Williamsburg Ind. Director of Instruction,
Loren Connell, heading into retirement
By Kristy Stewart Faculty Advisor
Williamsburg Independent School prides itself on tradition and Jacket Pride. The name Loren Connell exemplifies those two things. The tradition started with Loren Connell’s father, Jerry Connell, who started school at Williamsburg in 1945. Loren Connell, himself attended Williamsburg from 1974-1987. His wife Paula Connell, taught at Williamsburg Independent School District until her retirement in 2022. His daughter, Kelsey Connell, is also a Williamsburg graduate.
Connell attended Cumberland College for his undergraduate degree, obtained his Rank I from Union College, and his superintendent certification from the University of the Cumberlands.
His interest in coaching brought him back to Williamsburg Independent School District where he started his career teaching business/computer and math classes. He has held an array of coaching positions during his 28 year stint at Williamsburg including: girls middle school basketball head coach (three years), girls high school assistant basketball coach (three years) , boys assistant basketball coach (six years), assistant high school baseball coach (five years), and head high school Baseball Coach (six years).
Mr. Connell stepped out of the classroom in January 2003 to fulfill the role of director of instruction. He has remained in this position for the last 21 years. During this time, he has been under various leaders and seen a lot of changes take place in our school district. He has had a major role in the success our school has seen in not only instruction and state testing, but as of late, finance.
In interviewing Mr. Connell for this article, I am reminded of the wealth of knowledge he encompasses about our school system, the traditions, the successes, and what makes our school the “ small school on the hill with big success.”
Connell does not take the role of being a “Jacket” lightly. When asked what being a Jacket means to him, he simply stated, “Representing the Williamsburg community in the best light possible.”
Connell took me on a journey through his time at Williamsburg, recalling his favorite memory from being a student as being region runnerup in basketball in 1987. Flash forward a few years, his favorite memory as a staff member was meeting his beautiful wife, Paula, while teaching together here at Williamsburg.
He absolutely loves the fact that through his tenure at Williamsburg, he has seen our small school make it to two sate football championships and the Sweet 16 in boys basketball.
Connell looks forward to retirement and spending time with his family. He also would like to go back to work in some capacity that may not include the educational field. His parting words show us his true Jacket roots: “Be proud to be from a small community school district that has had the success that Williamsburg has had.”
As Connell steps into retirement on June 30, our school system will greatly miss him but we are so thankful for the legacy that he and the Connell family have left behind.
Thank you Mr. Connell for your 28 years of service at Williamsburg Independent School. We know that even in retirement you will continue to cheer on the Jackets!
We all know the real way to a person’s heart is through food, but no one knows that better than our beloved cafeteria staff. They spend hours a day doing thankless work, all for the benefit of making us smile. Even when students volunteer to help, they never use that as an opportunity to get the rest they so rightly deserve. They are right there alongside students, working tirelessly to make us smile. Always ready to listen when we feel bad, give us a little extra orange chicken, or maybe just give us a hug that some of us can never get anywhere else, the cafeteria staff truly are pricelessly valuable to Williamsburg.
I’m very, very confident in saying they are endlessly loved by all of us
students. Specifically, Deb Tamlin has worked at WISD for seven years. Throughout her time here at Williamsburg, she has touched countless lives and made an impact on so many students. One of her favorite memories at WISD is watching her granddaughter walk with the seniors! In fact, if you ask Mrs. Deb what it means to be a Jacket, she would quickly tell you that it means EVERYTHING.
“ It means a great school with a big heart and being part of a big family” Mrs. Deb will truly be missed at Williamsburg. Congratulations on retirement- We wish you all the best!
For our other spotlight, look no further than our preschool to fifthgrade classrooms as they strive to lift one another to pursue a learning goal.
While there are quite a few students who have been given this title, this does not diminish the quality of the commitment they have made towards education. Mr. Moses has quite an extensive list of students from the past months who have been recognized as star students.
To the readers unaware of the Star Student Award, it is an award determined by a student’s work ethic, attitude in class, and willingness to learn disciplines that will be crucial in the later years of their academic careers.
I feel that every one of the students on this list deserves recognition, and there will be many more star students who have yet to be uncovered. Still, as the years progress and these students develop their skills much more thoroughly, they will genuinely develop into star students.
Finally, to those students who find themselves struggling, view failure as a learning experience and utilize resources around you, such as peers and teachers, and remember, even the inventor of the light bulb failed 10,000 times before he could perfect it.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”Thomas Edison.
Photos provided FAMILY TRADITION: Loren Connell and his family have been embedded in the fabric of Williamsburg Independent School for quite some time.
LEFT: Connell (right) poses with his father, Jerry (left), and daughter, Kelsey (middle), both of whom also attended WIS. ABOVE: Connell celebrates Kelsey’s graduation with her and his wife, Paula (middle) in 2020.
TAMLIN
By Elijah Muse & Kristy Stewart Student Editor Faculty Advisor
What’s the Buzz?
highlighting current events around the school
By Caleb Nichols Writer/Photographer
May 23rd, 24th, and 25th are going to be days worth a mark on your calendar!
Our school is hosting a play adaptation of one of Walt Disney’s classic musicals: Mary Poppins. This play will include songs like “Chim-Chim-Cherre,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Feed the Birds.”
Our school’s amazing students have volunteered time after school to make this play a reality. This play will include singing, dancing, acting, set design, prop design and more.
Jonathan Wyatt (more commonly known as Mr. Wyatt) has worked hard to make this play become a reality. As said by Mr. Wyatt: “The storyline of the
play is simply this: Family first.”
“Each character develops in the story and draws closer to one another...but I don’t want to spoil the ending,” Wyatt said.
Family is important, this play will bring a group of actors, staff members, and an audience together to show the amazing jacket family that our school is lucky to have.
Zaden Housekeeper will be acting the role of Bert and has joined us for a question and answer session for this issue’s edition of ‘What’s the buzz?’
What are some of the traits you exhibit as a character, Bert?
The traits that I have for the character Bert [are] fun and goofy. He is the party that everyone wants to be around.
Then & Now
ABOVE: A view of Ralph Prewitt/Finley Legion Field at Rose-Stanfill Stadium as it look in July 2022. BELOW: A view of preliminary work going on at the field as of early May 2024. BOTTOM: A rendering of what the field and the facilities around it will look like once the full renovation is complete. The first phase is expected to be done this summer, with the second to begin after the 2024 football season.
What is Bert’s attitude?
Bert’s attitude is that everyone needs to look at things from a little higher up and they need to see that [their] problems are not as big as they think they might seem.
How does Bert act?
The way that Bert acts is he is very fun loving and he is trying to work and keep the city of London in good spirits.
What do you personally want to see in the play? I personally want to see everyone working together on stage to produce a great show.
Mark your calendars. You won’t want to miss it!
A C thlete ’ s orner
By Lorelei Coleman Writer
You’ve seen them on the field or court, now get to know them a little better off of it. Athlete’s Corner offers a brief look at a particular team and player, by highlighting their recent achievements and looking at their future goals.
Track Girls - Heidi Wiles is a junior runner for the track team. She also plays volleyball and is on the cheer team. She is currently in track season, where she competes in pole vault, triple jump, long jump, 4X1, and 100. Out of these events, she has set a personal record in triple jump, jumping 28.9 feet. Among all these successes, she hopes to improve in pole vaulting this year, as well as ranking in the state meet. With the goals for the team, she said, “I want the team to get the region title again.” As the season continues watch Wiles and her team’s improvements as the region meet nears.
Boys - Peyton Hamilton is a sophomore runner for the boy’s track team. Along with track, he plays basketball and football. For the track team, Hamilton runs the 300-meter hurdles, 110-meter hurdles, and 4X1. He is currently ranked first in the region for the 300-meter hurdles and 110-meter hurdles and has recently set personal records in both events with a time of 17.2 seconds in the 110 and 43.2 in the 300-meter hurdles. When asked about his goals for the season, he said, “I want to win region, I want to go to state and get top five.” As the season continues watch Hamilton and the boys track team as the region meet nears.
Baseball
Henry Bowling is a sophomore on the baseball and plays basketball. He is in the top 25 ranking for batting average in the state of Kentucky, with batting average of .480. He pitched 11 innings and has struck out 19 batters. When asked about the season, he said, “The season is going well. We’ve lost some games, but I think it’s just our youth playing a role. But I see us being much more improved by May.” He was also asked about the new coach Patrick Brennen, where he said, “I like him. He has been around the game for a long time, he’s always positive, and he makes us better every day.” Overall, Bowling is hoping to improve as a team this year and get some wins.
Softball
Allie Wilson is a senior for the softball team, and plays basketball and is committed to play for the University of the Cumberland’s basketball team. In softball she is a pitcher and within 9 games has had 36 strike outs. Her batting percentage is a .314 with an on base percentage of .478. When asked how the season was going, she said’, “We’re struggling some right now. We played South Laurel last night and hit the ball really well against them and I think if we continue to hit like that the rest of the season, we could be able to turn it around and make some district play.” Then Wilson was asked about softball over the years, and she said, “It’s been really fun. I’ve enjoyed all friendships I’ve made over the years, all the bonds with coaches, I’ve had a blast and am sad to see it end.” As the season continues, watch Wilson and the softball team continue to make major improvements on the way to the district tournament.
A special thanks to WIS administrators from staff of “The Buzz”
This year Williamsburg has had the opportunity to witness a first in its history of administration: the first female superintendent. Tabetha Housekeeper has risen to the challenge of superintendent and given our school a new sense of what it means to be a Williamsburg Yellow Jacket. Together, Mrs. Housekeeper and Principal, Mr.
PHONE: (606) 549-6044 FAX: 606) 549-6015
Marc Taylor (a dynamic duo in the making) have worked endlessly to renew and revive Williamsburg’s sense of tradition and excellence. It is clear that our students and faculty are at the heart of their mission. Please join “The Buzz” in celebrating our two fearless leaders: Congrats on a year well-done!
School groups, clubs provide growing experiences and lasting memories
By Jacob Durham Writer
As the school year comes to a close, I wanted to reflect on some of the time spent in extracurricular activities at school.
BAND
Pride and passion are essential qualities of a Williamsburg Yellow Jacket, and these qualities are embodied and exemplified by our band program.
Being part of the Jacket Band means being part of a family. It requires hard work, critical thinking skills, and a lot of self-discipline.
In the band room, we practice hard to produce a performance that we can be proud of. As a long-standing member of the Jacket Band and current drum major, I can confidently say that working with the school’s band program has given me countless lifelong memories and opportunities for self-improvement.
Being part of the Jacket Band means more than just attending rehearsals, practicing, and performing. It’s about growing together, facing obstacles head-on, and pushing our limits. It teaches us the value of teamwork, ded-
ication, and the pursuit of excellence.
As a dedicated member for many years, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative energy of this program. It’s a journey of musical and personal development, where every practice, every note, and every performance contributes to both our collective and individual growth.
There are memories that I and many others have made within the walls of the band room that I have full confidence in saying are absolutely priceless. Such memories have created relationships that extend far beyond the four walls of that room.
Reflecting on my time with the Jacket Band, I am overcome with gratitude, and I can always proudly tell people with a smile on my face that I will forever be a part of history as a member of the Williamsburg Jacket Band.
CHOIR
No discussion of Jacket Pride would be complete without talking about our school’s choir. This ensemble stands as a shining beacon, not just for its musical achievements, but as a testament to our school’s spirit. It offers a unique
platform for individuals to showcase their talent, fostering an environment where passion for music and personal growth go hand in hand.
The harmonies produced by our choir reach far beyond the ears of the crowd of whomever they may be performing to; by expressing emotion through performance, they are able to touch the hearts and souls of our community.
DECA
The growth our DECA program has experienced this year has been nothing short of remarkable.
We have seen an astonishing growth rate of 112 percent, which has propelled our school to the fourth position in terms of growth across the entire state of Kentucky. As the president of our school’s DECA program, my pride in what we have accomplished this year knows no bounds.
Our focus has been on sharpening our competitive business and marketing skills, which paid off handsomely when several of our chapter members not only competed in but also placed at a prestigious state-level competition held in Louisville, Kentucky.
DECA has proven itself to be an
extraordinary platform for students to immerse themselves in the real world of business, offering a unique blend of learning and competition. Through participation in DECA, students gain invaluable firsthand experience in business and marketing, preparing them for future success in these fields.
Moreover, DECA opens up a world of opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and fun. It’s not just about the competitions; it’s about building a community of likeminded individuals who are passionate about business and eager to learn from each other.
The success of our program this year is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent of our members. It’s also a reflection of the incredible support we’ve received from our school and community. As we look to the future, we are excited about the potential for even greater achievements and the chance to inspire more students to explore the world of business through DECA. There’s no limit to what we can accomplish together, and we’re just getting started on this exciting journey.
LittLe Jacket Square
Q&A with this year’s graduates
Q&A with this year’s graduates Q&A with this year’s graduates
As this year’s senior class departs Williamsburg High School for the next chapter of their lives, they were asked to both reflect on their time in school and their thoughts on the future.
Seniors who were polled were asked the following questions:
1. What are your future goals?
2. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
3. What does being a Jacket mean to you?
4. What is your favorite memory at WHS?
5. What is a lesson that you wish you would’ve known sooner?
Of the seniors who answered, their names and responses are as follows:
Robert Rains
1. To have a family I can provide for.
2. Starting a family.
3. I’m not sure, to be honest.
4. Hanging with my friends.
5. Time really does fly by.
Jasmine Stephens
1. To go to SCC and major as a medical assistant.
2. Working at a hospital and getting good pay to support my family.
3. To have pride.
4. Playing high school softball and singing in choir.
5. That it’s okay to fail, just work on it and learn from it and try again.
Devon Cox
1. Go to SCC and become an electrician.
2. To have my own company
3. The love and the family that was created by my time being here.
4. Football.
5. Everything from freshman year.
Allison Creekmore
1. Attend UK and study kinesiology.
2. Hopefully working as a physical therapy with a happy family.
3. It means to me always having someone beside your side, whether you realize it or not.
4. Having to play dizzy bat in jacket games my junior year because no one else would and ripping two holes in my legging because I fell into the finish line.
5. Not everyone is meant to stay in your life forever sometimes they are just meant to be there when you needed them most.
Hunter Thomas
1. To attend University of the Cumberlands and major in physical education!
2. In ten years I see myself with a job and hopefully married.
3. Being a jacket means going above and beyond for your school, always supporting, and never giving up on the little school with big success!
4. My favorite memory at WHS is Friday night lights!
5. Do not be afraid to be yourself!
Riley Hayes
1. I want to graduate college, get a job, get established in my career, and eventually travel.
2. On the road in a Winnebago.
3. It means I attend this school.
4. Getting to graduate.
5. I wish I would’ve known that the only person whose opinion should matter to me is my own.
Christopher Cox
1. To design paint schemes for nascar stock cars.
2. Working for Joe Gibbs racing designing paint schemes for their xfinity and cup cars.
3. Having respect.
4. Beating #6 In the state after believing our season was over.
5. Be respectful to others even if we disagree.
Emily Braxton
1. In college and my dream job.
2. In a big house with my baby, richhhh!
3. Means loyalty to my school family.
4. Jacket games.
5. That not everyone is bad and to not trust everyone you’re friends with.
Lizzy Paulotto
1. Go to college in Bologna, Italy and study humanistic subject.
2. Traveling, either alone and with friends. Probably about to get into my career but still exploring the world.
3. An opportunity to be welcome in a little community.
4. Volleyball pep rally.
5. Don’t mind others people opinion.
Emaly Powers
1. To get my bachelors for UC in prevet then go to LMU for doctor.
2. With my own clinic and a family
3. N/A.
4. Doing sports.
5. To save more money.
Zachary Mulkey
1. I plan to go to college and hope later in life become a full-time astronomer.
2. At college.
3. Being a jacket means being a part of a family and friends at Williamsburg.
4. My favorite memory has to be jacket games.
5. Always keep pushing even if you’re already winning.
Charlie Nantz
1. To have an enjoyable life.
2. Probably working on computers in a shop. Or playing video games professionally.
3. It means that the people I’ve gone to school with are like family.
4. All the times I’ve been with Zach Mulkey and Zackaries Autenrieb.
5. Don’t neglect your classes.
Isabelle Moses
1. I wish to go to college for theater arts and work on being a tattoo artist.
2. In a tattoo parlor with a successful career.
3. Band.
4. Zachary Shannon. I don’t exactly remember just one thing. But anything with Mr. Shannon was great.
5. Don’t be the second choice in someone else’s book. Instead write your own.
Max Rose
1. My future goals are to have a job that I enjoy, a family, and a huge garden.
2. Sitting on my couch with a cup of coffee and my woman and two cats.
3. Being prideful that I am from a small school that accomplishes big things.
4. My favorite memory at WHS is when Mrs. Smith gave me her mocha pot in the hallway.
5. Putting assignments off til the last
minute is not a smart move to make.
Elijah Muse
1. I want to go to college, pursue a bachelor’s in business management, and become management for a successful business.
2. I see myself with a bachelor’s degree, potentially two bachelor’s degrees or one master’s degree, in a steady job with consistent hours.
3. To me, being a Jacket falls along the lines of pushing the limit to what we can do, every obstacle should be seen as an opportunity to create our own unique solution.
4. My favorite memory with WHS comes from last year, as the students in the Gifted and Talented program were given the opportunity to visit King’s Island.
5. I wish I had known more about dual credit. I also wish I had known to apply myself much more than I had been willing to accept, which would have increased my GPA much higher and given me the opportunity to explore more scholarships and academic programs.
Adam Fritts
1. My future goals are to attend college for networking and IT.
2. I honestly don’t know where I see myself in 10 years.
3. What it means to be a Jacket, is to be very high spirited when it comes to sporting events and being kind to others.
4. Going on the Senior trip was my favorite memory.
5. A lesson I wished I learn that try more sports sooner and not wait the last minute to do it.
Jacob Durham
1. To be a successful high school English teacher or college professor.
2. I will probably be getting myself settled into a teaching job after college.
3. To me, being a jacket is possessing the ability to be prideful and humble, to know and exceed expectations, and to impose higher standards for oneself than what.
4. Being at Arlington National Cemetery with my friends on the senior trip.
5. If you ever find yourself questioning why you are doing something, ask yourself who is this for? And is it worth it?
WILLIAMSBURG HIGH SCHOOL 2024 SENIOR CLASS
Aeriel Aker
Timothy Chappell
Maggi
Lizzy