Where did you go this summer Lakers?

Off to the far reaches of the world traveled the Southwest Lakers. Where did the winds take you? Email me pictures and stories of your summer adventures and I will share. Many are volunteering in all part of the globe. Others are learning about cultures and people. Many are enjoying friends and family. If it is downtown Minneapolis or out in the wilds of Peru, you have a story. Email the picture and stories. We are Southwest throughout the world.

Alumni Class Reunions

This is 2012 and that means the Alumni classes ending in 2 will be having a reunion.

Where are you?  What are the dates?  Who is the contact?  How can we help you?

I have some information about:
1952 the weekend of July 28 with a tour of Southwest
1962 the weekend of August 24 with a tour of Southwest
1992 August 18

Please email me information about:
1942
1972
1982
2002

Great classes!

1942 was the very first graduating class or Southwest High School!

Target Red Card benefits Southwest

Don't forget that your Target Red Card can benefit Southwest High School. But first you have to have a Target Red Card and second you have to designate Southwest High School as the recipient of the donation. Target donates a percentage of every purchase made by using that Red Card to your choice of school or organization. For incoming Class of 2016 students, you can change your destination on line or at your local Target store. You are going to buy the foods, personal items and home needs anyway. Target makes this opportunity available. Use your Target Red Card and benefit Souhwest!

Needed Host Families for student from China

Experience another exciting culture. Southwest is in need of families to host a student from China for. Year. The family must live in the Southwest attendance area. There is a stipend for the host family to support the student and student activities. If you are interested contact Mr.nTownnd or Dr. smith by email for more information. Southwest needs to identify the host families quickly in Oder for student to apply and come to the U.S.

Be a Southwest Host Family for Chinese Student

Learn and experience an ancient culture.  Host a foreign exchange student from China.  There are several students wanting to attend Southwest but need a host family (lives in the SWHS attendance area).  Each year several Southwest families gain life-long relationships with their exchange students and their families.

For more information on how you can host an exchange student from China contact:
Jonathan.townsend@mpls.k12.mn.us

SW - New, Exciting Electives for 2012-13

Greetings and Happy Summer! SWHS will be offering two additional semester electives open to grades 9-12 for the upcoming school year. Please review the descriptions of each course below. If these interest you, contact your counselor listed below by email and indicate that to them. These courses will then be entered into your course requests for the up coming school year.


Anatomy/Physiology Semester Long Elective Credit

Anatomy & Physiology is a one-semester science elective for students with an interest in health-related careers, as well as those interested in learning more about how the human body works. Students will study the structure and function of the major body systems, to understand how they work together and independently to fight off disease, adjust to environmental changes, and facilitate growth and reproduction. The course will include presentations, technology use, laboratories, and hands-on-activities.

World Cultures, Culture's Languages Semester Long Elective Credit

In this course, students will investigate the heritage of world cultures through dance, music, art, film and food. Through, reading, writing, discussion and hands on practice, students will investigate their history, see it in their present, and create that which best represents their understanding of the world they live in and the one they hope to shape. Expect guest speakers and discussion, lots of music, movement, and feasts for the eyes, belly, heart and mind. This semester long class can be taken for elective credit.

Counselors to contact:
Last Name: A-E Mary.Morseth@mpls.k12.mn.us
F-K Jean.Sherwood@mpls.k12.mn.us
L-Q George.mountin@mpls.k12.mn.us
R-Z Janelle.Kreisher@mpls.k12.mn.us

Summer Starts Tomorrow

What are your summer plans?  About 75 more free and open days of summer.  What are your going to do?

The possibilities are endless -- almost.  The library is always open.  There are art museums, science and history museums.  There are lakes and parks throughout the city.  Miles of bike and walking paths circle the city.  The problem is not the what but the when.

A single day cannot be replaced.  It happens only once and disappears moment by moment.  What are you going to do this summer chasing your dream?

Have fun!  Find that adventure!  Make every moment count!

Footlights Musical for 9th and 10 grades

Just a quick -- Heads Up!

Incoming 9th graders - Class of 2016 and new 10th graders -- Class of 2015 -- auditions are August 29,30 and 31, 2012.

The Footlights Musical is only for 9th and 10th graders.  We are not going to announce the show title at this time but just wanted you to save those dates.

Performance dates -- mark your calendars -- October 121,12 and 13, 2012.

Your time to shine!

2012 Spotlight Musical Theatre Program Awards

Southwest High School Production of Hairspray
Co-Directed  Margaret Berg and Nathan Knoll
Outstanding Overall Production
Outstanding Overall Proformance
Outstanding Student Orchestra Performance

Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role -- Nathalie Young as Tracy Turnblad

Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role --
Caleb Richards as Doody
Jake Folsom as Edna Turnblad
Sam Rosenstone as Link Larkin
Will Plunkett as Corny Collins
John Jamison as SeaweedJ. Stubbs

Honorable Mention- Performance in a Supporting Role --
Charlotte Anderson as Penny Pingleton
Merdith Casey as Velma Von Tussle

Honorable Mention Perormance in a Featured Tole --
Ben Tracy as Wilbur Turnblad
Kate Porter as Prudy Pingleton

Technical Achievement Award Honorees --
Adrienne Gorney - Scenic Design
Keira Jacobs - Scenic Design
Marissa Nicol - Costumes

Triple Threat Special Award -- John Jamison

Congraulations to ALL!!

Spotlight Showcase Awards

Quick Notice! With over 700 students from around the state the state was alive at the Hennepin Theatre Trust Spotlight Musical Theatre Awards Program. They sang and dance and performed beautiful music and great for for the entire evening. southwest produce "Hairspray" thie year. The honors for the cast and crew include: Outstanding Overall Production, Outstanding Overall Performance, Outstanding Student Orchestra Performance. Numerous individual awards were presented to individual cast members. More will be reported later. One special presentation was made to Hairspray star John Jamison. He received special notice and was singled out for a special trip to Nre York City to work with an actor training group, meet agents and explore the options. Jamison and the cast brought the house down with melody of numbers from the show and then blasted over the top with individual interview and selections. He was an audience favorite. Will report more in coming days. It was a great Southwest evening. Congratulation John Jamison and the entire cast, crew and Directors of Haurspray.

2nd Consecutive State Title Tate Pashibin

Tatyana Pashibin (Tate) wins 2nd consecutive high jump championship at the Minnesota State Track meet today.

Last day of 2011-12

The bell rang and off they went. The juniors are almost seniors and the sophomores move to almost juniors and the fresh people become 10th graders. I say almost because we still have to experience and grow over the summer. It really doesn't count until that first day of school. A bit on the squirrely side today. Three classes of finals and it was hot and humid. I know a bunch of adults who would not have behaved any better. Basically okay but tough. It is difficult to say good- by even when one wants to celebrate. There should be time to celebrate. This is a big deal. One will never pass this way again and this is important. I think we sometimes overlook that the rest of these young people's lives are determine right here. Yes they have careers and college to attend to, but the foundation is set at this age. We like to think we influence some of those decisions - especially when they are positive. But these are a very important four years in every person's life. It will be talked about the Reston their life. So we are now into the break time. Summer reading lists have been distributed. Registration for fall sports is set and in 83 days we will be back together into the 2012-13 school year. Have a great summer!

And it continues...

This is the last day of the 2011-12 school year.  172 days of working with and being with a wonderful bunch of kids.  We are fortunate to have a fantastic staff engaged with a tremendous group of students surrounded by caring and supportive families and community members.  It has been a good school year.

Kids grow so much in such a short four-year period.  The pictures of 8th graders is interesting as they enter the building hiding behind the parent.  They leave only a brief moment later on their way to maturity and with the innocent confidence as young adults only know.  I feel extremely fortunate to have spent a life time sharing these important years with so many lives.  Whenever I get overly concerned about the shape of this country or world, I visit a classroom.  These kids are the future and more importantly for me -- the source of hope.  If they half of what they think they can do the future will be fine.

In about 83 days we are back here with another group of eager and wonderful students and their families.  Each year is new and has its own set of dynamics.  The returning students are older and one-quarter of the students are new to the building.  There is something comforting in the cycle of life.  As we celebrate and share the joys for those leaving us, we celebrate the beginning of new energy and excitement.

I am convinced being in this place at this time with this group of people is special and cannot and will not ever be duplicated.  Thank you for all that you have done for our community, school, students and staff.  Let's get ready to go at it again.  Tomorrow is here and it waits for no one.

Southwest Class of 2012 Graduation

Southwest High School Graduation the Class of 2012

June 1, 2012 - the 70th graduation of Southwest High School students!

They cheered, they applauded, they listened and they celebrated.  It was a great ceremony of joy and love.  The speakers were wonderful.  A time of memory and hope.  The common themes were: dreams, hopes, together, engaged, supportive and go out there and do it.   You have to hear the speeches.  Check out the boardcast times on cable TV and watch the entire program.

402 graduates crossed the stage.  The Convention Center auditorium was packed.  Families, friends and loved ones gathered to announce to the world that the Class of 2012 was ready to "get it on." 

The economy and the divided current political system was intertwined in the speeches.  All were challenged to"change the world" and to continue the support and unity that marked this class.  In spite of current conditions, the speakers urged the graduates to keep dreaming and moving toward those bigger challenges.

The Southwest High School Class of 2012 is now part of the larger society and forged past another milestone in their young lives.  We wish them well and send them on with love, hope and pride.