SHISD Mid-Week Message
Weekly Superintendent's Message for Spring Hill ISD
Happy Independence Day!
2017-2018 Year in review
The 2017-2018 school year started off with new principals at 3 of our 4 campuses and the 4th principal starting her 2nd year. This is unusual in a district that prides itself on low turnover. One principal returned to her former role as principal of the intermediate, the Junior High hired a 1st-year principal, and at the High School we hired an experienced principal from Pine Tree ISD. Regardless of the turnover, it turned out to be a great year with many constants remaining in place.
The summer was very hectic with numerous projects. Spring Hill renovated three parking lots and replaced flooring in the primary and 5th grade buildings. We also added outdoor lighting to parking lots and buildings to improve safety and create a safer nighttime environment for our staff and community.
In addition to these projects, Spring Hill increased its wireless network capacity on all campuses and in common areas to support its Chromebook initiative. The District has increased classroom devices by 300% in the last two years and this year added another $100K in student devices.
Academically, we expanded our culinary offerings at the Junior High with the help of a refurbished lab and found a creative way to add art classes to the Intermediate campus. SH continued its high level of academics by winning the Elementary and Middle school level UIL Academic district competition and the High School finished strong as well. Madison Snell finished 4th in State in Ready Writing. Kerstin Andrews achieved Commended Student in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. The Robotics teams earned its way to the state level competition and represented the District well. Two students were chosen to be on the state one-act play honors crew. The debate team went to state and competed at a debate meet at Stanford University. SH also had a record number of students take and pass the Advanced Placement exams, earning college credit, and had over 50 students achieve a professional Adobe certification. The Junior High had a great year academically as well sending 27 students to the state UIL Math and Science Competition and finishing 3rd overall.
The Spring Hill HS Band earned 1st division marching contest rating for the 17th consecutive year and won a national championship for military marching bands. Athletics had a great year as well. The excitement started to build as the SH football team started the year with a 5 and 0 record, including a victory of rival White Oak. We enjoyed our best season in years. This was followed by our Team Tennis students winning district and making it to the state tournament where they finished in 3rd place. Boys’ basketball had a great year and went three rounds deep in the playoffs. Girls’ soccer and our baseball team also made the playoffs. The year ended with the boys’ track team winning their 2nd district championship in a row, girls golf finishing 8th in the state and 5 SH tennis players making the state tournament with the Penn siblings finishing 3rd.
Spring Hill has some of the most well-rounded students. Our Bass Club is in its 2nd year. They won the East Texas team/sponsor of the year and sent two teams to the state fishing tournament. We also held our 2nd Day of Service, where high school students spend a day giving back to the community. They completed dozens of service projects. Our students hosted a student-led Veteran’s Day program for community Veterans and a senior citizen luncheon. Students are not the only ones giving back to the community. SH has a tremendous Education Foundation, PTA, Fine Arts Group (Artrageous) and Alumni Association, who have all donated thousands of dollars in grants to teachers and scholarships to students. We continue to have a strong mentorship program with numerous individuals investing countless hours in the lives of our students.
Looking forward to next year, we are in a position to have our best year yet. The new East Texas Advanced Manufacturing Academy will add the opportunity for our students to take machining and electrical classes that we currently do not offer. We also plan to revamp our own welding lab to expand the number of students in our lab programs as well. In addition to industrial classes, Spring Hill is excited to expand our digital media opportunities at the high school and junior high. SH will add two new academic interventionists to assist with a growing number of at-risk children in our district. We will welcome our students from the Gregg County Special Education Coop back to SH and will house all of our special education students grade K-12.
On the construction side, we have finished the asbestos removal from the original school building and demolition has started. We have also replaced several HVAC units including the LL Williamson Auditorium. the board has also approved the scope of a project that will build a new baseball and softball complex.
One more thing that is on everyone’s mind is safety and security. We have added additional off-duty police officers for next year to assist our school resource officer, will train staff on several aspects of school safety and have made additional radios and safety upgrades to our campuses to keep our students safe. We are also adding some secure doors to separate the high school main hallway from the gym.
We also expect growth that could get us a little closer to the 2000 student mark for the 1st time in many years. I look forward to a great school year.
With Great Pride,
Steven Snell,
Superintendent of Schools, Spring Hill ISD
Panther Family Concerns
- I'm truly thankful for everything. We are so blessed to have the most amazing friends and family surrounding us during this time. We're very happy Tommy is home and doing well. He's scheduled for defibrillator surgery on July 2. One day at a time. Please continue to keep Tommy, me and the boys in your prayers and thoughts. Love to all of you! ~ Paula Willis
- Spring Hill ISD offers its condolences to the family of Elbert Malone. Elbert passed away on Sunday, June 24. He retired from SHISD in May of 2017 after 19 years of service.
Congratulations to our Retirees
Congratulations to the 2018 All-East Texas Baseball and Softball Team Members
- Dylan Hutchison - Second Team, 3rd Base
Softball
- Sydney Johnson - First Team, 3rd Base
- Lacey White, Honorable Mention
- Sam Schott, Honorable Mention
Good Luck to 7-on-7 at State!!
2018 Football Season Ticket Information
Congratulations to SHISD Graduate Luke Wallis!
Luke Wallis earns MD
Luke S. Wallis has received his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He graduated with academic honors in the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. The 220 medical degree candidates were honored at commencement ceremonies May 20, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas.
Luke is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Wallis of Longview, Texas. He is a 2009 graduate of Spring Hill High School in Longview, Texas. He is a 2013 graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with honors.
Luke will continue his medical residency training in the specialty of dermatology. Luke, and his wife Kasi, will be moving in June to Denver, Colorado to begin his medical internship year at Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Hospital. He will then continue on to Rush University in Chicago to complete his 3-year residency in dermatology.
Luke is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wallis of Longview and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Snodgrass of Tyler.
Luke’s father, Dr. Mark Wallis ‘85 graduated exactly 30 years earlier in May, 1988 also from UTHSC medical school in San Antonio. Mark was asked to place the doctoral hood on Luke as a physician family legacy. Mark is a dermatologist and has practiced in Longview for 25 years.
SUPER DUPER Camp 2018
2018-2019 Registration Information
2018-2019 ONLINE REGISTRATION for NEW and RETURNING STUDENTS will open June 4
August 2, 2018, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
August 3, 2018, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
2018 - 2019 In Person Registration at the High School
August 8, 2018, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm (New-all grades / Returning Pre-K through 8th grade)
August 8, 2018, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Seniors only)
August 9, 2018, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm (New-all grades / Returning Pre-K through 8th grade)
August 9, 2018, 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Juniors only)
August 10, 2018, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm (New-all grades / Returning Pre-K through 8th grade)
August 10, 2018, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Sophomores and Freshman)
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Spring Hill ISD
Email: superintendent@shisd.net
Website: www.shisd.net
Location: 3101 Spring Hill Road, Longview, TX, United States
Phone: 903-759-4404
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spring.hillisd?ref=hl
Twitter: @s_snell