From the Desk of the Principal:

We have really had a smooth start to our second semester.  I really appreciate the business–like attitude that most of our students have.  Congratulations to our Girls' Basketball Team!! They tied for first place and won a game against Sabine to represent us as the District Champion.  They are playing Friday at Robert E. Lee HS in Tyler against Athens in the first round of the playoffs. We had a bye on Tuesday. 

We are busy preparing for English Language Arts TAKS test on March 5.  We are also beginning our tutorials in preparation for the TAKS “Super Bowl” the last week of April. Please remind your students to work hard and listen when teachers are presenting this information. For 11th graders this is their exit test, and they must pass it to graduate.

Spring is always a busy time, so always continue to check with your student on assignments in both classes and activities.

Thanks for sending your student to us.

Bobby Watkins

Laws of Life
submitted by Nancy Green

Jade Bogue and Brenton Stamper were recognized at an awards ceremony January 22 at the S. E. Belcher Center as the first and second place essayists respectively for Spring Hill High School  in the Laws of Life essay contest sponsored by LONGVIEW NEWS-JOURNAL.  Jade Bogue received a $150 cash award for her first place essay titled “Mommy’s Little Girl,” and Brenton received $100 for his second place essay titled “Nature’s Embrace.”  Cannon Price also participated in the contest receiving honorable mention for his essay titled ‘Two plus Two.”  The essays were written in response to an assignment in Miss Green’s AP English class.  An excerpt from Jade’s essay states: "The life lesson I learned with this experience would have to be that you don’t know what you truly have until it’s gone.  The vase of my life shattered that inauspicious day, and one piece will always be missing. The piece of my mother in all her soulful beauty dissipated in the dust of sickness and bodily restriction." In his essay, Brenton states: "That is where the magic was.  There I could see how meticulous each and every bluegill’s job was.  The wonder and beauty of nature amazed my mind." "My desire to learn engulfed my entire being, a raging wildfire consuming everything in its massive wake.  Entering junior high, I discovered the profound influence of mankind’s primary means of personal expression – poetry."

Congratulations to these students.



Work Program Highlights for Spring
submitted by Fran Scott

YBA Completes Tax Forms
The Young Business Associates (YBA), club of the Diversified Career Preparation (DCP) work program, completed free income tax preparation at school with electronic filing for students in the program. The new IRS  VITA site guidelines allowed the students to only complete their own returns this year. Students were trained by IRS representatives for tax preparation and filing. The representatives taught students tax preparation on computers using actual IRS software.

Job Shadowing
In February and April, DCP students will be job shadowing with a business mentor in the chosen career field the students plan on pursuing after graduation. They shadow their mentors from half a day to a full work shift at the work site. Shadowing provides the opportunity to experience the job first hand at the actual work environment, ask questions, and make contact with professionals in the field whom they can call upon in the future.

Work Program Applications
For students beginning spring advisement, applications for the work program will be available through the counselor's offices and on the counter in the office the last week of February and throughout March. They are to be turned in with choice sheets to the counselors or can be given to
Mrs. Scott. DCP students will be released to go to work after taking DCP and the courses needed for graduation. The number of courses taken by a student will depend upon their graduation requirements.

Work program requirements include:
* 16 years of age
* junior or senior
* application form
* work a minimum of 15 hours/week for 3 credits
* teacher references
* low absences and discipline referrals
* passing grades
* interview with co-op teacher

Jobs are available for co-op at a wide variety of types of businesses. Students work in retail, offices, medical, food marketing, restaurants, industry, and child care.



Boys' Golf
submitted by Steve LaMore

The 2008 Golf season has gotten off to a great start for the Spring Hill Panther boys’ golf team.  They began by winning the Panther Invitational February 1st at Wood Hollow Golf Club in Longview.   The Panthers won against a very competitive field which included Robert E. Lee out of Tyler, Lindale, Palestine, Pine Tree and Whitehouse.  Their score of 298 bested Lee by 1 stroke.  Palestine finished in third with a score of 300.  Jason Fiscus led the Panthers with a score of 71 which was 1 over par. He was the overall 2nd place medalist.  Jordan Sarran finished with a 74, Tim O’Farrell with 75, Mitch Vale 78, and Kyle Akin with an 86. 
           
The following week the Panthers played in Austin TX at Roy Kizer Golf Course, site of the 2008 boys state championship.  The players battled a strong field and very windy conditions to finish 4th 1 stroke out of third place and 5 out of second.
           
This past Monday Feb. 11, the boy’s team competed in and won the Bullard Invitational Golf Tournament played at Oak Hurst Golf Club in Bullard TX.  Once again the Panthers beat a very strong field with the likes of Tyler Lee, Lindale, Lufkin, and Pine Tree.  Jason Fiscus was low man shooting a 1 over par 73.  He was followed in scoring byTim O’Farrell with a 75, Jordan Sarran 77, Kyle Akin 77, and Mitch Vale with an 80.
           
The Panthers’ next Golf Tournament will be Monday Feb. 18th at Pinecrest Country Club put on by Longview High School.



SkillsUSA Represent Spring Hill
submitted by Guy Fuller

On Feb 1st and 2nd the Spring Hill High School SkillsUSA members competed in the District 5 Welding and Precision Machining Skills Competition at TSTC in Waco, TX.  They represented Spring Hill very well.  They not only competed against other schools the same size as our's; they competed against school of all sizes in our area.  Here is how they fared:

In the Welding and Precision Machining Skills Competitions:

In the Welding and Precision Machining Project Competitions:

All of the students qualified for the state competition in Corpus Christi April 2-5. 



Spring Hill Twirler & Flag Workshop
submitted by Karen Hagler

The high school twirlers & flags held their 8th annual workshop the last Saturday in January for girls Pre K - 12th grades from area schools to give them experience in twirling a baton or flag.  Registration for the workshop was $30.00 which included learning a routine in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, lunch, workshop t-shirt, demonstrations from all classes at the end of the day, and a certificate of participation from the HS twirlers & flags.  It was a good experience for those that are considering trying out for either a position on the twirler or flag lines.  The applications were sent to all campuses before we dismissed for the Christmas Holidays.  Next year's Workshop is Saturday, January 31, 2009  ( 9:00am - 4:00pm ).  The above information will pertain to our upcoming workshop.

CLEARANCE SALE  ! ! ! ! ! ! !
2007-2008  Calendars - $5.00
Royal Blue & White Drawstring Backpack with Zipper Pouch - $5.00
Flashing Spirit Pins - $2.00
Royal Blue & White Go Panthers License Plates - $2.00

While supplies last - Contact Karen Hagler (903-323-7735)