I was nine years old as I entered fourth grade at Fairbrook Elementary school on August 25, 1981, and at the age of five, Denise was joining me at school for the first time. We would be making the daily trudge to the Mulhern residence where the bus would pick up Denise, Kenny Carroll, and me and transport us to school, where we would each go to our separate classes. Mine was taught by Mrs. Smith, one of the oldest teachers in the school – and certainly one of the best. She could be both stern and kind and I think gained the respect of more students than any other teacher I ever had. Denise had Mrs. Ferguson, who had not been there when I was in kindergarten.
Denise’s Kindergarten picture – taken, along with mine (above), on October 5
My fourth grade class…TOP: Mrs. Smith, Marci Gauder, me, Andrea Feltz, Melissa Wilkerson, Jacque Harrah. SECOND ROW: Dan Doolan, David Van Wert, Tony Kerr, Angel Collins, Tara Daubenmire, Jennifer Richmond. THIRD ROW: Eddie Crowder, Rick Mullins, Kim Sullivan, Steve Deaton, Amber Jones, Kevin Rose. BOTTOM ROW: Travis Ulen, Kim Nagle, Autumn Mantia, Donna Moody, Lisa Herring
My best friend in the class this year was David Van Wert. I would visit his house on one or two occasions and recall that he had the Intellivision video gaming system which offered a worse alternative to the Atari 2600. He was good friends with Eddie Crowder, but the two of us didn’t get along too well, especially after I was caught red-handed picking my nose during a classroom movie. My big crush was Autumn Mantia this year – as she was everyone’s big crush. Lisa Herring was the new girl in the class and I dubbed her with the unfortunate and meaningless nickname “Pickle”. Tony Kerr beat up Steve Deaton during one of our recesses.
I actually began participating in some extra-curricular activities this year at the school. With no real talent for singing, I brought my alto voice to the Fairbrook fourth grade Chorus, which seemed to have half of the fourth grade class within it. We had our practices before school a couple of days a week so Mom would have to drive me to school early on Tuesday and Thursdays. I always enjoyed our recitals, especially the Christmas ones. I also took a crack at the beginning orchestra, and actually purchased a violin. This was mercifully short-lived, although Sunil, who was learning the viola over at Valley Elementary, and I had a great time making fun of our mutual instructor Mr. Pierce. He had a very distinctive way of warming up his hands and applying rosin to his bow.
Fourth grade chorus. I am in the second row, fourth from the left.
I also took a crack at the beginning orchestra, and actually purchased a violin. This was mercifully short-lived, although Sunil, who was learning the viola over at Valley Elementary, and I had a great time making fun of our mutual instructor Mr. Pierce. He had a very distinctive way of warming up his hands and applying rosin to his bow.
And finally, I also joined the Pencil Pushers after-school club. This club was intended for those who enjoyed creative writing and was actually founded this very year. We as a group voted on the name, which had been suggested by Helen Listerman. At the time of our first meeting on 11/19, we were simply the writing club. I would stay in this group, which was run by teachers Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Martin, for this and the next school year.
Front row, second from left is me along with my fellow Pencil Pushers
And last but not least, I was nominated to participate in the B.E.L.L. (Beavercreek Elementary Learning Laboratory) program. This was designed for so-called gifted students who needed an extra academic challenge beyond what was offered in the normal classroom. I had gladly suffered the stigma of being a ‘smart kid’ for the past couple of years and evidently my third grade teacher Mrs. Corn nominated me for this class.
B.E.L.L. was only for grades 4, 5, and 6, and I was the only fourth grader in this group of ten students, which included upper-classmen Sean Delaney, Diana Stickel, Matt Benson, Stephen Hurst, Mark Blair, and others whom I have forgotten. I enjoyed this class very much and it got me out of normal class every Monday of the week. Naturally, it was my responsibility to make up any work that I missed. Under the tutelage of Mrs. Jingling, we did lots of interesting things in here such as learning the fundamentals of French, getting our first brush with basic Apple computer programming, learning factorial fours, working the Pythagoras puzzle, and reading Charles Dickens.
And my reputation for being a smart kid was further solidified when I was victorious in the class Spelling Bee, which entitled me to move on to the school Spelling Bee held in the Fairbrook auditorium one evening. Mrs. Smith had privately tutored me in class when time permitted. I think I got fourth place, missing the word DECAL, when I add an extra L to the end.
Oddly, I relished my role as a smartie-pants in school and let it define my individuality during this time period. I had decided that sports weren’t really my thing and had nearly completely lost all interest in participating in them by this point. I aspired to be included among the ‘popular’ kids, but lingered on the fringe of that particular clique.
Our “Old Cars” 1981 calender sparked a few additional school memories of the Fall of that year. For instance, there was the yearly nut sale that would always yield us some crummy prizes as we peddled these things to family and neighbors, turned in the money and then had to deliver them. And the skating parties at SkateWorld resumed on October 15.
There unfortunately aren’t many photos from this particular Fall to indicate much of what was going on. Somehow my 10th birthday was completely bypassed…and ironically, the only Halloween photos taken were not of Denise and me, but of my parents! They were attending a Halloween get-together hosted by the Gem City Classics Chevy Club and went as farm-people. Or something.
Same goes for Thanksgiving, which was held at Diana and Tom’s house on November 26. No pictures. But I know that Mom brought pies and Jello.
Mom getting ready to attend the Chevy Club Halloween party on October 17
Country bumpkins
I can see why there wasn’t much time for picture-taking though. Between all of my extra-curricular activities, Mom’s bowling and occasional volleyball, doctor appointments, Sons of the Desert meetings for Dad and me (9/20 and 11/29), Denise and I singing in the church choir, Denise’s dance lessons and recitals, class field trips, Mom’s volunteering as a teacher aide for Mr. Turner’s fifth grade class, Mom’s all-weekend food show at the convention center, and Chevy Club gatherings, we were one busy and active family!
Denise. Just too cute.
Denise’s face strawberry. Hanging out in our backyard in the Fall of 1981
Birthday party at Bev’s house, which may have been Chris’ party held on October 25 or Susan’s held on December 11
Denise and I enjoy Fall downtime with some TV and popcorn before the 1981 holidays hit
1981 will conclude with Christmas…
Great memories and photos! But, something seems a little off with Autumn Mantia’s photo . . . hmmmm?
Erin
May 13th, 2010