(CLAIR) – Spend a minute to cast your mind back to those carefree school days in the 1980s. In case you can’t quite feel that rush of nostalgia, we are here to help!
Whether you attended Crestview or White Oak Elementary, Hillside or Sinaloa Junior High, there are some things that Simi Gen X’ers will always have in common.
We share memories of big hair, neon clothing and the iconic moments that defined our generation. These were the days of discovery, friendship and experiences that shape us into the tough, no-nonsense people we are today. It was a time of great excitement and adventure, and we wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Here are 16 things that Simi Valley Gen X’ers remember about going to school in the 1980’s:
- Decorated Pee-Chee Folders: These were the ultimate status symbol in school. We all wanted to have the most colorful, creative, and unique Pee-Chee Folders. It was like a competition to see who could decorate theirs the best.
- TV Show Lunchboxes: From “The A-Team” to “G.I. Joe,” having a lunchbox featuring your favorite TV show was the ultimate way to show off your coolness in the lunchroom.
- The Best Pizza On Earth: There will never be another pizza quite like elementary school cafeteria pizza. The pizza we had in school was simply the best pizza on earth. Secretly, we know, some of you still crave it to this day.
- Teacher Gradebooks: Those thin, spiral-bound books filled with graph paper were like a glimpse into our future. We would stare at them, hope our grades would add up to passing by the end of the quarter.
- High School Computer Class: This was where we got our first taste of technology. We learned how to type, use DOS software and once in a while we were lucky enough to play Oregon Trail.
- Secret Calculator Messages: Remember trying to imagine all the different words and names that could be spelled on a calculator?
- The Smell Of Mimeograph Paper: The distinctive smell of mimeograph paper is something that will forever be ingrained in our memory. It was the smell of school.
- Library Card Catalog: These wooden drawers were the gateway to knowledge. We would spend hours pouring over the cards, trying to find the perfect book to check out.
- Slambooks!: These little notebooks were like a time capsule of our teenage years. We would pass them around and fill them with secrets, doodles, and notes to our friends.
- SRA Reading Tests: The SRA Reading Test was a rite of passage. It was the test that determined whether or not you were one of the ‘smart kids’.
- Math On The Chalkboard: The sound of the chalk scratching against the board was the soundtrack to our math classes. The equations and formulas written on the board were like a code that we had to crack.
- Cursive Writing: Remember when we had to learn cursive writing? Today it’s like knowing a secret language that kids today do not understand.
- Scholastic Book Day Order Forms: These little order forms were like a window into a world of fun and interesting books that were never available in the school library.
- Friday Music Percussion Class: Friday music class was the best class of the week. We would sing, play percussion instruments, and have a great time.
- Parachute In Gym Class: The big, colorful parachute was a staple of gym class. We would play all kinds of games with it, like “Popcorn” and “Raft.”
- Dynamite Magazine: This magazine was like a window into the world of teenage culture. We would read it cover to cover, soaking up all the latest fashion, music, and movie news.
