HHS Show Choir performs at Pearl Harbor

The Haywood High School Show Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Michelle Tillman, performed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, November 11 for Veteran’s Day. The Show Choir was the only choir selected from the State of Tennessee to receive this honor. Among the numbers they performed were: “We Are America,” “Song for the Unsung Hero,” “God Bless the USA,” “You Raise Me Up,” “Proud Mary,” “Dancing on the Ceiling,” and “Rocky Top.”

Members of the HHS Show Choir are Ladrecus Shepard, Cortez Powell, Chris Brown, Matthew Summerlin, Antwon Perkins, John Dahlhauser, Miguel Castro, William Nunn, Thabiti McNeal, Miguel Cobb, Taumesha Bledsoe, Tiffany Perry, Nancy Cantu, Caitlin Garrett, Morgan Dehart-Henry, Amber Bond, Ashley Bradford, Brittany Hadley, Joveyance Johnson, Ashley Dancy, Brooke Voss, Iman McGhee, Ellen Hudson, Ashley Currie, Holly Siler, Chelsea Funderburk, Abbey Warren, Renesha Armstrong, Brooke Sims, Holly Morris, and Anna Duke.

2006 - 2007 Haywood High School
Women's Basketball Schedule 

2006-2007 Haywood High School
Men's Basketball Schedule 

HHS Beta Club inducts new members

On Thursday evening, November 2, in front of a large audience of over 150 parents, faculty, and school board members, the Haywood high School Chapter of the National Beta Club inducted 36 new members – all juniors and seniors. The club’s officers were in charge of the entire program, conducting all business matters and welcoming the new members into the club.

Club President Brooke Voss called the names of the new members individually as senior members pinned the inductees in front of their parents and friends. Parents of inductees stood as each was pinned. Other officers who explained the Beta Club standards were Amber Bond, vice-president; Allyssa Douglas, Secretary; and Arimantus Harris, treasurer.

Lakesha Powell led in the Pledge of Allegiance, Logan Pyron presented a devotional message, and Isaac Olmedo explained the criteria for membership.

In a candlelight ceremony, the new members repeated the Beta Pledge, as senior members and sponsors stood in honor of the inductees.

New members include: Kamrie Antwine, Marquita Bond, Chris Bradford, Carlisla Byars, Robert Callery, Miguel Cobb, Shanel Crawford-Harris, Kelsey Collins, John Dahlhauser, Melanie Dennis, Morgan Dennis, Josh Edmondson, Randall Elrod, Alex Edwards, Joanie Evans, Maggie Gardner, Savannah German, Jessica Hendrix, Ellen Hudson, Emily Jackson, Kiatra Jones, Tequitta King, Christopher Kirkpatrick, Jessica Ligon, Adam Marlar, Iman McGhee, Megan Perry, Sam Pyron, Kristen Rich, Kenya Shaw, Donquetta Singleton, Brett Stoots, Ricky Taylor, Damion Wilkes, Trevor Williams, and Sharnice Woods.

HHS Principal Robert Mitchell closed the induction with encouraging words to students and parents. A reception honoring the new members and their parents was held in the library. Servers included senior members, Megan Hood, Holly Morris, and Abbey Warren.

The HHS Beta Club has an established tradition of excellence, having been in continuous operation since the 1940s. Currently, the club has a membership of 57 students. The faculty sponsors are Glynn Bridgewater, Gail Chapman, and George Novell.

Watkins receives “Mr. Football” title

Alex Watkins, stellar offensive and defensive lineman for the Haywood High School Tomcats was the recipient of the title of “Mr. Football” (Class3-A Lineman) in Tennessee.

This season Alex had 103 solo tackles, 19 of which were for lost yardage, and eight sacks of quarterbacks. He is 6’4” and weighs 220 pounds and has a verbal commitment to play for Alabama. Alex plays both offensive tight end and defensive end. On offense, he has two receptions this year for 36 yards in crucial yardage situations.

The American General Mr. Football Awards were presented to the top backs and linemen in seven classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association on Monday, November 27, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

A committee of statewide sportswriters selected winners based on performance in the 2006 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.

This is the twenty-second year that the American General Mr. Football Awards have been presented to Tennessee’s best high school football players. American General has been the sole sponsor of this event since the inception of these awards in 1985. Plaques were presented to 30 other finalists.

HHS students “jazz” up TSBA meeting

Haywood High School’s Jazz Band, under the direction of Dominique Wade, represented Haywood County Schools when they performed at the Annual Tennessee School Board Association Convention held November 11-14 in Nashville. The band performed, among other numbers, “Feels So Good” by Chuck Mangione and “Vehicle” by Gloria Estefan. Mrs. Wade is in her fourth year as director of the 20-member jazz band.

Battle new in-house “Voice of the Tomcats”

Walter Battle has taken over the position of the in-house announcer for the Tomcats at the Haywood High School home basketball games. He agreed to become the “Voice” this year when there was an opening after the accidental death of Wayne Smith, who had been announcing the games for many years. “It’s the best seat in the house,” Battle said, who was happy to help by filling the empty seat. With his experience as a TSSAA referee and as a fan of the Tomcats, it was a natural fit for Battle. His son, Max, is a member of the Tomcat team this year. “It’s fun doing this,” he said, adding that he was a little nervous at first. “There is some responsibility that goes with it,” he added, but he is glad to accept that part, too. Battle will announce both the girls’ and boys’ games at all home games in the HHS gymnasium.

HHS students place first in MathBowl

Approximately 200 students from 10 schools competed in the 4th annual MathMeet held at Haywood High School on November 18, sponsored by the Mathematics Teachers of Mathematics-Northwest (MT^2-NW) and the Haywood High School Mu Alpha Theta Chapter. Haywood placed 1st place in the team MathBowl competition. Team members were Audrey Pattat, Hunter Burroughs, Isaac Olmedo, and Shanel Crawford-Harris. HHS has numerous winners in this competition. Logan Pyron, Shanel Crawford-Harris, and Isaac Olmedo all won TI-84 Silver Edition graphing calculators as part of the competition.

Algebra I
4th Place---Demarcus Douglas
7th Place---Colton Keen

Algebra II
2nd Place—Hunter Burroughs
7th Place---Leah Taylor
10th Place—Quentin Hubbard

Geometry
2nd place—Audrey Pattat
8th Place---Andrew Pearson
9th Place---Jordan Burroughs
10th Place---Fabiola Calderon

Statistics
2nd Place---Arimantus Harris
3rd Place---Brooks Russell
4th Place---David Clark
5th Place---Johnathan Fuller

Comprehensive
1st place---Logan Pyron
2nd Place---Damion Wilkes
3rd place---Phillip Johnson
4th place---Brandon Alexander
5th place---Ellen Hudson
6th place---Sam Pyron
7th place----Bryson Lax
8th place---Amy Olmedo
9th place---Shaterica Williams
10th place—Perry Davis

Pre-Calculus
1st place---Shanel Crawford-Harris
2nd place---Adam Marlar
3rd place---Chris Bradford
4th place---Joanie Evans
9th place---Kristen Rich

Calculus
1st place----Isaac Olmedo
2nd place---Allyssa Douglas
7th place---Laquisha Douglas

Students as teachers

These Haywood High School students are giving back a little of what they have learned in school by helping elementary students at Sunny Hill School. They are members of the Child Development/FCCLA classes in the Career and Technical Division of Haywood High. “We do this as part of the Learn and Serve Program. These students are mentors,” said their teacher Shaunda Brittain, “and they help the younger students with math, reading, spelling or in any area they need help.”

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Field Trip Report
September 30- October 5, 2006

Nineteen Haywood High School science students participated in the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, AL field trip.

The trip included three days of intense marine biology study at Sea Lab as well as additional excursions on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, in route to Sea Lab, the group visited Kliebert’s Alligator and Turtle Farm in Hammond, LA.

On Sunday, the group rode the Mobile Bay Ferry, visited the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, FL and toured the U.S.S. Alabama battleship and a submarine in Mobile, AL.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were spent at the Sea Lab in the facility’s Discovery Hall program. Sessions there were taught by a Sea Lab’s marine science educator and included six half-day lessons with field trips. Half-day sessions included a salt marsh trip, history and hurricanes lesson, tour of the island and Fort Gaines, beach walk and maritime forest hike, trawling trip on the research vessel A.E. Verrill, oceanography lesson, and plankton lab. In addition, students visited the Sea Lab’s Estuarium and had sessions at night, which were taught by Haywood High School faculty/chaperones.

This field trip continues to be a working trip. Students who participate are required to keep journals and detailed species lists. During the trip, they develop an awareness of environmental issues, marine sciences, and biodiversity that could never be taught in a classroom.

Linda Baxter, HHS science teacher, serves as the trip coordinator. Linda Baxter, Kavin Carr, and Principal Robert Mitchell were the teacher/chaperones this year. Mr. Battle Shaw was the bus driver. (Report and photos provided by Linda Baxter.)

Teen Court sworn in

Members of the Brownsville/Haywood Teen Court took the oath of office Thursday night, November 9, with the Honorable J. Roland Reid, judge of Haywood County Juvenile and General Sessions Courts, presiding. The coordinators of the event were Sgt. Barry Diebold and Elashia Ramsey. State Coordinator Anjanette Eash from the Tennessee Bar Association was also present at the ceremony. Teen Court members are Angel Briseno, Josh Edmondson, Lisa Byars, Rickela Reed, Lellee Lofton, Matthew Summerlin, Ellen Hudson, Haley Chrisman, Clara Murphy, Isaac Olmedo, Trevor Williams, Chris Brown, Nicole White, Abbey Warren, and Elenora Durham.

Tomcat Soccer Star Hendrix named All-District

Haywood High School Girls’ soccer star Jessica Hendrix has been named to the first team of the District 15 All-Star Soccer Team. This is the second year in a row that Jessica has received this honor. Last year she made the first team as the goalkeeper; this year, she showed her versatility and athleticism by switching positions and excelling to make the first team as a striker.

The HHS junior is the daughter of Ernest and Teresa Hendrix of Brownsville. Jessica also plays softball and was a member of the history-making 2006 Haywood High School Girls’ Softball team that went to the state finals in Murfreesboro. She is just as versatile in softball as in soccer and plays three positions on the Lady Cat team shortstop, catcher, and center field. She stays busy in the summer by playing on the West Tennessee Havoc fast-pitch softball travel team.

HHS students take part in voting process

This Haywood High School senior was one of 17 seniors who worked at the 15 voting precincts in the Haywood County election on November 7. And this is the second time. Eighteen HHS students worked at the polls during the August County General and State Primary election, too. Joan Banks, who serves on the local Election Commission, said that the idea of using high school students at the polls came up when commission members were at a state seminar for election commissioners earlier this year. Banks contacted Haywood High and teacher Gail Chapman coordinated the effort as a Beta Club-sponsored event. All the students working at the polls are 17 years old and seniors, some Beta Club members, some not. “The poll workers are happy with the students helping them,” Banks said. “They help put up the machines, help voters at the polls and then help take the machines down after the election,” she said. Chapman said, “It is a wonderful experience for the students, and they are performing community service.” “We may be the only county in the state doing this,” Banks added.

Tomcat Radio on the air again

Haywood High School Career and Technical Broadcast Journalism and Media Concepts students are on the airwaves again this year as WNWS Brownsville – 1520AM. Since Carlton Veirs, Brownsville Radio owner, leased his AM station to Haywood County Schools two years ago, the classes have made great strides in learning about journalism, communication, technology, marketing and sales while honing their speaking skills.

Teaching the class are HHS English and former drama teacher Sheri Richards and Brownsville Radio’s Rita Hathcock.

“This class is a great training ground for students to prepare for college or the workplace. In everything you do, you need communication skills,” Hathcock said. “It’s a new experience for students, and they really seem to benefit from it while having a good time.” Students write and produce all the on-air copy, which includes school news and announcements, feature stories, sports, entertainment, and county, state and national news.

“In these classes, we place great emphasis on writing and speaking correctly,” Richards said. “These are not only Gateway skills, but skills that are essential for the writing assessment we give in the students’ junior year. We teach students to write in the active voice, using vivid verbs, and to correctly place supporting information while effectively using transitional words. Working on these skills in the real-life situation of writing news stories and delivering them correctly helps our students correlate the importance of academics to careers.”

Tune in – it’s Tomcat Radio – WNWS Brownsville – 1520AM – where the “Cat has your ear and not your tongue!”

HHS Basketball update …

The Haywood High School Tomcats are posting a 1-3 season this year after playing Dyersburg, Jackson South Side, Liberty, and Covington. The girls’ record so far is 2-2. The boys beat Dyersburg and fell to South Side, Covington, and Liberty. The girls defeated South Side and Covington and lost to Dyersburg and Liberty.