Joe E. Newsome High School

Joe E. Newsome High School
Location
16550 Fishhawk Boulevard Lithia, Florida
Coordinates	27°51′32″N 82°12′16″W / 27.858995°N 82.204455°W / 27.858995; -82.204455Coordinates: 27°51′32″N 82°12′16″W / 27.858995°N 82.204455°W / 27.858995; -82.204455
Information
School type	Public
Founded	2003
Principal	Carla Bruning
Enrollment	2,443
Color(s)	Navy, White, and Carolina Blue
Mascot	Wolf
Information	[phone]
Website	Link

Joe E. Newsome High School was established in 2003 on Fishhawk Boulevard in Lithia, Florida, USA. It is named in honor of Joe E. Newsome, a Plant City pharmacist and businessman who served as a board member of the School District of Hillsborough County for 24 years.^[1]

The school colors are Carolina Blue, Navy, and white. Its mascot is the Wolf.

Joe E. Newsome High School was dedicated on April 18, 2003.

Administration

• Principal – Carla Bruning (2011–present)
• Assistant Principal for Curriculum – Tyvan Lindbeck
• Assistant Principal for Administration – Paul Lindstrom
• Assistant Principal for Student Affairs Students A - G - Keisha Thompson
• Assistant Principal for Student Affairs Students H - O - Richard Peacock
• Assistant Principal for Student Affairs Students P - Z - Gary Graham

Activities

Varsity football

Newsome High School's football program was founded in 2003 when the school opened. The team's head coach, Floyd Graham, had transferred to Newsome from Durant High School. In the football team's fourth season there was a change in staff; Graham was replaced by defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator Ken Hiscock. Other replacements include Eric Brungot, who has replaced Graham as defensive line coach. Coach Robinson and Coach Haschel have both returned, working for the team's offense. In the 2006 season, the school's fourth year, the Wolves were 7-3 and were placed in the Tampa Tribune's top 10 football teams in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

The football team managed to create a 3-way tie between Hillsborough, Freedom, and themselves, but lost in both matches and were eliminated from the district playoffs. However, the Wolves are predicted to reach their goal of 7-3 at the end of this season, making it the best they have had since the team was founded. This will be Coach Ken Hiscock's first record as a head football coach and a first winning record for both him and the team.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007 the team started out 3-0, until losing to Armwood High School, and also snapping their 9-game winning streak dating back to the previous year.

Current^[when?] record: 4-3 after consecutive losses to Brandon High School 34-0 and Riverview High School 42-10.

Football records by year:

• 2003-2004: 1-9 (First win came against Freedom High School)
• 2004-2005: 4-6
• 2005-2006: 4-6
• 2006-2007: 7-3 (Won first Homecoming Game vs. Plant City High School)
• 2007-2008: 5-5
• 2008-2009: 8-3 (Undefeated District Champions)

Gay-Straight Alliance

In 2005, a group of students attempting to establish a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club met resistance from concerned parents.^[2] The principal decided to allow the club to be created, but required parental permission before a student could join. Since no other club faced the same restriction, members of the ACLU saw it as an undue requirement in violation of the Equal Access Act. At the same time, the compromise did not satisfy the parents who opposed the formation of the club either.^[3] This controversial compromise has led to the school board's involvement in determining whether to mandate parental permission for all clubs at all area schools or not.^[4][5] The case of parental permission slips for student clubs was eventually brought before the Hillsborough County School Board on December 12, 2006. The Board rejected the proposed requirement of parental permission slips with a vote of 4-2.

Mu Alpha Theta

The school is also host to a branch of the national mathematics honor society, Mu Alpha Theta. Newsome High School participates in local math competitions at the University of South Florida and at other high schools in the area.^{[citation needed]}

Newsome Wolfpack Marching Band

The Newsome High school Marching Band travels throughout the Hillsborough school district and plays the varsity football team's half time show. The band competes in higher level competitions, as well, including FBA (Florida Bandmasters Association), Bands of America (BOA)and Florida Marching Band Competition (FMBC). Greg Basham was the Band Director from the year 2006-2009. Now, the band is under the direction of Chris Allen and Christian Finch. 2010's show, "Genius," highlighted the geniuses throughout the ages including tunes composed by Beethoven.

Newsome Wolf Tracks Newspaper

The Newsome Wolf Tracks is an independently-funded student newspaper. All of the articles featured on here reflect the opinions of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect any persons or officials associated with Newsome High School itself. Their mission is to gather news efficiently and accurately report it to the public; "Our journalists seek truth and report it."

2011-2012 Staff:

Bree Cullen: Co-Editor-in-Chief Tori Lawhorn: Co-Editor-in-Chief

Celeste Brown: News Editor

Taylor Gaines: Sports Editor

Ceara Killian: Op-Ed Editor

Megg Rowjohn: Layout Editor

Audrey Zipperer: Photography Editor

Sierra Zaner: Photography Reporter

Junior Staff: To be announced

Adviser: Montine Vona-Pergola

Principal: Rebecca Fitzgerald

References

1. ^ Newsome gets marqueed by developer - Osprey Observer, Vol. 3, Issue 3; March 2004.
2. ^ Parents: School no place for gay issues - St. Petersburg Times, September 13, 2005.
3. ^ Gay-straight group forms at high school - St. Petersburg Times, September 15, 2005.
4. ^ New rules on clubs at school delayed - St. Petersburg Times, August 16, 2006.
5. ^ Should Students Get Parents' OK To Join Clubs? - Tampa Tribune, August 16, 2005.

External links

Official sites

• Joe E. Newsome High School website
• Old Joe E. Newsome High School website
• Newsome Sports website
• Newsome High School Parent Teacher Student Association
• Newsome High School Band
• Newsome Chorus