The long-awaited renovations and improvements to Hillcrest have finally started.

After months of planning, the construction has finally begun. In the basement, workers have now sectioned off the west portion of the hall and built a barrier to enable building to continue without hassle for the next several months.

The project, worth 7.1 million dollars, will involve a major remodel to the school. In addition to the new cafeteria and kitchen in the basement, there will be major upgrades to the school’s electrical systemplumbing, gymnasium, auditorium, and administration offices. New and improved stadium lights are also listed on the budget. «Read Entire Post»

The Hillcrest Drama Department is hoping to take its audience back in time with its new and upcoming production.

Theater students are anxiously rehearsing “Give My Regards to Broadway” in the few short weeks they have left to prepare. The musical is about a struggling director named Dick Foster, who is having a hard time meeting the demands of his moody lead actress and financing his own Broadway show. However, when an unexpected new arrival named Mary Collins shows up, he soon realizes he may have a chance at putting on a crowd-pleasing production

Acting Director Mark Gideon, who helped choose the musical, had «Read Entire Post»

Just an ordinary English class has turned into a recognized group of scholars.

This past week, the “Hillcrest Freedom Writers” in Ms. Sherrie Bellmer’s eighth block class were entered into the PTSA Reflections Contest. They wrote a book entitled “Diversity Means,” which featured students’ true-life stories. Many entries within the book skipped regionals and are advancing to compete at the state level.

Many stories were difficult to say aloud, but once the students wereable to take a chance and share personal things with each other, they a mutual respect that most ordinary classrooms do not have. «Read Entire Post»

While many Hillcrest students were out on Thanksgiving Break gathering with their families, senior Nathan Stewart was traveling to a new place and experiencing an entirely new culture on his holiday.

For six days, Stewart traveled to Chile for a mission trip while also visiting with his grandparents. There he met new people, saw incredible sights throughout South America, and even got to leave his own mark on some of the local communities.

“My grandfather, a former missionary to Chile, has been taking teams of workers to rebuild the school for the past six years. It is a project dear to his heart that he wants to see finished. I decided that I too wanted to «Read Entire Post»

Some talented Hillcrest art students are taking their art to the air.  Or at least, to the airport.

Last Thursday, ten students unveiled various pieces of art at a new venue located in the Springfield-Branson National Airport, called the “Artport,” which displays local pieces from around the region.

The art gallery will include a variety of artistic creations, ranging from drawings, graphic designs, paintings, and even Chinese paper cuts from both Hillcrest and Parkview High School students. Eachwas chosen based on their overall appearance and distinction. “We took a look at each piece for quality and chose it based on what we felt would represent the best «Read Entire Post»

Eight Hillcrest students have been recognized by the faculty as the November “Hornets in the Spotlight,” or “Hits.”

The students receiving the honor are:

9th grade: Brandon Gibson and Courtney Melville; 10th grade: Kaden Bangs and Jordan Adams; 11th grade: Kayla Fisher and Caleb Brown; 12th grade: Jordan Moore and April Goodman.

Math teacher Jaclyn Rothermich helps compile the votes each month. She said, “Teachers felt that we needed to recognize students that aren’t always involved in extra curricular activities but still are an asset to Hillcrest and represent what it means to be a true Hornet. This does not «Read Entire Post»

What does is it take to host one of the biggest high school football games of the year? Quite a bit according to Hillcrest’s Athletic Director Darrell Johnson, who has been scrambling all week to prepare for the game.

“We are looking forward to a record crowd at this Saturday’s quarterfinal game.  I hope the patrons of Webb City are able to see how proud we are of our students, athletes, parents and our facility,” said Johnson.  ”We are excited about the opportunity to showcase Hillcrest football for the entire state to see.”

The Webb City Cardinals, the reigning state champions, are undefeated and favored against the 11-1 Hornets.  The game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. «Read Entire Post»

Two Hillcrest students and science teacher Sharon Blauvelt are teaming together to revive a club for students who wish to make a positive difference in their school community.

The club is called SADD, or Students Against Destructive Decisions, and it  is a leadership organization devoted to preventing unhealthy behaviors like underage drinking, teen violence, impaired driving, and drug use.

Blauvelt decided to become a SADD adviser as a way to help students work past their troubles and encourage an open line of communication.

“I wanted to be part of a group that allowed kids to have an «Read Entire Post»

Valen Koger’s students are making an impact at their school and in their community.

The Hillcrest “Vocational Preparation” class goes beyond normal classroom instruction and provides special lessons of a hands-on nature.

“These students are learning some good skills and work habits and I just
wanted to take a few moments to brag on them,” Koger said in a recent e-mail updating the faculty about the progress of the kids in the Vocational Prep class this fall.

Every day you can find a student cleaning shelves in the library, another working with the school custodian. «Read Entire Post»

The Hillcrest Hornets football team won the game, and Dorial Green-Beckham put up huge numbers in Friday night’s game against Rolla.

The next day, junior Breanna Feemster began a march back to the state tennis tournament by taking the individual district championship.

Green-Beckham caught 13 passes from quarterback Matt Futrell, good for 354 yards receiving, eclipsing the previous state record of 312 yards set in 2002 by Mountain Grove’s Austin Stigall, as HHS won 40-19 over the 2-5 Bulldogs. «Read Entire Post»