From the Desk of Mike Gilbert:

This is the tentative schedule presented to the School Board at the March 14th meeting. The Site Based Decision Making Team feels this is the best schedule to meet the needs of our students and still allow time for participation in other activities. The schedule has built-in tutorial times before and after school. Students can ride the bus to and from school and still have time to meet individually with teachers. Juniors and Seniors can have early release. Early release will be monitored and students will have to meet the standard for full-time student placement.

Choice sheets are ready, and we hope to begin the process of planning for the 2005/2006 school year very soon. A series of grade level meetings, parent meetings, and individual conferences will be used to insure that all students are taking the courses they want and need.

Regular Bell Schedule

Teacher Sign-in 7:45
First Bell 8:15
Block 1 and 5 8:20 – 9:50 (90 min.)
Block 2 and 6 9:55 – 11:25 (90 min.)
A Lunch 11:25 – 11:55 (30 min.)
Block 3 and 7 12:00 – 1:35 (95 min.)
Block 3 and 7 11:30 – 12:15 (45 min.)
B Lunch 12:15 – 12:45 (30 min.)
Block 3 and 7 12:50 – 1:35 (45 min.)
Block 4 and 8 1:40 – 3:10 (90 min.)
Teachers Sign-out 3:45 PM

Morning Tutorials 7:50 – 8:15
After school tutorials 3:15 – 3:30 (For bus riders)

Early Release

Work Program 9:50 or 11:25
College dual credit students 11:25
Full time with early release 1:35

Change can be very concerning to students, parents and teachers. There will be individual situations that will require extra attention to work out the needs of the students based on the offerings of the master schedule. The staff at the high school will work with students and parents to do what is best for the child. I am very excited about the possibilities this schedule presents to the future of Spring Hill High School.

Go Panthers!

Mike Gilbert, Principal

An estimated 18,000 high school band and hundreds of choir students across the state began at the All-Region competition in the fall with hopes of continuing on to area before making it to a state appearance. For band members Keith Zuech, Max McRuiz, Jordan Stith, Megan Shafer and choir member Cami Bennett this became a reality after being named All-State in January. The accomplishment was a result of hard work, dedication and determination that began last June.

The students traveled to San Antonio the second week of February for the All-State clinic and concert. Approximately 220 students made up the All-State Band and the All-State Choir consisted of 168 students.

Returning All-State band member sophomore Jordan Stith placed fifth on bass clarinet after placing first at both All-District and All-Area. “After I made state last year my goal was to make it all four years,” Stith said. “If I make it all four years I will receive a $2000 scholarship. I’m really excited to have made it two years consecutively and hope to reach my goal.”

After first place finishes at All-District and All-Area, junior Max McRuiz continued his pace and placed first at state on snare drums. “I love everything about the drums,” McRuiz said. “Band lets me express myself in ways I couldn’t in any other activities. “I believe I can do it again as long as I stay focused on my goal.”

Placing seventh chair at All-State on clarinet was sophomore Megan Shafer. Shafer placed fourth at All-Region and third at All-Area. “I was very excited and surprised when I found out,” Shafer said. “The first people I told were my parents and family. Now I know how much work it takes and I really hope to make it next year.”

Senior Keith Zuech placed first alternate after battling out a tie for first chair on the timpani. Zuech placed first at All-District and All-Area. “I was disappointed that I didn’t make the band, but I was happy to go as an alternate,” Zuech said. “I had the opportunity to listen to a performance by the UNT Wind Symphony.” This fall Zuech will attend the University of North Texas and minor in music.

Representing choir was sophomore Cami Bennett who placed first in the Women’s Choir. Bennett placed second at All-Region and third at All-Area. “I was really surprised to find out I made it because I knew it wasn’t my best audition and usually only a few sophomores and freshman make it and I was glad to be one of them,” Bennett said. "Next year I will just take it one step at a time. I hope to make the Mixed Choir and will start preparing again in June since I am going to the Baylor Choir Camp.”

All the students dedicated countless hours of practice and preparation in order to become one of the best musicians in Texas at the high school level. In return All-State provides numerous scholarships advantages.

As he walked through Longview Regional Airport Wednesday afternoon he was welcomed by family who had not seen him in 10 months. He was also greeted by 20 students from the Oak Forest Montessori School who had never met him before, but who had adopted him as their soldier.

“My favorite part of being ‘adopted’ was having them at the airport,” former SH grad Charles Wheeler said. “It was like they were my little kids waiting for me when I got home.” The children sent Wheeler packages and letters while he was overseas and even had the chance to talk to him over the phone. “I am going to their school Monday to visit them,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler was deployed last year to Iraq, landing in Kuwait on his 20th birthday. He is part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and served overseas for 10 months before returning to Oceanside, California where he resides. “It is surreal to be home, it’s a different life style,” Wheeler said. “Don’t take what you have for granted.”

After graduating in 2002, Wheeler traveled to San Diego for training and then to Iraq. He worked with communications so he was able to talk to his family at least once a month. “I was really blessed,” Wheeler said. “Some guys didn’t get to call home the whole time they were gone.”

When he was in Iraq, his mother wore a blue star pin to represent him. “The pin has been in the family for three generations. Its over 80 years old, a family heirloom,” Wheeler said. Wheeler’s great-grandfather, who served in World War I, gave it to his wife and it has been passed down since then. “Charles is so proud to be a Marine carrying on the tradition,” his mother Eva Wheeler said.

His most vivid memory from overseas was when he was able to lead a translator he had become friends with to the Lord. “It’s great to see someone turn their back on everything they have ever known and risk death to get salvation,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler will return to USMC Camp Pendleton next week to continue training. While in California, he will be heavily involved with his church’s youth group. “My church knows I want to be a youth minister and are helping me by giving me chances to serve and to lead,” Wheeler said.

Since entering into the Marines, he says the way people treat him has changed the most. “People don’t treat me like a kid anymore. They treat me like an adult. It has changed my character,” Wheeler said.

White Oak Academic Invitational Meet
submitted by Pat Gatons

Congratulations to the following students for their success in the White Oak Academic Invitational Meet held Saturday, February 12.

These students and many more will be competing in the District 16-3A UIL Academic Meet on March 30th - April 1st. Events scheduled for Wednesday, March 30th, will be held in White Oak. These include Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Informative and Persuasive Speaking, and Ready Writing. On Thursday, March 31st, the One-Act Play Contest will be held at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler. All of the remaining academic contests will be held on Friday, April 1st, on the campus of Texas State Technical College in Marshall.

With four Spring Hill students who competed at last year's State Academic Meet returning, hopes are high that SHHS will be well-represented at the district meet. Numerous other students who competed at the district and regional levels last year are also scheduled to participate giving Spring Hill High School a solid shot at the district academic championship.

Math/science teacher Pat Gatons of Spring Hill serves as the district academic director.


Economics Class Plays the Market
submitted by Kerry Bailey & Rachel Fitzgerald of The Panther's Paw

By using a game, Economics teacher Jeff Sims found a way to convince students to be smart investors by giving them knowledge about how companies and the stock market works. Students were put into teams and then signed into a website where they made decisions about buying and selling stock. The students researched in order to find the most successful stocks.

“I heard about the game this summer at a conference,” Sims said. “It is sponsored by Texas Council on Economic Education and the Dallas Morning News.” The students receive free papers each weekday during the duration of the 10-week game. They compete regionally though the game is nationwide. Out of the 344 teams competing across the nation, six belong to Sims.

“It’s an adrenaline rush that you just can’t get playing sports,” senior Matt Dolson said. “In the game you have all this fake money and you don’t know what to do with it and you have to use it wisely.”

The students have a variety of opinions on how they feel about the game and how it helps them relate to the real world of business. Some think it will give them a better understanding when they go into the business world.

“It helps me understand the reasons why we have stocks and how important they are in the real world,” junior Lauren Dean said. The stock market allows students to see the ups and downs of business. In order to be successful the student must pay close attention.

For students like Kyle Pope, who is considering becoming an accountant, this game teaches about real life economy. “The best part of the game is that it includes the real stock market,” Pope said.

Pacesetters Win 13 Awards
submitted by D'Lee Reagh

After weeks of hard work and long practices, the Panther Pacesetters went to Kilgore College on January 29th to participate in the Gussie Nell Davis Classic Competition. The Pacesetters competed in the small team division, which was the largest division in entire competition. After nine show-stopping performances, consisting of 3 team routines, 3 officer routines, 2 small ensembles, and Tamara Thorsgard’s solo, our Spring Hill drill team came home with 13 well-deserved awards. These awards consisted of: Sweepstakes (Line), Best in Class Runner Up (Line), Judges Award- Team Novelty, Judges Award- Team Kick, Best Overall Technique (Line), Best Overall Precision (Line), Academic Award Runner Up (Line), Sweepstakes (Officers), Best in Class (Officers), Best Overall Presentation (Officers), Gussie Nell Davis Award (Officers), Best in Class Ensemble (Lainey Boyd, Emily Mach, Ashley Herrin, Jennifer Zapata, and Hillary Hill), and Best in Class Solo Winner (Tamara Thorsgard).


Longview Beautification Award Goes to Leaders' Core
submitted by DeeAnn Coker

An Arbor Day Ceremony was held at the high school on March 10, during which a Little Gem Magnolia was planted by the Longview Beautification Association in honor of Spring Hill Leaders' Core's contributions to the beautification of our school and community. Leaders' efforts have resulted in the creation of the Spring Hill Community Park and the landscaping and improvements of the entry at Spring Hill High School.

Many students and community members participated in the ceremony, and Daryl Williams, Mayor Pro Tem, was present. Mr. Barnes' band students provided music for the ceremony, and artwork for the printed program was provided by Mr. Dunn's art students. Mrs. Coker's Personal Family Development class provided decorations for the event and refreshments for the reception that followed.

Longview Beautification Association, a Keep Texas Beautiful Affiliate and supporter of Keep America Beautiful, is a city-wide volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to making Longview a cleaner, safer, and more beautiful place to live and work.


Employment Opportunities Available
submitted by Fran Scott

Co-op employment opportunities are available with local industries such as Eastman, Neiman Marcus, Borg Warner, Alcatel, LeTourneau Inc., and other LEDCO supporting companies. These opportunities are for 18-year-old seniors in the work program who plan on pursuing a career and college degree that support the job area. A requirement for all companies is a record of excellent attendance. Some companies also require specific math and science courses completed prior to employment. College scholarships and opportunities for full time employment following graduation are offerred by some of the companies. Students interested in employment with one of Longview's major industries need to contact Mrs. Scott. Jobs in the co-op program are not limited to industries.

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

Applications will be on the counter in the high school office and are due back with choice sheets. They can be turned in to the counselor or 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.

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