FROM THE ARCHIVES
School
IS
The following memories were written by an unknown senior girl who graduated in the first class at Rio in 1963. She recorded what many have experienced and loved in their days at Rio.
“Oh, Mother! I can’t find my skates. Did you get that towel and pillow in town yesterday? I wonder what color my room is? I wonder what my roommate will be like. I wonder what the kids will be like? I wonder...” Yes, we are all excited. Rio Lindo Academy -- the name sounded rather unfamiliar and almost mysterious. For those who never seen the academy, it is a pleasant shock, “It’s gorgeous! Look at the cafeteria and that view! The Ad Building’s so spacious and up to date! Oh what a beautiful school! You know this won’t be bad after all!” Then there was that first day of school--It almost makes me laugh to remember it. The night before the room had looked like a city dump on Westside. Some roommates had even had their first fights! But no, September 4, 8:45, it was time to fill the classrooms. “Wow! Look at the Kids. Hundreds of them, but somehow they don’t look as bewildered as I do.” So we muse as we stood in the middle of the foyer gazing Students participate in the first Fall Picnic in 1963.
14
RIO REPORT | Fall 2012
intently at direction signs. No one knew where to go. Poor Miss Lester and all the tardy slips she had to sign that day! Some of us didn’t even wake up to the realization that we were in the wrong class till after it started! At chapel time, everyone tried to find their seats listed in the hall and at first it looked like we were to have chapel on the foyer. Elder Will, that man with the huge smile, seemed to know everyone’s name. I was confused trying to remember my roommate’s name! That week we had so many firsts! We almost rebelled at the very expression. By the end of those first seven days, we didn’t want another first anything, just something, anything we were used to! Remember some of those unique chapel plays that went along with the presidential campaign? There was near-sighted Mr. Hardcastle’s alert class of people that didn’t go skiing either! Well, I guess it took something like the first year of RLA to mix the weather up. Oh yes, the girls slumber party. Somehow I wasn’t invited but I hear the photographer managed to get in and crash the party. October brought the Fall Festival. Bet you can’t even remember who you dated? It’s been a while all right! I think there were 10 booths. The publications booth featured Tiny Bennet as Santa’s Elves, Connor and Reiswig. Miss Lester, did you get your Cadillac you told Santa you wanted while you sat on Santa’s knee? Juniors, you can brag about your oriental booth. You received first prize. Then the boy’s hayride came in second and senior class pie eating contest third. Anita Halvorsen went into those pies face first and can boast of RLA’s reddest face. Then there were those good old chapel programs. Dr. Herr with his civil war centennial. Mrs. Hopp on health, Elder Delefield with the E.G. White Bible, and many others. We won’t soon forget the amazing feat of strength that former Mr. America, Jo Ann Hempe’s Father, displayed. Nor will we forget his advice to us. While I’m at it, I guess we won’t forget some of those Saturday night programs Mr. Mayor got for us either. Mr. Shultze, the pictures, and the clown.