1985-1989
1985
Buena has a rich history of academic, musical, and athletic achievements. Along with the school’s accomplishments, the student body enjoyed a vibrant life during the late 1980s filled with dances, Halloween costumes, student-athletes breaking records, and more.
In 1985, 23 years after the opening of the school, students started school in September, roaming the halls, wondering what the year would hold. Many dances were held for the students throughout the year, with the first "Welcome Back" dance happening on September 20, 1985 (Halvorsen 1). "Welcome Back" 1). Spirit committees put together a beach-themed gathering, and students remembered the dance as being highly successful and helped to get students motivated for the rest of the school year.
The beginning of the year started with excitement and grief. In September, students grieved the loss of freshman, Michel Dale Johnson, as he passed in a tragic biking accident (Thawley 1). In the following month, Halloween was a widespread celebration throughout the campus. A costume contest was held for students to show off their exciting costumes. Costumes ranged from Coke cans to the winning costume, Medusa (Rodriguez).
Later that year, students helped to raise $21,000 in two weeks to help aid starving families in Africa (Garnica 51). Their efforts were recognized by President Ronald Reagan, who wrote a letter of commendation to the school, which you can read below.
BHS For Africa
Letter from President Reagan thanking Buena High School for raising funds for Africa.
Article in the 1986 Yearbook
1985's Halloween Costume Day Yearbook Page
1986
1986 was the year for fashion and athletics. Buena’s Girls league put on an annual fashion show, themed “A touch of class,” and performed for the senior class ("Girls League Fashion Show" 1). They strutted the runway with casual wear but focused on style and formal attire. That year track had a run of success, sending 10 runners to CIF and varsity to the championship (Bull 8). Unfortunately, the varsity did not win the championship but still pulled third in their division. Girls Tennis went down in Buena history as the best season ever, that year, the record being 19-3.
1986 Girl's Tennis Team
Yearbook Photo
1987
1987 was casual and smooth for the student body and administrators. The annual 4-mile run made a new record. With over 300 students preparing to compete, local runners and students competed for donations to the Dia Rounds Memorial. Runner Andy Deconti, 21-29 age division, won with a time of 19:36. Santa Barbara runner Anne Hayden won the 30-39 age range with a time of 23:03, thus setting a course record (---. "Buena 4 Mile Draws Record Crowd" 1). Buena’s yearly musical hit the stage on May 7, 1987, performing “Little Shops of Horrors” (Sojonia 1). The comedic and unusual play shows a man-eating plant.
The annual 4-mile Run Memorial for Dia Rounds article, found in the Buena Vista newspaper, 1987.
1988
1988 had many achievements from the students, from CIF games to literature awards. The Demske award contest is an annual memorial contest to honor the memory of Chris Demske. Students submit original writings that are then judged and put into our school’s literary magazine, The Pawprint. The winners of 1988 were honored in an assembly held by ASB (Draughon).
Buena Vista article about the winners of the
Demske Awards
1988 Buena Newspaper Staff Yearbook Photo
Buena High School teacher Greg Lee rehearsing of "A Chorus Line" during the summer of 1988 for a production at Ventura College. Star-Free Press taken 26 July 1988, published 21 Aug. 1988.
The Marvin Stites Theater in 1988, during a Community Memorial Outreach program for Buena students about the importance of self-breast examinations.
1989
1989 was the graduating year for the class of 1985-1989. Swim teams swam to high goals breaking many records. Both the boys and girls teams took home the league title that year, with the boys winning with a huge lead. The girls tied with Dos Pueblos for first. Graduating seniors went out with a victory, only adding to the success of Buena (Kickpatrick).
1988-1989 BBQ
School BBQ´s were very common and popular. It was a way the community got together, not just students but families too. BBQ´s were as much a family event as a social event for the students.
Works Cited
Yearbooks:
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 24. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1985. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 25. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1986. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 26. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1987. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 27. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1988. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Buena High School. Conquistador, Vol. 28. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1989. Print Archives, Buena High School Library.
Garnica, Cathy. "BHS For Africa." Conquistador, Vol. 24. Ventura: Graduating Class of 1985. Print Archives, Buena High School Library. 10 May 1985.
Newspapers:
Buis, Kip. "Track Shed Burns Down” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. XXVI, no. 1. 9 October 1986.
Buis, Kip. "Track Shed Burns Down” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. XXVI, no. 10. 9 April 1987.
Bull, Greg. "Track: Teams Send 10 to CIF.” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. XXV, no. 10. 12 June 1986.
Draughon, Heather. "Demske Winners Honored." Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. XXVII. 1988.
Fayloga, Jay. “Buena’s 4-Mile Draws Record Crowd.” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. XXVI, no. 5. 23 January 1987.
“Girls League Fashion Show.” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA]. vol. XXV, no. 9. 7 May 1986.
Halvorsen, Wendy. “Buena 4-mile Draws Record Crowd.” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. XXVI, no. 5. 23 January 1985.
Halvorsen, Wendy. “Welcome Back!” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. XXV, no. 1. 17 October 1985.
Kickpatrick, Gill. “Boys Win, Girls Share League Swim Title.” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. 27, no. 9. 1989.
Rodriguez, Belen. “Halloween Costumes: A Treat.” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. 25. 1985.
Saunders, Brian. "Buena High School Female Students at Community Memorial Hospital." Research Library at The Museum of Ventura County, accessed April 1, 2022. http://photographs.venturamuseum.org/items/show/5046.
Sayer, Victoria. “Rehearsal for 'A Chorus Line', Buena High School,” Research Library at The Museum of Ventura County, accessed 7 April 2022, https://photographs.venturamuseum.org/items/show/5106.
Sojonia, Jennifer. “Little Shop of Horrors.” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. XXVII, no. 7. 20 March 1987.
Thawley, Jenni. "Biking Tragedy,” Buena Vista [Ventura, CA], vol. XXV, no. 1. 17 October 1985.
This part of the project was completed by:
Researchers: Jayden Lee & Jose Magana Bernabe
Narrators: Brooklin Barilone & Aspen Parker
Web Designers: Isaac Parsons & Jack Jones
Archivists: Daniel Ortiz, Abel Gomez, Rhea Burney, & Siobhan Westfall
Editor: Mr. Downey
