begin our college searches early, to brush-up on our vo¬ cabulary and math skills for the PSAT's and the1 SAT's, to become more involved in school activities, and most of all, to keep our grades as high as possible. Junior year was stressful, not just academical¬ ly. but socially as well. One- year closer to graduation, we felt on top of world, until we walked down the senior hall¬ way and realized that we wer¬ en't quite there yet. We attend¬ ed the Christmas Party and the Prom, and surprise, surprise, became friends with the infa¬ mous seniors we had feared as younger students. As grad¬ uation arrived a feeling of ex¬ citement mixed with sadness was in the air. Many of us were sad to see our new senior friends leave, but we were all ecstatic to think that our own setiior year was upon us, and it was time for a little bit of. . . 2 BUSTING LOOSE! We made our last locker change that September, as we became the most recent class to populate the senior hallways. As we journeyed through our last year together at Bl IS all of the things we bad taken for granted as underclassmen became a little more precious to us. Sharing the bond of being seniors caused many of our relationships to again change, old friends became closer, new friendships were made, and lost ties were reunited, as we found that one group of friends that we cared for completely, and loved entirely. We attended our last Homecom¬ ing. dressed-up for our last Spirit Week, drew our last bulletin board, and participated in our last Spirit Week Pep-Rally, and under all of the smiles and cheers there was a hint of sadness knowing that tbe end was near, lust like the teachers said, col¬ lege applications snuck right up on us, and in the midst of tbe January deadlines the phrase "I should have started looking earlier,” was often heard in the hallway, it seemed like second quarter came as quickly as it went, with only the Christmas Party sticking-out in my mind. We dressed- up for a night of dancing and that is what we received, dancing, dancing, and more dancing. I felt like we had danced forever, and at the end of the night no one wanted to go home, maybe because we were again ex¬ periencing something for the last time. Before we knew it spring had ar¬ rived. and with it cat ye the highly an¬ ticipated college acceptance letters. We ran home from school everyday, checking the mailbox for that one let¬ ter we had been awaiting. For some of us, that one letter was good news, for others, it was disappointing, but for ail it was scary, because it meant one thing: high school was over, and college was waiting. Trying not to think of the future too much, we dove into our senior activ¬ ities, and everyone came down with Prom Fever. Although this was our last Prom at BUS. our last formal dance, we were a bit more relaxed about it than during our junior year. Stress-free planning was important to us, as the girls shopped for dress¬ es. guys looked for tuxes, and eve¬ ryone found dates. As we pulled-up to the Sheraton Tara and stepped-out onto the red carpet it we felt the mag¬ ic in the air. and another memory was made. The next few weeks were a blur, and the before we knew it. our last week of school was upon us. That is when everyone began to really bust loose. Our exams flew by. and the second-to-last day of school was here, and during that lunch period some would say we busted a little too loose, and the rest is history. Class Day, Graduation, and Oper¬ ation Graduation were times for cel¬ ebration and reflection, as we said our final good-bye's to BUS and to each other. Through all of the cheers heard, there were tears shed, some openly, others silently, because we knew that this was the breaking point. We would never again be stu¬ dents at Bl IS. an era of our lives had ended, and a new one was begin¬ ning. As I write this, two months after Graduation I think of my friends and how much I will miss them. There are not tears to be shed, and I smile 1999 because they have taught me some of my most important lessons be¬ tween the brick-covered walls of BUS. they have made me the person l am today, much more than just a graduate. 3 1999 was an interesting year for BHS, as the student body be¬ came more involved than ever. The Hawks participated in nu¬ merous activities, including SADD, Drama Club and Peer Leaders, making participation soar to new heights. Students were rewarded handsomely for their efforts with field trips, danc¬ es and events like Spirit Week, Homecoming and the Junior/Sen¬ ior Christmas Party. We hope everyone had a great year! Liz Gargan signs her name in the NHS book, becoming a new member. 4 Cindy Cro and Jay Ledoux are dancing cheek to cheek at Savinni’s during the Junior/Senior Christmas Party. Spirit Week was a blast this year — as you can see it has worn Blue out. She is taking a much needed nap. Busting Butt — Yearbook Staff (Left! Sports Editors Lauren Cifizzari. Scott j Tessier and Becky Drake lounge on the floor for awhile. (Middle Left) Andy Clark. Business Editor, looks dignified in his pose. .Above Middle) Kari Degen and Shatvion Werner work hard to make the Student Life section look its best. (.Above) Faculty Editors .Amanda Connor and .Ashleigh Hoagland and Underclassmen Editor Kim Car\ alho put in many hours on their layouts. (Left).as Literary Editors. Carolyn Clopeck and Colleen Cote write many articles concerning the school's acmiries. 6