Another Weekend History

Another high school weekend is behind us.  Whatever the facts, memories, myths and legends are set.  That doesn't mean the filter of age won't change them, but for the moment there are some elements we will remember and retell in common.

Thank you to the Southwest Athletic Department and the Southwest Foundation for stadium lights for evening games Friday and Saturday.  I guess South is looking to rent lights for a football game in a couple weeks.  I think that's a great compliment to the changing views of the city at night.

Athletics, sports and clubs are very important events in a high school experience. Me know that students connected and involved in school activities attend school more regularly, achieve higher academic scores, graduate and enroll in colleges.  The statistics support the idea that these activities are economically important and build community strength.

Stadium lights - in fact stadiums - are the current rage.  The Twin Cities are slated to build three new.  One is now a couple years old.  A not so old hockey stadium and we all can see a new Target Center in the making.  So I guess it is natural that drift is way to high schools.  But at what cost?

The new Washburn Soccer/Football field is gorgeous.  The addition of lights at Roosevelt several years ago did not meet expectations.  Does the school system need seven fantastic facilities?  Is the greatest need at Southwest stadium lights.

Should the school system be looking to the future and think about one great stadium, one wonderful ice rink, a fantastic field house, tremendous ball fields and an awesome aquatics facility?  One can only spend money once.  Our children are our future and without a doubt we are not investing in them or our own future the way we should.  Are we having the right conversations?  Are we exploring options for the best future?  Or are we taking the easy way out and settling for second or third best?

We start week six of a great year.  We are now 1/8th finished with this one.

Southwest Club and Activity News

Yoga Club


Yoga club will meet Wednesday from 3:15 to 4:15 in the dance studio. It is free and meets every Wednesday that school is in session. Bring a mat if you have one.

Southwest Robotics Team

The Southwest Robotics Team meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school in Room 9 (Mr. Pearson’s room) from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. (ends in woodshop, room 11 by door 12). If you need more information, please email info@swrobotics.com. Parents of participating students should join the parents@swrobotics.com listserv for announcements.


Chess Team

The chess team is meeting every Wednesday after school in Room E101 until 4:30 pm. Anyone interested is welcome to stop by and learn how to play chess or get better. Mr. Fresco. See you there.



Green Team

The Southwest Green Team will have its next meeting on Monday, October 8, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in room E5. Guest speaker on healthy food canning & preservation. Fleece blankets will be made for the Crisis Nursery Center. For addtional information contact our Community Education office at 612-668-3100.



Southwest Study Buddies

The Southwest Community Ed. "Study Buddies"" will begin tutoring after school at Lake Harriet Upper Campus on Thursday, October 11. If you wish to tutor grade school children, stop by the Community Ed. office.

We need you for our Career Fair

Come To the Career Fair and represent your Career to Southwest Students!


We are very excited to invite you to participate in this fall’s Career Fair. The fair will be held in the West gym at Southwest High School on Tuesday, October 23rd from 8:00-10:30 am, including set up and take down time. We are looking for approximately 50 volunteers from a wide variety of career fields who are willing to share about their career, educational path, typical day, etc. with 9th and 10th graders in a fair-type setting. Volunteers will be provided with a 6 foot table and are invited to bring in “tools of the trade” for decoration or demonstration purposes (specifications on materials will be communicated to selected volunteers in a later email).

What? Southwest Career Fair

When? Tuesday October 23, 8:00- 10:30 including set up/take down time

Where? Southwest West Gym, 3414 W 47th Street Minneapolis, MN 55410

Who? Professionals from various fields in our community interested in investing in Southwest students’ career journeys

How? If you are interested and able to share your passion and knowledge with our students at this Career Fair, please complete the 2012 SWHS Career Fair Application to indicate your interest.

Please apply by Monday, October 1st. We will confirm your participation by Friday, October 12th.. Thank you so much for your interest and investment in Southwest students! Please contact Joan Leverenz with any questions or concerns: joan.leverenz@mpls.k12.mn.us 612-668-3072

Homecoming 2012 Sept 24 through the 29th

SPIRIT WEEK- Homecoming 2012


• Monday- Comic Day - Be a superhero! Or invent a new superhero! Wear a shirt, cape, or even superhero socks to dress up as a comic book character.

• Tuesday- Pattern Day - Clash patterns! Be adventurous, polka dots with stripes or tribal with plaid. Clashing and pattern are the words of the day.

• Wednesday- Sports Day - Rep your favorite Southwest sports team! Wear a jersey or a sporty outfit from a past team, university team, or professional team.

• Thursday-Classy Day - Impress your friends with how classy you can be!

• Friday- LAKER DAY!! - Let’s hear for the one the only Minneapolis Lakers! Go all out in your Southwest swag! Don’t be afraid to rep purple to the max!

Southwest Graduate Lizz Winstead - Writer for Daily Show

Lizz Winstead 1979 Southwest Graduate

As co-creator and former head writer of The Daily Show and Air America Radio co-founder, LIZZ WINSTEAD is one of the top political satirists in America. As a performer, LIZZ brought her political wit to

The Daily Show as a Correspondent and later to the radio waves co-hosting Unfiltered, Air America Radio’s mid morning show, where she brought on  board Hip Hop legend CHUCK D and political big brain RACHEL MADDOW.

LIZZ’S talents as a comedian and media visionary have been recognized by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly’s 100 most Creative People issue and has brought numerous television appearances, including Comedy Central Presents and as a regular contributor for MSNBC’s “The Ed Show” and “The Joy Behar Show.”

Most recently, Lizz wrote and produced an independent pilot of her Off-Broadway hit, “WAKE UP WORLD, a show Rachel Maddow called, “The funniest thing I have seen in years.”

Southwest Nathlalie on Stage!

 
Nathalie Young - best know to most SW students as Tracy Turnblad from Hairspray will be performing in a lead role in the upcoming Youth Performance Company's production of MEAN. The show is a play written for teen audiences about Bullying.

Written by Rita Cannon, Music & Lyrics by Kahlil Queen


September 28 – October 14, 2012

YPC tackles the tough subject of bullying and much more in this original drama, MEAN. We follow three students, a young woman being teased about her physical appearance, a young man being harassed for his sexual orientation, and a young Muslim woman being tormented by her peers because of her faith. With true-to-life dialogue and rock-infused music, this show brings audiences to their feet, and gets everyone ready to “Stand Up” against bullying.
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Aside from seeing Nathalie perform, the show has a powerful message for teens on a subject many deal with daily in on way or another

the link to Youth Performance Co's. website:

http://youthperformanceco.org/posts/mean/

Academics and Success

At Southwest this is the scene between classes.  That is about the only time between 6 am and 11 pm that you will not find kids in the halls.

They are in the wright room, media center,choir and band room, black box, auditorium and scattered throughout the halls studying alone and in groups.  All of that is before 8:30 am.

In the afternoon we have sstudents running to get/stay in shape, rehearsal for something, meeting with teachers for class make-up or extra support, all kinds of athletic practice and/or games depending on the season and community education classes.  After 3:30 pm it is possible to actually have as many or more people in the building than we have between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm.

This is an active building that serves its community and population well.  It is an academic institution where being smart is cool.  It is okay at Southwest to care of grades and getting to class on time and being prepared.  Almost all of our athletic teams have over a 3.5 GPA.  Some of the nicest kids you will meet sweat and practice and play hard.

Clubs and activities are filled with students gaining leadership skills, organization, community pride, service and a sense of belonging.  Not every one is a jock or cares to be.  We celebrate our commitment to our neighborhood, city and country.  We care of our world.  We cheer the successes of all of our students.

If you are part of the Southwest educational community you are active, proud and involved.  You are an important part of the resolve of the issues surrounding us now and in the future.  The leaders of tomorrow are in Southwest classrooms today.

We are Southwest!