From the Desk of Mike Gilbert:

As we all know, every day is a good day to be a Spring Hill Panther. But sometimes it is a GREAT day to be a Spring Hill Panther. Tuesday, February 21st was one of those GREAT DAYS!

The first round of the 2006 TAKS test was administered last Tuesday. Many of you know the amount of time and effort everyone at the high school put into preparing for this test. Students were told on a regular basis how important is would be to put forth their best effort, take their time, be there on test day, and most of all realize that nothing else would be happening on test day except the test. I do not know what our scores will be, but I do know that this student body put forth as good of an effort on a school-wide test day as any I have ever been associated with as a teacher or administrator.

Our students and teachers did everything asked of them, for example:

1. Our attendance was outstanding. One hundred percent of the junior class came on test day, and only five students were absent in the 9th and 10th grades.

2. We asked our students to take their time and use the day to the best of their ability. At 1:15 in the afternoon we still had 180 students working on the test. Over 30 students were still testing at 3:15, which is the end of our day.

3. I am very proud of our freshman class not only for taking the test well, but also for sitting in their testing rooms long after they were finished with a shorter test and allowing the 10th and 11th graders to stay in their rooms with out being disturbed. I know this was hard on students and teachers alike, but it allowed us to provide the best test-taking environment for all students.

4. The teaching staff did a great job of preparing the students and then helped out in every way to make the test day go smoothly. Mrs. Dees had everything in good shape to start the day and all her hard work paid off.

As you can tell, I am very proud of everyone’s effort on TAKS Day. I also want you to know that Spring Hill High School is in full swing with Spring Sports and Activities. Golf, Tennis, Track Baseball, Softball, Power Lifting, Band, One-Act-Play and UIL Academic Meets are all going strong. We just received great news about the 2005 Panther Yearbook being selected as one of 10 National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Finalists in the state of Texas! And last, but far from least, Congratulations to our Lady Panther Basketball team for another exciting Championship Season.

Go Panthers!

Mike Barnes, Band Director at Spring Hill High School has been elected to membership in Phi Beta Mu, an International School Bandmaster Fraternity. Phi Beta Mu is an honorary, non-political, non-profit fraternity established in 1938. There are approximately 300 active members in Texas with additional chapters in most of the 50 states as well as Canada, Japan and Europe.

Mr. Barnes was inducted at the annual new member’s breakfast on February 18, 2006 in San Antonio. He was sponsored by Diane Baker of Baker of Goose Creek ISD in Baytown. Co-sponsors were Bobby Richardson of Sabine ISD and Don Lawler of Spring Hill ISD.

In order to be considered for membership in Phi Beta Mu, one must have at least ten years of successful teaching experience and must have produced and maintained an outstanding and consistent band program in the public schools among other stringent criteria.

According to Mr. Barnes, “being invited into this organization is the highest professional and personal honor I have ever received. It really says a lot about the students and schools I have worked with through my career. When I look at the folks in this organization not only from Texas but across the globe, it is a virtual who’s who of band directors. It is extremely humbling to be included in such a prestigious group of men and women.”

Mr. Barnes served our country for three years as a member of the United States Army Band. While in the Army he attended the Military School of Music in Norfolk, Va. After attaining the rank of Sergeant he was Honorably Discharged in 1987. Mike earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Lamar University and has done course work in pursuit of his Masters Degree.

Mike has taught in Center, Crosby and Pine Tree ISD and is in his sixth year as High School Band Director and Director of Fine Arts for Spring Hill. While under his direction, these bands have been awarded numerous 1st Divisions at UIL Marching Contests and Concert & Sight-reading Contests. 1st Division and Best in Class at the Gilmer Yamboree Marching Contest and Best in Class Honors at the Smokey Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg Tn. Mr. Barnes has had many All State band members as well as numerous State Solo & Ensemble Medalists. While at Center the band was 4th Runner up in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Honor Band Contest. Best in Class, Outstanding Drill Design and Best Performance of Military March Music are some of the honors his students have earned at the National Association of Military Marching Bands. Most recently the Spring Hill Band was chosen as the TMEA Area Honor Band and 3rd Runner-up in the TMEA Honor Band Competition. (Honor Band is the highest honor a band can receive in Texas Music Education.)

Mr. Barnes has served has an All Region Clinician and Adjudicator in numerous regions across the state. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association and Association of Texas Small School Bands. He is currently serving as President of the National Association of Military Marching Bands and has served as Region Chairman for ATSSB, and has been a member of the ATSSB State Board. In October of 2004, Mr. Barnes was selected as Teacher of the Month for Spring Hill ISD and for the fifth consecutive year, he has been selected to Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers.

Mike has been married to Marianne for 22 years and has two daughters currently attending Lamar University on Music Scholarships. Amber is a Music Education Major and Ashley is a Business Major.

SHHS Choir Members Experience Success
submitted by Karen Bennett

This school year, three choir members, Katie McCrary, Courtney Bennett and Cami Bennett have achieved great success through their performances in very challenging solo competitions ranging from TMEA All-Region to Area Competition. In November, all three girls made the All-Region Choir, which performed its concert at Mount Pleasant High School. They then advanced to the Pre-Area Competition and then Area where the auditions also include students from the Dallas school districts, presenting very challenging competition. From this Area competition, Cami Bennett made 5th chair in the All-State Mixed Choir where she is one of the top 30 high school soprano II vocalists in the state of Texas. Quite an honor! In February these same three girls also competed in the UIL Solo & Ensemble Competition held at Marshall High School. Katie, Courtney, and Cami earned a score of "1" which allows them to compete at the UIL State Competition in May at Texas University in San Marcos. Congratulations to these three outstanding singers for their multiple successes this year.



Math-Science Team News
submitted by Pat Gatons

The Spring Hill math-science team continues to excel in area competition. On Saturday, February 25th, the team competed in the Jacksonville invitational meet placing first in its small school division and 1st overall among participating schools.

Winning individual medals for Spring Hill were:

Michael Bass - 1st in Number Sense, 1st in Calculator, 1st in Math, & 2nd in Science
Amanda Harper - 1st in Science & 3rd in Math
Adrian Parr 2nd in Math & 3rd in Science
Caleb Engelke - 1st in Number Sense, 1st in Calculator, 1st in Math, & 1st in Science
Brian Bass - 1st in Number Sense, 2nd in Calculator, 2nd in Math, & 2nd in Science
Zach Barnhart - 2nd in Number Sense, 1st in Calculator, 1st in Math, & 1st in Science

Competition was by grade level within the small and large school divisions.

The team will next compete in the Longview High School invitational meet on March 4th.



Anatomy class takes on chincilla as mascot
by Joanna Capehart & Alex Bombek of The Panther's Paw

Chilli is the new pet in Coach Tammy Bailey's room. She is a female Chinchilla who is not even a year old. She moved on Friday, February 10. Chilli is shy and quiet, but if Coach Tammy Bailey attracts her with a raisin, she comes joyfully out of her little house.

"The kids wanted one (pet). We had them in the past. Hamsters always die fast, and they are stinky. We wanted a non-stinky one." Bailey said.

Chinchillas are quiet and very clean pets. They originally come from South America, that's how Chilli got her name. It's a part of Chinchilla and South America. A Chinchilla qualified very well for a pet at school, because they have a life span of 5-13 years.

"Not many people have one or even know what they are, so I thought it would be a unique idea" junior Kasi Funderburk said.



One-Act Play Performs for Public
submitted by Kathy Fisher

The Spring Hill High School UIL One-Act Play, Amber Waves, will be performed on Sunday, March 26 and Sunday, April 2 at 2:00pm in the SHHS Little Theater. Amber Waves, by award-winning playwright James Still, is set in Kansas in the late 1980s. Directed by Kathy Fisher, the play follows a difficult year for the Olsen family, who are faced with the possibility of losing the farm that has been in the family for generations. The cast includes senior Mitchell Graves as the father, Mike; junior Joanna Capehart as his wife, Penny; senior Erin Magerl as their daughter Deb; junior Blake Smith as their son Scott; senior Samantha Howes as Deb's friend Julie; and sophomore Justin Comer as their neighbor One-Eyed Johnny. The crew is comprised of junior Brook Moore, stage manager; senior Kristen Harter, projections; junior Melissa Eades, costumes; and junior Kaila Jacobs, lights. Additional company members are sophomores Courtney Francis, Lindsey Harding, Jessica Harris, and Chris Smith. The company will take Amber Waves to UIL District One-Act Play competition on March 28, 2006 at R.E. Lee High School in Tyler. Tickets for March 26th and April 2nd are $4.00 for adults and $3.00 for students and may be purchased from cast and crew members or at the door. Call 903-323-7860 for further information. Come support the Theatre Department!



Band Receives Record Number of Medals
submitted by Mike Barnes

On Friday February 10, 2006 the Spring Hill HS Band participated in the UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest at Sabine High School. The Band earned a record 96 1st Division Medals. This contest also determines which students advance to State Solo & Ensemble in San Marcos. This year 67 students will advance to the State Contest. This is also a record number of State Qualifiers. The State Contest is held in San Marcos on May 29 & 30.

"This competition is great for building musicianship. It develops individual skills that, in turn, improve the entire band. I'm very proud of all of the students that participated because it helps the band get better. The awards and State Qualification are great but the improvement in playing abilities pleases me even more," said Mr. Barnes.



Spring Hill All-State Band and Choir Honors
submitted by Mike Barnes

The Spring Hill Band has several All-State Band & Choir Members this year.

1st Chair Oboe Symphonic Band - Leslie Lee, Junior
2nd Chair Bass Clarinet Symphonic Band-Jordan Stith, Junior
4th Chair Snare Drum Symphonic Band - Max McRuiz, Senior
1st Chair Bb Clarinet Concert Band - Megan Shafer, Junior
Choir - Cami Bennett, Junior

This is Jordan's 3rd time, Max's 2nd time, Megan's 2nd time and Leslie's 1st time to make the All State Band. It is also Cami's 2nd time to make all State Choir.

These students attended the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio February 15-18 where they rehearsed and performed with the best high school musicians from across the state. This honor opens many doors for College scholarships for these students. ATSSB, the organization that hosts the band auditions, gives $500.00 Scholarships to all 3 year All State Band Members and $2,000.00 Scholarships to all 4 year All State Band Members. Jordan wil be eligible to receive the $2,000.00 Scholarship next year and Megan will be eligible to receive the $500.00 Scholarship next year.

The conductors for the the All State bands were Dr. Paula Crider from the University of Texas in Austin and Col. John Bourgeois from the United States Marine Band in Washington DC.



DCP Students Participate in Job Shadowing
submitted by Fran Scott

Diversified Career Preparation students participated in job shadowing this month through cooperation with Junior Achievement for the National Groundhog Job Shadow Day program. Students were placed on-the-job with mentors in their chosen career fields they plan on pursuing after graduation. They shadowed their mentors from 8 - 12 or for a full shift of work at the work site. Shadowing provided the opportunity to experience the job first hand and to ask questions regarding educational training, employment outlook for the future, salary, and job responsibilities. It allowed the students to experience the actual work environment and learn about working conditions and to make contact with professionals in the fields they can call upon in the future. According to Fran Scott, program coordinator, "Shadowing provides an excellent opportunity to test career choices before graduation and investing in a major for which they may not actually enjoy the work environment or the job responsibilities."

Some of the fields students shadowed in were dental hygienist, art graphics, hospital administration, radiology technology, anesthesiology, accounting, computer networking, ministry, paralegal, cosmetology, auto mechanics, auto sales, finance, and government criminal investigation.

Applications for the work program, Diversified Career Preparation, will be on the counter in the office during March. They are to be turned in with choice sheets to the counselor. The program is open to juniors and seniors who are 16 when school begins. Information regarding DCP will be given to students during March and will be included in the March newsletter.

Leaders' Core Offers Helping Hand
by Joanna Capehart of The Panther's Paw

Seldom in a high school career does one get the chance to make a lasting impression on a young person. When these Leaders' Core Students got the chance to tutor young Spring Hill students, they took advantage of it.

"The thing I will miss the most when the [tutoring] program ends is spending time with [the kids]," junior Janie Haywood said. "They really are some neat kids."

Every Tuesday morning, Leaders' Core students tutor their young pupils, hoping to leave them with an impression of working hard and never giving up. "I'm glad I can leave the kids with knowledge about the subject that they're struggling in." junior Cami Bennett said.

Since this activity isn't required, the members involved are very caring and sincere. "I mentor because I love kids and I have always wanted to work with them, so it's a good experience," junior Courtney Bennett said.

Not only do the younger students benefit, but the high school Leaders learn life lessons also. Kids give insight to things that older people can't always see. The leaders get the benefit of the feeling of making the world a better place. "I love knowing that I've helped someone become a better student," junior Courtney Rooney said.

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