From the Desk of Mike Gilbert:

All year I have been reporting to you all the things we are doing to give our students every opportunity to be successful on the TAKS Test. Today, I get to tell you just how successful our students were. The scores are in, and the numbers are very good for Spring Hill High School. I want to congratulate the Junior Class for the outstanding job they did during the test. The Class of 2006 put up scores with double digit improvement in three of four areas. They only went up 8% in Social Studies because they started at 90%. The juniors improved 25% in English, 8% in Social Studies, 26% in Math, and 17% in Science. We do not have the state averages at this time, but I know that we will be very pleased with the efforts of all our students. The chart below will allow you to see our cumulative results for all tests and all grade levels.

Commended Performance (Students that Scored above 90%)

We have room for improvement in all areas. However, when you consider the amount of improvement achieved this year, we are very pleased with the efforts of the students and faculty at Spring Hill High School.

Go Panthers!

Mike Gilbert, Principal

All the time and worrying finally paid off this past week for senior Ashley Rathfon after she was announced the winner of the annual state coca-cola competition. She was awarded a coke machine and a $5,000 prize.

Judges evaluated for hours through approximately 1700 entries for the best coca-cola inspired artwork in the state.

"When they announced my name on stage for first place I got so excited that I had forgotten that I got a coke machine and the money," senior Ashley Rathfon said. "It is really a big deal for me to win such a big award,and I could not be happier about this right now."

Rathfon's artwork will be displayed on a coke machine at a Longview Wal-Mart. There will also be a mural painted of her work and displayed in Houston. Her art work will also be a part of a national tour.

Rathfon used prisma colors and mylar paper to create the image of other Spring Hill students sitting in a circle in the high school library. The image also featured the students sitting in seats with Coca- Cola emblems on them.

"The piece took me a week and a half to make," Rathfon said. "It doesn't seem like it took long, but it took a lot of work and focus."

All AP art students were required by Dunn to enter the contest.

Several of our high school teachers are Spring Hill Panthers for the second time around. Six members of our faculty are SHHS graduates, spanning the last three decades.

Jerry Baker, who is our newly appointed Athletic Director and teaches World Geography, graduated from Spring Hill in 1976. As a student, Baker was involved in football, basketball, track, newspaper, and yearbook. He came back to us from Daingerfield because "Spring Hill offered our children a wonderful environment and education." Baker says that things have changed since his days as a student here. "When I first began attending SH, we (elementary, junior high, and high school) were basically in a single building. As an 8th grader, I was taught us history in 1971-72 by Coach Steve Clark. As elementary students, we would conclude the school year by swimming in the swimming pool that was located near to what we referred to as the 'big gym,' now known as the Middle School gym. I graduated in a senior class of 50. Gilmer Road was a two-lane road, and had one traffic light between the city of Gilmer and the loop." Baker went on to major in English at UT Austin.

Charlotte (Bacon) Kincy was involved in athletics, student council, NHS, newspaper and cheerleading while a student here. She was "Miss Spring Hill" in 1982, the year in which she graduated. According to Kincy, "very little has changed except size" at Spring Hill. "It probably has more to offer now than it had then," she said. Kincy also pointed out the fact that, as in her days as a student, today's students still don't need locks on their lockers. Mrs. Kincy received her college education at Stephen F. Austin University and wanted to gain teaching experience at a large school. She began teaching at Longview ISD in 1988, but she returned to her alma mater to teach U.S. History about 13 years ago.

Karen (Yoder) Bennett, a 1983 Spring Hill graduate, teaches English IV and AP English IV. As a student, Bennett was a cheerleader for one year, and all four years of high school she competed in cross-country and track, running the one and two mile events. Her cross-country team went to state one year and regional the other years; she also competed in regional track. After high school graduation, she attended LeTourneau University, and then transferred to a smaller college, Toccoa Falls College, in Georgia. She completed her teacher certification at LeTourneau University. Bennett returned to Spring Hill after teaching at a very large school for seven years. She stated that she "longed for a smaller community in which to teach, a place where I could have closer interaction with students and coworkers." Since Bennett's high school days, she says that the student body has grown considerably and that students' lives seem more complicated and hectic. She sees a greater emphasis on preparation for college, but believes that the close-knit relationship between teachers and students is still maintained at Spring Hill. "I have always felt an affinity with the school and community, not only as a former student, but now also as a parent who takes an even greater interest in the quality of education," Bennett said.

Paige (Edmonson) Childers thinks that student enrollment and dress code have seen the biggest changes since her days as a student at Spring Hill. Childers, one of 66 members of the 1992 graduating class, was involved in volleyball, cheerleading, track, golf, NHS, cross-country and FCA during her student years here. After earning her BBA at Stephen F. Austin State University, she taught in the business department at Pine Tree Jr. High before making her way back to Spring Hill to teach business. While employed by Spring Hill, she earned her Master's degree from the University of Texas at Tyler. After a stint as Jr. High counselor, she was hired to serve as Guidance Counselor for grades 9, 10, and 11. Mrs. Childers stated her reasons for returning to Spring Hill, "Longview is my home, and I wanted to work in this district so that I could work where my child(ren) will attend. I think that Spring Hill is the best school in East Texas, and I wanted to be a part of the staff."

Government, Economics, AP U.S. Government, and AP Macroeconomics teacher, Jeff Sims, was involved in golf, band, jazz band, D-FY-IT, TAFE, NHS, Spanish Club, and Texas Boy's State while a student at Spring Hill. After high school graduation in 1997, Mr. Sims attended Stephen F. Austin State University where he earned his degree. His wife was hired as Jr. High band director in December, 2001. While completing his student teaching at Pine Tree High School, he applied for a Government and Economics opening at Spring Hill, and he is now serving his third year here as a teacher. Regarding change at SHHS, Sims says, "Many things have stayed the same, but the biggest change has probably been the increase in enrollment. There were 75 people in my senior class. There was much less traffic and noise in the hallways when I was a student here."

Shelly (Miller) Patty attended Kilgore Junior College before she returned to Spring Hill to work as an aide, helping a wheelchair-bound student with daily needs. She feels that Spring Hill is "like home" to her, and she is "comfortable" here. She also stated that she was eager to come back to Spring Hill to work with the wonderful staff. "There are no other people I would rather work with or for," Patty said. Since her 1998 graduation, Patty says that growth has changed the district, as evidenced by the addition to the high school and the need for the new Primary School. As a student Mrs. Patty was involved in four years of cheerleading, as well as FCA, FHA, D-FY-IT, and Crimestoppers.

These teachers/former students agreed that they enjoyed the atmosphere at Spring Hill when they were students here, and that they enjoy the environment here now. Our high school is a blessing, one to which former students gladly send their children and to which former graduates eagerly return for employment. Loyalty and tradition are strong at Spring Hill, touching one generation after another.

2005 Regional & State UIL Academic Meets
submitted by Pat Gatons

The following students placed and received individual medals at the Region II UIL Academic Meet held on April 23rd on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce, and one competitor went on to a third-place finish at the state level.

In addition, the Number Sense team (consisting of Brian, Zach, Caleb Engleke and Geoffrey Albanese) placed second and received individual silver medals and competed as the alternate to state.

Brian and Zach qualified for the UIL State Meet, held on May 5 - 7 at the University of Texas in Austin. Bass placed 3rd in Number Sense on the state level.

Laura Jordan is the Accounting contest sponsor, and Pat Gatons is the math-science team sponsor.

Summer Band Events
submitted by Mike Barnes

Summer Band Practice will begin on August 1 at the Spring Hill H.S. Band Hall. The band will attend the Lone Star Band Camp on August 5-8. The "Snap Competition" will be on Tuesday August 9, and the students will rehearse at the school again on August 10-12. All rehearsals are required.

Newspaper/Yearbook Receive 34 Individual IAA Awards
submitted by Lela Coker of The Panther's Paw

The tradition of excellence continues for the yearbook and newspaper staffs as they were awarded Gold and Bronze Star awards at the recent ILPC spring convention in Austin. The yearbook and newspaper publications traveled to the University of Texas April 16 & 17 to pick up the numerous staff awards as well as individual awards.

“It was an incredible weekend. Newspaper won 20 individual awards and yearbook 14,” adviser Mitzi Neely said. “In addition we won two Tops in Texas awards, and two STAR awards. These kids got some richly deserved recognition.”

The yearbook won awards in 13 out of 17 categories they entered, including a Tops in Texas award for theme and development. Tops in Texas is the highest individual award given at the convention.

The yearbook was awarded the highest STAR rating a publication can receive as a whole. The book was judged on theme, coverage, writing, design and photography.

The newspaper continued its winning tradition winning a Bronze STAR. The paper was judged on design, coverage, opinion, photography and writing. The newspaper staff also won 20 individual awards and placed in 17 out of 22 categories entered, in three of the categories staff members placed more than once. Sports editor, junior Chris Stuckey, also won a Tops in Texas award for sports action story.

After receiving individual achievement awards, staff members can earn points to apply toward the All-State Journalism Staff. To apply to the staff 50 points must be earned. Seniors Lela Coker, Morgan Tomberlain, O’Farrell and junior Hayden Henry have qualified to apply for the staff.

Team Skyrockets to Second
submitted by Rachel Fitzgerald & Kerry Bailey of The Panther's Paw

Senior Matt Dolson and his team mates; Stephanie Crain, Haleigh Bill, Sunshine Moody and Kristin Fyffe placed second against 385 teams from 38 high schools in the stock market game presented to them by their economics teacher Jeff Sims. The team's total equity was $106,260.09.

They had $100,000 to invest in corporations such as; Knights Bridge Tankers (VLCCF), ABC Bancorp (ABCB), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Novamerican Steel(TONS), Google (GOOG) and Genetech (DNA). Over the 10 week game period these companies outperformed the companies chosen by their competitors.

"I am extremely proud of all my students," Sims said. "In addition to this team, other Spring Hill teams finished in 12th, 50th, 83rd, 163rd, and 242nd. This team's investments outperformed the S&P 500 by 11.178% over the same period. Most professional investors would be envious of these results."

Each student will also receive a $100 savings bond. Most of the students are going to save their money. "I think it's awesome," Crain said. "I didn't even know that was apart of the game. I think I'm going to save the money."

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