NEW TEAM NAME: EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES

It is official…..Go East Hamilton Hurricanes! The team name for the new middle/high school serving the Apison / East Brainerd / Ooltewah area was selected using a web-poll which ended on July 25, 2008. By accessing the school website, www.easthamilton.com/school, community members could vote for their favorite out of 3 choices. In a hot contest, East Hamilton Hurricanes won by 597 votes. (Blazers – 63, Hurricanes – 1407, Knights – 810) Pam Dantzler and the USS group want to thank everyone for participating with such enthusiasm. With 2280 votes, it is clear that many students and community members have now made the school their own.

“We are the first new 6-12 school built in the East Brainerd/Ooltewah area in 30 years. Because of that we needed to have a team name unlike any other school and also unlike schools previously, to select it via web-poll is quite unique,” according to Pam Dantzler, Principal.

Along with the announcement of the new team name, Ms. Dantzler would like the community to know that she has selected the first Assistant Principal for East Hamilton. Mr. Robert Brittingham will join the team focusing on grades 9-12. Mr. Brittingham brings with him a wealth of experience in education, as well as solid relationships with the community. He has worked in the Hamilton County School System for 20 years in various teaching and administrative capacities. His most recent role has been as the Instructional Technology Coordinator for the HCDE. For a more in-depth look at Mr. Brittingham and Ms. Dantzler’s careers leading up to their leadership of East Hamilton Middle and High School, log onto the school website at www.easthamilton.com/school.

When asked how Mr. Brittingham felt about the new team name, he replied, “I am pleased that the community had the opportunity to voice its opinion. It is easy to see the connection with Hurricane Creek predominately forging its mark through the school property. A hurricane is making its way to the East Brainerd Community, and I anxiously await its landfall in August 2009. Go Canes!”

A Hurricane Fundraising Party will take place September 6, 2008 in the Council Fire Clubhouse. Tickets are now on sale. Please contact DeAnn Rauth at 899-4933 or check our website for more information on ticket purchase. To make a donation or to volunteer your time, please contact Curtis Smith at 423-596-4457, Scott Gentry at 423-320-2995 or Mechelle Forgani at 423-490-0620.