From the Desk of the Principal:

Welcome back!!!

We have really had a good start. Our students are doing a great job and really appear to have come to school with a serious attitude toward learning.

We have several new faculty members this year. We have Tim Barker teaching Biology and coaching, Ashley Stewart in English, Liz Popelar in Spanish, James Reagan in Science, Heather White in choir, and Katy Baskin in Business and coaching.  I believe we are very fortunate to have been able to add all of them to our staff. 

We had really good TAKS scores and received a “Recognized Rating” from the State. Our students have done a great job so far of obeying rules and respecting each other and their teachers. I really appreciate it.

I also wanted to let you know that for the first time we are able to offer dual credit college courses on our campus. We are offering English and Government from Kilgore College during the school day, and we have US History in the evening. I think this is a great benefit for our students to be able to get college credit on campus.

We are looking forward to another great school year where academics will be the name of the game!

Bobby Watkins
“EXPECT TO BE EXEMPLARY”

Azzam Graces National Cover
submitted by Mary Lou Berlin

What a pleasant surprise when I retrieved my mail – advertisements, magazines , and memos – to glance at a national magazine and recognize a former Spring Hill student on the cover of the September 14, 2009 issue of Business Week.  Miranda Azzam, a 2001 graduate of Spring Hill High School and a 13-year Panther, smiles beautifully from the cover with the famous Aflac duck and the feature story “Best Places to Launch Your Career.”

The magazine article detailed Azzam's role with Aflac the events that led to her success:

Miranda Azzam's title at Aflac's (AFL) Columbus (Ga.) headquarters is college recruiter, but that doesn't begin to describe what she does for the $16.6 billion insurer. Like all recruiters, she spends a lot of time talking to students and running career fairs. But she also manages a new Web ad campaign and tracks everything from how long it takes to fill each opening to what it costs to bring new employees on board. In fact, she heads the insurance company's entire campus recruiting effort. And, oh yes—she just turned 26.

Oddly enough, Azzam has the recession to thank for her success. She landed a job at Aflac after graduating from the business program at the University of Texas at Tyler in 2006, long before the economy began unraveling. But she assumed her new supervisory responsibilities in March, when her boss moved to another position within Aflac and the company chose not to hire a replacement. Without the downturn, Azzam might have waited much longer for her big break. "We're operating very lean," says Azzam. "When we had a supervisor over our team, she made the final decisions. Learning to lead people and delegate is something I've never been able to do until now."

Miranda often proved her student leadership skills during her tenure at SHHS where she served as editor of the yearbook staff and was active in Leaders’ Core. The top half of the composite image above shows her retrieving a floppy disk from a computer in the yearbook room with a pair of pliers. Her nationally distributed magazine cover makes up the bottom half of the composite picture. What a juxtaposition; from humble beginnings, to national recognition!



Varsity Volleyball News
submitted by Karen Brundrett

The Lady Panther varsity volleyball team took the court at the Van Tournament on August 14 and 15.  The result was a second place finish, losing to White House in the Championship.

On August 27 and 29, the varsity once again competed in a tournament.  This time it was the Tyler Invitational Tournament.  The Lady Panthers finished 3rd in the Silver Bracket. Freshmen Savannah Voelzke was named to the All-tournament team.

The Shirley Atkins Invitational Tournament at White Oak, September 3 and 5 was the last tournament for the varsity team.  With an outstanding showing, the Lady Panthers placed 3rd in the Championship Bracket.  Junior Kealey Womack and Senior Megan Rutter were named to the All-tournament team.

The Lady Panthers will start district competition at Tatum on September 22nd.



10th Annual Pacesetter Mini Camp
submitted by D'Lee Reagh

The Pacesetters held their 10th annual mini camp on August 29th.  Sixty-six girls from kindergarten to sixth grade attended the camp.  The mini campers danced to Hannah Montana’s hit song "Hoedown Throw Down."  The girls were divided into smaller classes by grade to learn a second dance.  The mini campers were surprised with an appearance by a Hannah Montana impersonator singing "Party in the USA."  It was a fun-filled day of dancing and making new friends.  The campers performed at pre-game of the Brownsboro game.



Student Council
submitted by Carrie Jones

Before school even started, the Student Council at Spring Hill High School had already started working hard for the upcoming year. Every grade had a workshop for their committee, including various meetings for the executive officers; President- Carlee Wood, Vice President- Rachel Baker, Secretary- Dylin Moran, Treasurer- Gary Duncan, and Historian- Haley Allen. Each age group, freshman through seniors, worked hard in their summer workshops to come up with ideas for their committees; Freshman- Community Service, Sophomores- Energy and Environment, Juniors- DrugsAlcoholSafetyHealth, and Seniors-Pride and Patriotism .  They planned numerous events for the upcoming year, which included some events that will be repeated from last year. They will devote certain Monday mornings to meetings before school and will have a certain amount of hours to devote to the community or Spring Hill. The following upcoming events are: gift exchanges with other student councils, passing out programs at the rest of the home football games, the AMBucks Mud Volleyball Tournament on October 4, babysitting at the Primary Campus, a supply drive for Hope's Closet, motiviational announcements each day, and assisting with homecoming and spirit weeks.  This year will keep members of the Student Council busy. However, they are excited to work hard for their school and the community the way young leaders should.



Panther Paws for Sale!
submitted by Allison Gillentine

Get your paws now! The Math/Science Team is selling panther paws in the SHHS parking lot & stadium entrance. They are BLUE with WHITE letters. The price isn’t bad either, just $30 for the entire school year! You get your name (up to 16 characters including spaces), one activity/sport you're in (up to 12 characters including spaces), and last but not least, your graduation date or athletic number.  Don’t be a lonely panther without a paw of your own; get one today! Pick up paw information in the high school office, or contact Mrs. Gillentine or Mrs. Bass at agillentine@springhill.esc7.net .  Have a pawsome year!



Spring Hill Cross Country
submitted by Stacy Edwards

Amber Moore won her 10th cross country meet as a Spring Hill Lady Panther, leading her team to a second place finish at the Spring Hill Invitational on August 29th. Freshman Leslie Blevins placed 5th overall edging her teammate Kelsi Cowan by 3 seconds; Cowan placed 6th. Carlee Wood finished 24th and Shelby Young 45th, with 88 runners in that division. Gary Duncan led the boys to a second place finish as well, as he finished 2nd overall among 113 runners. Dylin Moran finished 4th, Taylor Tritten 13th, Trip Dishman 22nd, and Dylan Droege 44th.

At the Tyler Lee Classic at UT-Tyler Labor Day weekend, Moore placed first with a time of 11:34, beating second place by 30 seconds. Leslie Blevins was fourth with a time of 12:24, a personal best. Kelsie Cowan was 17th with a time of 12:59, Carlee Wood was 27th, and Shelby Young 69th. In the boys division, Trip Dishman led all 120 runners by placing first overall with a 5K time of 16:48. Gary Duncan was second with a time of 16:58, and Dylin Moran placed third with a 17:09. Taylor Tritten placed 26th, and Dylan Droege 56th. The Cross Country team will compete in the District 17-3A cross country meet here in Spring Hill on October 24th.



Theatre Dept. Fall Musical
submitted by Jennifer Pritchett

The Spring Hill Theatre Dept. has begun rehearsals for their fall musical "Side Show". This Tony-nominated Broadway Musical is based on a true story about Siamese twins, Violet and Daisy Hilton, who became stars during the Depression. Side Show is a moving portrait of two women joined at the hip whose extrodinary bondage brings them fame but denies them love. This musical will be a night to remember. Performance dates will be Nov. 20 & 21 at 7pm and Nov. 22 at 2pm. Tickets will be $8. For more info email jpritchett@springhill.esc7.net.

Also I would like to invite everyone to become a Friend of the Theatre for the 09-10 school year. To become a friend you can purchase a membership card to the theatre which will gain you two adult admissions to all of our shows this school year as well as your name or business printed in all of our programs. The membership cards are only $40 and get you two tickets to our popular dinner theatre as well! Please see the attached flyer for more informatio,n or email jpritchett@springhill.esc7.net.



Young Business Associates News
submitted by Holly Whittington

Diversified Career Preparation, the cooperative education program offered at Spring Hill High School, and the parent organization for Young Business Associates, recently elected officers for the upcoming year.

The Young Business Associates Officers for 2009-2010 are as follows:

President:                                          Trey Miller
Vice-President:                                 Jeremy Hall
Secretary:                                          Allyson Handy
Treasurer:                                          Madison Ford
Historian:                                            Shelby Davis
YBA Class Officer, 1st Period:         Zac Thompson
YBA Class Officer, 2nd Period:        Danni Dial
YBA Class Officer, 3rd Block:           Aryn Peralli
YBA Class Officer, 5th Block:           Becky Vicente

YBA is beginning to fill up its fall calendar, and once again, students are busy designing sweatshirts and completing preliminary activities for another year of successful Spring Hill sweatshirt sales.  Eighty percent of the sales will fund Diversified Career Preparation student scholarships, and the other 20% will be geared for service projects including a canned food drive and a special reading project in the works for Primary students.



Spring Hill Lady Panther Softball 2009
submitted by Mark Comfort
 
Bi-district Champions
Area Champions
Regional Qtr Final Champions
Regional Semi Final Champions
Region 3 Regional Champions
2009 State Semi-Finalists
Season Record 29-9