Spring Hill High School Newsletter
   October 2004

 www.springhill.esc7.net    

From the Desk of Mike Gilbert:

Thank you for your interest in Spring Hill High School and the new electronic school newsletter. It is our hope that you find this letter informative and helpful in planning your schedule. As you read this through this newsletter, you will see that the high school is a very busy place.

The idea for starting this electronic newsletter is the result of one of five focus groups that met over the last two weeks. The high school faculty was assigned to be in one of five groups that covered the following topics:

Curriculum
Personnel
Students
School Climate
Community Partnerships

As a group, the teachers brainstormed all types of concerns and ideas that pertained to their topic. After ranking the ideas, the top two were discussed and an action plan was designed to implement improvement in each area.  This newsletter was one of the action items from the Community Partnership Group.

We are very proud of the website at Spring Hill ISD. It can, and will, be a great tool for keeping people informed about all the activities at the high school. Be sure to visit the website at www.springhill.esc7.net and sign up to receive this newsletter automatically. A link to the list-serve can be found on the High School page that will allow us to send this newsletter directly to you via e-mail. We look forward to sharing more and more about the great things that are happening at Spring Hill High School.

Go Panthers!

Mike Gilbert, Principal

Student Focus

Keith Zuech, Spring Hill Senior, is working toward becoming an Eagle Scout. He has implemented a grounds improvement project for Page Place II, a seniors’ apartment complex. He has enlisted the help of his fellow scouts from Troop 201 to help.

The group prepared the ground, installed edging and planted a flower bed. Plants and materials were donated by Smotherman Nursery.

Four park benches will also be built for the project. Lumber for one bench was donated by Cassity Jones, and Greater Hospice of Texas donated $300 to build the other three.

Keith has been involved with the Scouting program, including Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, most of his life. He is currently a Junior Assistant Scout Master.

Alumni Spotlight

Jason Henderson, a 1996 Spring Hill honor graduate, is enjoying a rewarding career as an investment representative at Edward Jones. After leaving Spring Hill, Jason earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Baylor University .

While still in college, Jason worked as a credit analyst for Central National Bank in Waco , providing the necessary experience to qualify him for his current position at Edward Jones.

Jason maintains close ties with Spring Hill. He is frequently asked to be guest speaker for economics and business classes at the high school.

Mr. Henderson believes that the environment at Spring Hill High School contributed to his level of confidence and optimism in pursuing his life goals and dreams. He stated that Spring Hill provided him with many opportunities for involvement, which taught him time management, as well as the importance of commitment and involvement.

“Start forming habits now that you would wish to replicate in your college and adult life,” is Jason’s advice to current Spring Hill students. Henderson also believes that with effort and willingness to work hard, “the sky is the limit” for anyone.

High School News

 

A District Success - The Wizard of Oz

The SHHS Theatre Department, along with more than 100 Kindergarten through eight grade students, presented the classic play The Wizard of Oz on October 8-10, 2004.   Parents of the younger students donated their time working “behind the scenes” to ensure that everything ran smoothly.  The high school students and the director, Kathy Fisher, were excited to work with so many young actors.

 

IPC Students Create Unique Projects

The IPC students had 4 weeks to complete a project in which they had to make a periodic table.  The project counted as 2 major test grades, and their scores were calculated on the following criteria:  1. neatness,  2.  completion,  3.  originality.  The students in completing the project not only gained valuable insight into the multitude of information the table provides but also about planning, organizing, overcoming obstacles, and meeting a deadline.

Coach Lamore says that the projects are graded with a high amount of scrutiny. “I have found over the years that if you give the students high expectations they will come through with quality work.  I am very proud of the effort and hard work this year's students put into their projects and the pride they took in completing them.”

 

Leaders' Core News:

Dallas Field Trip

The annual Leaders’ Core fall field trip took took the group to the Texas State Fair this year. Upon arrival, they attended the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, and afterwards enjoyed the fun festivities of the Texas State Fair. After leaving the fair grounds Sunday night, the group traveled to the West End of Dallas to eat dinner, many of the students chose Joe’s Crab Shack which is always fun and exciting as senior Noah Heflin found out when he had to do the “Birthday Dance.” The following day after leaving their hotel, they went to the Stone Briar Mall to do just a little shopping, and then returned back to school just in time for football and volleyball practice.

Fall Flower Sales

Recently, the Leaders Core held a fund-raiser in which they sold 710 flats of pansies. The money brought in from the pansies is going to very good use. Leaders’ who will be traveling to Europe this summer had the opportunity to sell pansies in order to help them pay for their trip, and the extra money left over will be used to purchase a 7’ by 14’ mat to be placed in front of the doors at the front entrance of the high school.

Style Show

Be sure to mark your calendars for November 16, 2004 for the Leaders’ Style Show. This year’s theme is “Lights, Camera, Fashion” and it will be filled with just that. There will be many hilarious skits along with many modeling segments with the latest trends of clothing available. Tickets will be $5.00 and can be purchased from any Leaders’ Core member prior to the show; tickets are $6.00.


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UPCOMING EVENTS

THE PANTHER'S PAW
 FEATURE ARTICLES

Bailey Reaches 300th
by Kim Turner

  Sitting in the Spring Hill gymnasium on Oct. 5 as the Lady Panthers rallied against the Lady Roughriders of Center, varsity coach Tammy Bailey celebrated the 300-win mark in her coaching career.

“It was exciting, but a little sad because my mom was in the hospital – that put everything in perspective,” Bailey said.

The victory adds to her 23-year total coaching career and 17 as varsity volleyball coach, with a dominating 300 wins to 136 losses. A lot of hard work plus the enjoyment of every group of young women was all that was needed to achieve this milestone.

“After I got to 200 victories I wondered if I could reach 300,” Bailey said.
Even though this was a long journey to the goal Bailey does not plan to celebrate her accomplishments yet, but focus on the future.

“I am excited about the 300 victories but I will be happier to be back in this playoffs this year,” Bailey said.


AP Government Class Organizes Mock Election
by Hayden Henry

Not only will the eligible voters be heading to the polls Nov. 2 but the underclassmen will be checking the presidential ballot box as well.

On the national Election Day the AP Government class will conduct a mock election of their own, to see where the high school students stand on who should be the next president.

“We are doing the mock election to increase interest in the election process, voting, and political participation,” AP Government teacher Jeff Sims said. “Also, we are trying to encourage students to find out information about the candidates.”

Differences on issues between the President George Bush and Senator John Kerry such as the war in Iraq, abortion, same-sex marriage and social security reforms are particularly drawing more interest from younger voters. These conflicting beliefs are credited to be the driving force to get the youth to vote.

“The poll numbers of young people that have registered to vote and are politically active this year are significantly larger than the numbers in the past elections,” Sims said. “There are more distinct differences between the candidates this year than those in recent memory.”

In the first school survey conducted by the AP government class, the numbers showed that President Bush had a significant lead over Kerry. Out of 437 surveys turned in, the Senator only received 26 votes, while his opposition received 357 supporters. Results on the issues, however, were slightly varied. Three hundred and thirty-two opposed abortion, 66 supported same-sex marriages, 230 support gun control and 346 supported school sponsored prayer.

“I think the reaction of students will reflect that of society,” Sims said. “Some will be educated and interested, some will be uneducated and interested, and some will just be uninterested.”

One of the most important issues surrounding this election that will directly affect the youth of America is the war in Iraq. Survey numbers show that 287 students support the war in Iraq.

“The war does have a direct effect on the election among students, I think,” junior Aaron Procell said. “Both Bush and Kerry have very different views on how it should be handled, and I personally think that so far Bush has not handled the whole Iraq situation very well.”

Statistics dont lie, the young people of America are coming around when it comes to politics. With the help of countless groups advocating young people to vote, the dubbed ‘MTV generation’ is not only voicing their opinion, but they’re shouting it.

“I support efforts to educate young people and excite them to vote,” Sims said. “I am however concerned that many groups claim to be non-partisan, but clearly encourage support for one party over another.”

Spring Hill ISD, 3101 Spring Hill Road, Longview, TX 75605
903-759-4404
This newsletter is an extension of the Spring Hill ISD Web Site, compiled and edited by Laura Jordan.