From the Desk of Mike Gilbert:

Spring Hill Independent School District working in cooperation with the Longview Emergency Operation Center announced the closing of all campuses Monday, September 26. All schools will resume normal class schedules on Tuesday, September 27.

The possibility of high winds flooding and an influx of evacuees will present a need for using SHISD as a shelter for individuals coming from the coast and possibly members of our local community that may be flooded out of their homes.

This year we have three new foreign exchange students, Henrik Haaker, Natthachai Chamnikankhai, and Alexander Bombeck. Haaker and Chamnikankhai are staying with the Thorsgard family, who has hosted exchange students in the past, while Bombeck is staying with the Daines family.

"I got an em ail from a friend telling me about exchange students, and I thought it was a good chance to open up our home," host Elizabeth Thorsgard said. “If anybody is interested in hosting an exchange student call me at (903) 297-5858.”

Chamnikankhai is a sophomore from Uttaradit, Thailand. He goes by his middle name Ahm; and is only going to be staying with the Thorsgard family until Elizabeth Thorsgard can find him a home within the next weeks. He already knew how to speak the English language before he came to the states, but in his opinion it was difficult to learn. According to Ahm, his school in Thailand has a lot more students than at Spring Hill.

"I like everything about this school," Chamnikankhai said. "I like a lot of my teachers, and Thailand has a lot of students in one class."

Haaker is a junior from Münster, Germany. He learned English when he was in the seventh grade and has been using it ever since. Haaker likes Spring Hill because the classes are easier than in Münster and there are more elective classes. He was supposed to be in Louisiana, but because of Katrina he was sent to be with the Thorsgards.

"The Thorsgards, I like them," Haaker said. "They are very nice and they care about me and they are awful funny."

Bombeck is a junior from Cologne, Germany. He has spoken English since fifth grade. Originally he was supposed to be in Louisiana, like Haaker, but because of Katrina he was sent to live with the Thorsgards and he was recently replaced to another home in the Spring Hill district.

"Miss. Thorsgard was just my coordinator. She cares that I'm fine but I'm not supposed to live with her," Alexander Bombeck said. "My new family is kind of crazy and that is why I like them."

Alumni Spotlight- submitted by Megan Luttrell of The Panther's Paw

Homecoming queens of the past shared their thoughts on holding the SHHS queen title. The tradition of passing the crown will continue at Friday's game. "The tradition of Homecoming Queen has been a well known past time for forever. It is a big honor to be able to say that I held that title." Ashley Sheridan '04 "Being homecoming queen in high school was such a great honor, and such a very special memory! To this day it is still that way to me, but once you get into college, what you did in high school seems almost irrelevant to anybody else. Everyone starts over with a clean slate." Morgan Vickery '03 "Being homecoming queen was my biggest honor of high school. Being up there with all my girlfriends made it even more special." Heidi Dishman '02 "Representing our School as homecoming queen was an experience I count as a blessing that I thank God for. It's such a great experience that I will look back on and remember as my best high school picture." Lacy Brimhall '01 "Looking back now, being named queen was such a special moment because that was a year before my mother passed away and she was so encouraging with scripture and flowers. It was just a really special time we got to share together." Shonda Breazeale '00

FCA News
submitted by Holly Ford

Monday night, August 29, 2004, was the first meeting for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Seventy students, along with three coaches, attended.

FCA meets every Thursday morning in the gym at 7:40. Donuts, orange juice, and delicious chocolate milk are served every meeting.

Discount cards will be sold by FCA members starting soon. These Panther cards include discounts to Longview Skateplex, Dairy Queen, Domino's Pizza, Pizza King, Texaco, Express Lube, U.S. Cleaners, Roly Poly Sandwiches, and others. The cards cost $10. If you would like to purchase a Panther Discount card, call 903-323-7859, and ask for Coach Ford.


The Royal Court
submitted by Megan Luttrell of The Panther's Paw

Homecoming festivities highlight Friday's 7:30 p.m. contest against the Winnsboro Red Raiders. Senior princesses and the freshmen, sophomore, and junior duchesses will be presented beginning at 7:05 and will end with the crowning of the new queen at 7:20 p.m.

This year's crowning will continue with the new tradition that began last year. Last year's reigning queen, Ashley Sheridan, will come to crown this year's new homecoming queen.

"I really like the new tradition, so I'm trying to support it," Sheridan said. "I'm looking forward to coming back to see everyone, and excited about crowning this year's queen."

High school students from each grade voted last week on two duchesses to represent their class on the homecoming court.

"I am thrilled to be chosen for the homecoming court," freshman Ashley Alm said. "It's a good feeling to know that your classmates chose you."

This is not the first time for some of these girls to represent their class. Some of these girls have been nominated every year by their class, or have been at least one other year, while some girls are sharing in the experience and memories for the first time.

"Being chosen for the Homecoming court brings such an honor knowing that your classmates chose you to represent the class," junior Shana Boyd said.


Math-Science Team News
submitted by Pat Gatons

The Spring Hill High School math-science team begins competition this fall with meets scheduled for October 22 at Longview High School and October 29 at Pine Tree High School. SHHS will host its 28th annual math-science meet on Saturday, December 3, in the high school student center. Contests will be held in number sense, calculator applications, general mathematics, and science.

With three veteran competitors returning this year, sponsor Pat Gatons feels optimistic about his team's chances for returning to the State UIL Academic Meet in Austin next year. Brian Bass and Zach Barnhart represented Spring Hill at State last year with Brian finishing in third place in number sense. Both were making their second consecutive trip to Austin and hope to make a return trip next spring. With the addition of incoming freshmen and new participants, the team should continue its dominance at the UIL district meet with several members qualifying for the regional level of competition. Over the past two years, the number sense team has finished as regional champion in 2004 and runner-up in 2005.

Students interested in participating on the math-science team need to contact Mr. Gatons in room S105 in the science wing.


Pacesetters Looking to Expand Line
submitted by D'Lee Reagh

You've seen them performing on Friday night and thought that would be fun. The Pacesetters were established in 2000 and have been dazzling audiences ever since. If you have ever thought you might like to tryout but have no dance experience or cannot do the splits a special class is being offered. WE WANT YOU!!! The Pacesetters are looking to increase the line next year. "I would like a line of 24 girls. The creative possibilities increase and the girls have an incredible opportunity to create friendships and be apart of the contagious Spring Hill spirit." said Mrs. Reagh. The Pacesetters are active all year performing at football games, basketball games, competition and mini camps. The girls earn a fine arts credit and a P.E. credit in class once they are at the high school. Scholarship opportunities are available by attending summer camp and are offered by colleges that have drill teams. Dance experience is not required for tryouts but can be helpful. Every Tuesday the Pacesetters are offering a "drill team pre-training" class. Basic dance technique used in drill team is taught. Native Dallaslite, Tempe Kirby, is teaching the class. Tempe is an incredible teacher with a wide range of experience in both teaching and performing. She has taught at Kilgore Jr. College, Texas Tech University and SMU. She is known for her choreography for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Dallas Maverick Cheerleaders and the World Famous Kilgore Rangerettes. She has performances at the Southern Palace at Six Flags as well as credit to several dance videos. This is only a small glimpse into her resume. We are very fortunate to have her talent at Spring Hill. The class is taught every Tuesday morning at 7:00am in the JHS auditorium. It is open to 6th thru 12th grade. The cost is $5.00/class or $20.00/month. For more information please contact Mrs. Reagh at 903 759 4404 or 903 323 7780. The Pacesetters would love to see you there!!


ACT Testing at SHHS
submitted by Linda McGarvey

Did you know that the ACT is given four times per year right here on our own campus? There are many advantages to taking the ACT on this campus, including the smaller number at this testing site, a classroom setting for testing (no cafeteria, auditorim, etc.), parking close to the building, familiarity with the location and staff, and the geographic proximity to the testing site. The table below shows testing dates and deadlines for the current school year.

Art Contest
submitted by Howard Dunn

The Spring Hill Art Department will be participating with the Partnership of Longview in the "Adopt A School" program. Students will be competing against schools in this area for prizes in two catagories fine arts and graphic arts as follows;

First Prize: - $100.00 Third Prize - $50.00
Second Prize - $75.00 Honorable Mention $25.00

The contest is based on an original piece of artwork on any or all of the Core Essentials character traits for the 2005-2006 school year. Artwork must be no larger than 16"x20". There should be no matting. Entries may be submitted in either fine arts medium (paint, markers, airbrush, watercolor, [pen and ink) or graphic arts medium (photography, computer graphic arts). Obtain an official entry form from the high school art department or Partners in Prevention office. Please complete both portions of the entry form. One form is to be attached to the artwork, and one form is to be turned in whe4n artwork is submitted.

Entries will be picked up on Tuesday October 18, 2005. No entries will be accepted after this date. All entries will be picked up by Adopt A School officials and delivered to Texas Bank and Trust for judging on Thursday, October 20, 2005. A presentation of awards will occur on Monday, October 24, 2005 in the lobby of Texas Bank and Trust at 4:45 p.m. No work will be returned. Decisions of judges is final.


Katrina Relief Efforts by YBA and Leaders' Core
submitted by Fran Scott and Holly Whittington

The Young Business Associates collected needed items for the refugees of hurricane Katrina Sept. 6 - 9. They worked in conjunction with Buckner's Family and Children Services in Longview to collect items of need such as clothing, diapers, combs and brushes, razors and shaving cream, coloring books and crayons, and laundry detergent. Items were distributed to evacuees in the Longview area.

Leaders' Core had a unique approach to raising money for the hurricane victims. Students were asked to donate $2 to earn the privilege to wear shorts for a day three different days in September. Cash donations in excess of $1700 were collected by 3rd block teachers and Leaders' Core members and donated to the Red Cross. The 3rd block class that collected the most money was treated to pizza, courtesy of Leaders' Core.

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