From the Desk of the Principal:

We have really had a smooth start to our second semester.  I truly appreciate the business-like attitude that most of our students have.  Congratulations to our Girls Basketball Team!! They finished in second place in District and will enter the play-offs next week.
 
We are busy preparing for English Language Arts TAKS test on March 4th.  We will also begin our tutorials soon 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. If you haven’t been getting our telephone announcements, please let me know. We have corrected some numbers, and there may be some more that are entered incorrectly.

Thanks for sending your student to us.

Bobby Watkins

Faculty Says Good-Bye to Mrs. Nolley and Mrs. Scott
submitted by Laura Jordan

The Spring Hill High School faculty bid a loving farewell to two long-time faculty members in December at a faculty luncheon. Fran Scott, Diversified Career Preparation, and Rachelle Nolley, math teacher, both opted to retire at the end of the first semester this year.

The event included food (of course), the obligatory Spring Hill retirement watch, and some unexpected square dancing by faculty members. There were poems and parodies, and there was even a visit from the Dark M&M. Much of the clever tribute to the retiring teachers was spearheaded by our own Nancy Green and Charlotte Kincy, and many faculty members had roles in the festivities.

Both Mrs. Nolley and Mrs. Scott had kind parting words for their cohorts. Mrs. Nolley gave everyone “a round tuit” (ask a faculty member) and offered some thoughtful advice for her fellow teachers. Mrs. Scott thanked the faculty for their support of her program throughout the years.

Holly Whittington was named as Mrs. Scott's replacement, while Sharon Redman moved into Mrs. Nolley’s position. Missy Harrison was hired to fill the gap in the math department, and Irena Hedrick was hired as Mrs. Whittington’s replacement in the business department.





Spring Hill Takes FIRST PLACE!
submitted by Nancy Green

Each year Longview News-Journal sponsors the Laws of Life essay contest for juniors in high school.  Area school districts may enter three contestants.  Twelve districts participated this year, including Longview, Pine Tree, and White Oak.  Kyle Akin, Anna Brown, and Gary Duncan represented Spring Hill.  The essays were written in response to an assignment in Miss Green’s AP English class.  An awards ceremony was held January 20 at the S.E. Belcher Center with Kyle Akin from Spring Hill receiving FIRST PLACE OVERALL and a $500 cash award for his essay titled “The Life Changing Cake.”  Anna Brown was recognized as second place winner from Spring Hill and received $100 for her essay titled “Hall Pass to Heaven,” and Gary Duncan received an honorable mention.

Kyle states in his essay:

Congratulations to these students for doing an outstanding job representing Spring Hill High School. You can read Kyle’s and Anna’s entire essays by clicking on the links on their names.






From the Family & Consumer Science Department
submitted by Dee Ann Coker

Personal & Family Development classes have been studying the characteristics of healthy functional families and the challenges that face families today. Students have learned that there is no such thing as the “perfect” family. Carol Ibarra spoke to each class concerning the signs of healthy vs. harmful relationships. She also gave students resources within the community whose goal was to strengthen and encourage positive interaction with peers as well as family members. Each student made a Valentine for parents explaining what they most appreciated about their family as well as the most valuable lessons learned from their parents.  Each “Family Matters” valentine included two coupons that parents can use for treats, chores, or pampering.

Foods and nutrition classes used Valentine as an opportunity to put their baking and decorating skills to the test. Lab groups worked to prepare brownies, Rice Krispie treats, cupcakes and cookie-pops to sell to classmates after lunch on Friday before Valentine’s Day. Students worked hard to make the products both delicious and tantalizing. The main ingredient in each treat?  Well, love of course!

Apparel students used scraps of left over fabric from previous projects to assemble a quilt that will be donated to Project Linus. This organization is responsible for collecting and distributing quilts to children who are in the hospital for extended periods of time. Each class member was responsible for constructing one block and then worked together as a class to assemble the squares into a one of a kind heartfelt gift. If you would like more information concerning this project and how you can donate please contact Sharman’s Sewing Center.





Academic UIL Invitational Meet Results
submitted by Various Faculty

UIL academic teams have been busy competing in invitational meets this semester. Below are the results of the two latest meets. District competition will be held at LeTourneau University in March.

Pine Tree Meet Results 1/10

Accounting - 1st place team
Adrian Parr 2nd, Michelle Thompson 3rd, Jeremy Hall 5th, Jessica Sorey 6th
Literary Criticism – 1st place team
Caryn Esch 2nd, Connie Esch 3rd, Skye Duncan 4th
Science
Rachel Baker 6th
Calculator – 2nd place team
Gary Duncan 4th, Adrian Parr 5th
Number Sense – 1st place team
Gary Duncan 4th, Lisa Bass 5th
Ready Writing
Anna Brown 2nd, Rachel Baker 3rd
Current Events
Amanda Harper 5th

White Oak Meet Results 2/7

Accounting - 1st place team
Jeremy Hall 2nd, Michelle Thompson 4th, Adrian Parr 5th, Jessica Sorey 6th
Computer Applications
Danni Dial 6th
Literary Criticism
Ariel Chipman 1st, Skye Duncan 2nd, Michelle Goodman 5th
Spelling
Annelies Beasley 2nd, Emily Woody 4th
Current Events - 1st place team
2nd- Amanda Harper 2nd, Marley Barker 3rd, Colton Kincy 4th
Social Studies - 1st place team
Marley Barker 2nd, Colton Kincy 3rd, Jessica Sorey 6th
Number Sense - 1st place team
Michael Bass 1st, Gary Duncan 2nd
Calculator - 1st place team
Michael Bass 2nd, Gary Duncan 4th, Adrian Parr 6th, Lisa Bass 7th
General Math - 2nd place team
Michael Bass 3rd, Adrian Parr & Gary Duncan 4th-tie
Science - 1st place team
Michael Bass 3rd, Gary Duncan 4th




Leaders' Core Sprayground Grand-Opening
submitted by Holly Whittington

The Leaders’ Core is happy to announce the grand-opening and ribbon cutting of the new Spring Hill Park sprayground.  This event, planned for Wednesday, May 20th, will culminate three years of intense planning and fund-raising. The City of Longview Parks Department will add sidewalks connecting the sprayground to a pavilion, the Neil McCoy playground, and adjacent parking lot.  Benches and landscaping will be added, courtesy of the Leaders’ Core, and two special plaques will honor contributors as well as Core members.  Once details are in place, the public will be invited to attend this special occasion.




Bring Your Parent to School Day!
submitted by Lisa Gathright

During the month of January AP Biology students invited their parents to come participate in a lab activity.  Parents and students were lab partners for a bacterial transformation lab. The lab involved  transforming a gene from a jellyfish into bacterial cells in order for the bacterial cells to fluoresce like the jellyfish.  Parents were able to ask questions about AP Biology and learn more about what their students are doing in prepartion for the AP Biology exam in May. 

Probing Science
submitted by Allison Gillentine

Students in Allison Gillentine’s and Lisa Gathright’s Chemistry classes are using Lab Quest computer probes to determine if a reaction is exothermic or endothermic.  Students tracked the temperature changes between a mixture of vinegar/baking soda and yeast/hydrogen peroxide.  This equipment was made available through a grant that Mrs. Gathright received from the Hach Education Foundation last year.