Quarterly Newsletter (January - March 2013)

Published by Eastern Hills Alumni Association, Fort Worth, TX

The Highlander

IN THIS ISSUE
Quarterly Meeting Staff Directory 1 2

2nd Quarter EHHS Alumni Meeting

May 11, 2013
Meets Quarterly on 2nd Sat of 2nd Month of Quarter at 2pm-3:30pm Woodhaven Country Club 913 Country Club Ln. Fort Worth, TX 76112
2 2
3

Chairmans Corner Join The Association

Upcoming Alumni Events

Presidents Comments Treasurers Report

Fallen Highlanders Featured Story

4 4
4 5-7

Speaker is Tobi Jackson78 District 2 Trustee FWISD

2nd Annual

Featured Events Highlander Legacy

Advertisers Community Resources

7 8
9-10 11

Highlanderfest

Page 7
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Page 7
1

Jan-Mar 2013

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Chairman/Founder 817-655-2988 President/Founder 817-914-6064 Legacy President 817-488-3730 Chairman Elect Secretary Treasurer 817-349-5386 Legal Affairs 817-475-3982 Jean-Paul (JP) Puryear92 jppuryear@gmail.com Zak Najera92 z.najera@yahoo.com Lynn Spain60 thomas.spain@lubrizol.com OPEN OPEN Annbel Estrada11 annbel.estrada@yahoo.com Carmen (Salazar) Alford81 alfordcc@yahoo.com

Chairmans Corner
Dear Eastern Hills, Awake the sun. As we arise, lifes race to run. When was the last time that you heard your alma mater? I presume it has been too long. Because of this fact, we have set out on a course to charter a non-profit Eastern Hills Alumni Association. Our mission states: The corporation is formed for the support of benevolent, charitable and educational undertakings by extending financial and other aid to students of Eastern Hills High School; by promoting social, literary and scientific pursuits; by perpetuating and strengthening the ties of affection and esteem formed in high school, middle school, and elementary school days; by promoting the interests and welfare of Eastern Hills High School and education generally in the city of Fort Worth. We have undertaken an ambitious agenda in our first year but we hope to deliver value not only to you, the alumni, but also to the high school, feeder schools, and our beautiful community in East Fort Worth. M any of you have moved on to towns and many of you are still right here in East Fort Worth. Regardless of your distance we want you know that you always have a home here. We hope that we can strengthen the ties you formed during your formative years in East Fort Worth and reconnect with some distant and not so distant memories. Today, we are working on developing a database to help each class find classmates. The database will connect to our website, EHHSAlumni.com. From our website we also endeavor to create job and career networking resources for our alumni. Additionally, we intend to have at least two social events each year. The Alumni Association has committed to co-sponsoring the biennial event East Fort Worth Trash Bash and is raising money to fund our objectives of meeting the financial needs of EHHS through scholarships and campus works projects. And of course we will publish this newsletter quarterly to keep you up to date on alumni happenings. Finally, we are pleased to announce M r. Lynn Spain60, President of the first EHHS graduating class, as the first President of the Legacy Group who represents all EHHS alumni graduating forty years ago or more. M r. Spain will oversee the election of the EHHS Hall of Honorees as well as the design of the EHHS Alumni Center located on the campus of EHHS. The board and I invite you to participate in alumni happenings. Whether it is volunteering your time to help, making a tax free donation, or simply just peaking in on our website or FaceBook page, www.facebook.com/ehhsalumni, please show your support. Tho lifes great peaks, may give us thrills. You are the summit, Eastern Hills.

BOARD MEMBERS
Governmental Affairs 817-457-7816 Mentorship 682-241-4219 Webmaster 214-450-8345 Marketing 817-914-5929 Social Director 817-304-5402 Tobi Jackson78 tobij@sbcglobal.net Annette Jones03 Legacyeventsforyou@yahoo.com Bo Salazar85 sbotello@sb3m.com Tamara (Ellis) Najera92 hhnajera@sbcglobal.net Brandy (Brown) Oliphint93 brandy@oliphintlaw.com

ATTN REUNION PLANNERS! If you are planning a reunion for your class, please contact us. We would like to promote your events and invite you to serve as Class Agents.

Join the Association for just $20 per year. To join or volunteer, please contact Zak Najera at z.najera@yahoo.com or Jean-Paul (JP) Puryear at jppuryear@gmail.com.
Jan-Mar 2013

Jean-Paul Puryear92 2013 Chairman/Founder

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ALUMNI EVENTS
April 6, 2013 EHHS 03 Free Car Wash 10am-2pm Contact Annette Jones 682.241.4219 Donations Accepted Wendys 1500 Eastchase Pkwy legacyeventsforyou@yahoo.com

April 6, 2013

East Ft. Worth Trash Bash Eastern Hills Elem Soccer Fields 8am-11am 5917 Shelton St Contact Jean-Paul Puryear 817.655.2988 jppuryear@gmail.com Help E FTW pick up trash and party in Sundance Square after EHHS Alumni Association Meeting 2pm-4pm Contact Zak Najera 817.914.6064 Guest Speaker Tobi Jackson, FWISD Woodhaven Country Club 913 Country Club Ln. z.najera@yahoo.com

May 11, 2013

Jul 19, 2013

EHHS 83 All Class Mixer 7pm-11pm Contact Danny Salazar 817.946.5982 Guest Speaker Tobi Jackson, FWISD
EHHS 83 Reunion 7pm-11pm Contact Danny Salazar 817.946.5982 Semi Formal EHHS 93 All Class Mixer 8pm-2am Contact Angela Rawlings 817.914.6064 Live Band is from Class of 93

Woodhaven Country Club 913 Country Club Ln. djesalazar@sbcglobal.net

Jul 20, 2013

Woodhaven Country Club 913 Country Club Ln. djesalazar@sbcglobal.net

Sep 27, 2013

Picante Sports Cantina 2108 E Rosedale St. ehhsclassof1993@aol.com

Sep 28, 2013

2nd Annual Highlanderfest Eastern Hills High School 10am - 2pm 5701 Shelton St. Contact Zak Najera 817.914.6064 z.najera@yahoo.com Pep Rally, School Tour, Alumni Softball Tourney, Concessions, Bounce Houses
EHHS 93 Reunion 5:30pm - 8:30pm Contact Pam Rambo 817.797.4828 Semi Formal EHHS 03 All Class Mixer TBD Contact Annette Jones 682.241.4219 Details coming soon! EHHS 03 Reunion TBD Contact Annette Jones 682.241.4219 Details coming soon! Reata Restaurant 310 Houston St. ehhsclassof1993@aol.com

Sep 28, 2013

Oct 18, 2013

TBD TBD Legacyeventsforyou@yahoo.com

Oct 19, 2013

TBD TBD Legacyeventsforyou@yahoo.com

Oct 19, 2013

EHHS 03 Brunch TBD Contact Annette Jones 682.241.4219 Details coming soon!

TBD TBD Legacyeventsforyou@yahoo.com

Jan-Mar 2013

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PRESIDENTS COMMENTS
Last year around this time a few of us started an amazing journey. We set out to create a memorable weekend for our 20 year class reunion. In doing so we stumbled upon a wonderful experience in which we were able to not only reconnect with our friends from our youth, but we were also able to reconnect with a our alma mater in a way that we believe can make a significant difference. What started as a 20 year reunion picnic warped into an Annual Alumni event that not only excited our classmates but it allowed us to relive our high school experience through the current students participation. I was so impressed with the young leadership that was exhibited at our event. Student Leaders from the Softball Team and Baseball team humored us with an Alumni/Student softball game (which we let them win). The JROTC presented their color guard for us in the gym. The Band, Drill team, and Cheerleaders hosted a pep rally for us, and they topped it all off with allowing us to take tours through the school and campus to see all of the changes over the years. Eastern Hills has struggled over the years and had earned a well deserved reputation as being a Thug- ish school. Those of you from my time there and before can hardly imagine it in that light. The administration has made vast strides in returning EHHS to its former glory, and its reputation is on the mend. As a leader of this association I challenge all of you former students and teachers to do your part. We can help change the perception, we can help change a life.

Zak Najera92 President/Founder BALANCE SHEET

1ST Quarter, 2013
Item Income
Checking Account Balance Dues Collected Advertising Fees Collected Donations Fundraising Total

January - March

Y-T-D

0.00 160.00 90.00 150.00 0.00 400.00

160.00 90 150.00 0.00

Expenses Secretary of State Charter Fee Total Checking Account Balance 50.00 50.00 350.00 50.00

Jeffery Taylor Stewart86 Jan 13 Virginia Bell Ward Jan 21 (Vice Principal) Danny McCook61 Jan 25 Gary P. Smoke74 Jan 27 Glynis Rhodes-Brown82 Feb 16 Kathleen M Gallant Garrington69 Mar 2 Kathy Gallant69 Mar 2 Stephen James Horton84 Mar 3 Courtney Dayle Austin Miller96 Mar 3 Jenny Williams75 Mar 3 Kristopher Mack12 Mar 6
Goto www.facebook.com/groups/94510625767 to post or get updates on other fallen classmates and teachers. Page courtesy of David Whitten85. If you want to have an old friend mentioned on Davids page, or the next edition of the Highlander please contact us we want to recognize all of our fallen classmates.

CALL 214-674-5648!

YOUR AD HERE! Fallen Highlanders

Treasurers Report
Membership (New/Renewal): 8/0 Advertisers (New/Renewal): 1/0 Donations (New/Renewal): 1/0 Class of 1992
$150.00

EHHSAlumni.com

www.facebook.com/EHHSalumni.com
Jan-Mar 2013 The Highlander EHHSAlumni.com facebook.com/ehhsalumni.com 4

Featured Story
Under New Principal, Fort Worth's Eastern Hills High School Is Making A Comeback
By Eva-Marie Ayala posted Sunday, May. 20, 2012 eayala@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH -- As second-year Principal Cherie Washington w alks the hallw ays of Eastern Hills High School, bright red bullhorn in hand, students know she doesn't mess around. "Forty-eight seconds ... 42 seconds," Washington counts dow n. "If that bell catches you, you're going to be mine." As the students race to class, most toss a smile at her. "Tw enty- seven seconds.

The bell rings, classroom doors are shut and not a student is in sight. For a school that has been struggling w ith poor academics, high faculty turnover and student fighting in recent years, the calm and order are a sign that Eastern Hills -- a once proud cornerstone of its east-side neighborhood -- is turning things around. Test scores, w hile still far below the state average, are up. Students are participating in more extracurricular activities, and this spring, the school conducted its first National Honor Society induction ceremony in five years.
Senior Anthony Jones said he is proud of the progress.

"My freshman year there w ere fights and gangs. When Ms. Washington came in, she got us in check the first day," Jones said. "To me, having the honor society really means grow th at the school. It is a sign that w here I come from-- in my community -- w e can have programs that actually represent students w ho are doing very w ell in school.
School district officials, how ever, know that there is still much w ork to be done.

'The No. 1 thing

Eastern Hills is considered one of the low est-achieving schools in Texas and is one of only a handful in the state to be rated academically unacceptable for five consecutive years. It has also failed to meet federal accountability standards for seven consecutive years. In the past, five years in a row of such a rating w ould have forced the state to close the school. But that law w as changed in 2009 to allow schools more time to improve.
In 2010, 39 percent of Eastern Hills' students passed the Texas Assessment of Know ledge and Skills, the low est passing rate of any high school in Fort Worth and 10 percentage points low er than neighboring Dunbar High School.

That passing rate rose to 46 percent in 2011, though the state average is 76 percent.
"You can't get aw ay from assessment because that's the No. 1 thing that everyone looks at," Washington said. "So w e focus on that, but w e also focus on taking the kids and moving them forw ard and w atching them grow . We deal w ith kids w ho come tw o or three years behind and move them to grade level. We have bright kids that w e need to challenge and get them ready to be successful in college. ... A rating doesn't define us. Data analysis of state tests and district-administered benchmark tests is helping teachers zero in on w hich students need help and in w hat areas. The school focuses on the 211 students on the bubble -- those w ho missed passing state tests by just a few questions. Those students are part of an "I promise" team that receives additional tutoring and support. Each teacher's class roll includes student photographs, attendance information and a color-coded system to show whether a student is excelling, passing, on the bubble or failing. Washington monitors data to see w hich teachers have few students passing and w orks to get them additional training and resources. And this year, the campus received $6 million from a federal grant program designed to help turn around the nation's bottom 5 percent of schools. Most of that money -- to be spent over three years -- pays for seven additional staffers, mentor programs and a planned academy for over-age students.

Jan-Mar 2013

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'The spark
Many students and staff members say the most significant change at the school is Washington, Eastern Hills' fifth principal in six years. One of the first things she did w as restore a sense of civility. Before her arrival, students w ere constantly wandering the halls. Fights often spilled over into the parking lots of nearby businesses or dow n streets, prompting neighborhood complaints. "It w as too w ild," junior Keyon Triggs said.

Science teacher Laura Parker said that besides the chaos, the constant changes created a barrier to learning.
"It w as like w e kept trying to re-turn the w heel," Parker said. "But now w e have structure -- from keeping our classes running to how students dress to the expectation that they get to class on time. It's just a better environment overall for the kids. Before arriving at Eastern Hills last year, Washington had been principal of nearby Meadow brook Middle School. Meadow brook is also struggling, having missed state accountability marks for several years. But w ith Washington on board, Meadow brook earned an academically acceptable rating in 2009. Nearly all current Eastern Hills students have a close connection to Washington because of her time at Meadow brook or because they had attended Handley Middle School, w here her husband w as principal. While students quickly responded favorably to Washington, teachers w ere more reluctant. Many w ere tired of getting a new set of directives w ith each new principal. "But the more she's been here, the more the staff believes that she's trying to get things done here," math teacher Miguel Garza said. Even state officials have taken notice of her efforts. Jobob Aanenson, w ho w as appointed by the Texas Education Agency to monitor Eastern Hills in recent years, said previous administrators didn't seem to have a clear vision for the school. "She w as the spark that school needed," Aanenson said. Most importantly, the students see the difference.

Senior Kelly Morales said Eastern Hills didn't offer much in extracurricular activities or school events w hen she started as a freshman. Now the school has jazz concerts, college expo days, community events and even a fashion show . Participation in sports has climbed as w ell. Garza, for example, began coaching girls soccer in the 2008-09 school year w ith 20 students on varsity. Now participation has almost doubled, and Eastern Hills has a junior varsity team. "It feels like the teachers and everyone really cares now ," Morales said.

Decline
Eastern Hills opened in 1959 and quickly became a landmark in the Meadow brook neighborhood. By the 1970s, it w as know n for its annual Miss Big E pageant, w hich raised thousands of dollars for the school. In 1987, it became the first Fort Worth school to offer academic sw eaters. The school w as a pow erhouse of musical talent, w ith the Symphonic Band and Stage Band among five United States school bands to be invited by the Soviet government to play there in 1990. Notable alumni include U.S. Rep. Kay Granger and Hook screenw riter James Hart. It's also the alma mater of R. Allen Stanford, a prominent ex-financier w ho is awaiting sentencing for defrauding investors of billions. But over the years, the community lost its connection to the school as the neighborhood aged and demographics shifted. Eastern Hills had long been a predominantly w hite school, but that began to change in the early 1990s. By 1995, more than half the students w ere African-American, and only about 36 percent w ere w hite. Now 56 percent of its 1,294 students are black, about a third are Hispanic and 6 percent are Anglo. As the school began to struggle academically -- it w as rated low -performing by the state in 1994-95 -- some neighborhood residents sent their children to private schools or bused them to other schools in the district, residents said. Councilman Danny Scarth, w ho represents that area, said few residents took an interest in Eastern Hills other than to complain about fights, children loitering in the neighborhood, or trash from the campus blow ing onto streets.

But in 2010, Tobi Jackson w as elected to the Fort Worth school board, and she focused much of her energy on rebuilding the community's connection to the school. "Tobi is just everyw here, at every neighborhood association going out and talking about Eastern Hills and getting the community back involved," Scarth said.

Jan-Mar 2013

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'Proud of my school
Jackson, an Eastern Hills graduate, said community support is key to re-establishing the school. She began partnering students w ith residents w ho shared a related field of interest. She pushed school district officials to make improvements at the school, including renovating an old gym, w hich includes a rock climbing w all, archery area and donated exercise equipment, w ith the goal of opening it for neighborhood use. Washington, meanw hile, had the idea to install picnic tables outside for students, rather than have them linger in the neighborhood, and allow ing limited off-campus lunch privileges. Students must w ear campus IDs at all times, w hich officials have said dramatically cut the number of fights, often started by rival gang members from other schools show ing up in hallw ays.

Police records show that since 2010, reported crimes at the school and its immediate area have dropped.
There w ere 358 police calls to campus in 2009, for example, but 178 in 2011, records show. Washington and other staffers frequently attend community meetings and neighborhood events, and this month, the school had the highest number of participants -- 485 -- for the district's seventh annual fitness w alk. While some remain skeptical as to how much Eastern Hills can change, LaWayne Hauser said the turnaround is stunning. A retired teacher, Hauser visits the campus periodically.

"When you go to the school now , the students are very w ell-organized, polite and groomed and seem to be concentrating on w hat they are supposed to be concentrating on," Hauser said. "Before, w ell ... not as much. Sophomore Glenda Maradiaga, w ho w as among the 59 students recently inducted into the National Honor Society, said: "I'm really proud of my school. It feels like it's made a complete 180 and w orking its w ay back to the top.
Eva-Marie Ayala, 817-390-7700

Read more here: http://w ww.star-telegram.com/2012/05/20/3973749/under-new-principal-fort-worths.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Featured Events 2nd Annual

Highlanderfest
A Celebration Honoring the Reunion Classes of 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003, and 2013

Sept 28, 2013

Eastern Hills High School (Softball Field)
10:00am Old Timers Softball Tournament 10:15am Game 1 (Class of 83 v Class of 93) 11:15am Game 2 (Class of 03 v Class of 13) 12:15am Championship Game
1:00pm - Pep Rally (Band, Lassies and Cheerleaders) 2:00pm School Tours

East Fort Worth Trash Bash

Part of the Cowtown Great American Cleanup

April 6, 2013
Eastern Hills Elementary Soccer Field 5917 Shelton Rd. Fort Worth, TX, 76103
Teams of neighborhood volunteers along with EHHS Alumni and High School students will dispatch together to assigned East Fort Worth areas to clean up litter.

Jan-Mar 2013

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Highlander Legacy

Alma Mater Eastern Hills High School Music and Lyrics By Judy Lingenfelter (Student at EHHS, 1959) Dear Eastern Hills, awake the sun, As we arise, Life's race to run. Your hallowed halls with mem'ries ring, Our joyful hearts and voices sing. Hail, gallant team, you heed our vic'try cry! Hail school Supreme, we hold your colors high! Tho' life's great peaks may give us thrills, You are the summitt, Eastern Hills! Our pride in you fulfill our days. Within these walls we've come to know Where, throughout life, our paths should go, Now we would strive because for you we must. To keep alive a flame of faith and trust. Wisdom and hope in us instill Dear Alma Mater, Eastern Hills.

In 1959 Ha ndley High School was closed to relieve the crow ded conditions at Handl ey and P oly High Schools. The first year Eastern Hills had 600 students who chos e the traditions that would become a part of Eastern Hills. The name Highlander was chos en by a secret ballot as were the s chool colors, blue, gray, a nd white. The first principal of Eastern Hills was Roy C. Johns on w ho served the district until he retired in 1975.

September, 1959-1960 school year opened the new school with 600 students. Traditions were started and are still a part of Eastern Hills today. Eastern Hills High School during the 2004-2005 school year. In the last few years a new library, expanded cafeteria, and a new couns eling center has been added. The s chool underwent other building improvements and building repairs in preparation of the 2005-2006 s chool year. During the 2008-2009 school year the school has upgraded a nd enhanced the use of technology. Beginning in 1984, Eastern Hills High School started a tradition of honoring distinguished alumni.

Jan-Mar 2013

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Full Page: $ 60 per issue/$ 180 for all 4 issues

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Jan-Mar 2013

Business card: $ 10 per issue/$ 30 for all 4 issues

1/2 page $30/issue or $90 for all 4 issues 1 page $ 60/issue or $180 for all 4 issues
Ads also placed at EHHSalumni.com Paid advertisements may be submitted to z.najera@yahoo.com via business card or paper.
Quarter Page: $ 20 per issue/$ 60 for all 4 issues

Any ad not been paid within 60 days of renewal will be removed until paid.

Jean-Paul Puryear Broker/Owner

817.655.2988 jppuryear@gmail.com

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10

CODE BLUE CAPTAIN DUB HOLCOMB 817-451-0303 dubrfred@sbcglobal.net NPO LLOYD COOK, #3188, Fort Worth Police Department, East Division NPD/#5 5050 East Lancaster Avenue Fort Worth, Texas 76112 telephone: 817-871-5200 mobile 817-994-8479 FAX 817-871-5208 e-mail: d.cook@fortworthgov.org CODE COMPLIANCE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER is TERRI BOCK, E 210 Code Compliance Department Field Operations/East District, City of Fort Worth 818 Missouri Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104 telephone 817-392-5092 mobile 817-944-7058 FAX 817-832-2249 e-mail: Terri.Bock@fortworthgov.org CITY COUNCILMAN DANNY SCARTH, District 4, 1000 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 telephone 817-392-8804 FAX 817-392-6187 e-mail: District4@fortworthgov.org ***Council meetings at City Hall in Council Chambers are open to public on the first and second Tuesdays of month at 7PM and on remaining Tuesdays at 10 AM. RUBEN OLMOS, COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPT. City of Fort Worth Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods 818 Missouri Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104 telephone 817-393-6201 MAYOR OF FORT WORTH, BETSY PRICE, telephone: 817-392-6118 FAX 817-392-6187 e-mail: betsy.price@fortworthgov.org FWISD TRUSTEE - DISTRICT 2 TOBI JACKSON telephone 817-457-7816 email: tobi.jackson@fwisd.com

EHHS COMMUNITY RESOURCES

The Highlander is published quarterly, 4 times a year. Its purpose is to keep Eastern Hills Alumni informed of upcoming events related to school and all graduating classes. If you have information that would be interesting or beneficial to EHHS Alumni, submit it to the publisher. The deadline for submissions is the 1st day of every 3rd month by email to z.najera@yahoo.com. Please include your name and phone number.
EHHS Alumni reserves the right to publish and accept or reject submissions for its publication. The newsletter is available on the EHHS Alumni website: www.EHHSAlumni.com

Information contained in articles appearing in The Highlander newsletter is the sole responsibility of the editors. The views and opinions expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of the association or all of the members of the Eastern Hills Alumni Association. www.EHHSAlumni.com

ADVERTISING RATES
Business card size $ 10 per issue or $ 30 for all 4 issues 1/4 page $ 20 per issue or $60 for all 4 issues 1/2 page $30 per issue or $90 for all 4 issues 1 page $ 60 per issue or $180 for all 4 issues Paid advertisements may be submitted by email, business card or on paper. Any ad that has not been paid within 60 days of renewal will be removed until paid. Ads may be e mailed to z.najera@yahoo.com. Acceptance of the ads by Eastern Hills Alumni Association does not imply endorsement. Jan-Mar 2013 The Highlander EHHSAlumni.com facebook.com/ehhsalumni.com 11