In 1970 a new science wing is completed,
the library addition is finished and shower facilities added to
the gym. A new principal is chosen for Fife High. The Drill Team
wins honors in several competitions. The name of the group is
now the Troykettes.Mr. Marvin K. Belknap retired as the High School principal and Mr. Dell Squires was hired as his replacement. (Click here for a picture and brief biography of Mr. Squires)
On October 17th 1971 Surprise Lake Middle School was dedicated. In 1972 the old Fife Elementary School built in 1932 was declared substandard and had to be vacated with the completion of the new Middle school, and was converted into an Educational Services Center (Central Office) for the entire school district. It includes the superintendent's off ice, curriculum office, accounting center, School Board meeting room, print shop, transportation office, and various other itinerant and traveling personnel. The moving of the Junior High students gave the high school a bit of breathing room. New classes were added to the curriculum. Electives included such subjects as Creative Crafts, Electronics, Ecology, Comparative Anatomy, Architectural Drawing, Bachelor Home Economics, Asia Today, Pottery, Music Appreciation, and Wildlife and Forest Management. Changing the division of the school year into 3 quarters (with each quarter lasting 12 weeks) and increasing the number of periods in a day from 6 to 8 gave more flexibility for short term classes which was the trend in education at that time. Fife offered 45 English experiences in a single school year. One could choose from courses in mythology to the recent dead.
In 1972 Fife's Daffodil Princess, Sherri Murray is chosen Queen and the float placed first in the Daffodil Parade. Fife's hot lunch program diversifies as a result a six-week study of food waste. The Opinion Research Center came to Fife and carefully measured all the leftovers.
In 1975 an extensive remodel of what was referred then as the "old" high school building additional
classrooms
were added with exterior doors for all classrooms. The former
administration offices will now house the Vice Principal's office
and staff lounge. Beginning with the class of '78, all students
of Fife High School will need to pass a Minimum Mathematics Competency
Program test to graduate.In April 1977, the band purchased new uniforms. The athletic fields finally get a permanent drainage system. Spring sports events have been held elsewhere for much of the season. There was a big food fight in the cafeteria on September15th, 1978.
In 1979 the Fife High School Athletic Field was renamed the Willis D. Vinson Field. Coach Vinson taught at Fife High School for 19 years. As a football coach he set an enviable record of 9 league championships. In 1939 Fife was named the Washington State Football Champions. In 1979 the gymnasium was renamed the Robert C. Hall Memorial Gymnasium. Robert Hall was a superintendent of Fife School District for 29 years and a dedicated advocate of education in the Fife community. (Continue)