Spring Hill ISD
District Newsletter
Dr. Guidry
Newsletter ~ 20:5 Pledge To Excellence
May 10, 2019
As we come to the close of another school year, I would like to thank everyone for playing their part in making this such a successful school year. In every school district it takes a collective effort from each teacher, administrator, coach, paraprofessional, custodian, parent and community member to raise our kids successfully.
As we eagerly await our summer vacation, I would like to begin discussing one of the greatest challenges in our current education system ~ the summer slide. Simply stated, summer slide is the term for the learning and skills loss occurring during the break between school years. Research shows students may lose up to two months of reading and math skills over the summer. The loss is often so great teachers may spend six weeks in the fall re-teaching old material to their students. Educational stimulation over the summer months is a key component to students’ academic success each fall semester.
As a parent I struggle to make my own children participate in any type of structured learning to lessen the impact of the summer slide. In order to combat summer learning loss with all Spring Hill students, I would like to implement a very simple form of structured learning for the 2019 summer vacation. I call it 20:5 Pledge To Excellence. We are challenging all SHISD students to read at least 20 minutes per day 5 days a week during the summer months. Each Friday we will provide a SHISD Facebook post so you can upload your child’s picture if they have completed the 20:5 program for the week. We would love to see pictures of students reading in various settings and sharing favorite book titles. We look forward to seeing your student’s picture as our learning community works to prevent the summer slide!
Longview Public Library Summer Reading Club
Thank a Teacher ~ Teacher Appreciation Week
Celebrating Nurses Week
Jaymie Walton
Amanda Chism
Amy Mayhew
Panther Baseball ~ Bi-District Champs
UIL Accounting Team Places 3rd in State
Adriana Solis also received a third place individual medal.
Pictured left to right ~ Peyton White, Adriana Solis, Austin Martin, Kalen Barlow
Outstanding Performances by the Blue Brigade
Spring Hill Pacesetters Proudly Present Come Together Spring Show 2019
Prom 2019
Tyler Newman and Abisay Salvador Receive Flint Hills Resources Outstanding Student Scholarship
Congratulations to Alex Caron Recipient of the Mayor's Scholarship
SHHS Leaders Core Offers a Helping Hand at the Women & Families Shelter
JH UIL Math & Science Team Presented at Fabulous Friday
AMBUCS TOO AmTrykes to Be Distributed
JH G/T and Leadership Classes Help With Primary Field Day
First Ever Recorders and Refreshments
Parents of fifth graders were invited to the Music Room at Spring Hill Intermediate for "Recorders & Refreshments." The purpose of the event was to give students the opportunity to perform for their parents, in an informal concert environment. After the students demonstrated their talents on their recorders, the students and parents were invited to a light reception. There was a GREAT turnout, and the students really enjoyed playing for a crowd!
Fifth Grade Students Take Overnight Field Trip to the Fort Worth Zoo
Fourth Grade Field Trip to Sci-Port
Third Grade Students Visit Tyler Zoo
Spring Hill Primary Receives PTA Grant
The Tooth Fairy and Olaf Visit the Primary to Present Good Dental Hygiene
Ryley Rowan's PTA Reflections Contest Artwork Advances to State
First Grade Students Celebrate Texas Day
Primary Career Day 2019
Primary Easter Fun
Heart of a Panther, Leader of the Pack
Kalen Barlow’s journey to Austin
“Never forget the feeling” were the last words said to Kalen Barlow as he ended his 2018 track season. He missed the mark crossing in fifth place for both the 3200 and 1600 meter races, when the top four head to regionals. Missing the mark is hard to swallow, even as coach. Kalen would go to regionals that year, only to watch from the stands, cheering on his teammates, with those four words lingering in his head.
His journey to the top, started on the bottom. Coming in as a shy, timid, and untrusting eighth grader, Kalen would work his way to the top; there is no secret to our training. Teamwork and hard work, is how he will arrive in Austin May 11th.
Barlow joined the track team his eighth grade year, and was an average runner. Nothing spectacular, except along with his teammates, he had the opportunity to help train Kase White, (3rd in the 3200 & 4th in the 1600 at State that year). Kalen trained for weeks after his last eighth grade race, two of those weeks were actually done on the Longview track, due to construction at Spring Hill. He came to the spring pep rally, wearing the “Chase your Dreams” shirt along with his other four teammates, as they wished Kase good luck at state. Ironically, that was the start of Kalen’s own quest to “Chase your Dreams”. That following summer he trained as all runners did, putting in the miles and even attended a Cross Country camp with the team at the end of the summer. Yet he would find himself on JV to start the season that year in Cross Country and would fight for a spot on varsity as track came. He found himself area and regional bound at the end of his freshmen year. All those miles and hard days of training paid off. The group once again rallied together to put in the work as they would enter their sophomore year.
His second year as a varsity athlete left him with high expectations to achieve. It was this year that he not only had to learn to “own” his training, but to lean and depend on his teammates. With his coach out numerous weeks throughout both seasons, practices and meets became more difficult. For the first time, the shy and timid sophomore had to learn to lean on his teammates and “own” his training. However, he was still young and the team still had a lot to learn. Ending their 2018 track season with heads down as all wanted more, but nobody wanted it more than Kalen Barlow.
This past summer is where it all changed. I cannot be certain if he remembered that area race, as I did, or if he even recalled it. However, he began to chase his dream like never before after that meet. Refusing to take off, and internally made it known that the feeling of not giving your all, would never happen again. Yet, the remarkable story about Kalen Barlow isn’t just how he refused to settle, or accept that his dreams are unreachable. It was how he not only transformed his own heart and mind, but the teams' as well. Kalen was not a team runner, prior to 2018. He was too shy to talk to others and too timid to question anyone, and as far as trusting others he was still learning how to do so himself. But it is always the unlikely of circumstances that make or break us. And for Kalen as hard as it was to cheer on teammates at regionals last year, it makes his road to state all that more special. He defines the heart of a Panther. With integrity and determination, guiding him mile for mile (which he has ran over 4,000 since his high school career), and models leading the Pack. Kalen is a soft spoken young man, more concerned with his actions speaking than his mouth...and believe me there is no other way it should be. He has led our team to qualify for state in Cross Country, ran for his personal best race after race, and cheers on all those behind him. There is no secret to Spring Hill distance. Kalen Barlow has proven that it's not workouts that set us apart. It is our heart and pack that propel us all to success far beyond what we even believe is possible. His story gives hope, to anyone with a heart and team. Sometimes our biggest moments are not the victory that molds us, but the defeat that inspires us to reach what we think is unreachable.
Kalen Barlow….let’s chase YOUR DREAMS!!
~ Coach Jordan Alford
Macy Borens and Lexi Penn Named to Academic All-State Basketball Team
Macy Borens Receives Recognition in Soccer and Basketball
Zach Henry Qualifies for State in Pole Vault
Lady Panther Golf Team Earns a Trip to State
Lexi Penn Signs to Play Tennis at Central Oklahoma University
Get Your Pre-Ordered Yearbooks During Lunch on May 20
2019 Football Schedule ~ Go Panthers!
Spring Hill Independent School District...The Hidden Treasure of East Texas
Spring Hill ISD Partnerships
- Classroom technology
- Fine arts exposure and experience
- Support athletic programs
- Innovative classes for sports marketing and game day production
- Scholarships
For advertising information, please contact the superintendent's office at 903-323-7740.
Spring Hill ISD
Email: contact@shisd.net
Website: shisd.net
Location: 3101 Spring Hill Rd, Longview, TX 75605
Phone: 903-759-4404
Facebook: facebook.com/Facebook
Twitter: @SpringHill_ISD