Name: Dave Krikac ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Nov 29, 2006, 6:36 am - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Franklin, TN
E-mail
Message: Hey John & All.....Yep I met George Gates (LHS62) for coffee and had a GREAT time talking about life and growing up-he is a faithful and good friend. Ya know the OLDER I get the MORE I appreciate the fact that I even have friends. Ya know the ones that stick with you thick or thin thru all the Ca Ca....and the Good Times, We are SO very blessed to have friends and THAT is why it is SO important to INVEST in those relationships, HERE is a great way to do that.....Thanks again John for providing a place to connect and stay connected. My WHOLE family logs in and keeps in touch. Let me start the Merry Christmas wishes early...Merry Christmas Cougs. A Cougar Challenge.....This holiday season, commit to at least ONE randon act of kindness, buy that guy or gal a drink who is in the drive thru behind you....it will change your life.....OOh UnGOWA....Cougars got the POWER.....Hey John: You are blessed to have a good friend in Gates.

Name: Mary ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Nov 29, 2006, 12:26 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Rose
Class: 1970
City & State: Grants Pass, OR
No E-mail
Message: I just heard on the news that a Roger Rouse age 53 from Bend Oregon and his 29 yr old son were badly injured in a snowboarding accident, does anyone know if that is our Roger Rouse class of 1971? If so, our prayers are with them and anyone with updates please post.

Name: Arthur (Art) La Mere ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 8:30 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Bettendorf Ia
No E-mail
Message: Clark point well said I would love to join the Alumni Association for HHS. I may not live in Hawthorne or even in the state however it's my past the old stomping ground for a long time So keep us posted and I will do what I can. Happy hoildays to allArt

Name: Jay Beebe ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 7:51 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1978
City & State: Bell Buckle Tennesse
E-mail
Message: Im proud to see that HHS spirit is still there! It takes people who care to make a change for the better.

Name: Dennis Kilroy ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 7:50 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: hhs77.com
Class: 1977
City & State: OC CA
E-mail
Message: Hey Clark,sign me up !You can be our first President.Dennis

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 7:20 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Kona, HI
E-mail
Message: I agree with Clark. First meeting in Hawaii. We have a nice Luau.

Name: Clark ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 5:09 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Torrance, CA
E-mail
Message: Sharon, Let's lay the gauntlet all the way down! Let's do what we all know is necessary. It's time for an HHS alumni Association. We could meet three or four times a year so as not to be a burden on busy folks like yourself and address the ways we as alumni can help HHS. The principal, Joyce Bramlett, told me we can use the new cafeteria for our meetings with a little advance notice. Cougartown is an excellent tool to help get it rolling and it's time for all of us to "Put up or shut up!" We've all talked about wanting to help the school so let's organize and put the resources of the alumnae to good use! Many successful high schools in Southern Cal have very strong Alumni Associations and it's time for us to do it too.

Name: Jodi Weishaar ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 3:16 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Wilbanks
Class: 1976
City & State: Hawthorne, CA
E-mail
Message: All I can say is WOW! By reading all the feedback for the past few weeks it looks like I'm the only HHS Alumni that has a child that is actually attending HHS. So here, let me speak out about what's going on at HHS - Current Day - No, there have been no "race riots" at the school since the year 2000. No, the teachers are not to be blamed for all the students problems. Hawthorne still has many well educated, caring and concerned teachers. Yes, their new Principal is wonderful! Yes, there is tutoring after school for those who need it. And I definitely had no problem with sending my children to HHS! Every school has problems, it just depends on where they are located as to what their problems are. And why would I send my child to a school where there are no issues? Life isn't that way...you won't get along with everyone you meet and not everyone you meet or deal with in life will have earned a GPA of 4.0 or higher. I have been involved with HHS for the past 7 years. My daughter was in the class of 2004 and my son is in the class of 2007. I know that as a parent I can call any one of my son's teachers at any time with any concerns I may have. Both kids were/are athletes; my daughter played Varsity Soccer for 4 years and my son is on the Varsity Baseball Team. With both of my kids the coaches also had/have a "study hall" after school when needed. During the time my daughter was playing soccer I was asked by the Athletic Director if I could coach the girls soccer team. If I didn't have a full time job I would have done it in a heartbeat! Just about every Saturday you can find me sitting in the bleachers at HHS watching my son's Winterball games for Baseball. In 7 years I haven't missed a game that either of my kids played in! So, in conclusion.....my daughter graduated from HHS with a 3.3 GPA and is currently in her 3rd year at Cal State Dominguez Hill working on her Teaching Credential and Bachelors Degree and working for the Hawthorne School District as an Instructional Aide; all because HHS teachers told her she could make a difference. My son will most likely be working on an Internship at Northrop Grumman this summer in the Manufacturing Technology program because his Metal Shop teacher thinks he has the potential to do great things with his ability. So, anyone who tells me that HHS is a terrible, unsafe, uncaring school with teachers that don't care about the students hasn't really payed close attention to what goes on behind those "horrible fences" that encompass the school. So Dale, if you need help with anything you are planning on doing for the school, give me a call, I'll be there in a heartbeat! Sharon, sign me up for a donation! Trust me, they can use it! During the past 7 years I have donated to both the girls soccer team and boys baseball team so they could get new uniforms, new equipment, busses for tournaments, etc. So, now that I have said my peace I have only this to say: I am and always will be a proud supporter of HHS! My mom was a member of the class of 54, my husband and I were the class of 76, and my kids are 04 and 07....GO COUGARS!!!

Name: Walter Holt ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 1:38 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Surf City, CA
E-mail
Message: Hey John, what happened to "No Name No Post"? Fellow Cougs, If you have something to say, how about saying it without making derogatory inferences of the rest of us that you do not share the same opinions. I think that is what riles us the most or at least it does me. Also be proud enough of yourself to put your name on what you post like the rest of us do. Haytown Kid, Your concerns are very valid and are the concerns the vast majority of us have with the schools in our current cities we reside in too, not just HHS. As for ass beatings, well I hate to tell you even back in the 60's you could get into fights for the very same reasons and yes your friends and their friends would be there too. So feel what you want, say what you want but don't knock us for still caring about our Alma Mater even if we don't live there anymore.

Name: Michael Kratz ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 12:06 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Wolfman
Class: 1971
City & State: Vegas
E-mail
Message: Never being a parent, I can't answer the Question what school is good for your children. Of course there are better schools out there. And I think kids are very resilient. So for all you parents out there, I think everything will work it's natural way. But I can say, for those of you who are off your MEDS and or had too much to drink. I do believe there is another FORUM for your rhetoric.

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 10:41 am - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Kona, HI
E-mail
Message: Well I see we have someone who feels a little like I do about HHS now. But, let me clear up something. I have supported HHS even after I graduated. WHen working on Dynasty and needing football uniforms I connected the wardrobe department with the athletic department at HHS and they their football uniforms in the show and paid HHS I thnk $1,200. I later went there and put on what the Principal and Vice Principal said to be the best school activity during hours that they have ever had (an armwrestling tournament). I later went on and participated in a few Career Days. SO I have supported HHS. In fact I would think it would be great if others did the same thing from Cougartown. I thnk Eddie Braun also participated in Career Day. We have allot of successful people on Cougartown and the kids there would love to hear from you. Maybe someone there can hook that up. When the kids see success stories it gives them drive.

Name: Loretta Cuiper ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Nov 28, 2006, 12:17 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Morelli
Class: 1962
City & State: Hawthorne, Ca
E-mail
Message: This Italian is steaming!!! I respect that we all have the right to write or say what is on our minds. What I don't understand is you take a negative and make it larger than it is, sure there are problems at HHS, but you think it's not at other schools in the area, I think Yes, there is!!! I won't even go into that because most of us who still live in Hawthorne know of the problems of other schools, and even those who live in another area, they know what problems their schools are having, it's not only here, it's all over. The fact is, we have many students at HHS who are working very hard to make those grades. Alot have made it to big colleges and alot will be going to great school this coming year and the future HHS Grads and the only way you can do that is by the school offering you the classes, which they DO, most of all the students bring up their grades AND THEY HAVE, and DON'T FORGET our football boys all worked very hard to stay on the team and they had to keep their grades up or out they went. If there is so much harassing going on at the school, then why has not the new principal been told, or school administration. There just might be this type of problem at HHS, but I don't believe the whole school could be involved, maybe those trouble maker's. It really is too bad that some can not see the positive side, see the accomplishments. If there is a problem with harassments, fighting or what ever you see that you don't like, then go tell someone, like make yourself present at the school board meeting, put your complaint in, let them know, how else is our school administration going to know and even if they know, don't you think if more parents are aware of what is going on and they get involved, dont' you think the school administration/Board will really work and make it better. Also, how else is HHS going to be safe, especially if you sit there, know what is happening, and do nothing about it! Get in there get involved!!! John, Thanks for letting me put my two cents in on this ongoing subject........ALWAYS A COUG...

Name: Sharon Branigan ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Nov 27, 2006, 11:09 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1976
City & State: Thousand Oaks, CA
E-mail
Message: Well of course, I doubt we'll change the world, but we might make things a little better for a few of the kids at HHS. You're right, I didn't stay in Hawthorne, and didn't send my child to HHS, but to be fair, I've homeschooled him for 7 years. He hasn't been in ANY school. I'm sorry things have become so bad. I hear stories of bad stuff happening at our highly regarded schools here in whitebread land, too. But since I can't physically volunteer at HHS, the next best thing I CAN do is support the folks who ARE there trying to make a difference. So, I still think it's a GREAT idea to light a charitable fire under we older Cougs. It's not like we're asking for an arm and a leg, but collectively, I believe we CAN make a difference. So again, I challenge you ALL, write that check now, and as soon as the list of eligible organizations is posted, mail your donations in. Most of us have prospered quite well enough to afford this little bit of selflessness. And after all, 'tis the season.

Name: Dan Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Nov 27, 2006, 8:34 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: Sherman Oaks
E-mail
Message: My nieces graduated HHS in '92, '96 and '00. There were problems but nothing insurmountable. I don't think they suffered one bit from having attended Hawthorne instead of El Segundo, etc. On the other hand, they went to Hawthorne when the sports teams were good so perhaps athletic success is a panacea after all ;-)

Name: none reqd ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Nov 27, 2006, 5:32 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Hawthorne, CA
No E-mail
Message: Mr Baker - a few minutes a go I posted an "anonymous" rant about not sending my kids to HHS. After I put my vino down and rethought the whole thing, Mom's "If you cant say anything nice" echo hit me (like it has so many times in the past) and I figured that I had better ask you to not add my post to your feedback page. Not that I dont mean every word of it - just that I would rather not p-ss in anyones Post Toasties. Folks that come here are doing so to feel good - guess its not my place to bring them down. Thanks for the awesome website and I promise - in the future I will stick to reading and not posting :)

Name: Britt Stonebraker ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Nov 27, 2006, 5:18 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1978
City & State: San Marcos CA
E-mail
Message: Ecclesiastes is always a good "whats all about?" read. Soloman is the writer. He was purdy wise and rich. Happy is he who has little worries!

Name: Haytown Kid ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Nov 27, 2006, 4:58 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Hawthorne, CA
E-mail
Message: Okay, so this wont make the feedback page, and it sure wont make me very popular with the ?GO HHS!? crowd, but I have to get it off my chest. When I read posts from the "cheerleaders" that suggest that I be true to my school, or that I support my hometown, or that I volunteer to make things better, I have to laugh - especially when I look at the addresses of those that are asking me to support good ol' Hawthorne, and see that these folks are now living in Corona or Seal Beach or Torrance. Heres the facts - pay them all the lip service you want, but here they are - you walk into the wrong bathroom at the wrong time at our grand old alma mater, and you will get your ass beaten. If you look at the wrong people the wrong way, they will be waiting with their friends for you on the walk home and you will get your ass beaten. If you wear the wrong colors to the basketball game, you will get your ass beaten. And those ARE the facts. These facts were gathered, not from my dusty memories of how great HHS was 35 years ago, but from talking to kids and parents of kids that have attended HHS in the past several years. Bottom line - HHS is an unsafe and substandard school these days. This isn?t to say that HHS cannot once more be a great school. Maybe it can. But guess what? That isn?t going to happen at the expense of MY kids attending HHS. You want it to be better here? Pull YOUR kids out of Corona HS, Seal Beach HS, West HS, etc and send them over to HHS. Come over with them and be the parents that make the difference and who return HHS to its glory days. My kids wont go to HHS, and if I cant permit them into Costa or Gundo or West, then I will sell my house in Hawthorne and move into one of those districts. Because when they attend any one of those schools, they are getting the educational and social experience that WE got when we attended HHS so many years ago. And that, like it or not, is how high school should be. I?m sure its quite easy to be idealistic when your kids are tucked safely away and are getting (or have gotten) a decent education. It?s a whole lot tougher to live here and to have to be realistic and to pull your kids away from their friends so that they can enjoy their teenage years in a safe learning environment. One other point ? this is NOT a racial thing ? I happen to be white, but Hispanic and Black parents that I know have the same slogan ? ?If you care, your kids go elsewhere.? And that is the view from a proud HHS graduate / Hawthorne resident.