Hooks BUZZ

06/02/2015

Farewell Mrs. JACKSON!!
by sadie DENBURGER & megan SUTTON

Mrs. Kay Jackson is another teacher who will be leaving the Hornet’s Nest at the end of the school year. She has been at HHS for 10 years.
“I have been in education for 23 years,” said Mrs. Jackson. “I worked for 4 years as an office and teacher’s aide before I began teaching.”
Mrs. Jackson may look like a small, quiet teacher, but she is a powerhouse! Throughout her career she has taught: 6th grade math, 7th and 6th grade science, 9th and 10th grade algebra, and resource math and science. Whew!

She will definitely be missed by her fellow teachers. “I’m sad!” Mrs. Callie Morphew said. “I will miss her advice. She has really helped me through my first year teaching resource classes.”
Mrs. Angela Hatchett said, “It’ll be hard to replace Kay Jackson. She is so hard working, and she really cares about the kids.”
Some students don’t know this, but Mrs. Jackson is also kind of a NINJA, stealthily working wonders when you least expect it!

Senior J-Swizzle said, “Well- there is that one point where Ms. Jackson goes a little over the top in being able to see my cell phone in hidden places. It’s like she has LASER eyes! Overall, she is a really good teacher.”
Mrs. Jackson says that she loves teaching, and she is going to miss the kids and friends that she has made.

But, don’t worry! She will not be bored in retirement. She plans to use new found time spoiling her grandsons, Michael and Layton. She will also get to spend more time with her family, especially her mom.

06/02/2015

Senior Dalton Cook, Lincoln Douglas Debate State Champion

Senior Dalton Cook was recently awarded 1st place at State for Lincoln Douglas Debate in 3-A competition. Dalton is the son of Mark and Tracy Cook of Wake Village, Texas.

Dalton is a second year speech and debate student under the direction of Hooks Theater Arts teacher, Sue Godsey.

During his junior year, Dalton qualified to the state level in both persuasive speaking and cross-examination debate.

During his senior year, Dalton won Outstanding Presiding Officer in district Student Congress, and qualified to regional competition in both persuasive speaking and Lincoln Douglas Debate. He is also the president of the Hooks High School Chapter of the National Speech and Debate Association.

Dalton will be attending University of Central Arkansas in the fall where he was admitted to the Honors College and granted an academic scholarship. He was also awarded a debate scholarship and will be competing on the UCA Debate Team.

05/22/2015

Bertie Baker, still smiling and still loving those Hornets!

In 1962, Bertie Baker began a career that became the love of her life. She loves to teach, and obviously, teaching loves her. She has been rockin’ this romance for 53 years!

“I came to Hooks in 1981,” Ms. Baker said. “My 34 years as a Hornet have been my favorite!”

And, although we think of Ms. Baker as the Senior English teacher, it’s just because we don’t realize what a buff-veteran we have on our hands.

Ms. Baker has taught: short-hand, typing, American history, economics, and business math. She has also taught theater and directed plays. Of course, she teaches English! She’s taught 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade English. College English, too!

In her spare time, she has worked the ticket and concession stands at every sporting event the Hornets suit up for.

Sadly, the rumors are true. Bertie Baker has decided to retire.
“This wasn’t a sudden decision,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about retirement for a while.”

Everyone is surprised and saddened.

Ms. Sackett said, “I’ve been alive for 60 years, and Ms. Baker has been teaching for 54 of them. She is awesome! I want to grow up to be just like her.”

Nearly everyone in the community has had Ms. Baker as a teacher or has known her as the teacher of one or more of their children. Some people are lucky enough to have had Ms. Baker as a teacher AND known her as the teacher of one or more of their children.

Mr. Smiley said, “Ms. Baker was always one of my favorite teachers. As a teacher working alongside her, she is still one of my favorite people. She always has been and always will be an inspiration to me. She will always be my Homecoming Queen!”

What will Ms. Baker do will all her free time after retirement? She plans to do something she really loves: TEACH PARTTIME AT HHS!!!

Ms. Baker said, “I want to thank all of the little people that I’ve stepped on as I worked my way to the top.”

05/22/2015

Class of 2015, it's almost over!!

Class of 2015, posing for laughs :)

05/22/2015

Class of 2015
The final days of school are here! This is a time of mixed emotion. Because, as exciting as it is to be finished, it’s also a transition from one chapter of our lives to the next.

We will never get these days back. We will never again cheer from the student section at Hornet games. We will never be caught sneaking in the back doors late, with a bag of donut holes in hand. We will never be greeted in the halls with teachers’ smiles. Or Krueger’s offer to burn off a detention.

But, our memories of HHS will remain with us forever. No one can ever take that away.

05/22/2015

Final show with 2015 SENIORS

05/01/2015

Hornets at Whitehouse today, competing in Regional Track and Field events. Go Big BLUE!!!

04/17/2015

Hornets Give the Gift of LIFE

Each year our high school STUCO sponsors 3 blood drives. One in September, one in December, and the last one is in April. Our April Blood Drive was a huge success. We collected 68 units of blood, bringing our total to 166 units. STUCO is hoping to get 14 more units donated before the end of the school year.

September’s drive fell on a wet, rainy day, and our numbers were down. December’s blood drive was difficult because we were limited in the number of students that were able to donate.

“We were hoping to take as many donors as possible on Wednesday, April 8th,” said STUCO’s sponsor, Angela Hatchett. “Our total goal for the year is 180 units, and we were really behind schedule.”

Several students are frequent-flyers at our Blood Drives. Some students, based on their size and high iron count are able to give 2 units at one sitting.

“I enjoy having needles stuck in me, so it was pretty awesome,” junior Jacob Ragland said.

Ragland is one of our double-unit donors. Seniors Travis Krueger, Nathan Mahar, and Haley Price were also able to donate two units.

Some Hornets were willing to donate, but because of low iron or low body weight, they were turned away.

“I really wanted to give blood,” said senior Rachel Penny. Before the next drive, I need to fill up on chicken livers!”

We lost a couple Hornets in the line of duty. Senior Kourtney Moon donated a unit, and then things got crazy.

“One minute she was sitting there, and the next thing I know, she’s on the floor,” said sophomore Montrell Estell.

TIMBER!! Junior Tanner Hamilton also hit the deck soon after donating. At 6 foot 9, that’s a long way to fall.

Students who consistently donate blood or volunteer to assist during the blood drives qualify for scholarships.

04/17/2015

Milk- It does a body good!!

The Dairy Team recently took 2nd Place in Area. They competed against 40 other teams. Senior Savannah Pope, juniors Haley Kahler and Seth Lydeen, and freshman Chelsea Ross will be headed to state, competing on Thursday, April 22.

“It’s been a fun year,” said Seth. “I’m glad that we made it to state for Savannah’s senior year.”

The contest consists of tasting and judging milk and cheeses. Team members are skilled at determining dairy versus non-dairy products and the evaluation of milk cows and their appearance.

“We’ll have to get 1st place to go on to Nationals,” said Haley. “It could happen.”

04/16/2015

Hooks HS Horse Judging Team going to STATE!

The Horse Judging Team competed against 42 teams to advance to state. Team members are: Senior Brittney Page, juniors Hallie Cole and Felicity Martin, sophomore Lily Martinez, and freshman Layne Stubbs.
“I’ve done this for 3 years,” said Brittney. “This is the best year because we finally made it to state!”
Horse judging consists of evaluating the appearance and performance of the animals.
“We've practiced for hours,” said Felicity. “We all get along really well, too.”
The team leaves next Thursday and will compete on Saturday, April 25th. Keep your fingers crossed for the girls.

01/13/2015

Lady Hornet Varsity Basketball Team

01/13/2015

Varsity Basketball Team