NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT:

MR.DEPEW

Mr. Keith Depew is one of the coolest new teachers at HHS. He’s teaching 9th grade World History,  which is a really fun class. He also coaches 9th Grade Football and Junior Varsity Baseball. He graduated from the University of Alabama Birmingham, which is also known as UAB. While at UAB, he was a member of the baseball team.

Five things to know about Mr. Depew:

1. He has a little sister who is a 9th grader in another school district. 
2. He’s engaged and is getting married in December of this year.
3. Even though he teaches World History, his favorite subject is English.
4. Coach Depew doesn’t like chocolate. (Are you kidding, Mr. Depew??!)

     5.   His favorite quote is: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Psalm 126:5

Mr. Depew is one of my favorite teachers here at Homewood High School. If you don’t have him for class, you should take the time to get to know him. Welcome, Coach Depew!

Post submitted by Jordan Wright

NEW HHS BACK SQUAT RECORD

Jeremiah Dunham, Senior student athlete at Homewood High School, broke the school record for back squat. On July 24^th, 2014 at football practice he back squatted 500 pounds to break the school record. He is now planning to break the school record for bench press, which is currently set at 300 pounds.

Jeremiah broke the record because he was determined to squat the most in the school. When interviewed about this upcoming season, Jeremiah said, "I am just excited and looking forward to my senior year." Congratulations, Jeremiah!

Post submitted by Trenton Owens and Jackson Page

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: 

KATHLEEN KEEL

 

Ms. Keel teaches 9^th grade Geometry and Algebra 1. She is also a Freshman cheerleading coach. She earned her degree at the University of Auburn in Secondary Math. She comes from a family of four (mom, dad, and two sisters). 

Three Things Ms. Keel Loves:

When students work together...When people smile... and Homewood High School!!

One of Ms. Keel's favorite quotes is:  

“To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk” Thomas Eidson

Ms. Keel feels that  she has  found her home at Homewood High School. Welcome to HHS, Ms. Keel!

Post submitted by Lawrence Jackson

Boy's Basketball Team to Host

Pancake Breakfast and Garage Sale

 

The Homewood High School Boy's Basketball Program is hosting a pancake breakfast and garage sale at the Homewood High School gym on Saturday, August 23rd.  Ticketsfor the breakfast are $5.00. The pancake sale will be from 7a.m. until 10 a.m. , and the garage sale will be from 7a.m. until 12 p.m. All the profits made from the sale will help fund the team’s trip to Orlando during Christmas break. For more information or to buy  tickets, please contact the school at 205-871-9663.

Post submitted by Malik Cook

Mary Margaret Jackson Signs with Birmingham-Southern

Family, teammates, coaches and classmates packed the HHS Patriot Room to witness Patriots Track and Field star Mary Margaret Jackson’s signing of her Letter of Intent to run Track at Birmingham-Southern College. The event took place on May 6 at HHS. Mary Margaret has been a part of one State Championship, and three State Runner-up Track and Field teams at Homewood.

Mary Margaret is the daughter of Doug and Melissa Jackson of Homewood, who were by her side during the signing along with coaches Tom Esslinger and Lars Porter.

 

 

Patriots Win Boy's and Girl's
State Track & Field Titles

 

 

It was the best day in program history for the Homewood Patriots' track and field teams this Saturday at the AHSAA State Championships in Gulf Shores. Both the boys and girls teams won their first outdoor track and field titles. The boys previously won three indoor track and field titles, but this was the first time to win outdoor.
Winning outdoor gave the boys team the rare Triple Crown, which is when a team wins Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track in a single school year. The girls ended the amazing run of eight straight by St. Paul's and beat them by one point in thrilling fashion. The girls were two points behind St. Paul's going into the final event, which was the 4x400m relay. Relay team members Mary Margaret Jackson, Hunter Midgett, Joy Korley, and Alex Studdard had the race of their lives and beat St. Paul's by two places in the final event, giving Homewood the one point win and the first girls championship in school history. Head Coach Tom Esslinger stated, "That race was the perfect way to end this season and get us the championship, because it took everyone on the relay team doing their very best. That is the way the whole team beat a tremendous team like St. Paul's. It took everyone staying focused and doing their jobs."
Kiara Williams was the top scorer for the girls and won both the long jump and 100m hurdles. She also placed 2nd in both the triple jump and the 200m. Ann Mosely Whitsett also had a tremendous day by winning the 800 meter, placing 2nd in the 400m, placing 3rd in the 300m hurdles, and placing 4th in the 1600m. Sarah Blake led the throwers by placing 2nd in both javelin and discus. The girls 4x100m relay team (Maiyah Lee, Jasmine Griffin, Alex Studdard, and Elysa Griffin) also earned All-State honors by placing 2nd. Coach Esslinger said, "Words can't describe how happy we all are about winning, especially since we have been second to St. Paul's a couple of times before."
The varsity boys easily won the 5A boys competition. Andy Smith led the team by winning both the 1600m and 3200m. Smith also placed 4th in the 800 and anchored the 4x800m relay team that won. Other members of that relay team are Logan Sadler, Tristan Lindsey, and Hunter Poole. Logan Sadler also won an individual title in the 800m. Dominique Linson placed 2nd in the high jump, Tristan Lindsey placed 2nd in the 800m, Mike Rohdy placed 3rd in the 1600m, and Alex Ngei placed 3rd in the 3200m. All of them earned All-State honors by placing in the top three.
Head Coach Tom Esslinger said, "By finally winning the outdoor title in the boys, we feel like we finally got that missing piece of the puzzle. The kids have worked so hard for their success, and I would also like to thank our amazing coaching staff at both the high school and middle school. None of this could be accomplished without their hard work and knowledge." The high school coaches are Tom Esslinger, Lars Porter, Josh Donaldson, Rebecca Phillips, Michael Niezgoda, John Schultz, Brittany Hines Steele, and Kenneth Hollis.

Mike Rohdy Signs with Samford University

Homewood Patriots Track & Field standout Mike Rohdy signed a Letter of Intent on April 30, 2014 to run track for Samford University. Mike has been a member of four HHS State Championship Track & Field teams since his freshmen year.

Mike was joined by his parents, Michael and Katherine Rohdy, sisters Allison and Elizabeth, brother Andrew, grandparents Mike and Brenda Rohdy, and a packed HHS Patriot room of teammates , friends and coaches.

 

Mike Rohdy is surrounded by his family during his scholarship signing.

Mike Rohdy and HHS Track coaches Tom Esslinger and Lars Porter