Southwest Main Door (3) Is No More

The first students entered through this set of wooden doors in 1940.    West High School was over crowded and this new small high school was build in the WPA era for those students across the creek.   The first graduating class was 1942.   The 1940 and 1941 seniors graduated officially from West High School.

The beautiful wood and glass doors gave way to mental black ones.  The Laker Spirit continued regardless of the composition of the doors.  Originally the building held about 750 students.   With several additions and an extra building (originally a junior high) the largest enrollment was 2007 toward the end of the 90s.  Currently the enrollment is 1758.

Demand and increased enrollment required a change and construction started in March of 2015.  A new three-story addition is placed connecting the two buildings.  The new front door will be in the middle of the building (Door 1) and is now opened for use.   The entire project is scheduled to be completed August 2016.

Retire Southwest Dick Schwartz Writes...

http://m.startribune.com/spring-memories-all-it-took-was-a-word-a-nod-a-swipe-of-her-hair/373593761/

Spring memories all it took.

March 25, 2016 Star Tribune
Commentary

Furst Dance in the Commons

Tonight the Southwest DJ Club hosted the first school dance in the new commons area. It was a wonderful event and the new space provided the perfect setting. 

Thank you Gabriel Pass, Paul Porter, and Jamez Smith for another great opportunity for our students; they're fortunate to have you for advisors of the DJ Club. I'd also like to thank Steven Froemming, Lance Oberembt, and the handful of parents who volunteered their time to chaperone the dance. Everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy the evening - students and chaperones alike. 

Enjoy your Spring Break!

Brian Nutter
Assistant Principal
Student Activities

Southwest Teen Saves Trapped Driver

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (KMSP) - There were 231 crashes in the metro on Saturday morning. For one victim, he was fortunate to crash into just the right driver, a Minneapolis teen.
Will Tieleman, 17-years-old, was driving southbound on Highway 100 when he lost control near 494 in Bloomington. Tieleman’s spinout would become a two-car, then three-car crash.

“I was getting ready to drive away, and I looked over my shoulder to the left and just got broadsided by a Honda Accord,” Tieleman told Fox 9.

Teen helps save trapped driver on Hwy. 100 in Bloomington, Minn.

Teen helps save trapped driver on Hwy. 100 in Bloomington, Minn.

There were 231 crashes in the metro on Saturday morning. For one victim, he was fortunate to crash into just the right driver, a Minneapolis teen.

Tieleman, suffering a concussion, said he told the other driver to remain in his car. “I said ‘stay in your car, you could get hit by another car. The road’s really slippery.’”

However, the other driver told Tieleman his car was on fire and he soon exited -- “While we were waiting, another car came and slid and hit the other guy’s car, and the other guy got trapped between his car and my car,” Tieleman said, adding that the man’s legs were trapped and he was yelling.
With the man stuck, and the potential for more cars to slide into their accident, Tieleman waited for an opportunity to free the trapped driver. He told Fox 9 the opportunity came when the third driver left the scene of their accident.

“When [the third driver] backed up, the cars kind of came apart, so we were able to pick him up and carry him out,” Tieleman told Fox 9. “He looked like he was hurting. I never found out what happened to him.”

Tieleman says he and his passenger carried the man to safety.

State Patrol tells Fox 9 the trapped driver suffered “significant, but not life-threatening injuries.” A State Patrol spokesperson said investigators found the vehicle that left the scene, and are working to identify the driver.

Southwest Main Entrance Permanently Changed

Door 3 is no more.  Will be completely removed over spring break
First opening for students in 1940, the original Main Entrance is closed.

New Main Entrance for Southwest High School -- Door 1

Southwest Haiku Winners

Every year the emperor of Japan selects a theme for haiku poets.  This year’s theme is “Hon” which translates into "Book."  Ibaraki, Minneapolis’ sister city in Japan, sponsors a haiku contest.  Southwest High School was notified that they placed with eight winners in the citywide contest.  

Laila Chaplin’s mother got the 1^st place, our colleague, Terry Kern got the 2^nd place, and Michel Thompson who is a volunteer for the J-Quiz study session, got an Honorable Mention for the adult category.

A presentation of awards will be held on Sunday, April 10th, 2016 from 2 p.m. in the Doty Room at the Minneapolis Central Library downtown.  The rest of the recipients are listed below.  Please congratulate these talented students when you see them! 

Category C:  Grades 9 – 12

1^st Place: Naomi Uleita– Southwest; ???

On the old bookshelf  Nestled in crisp white pages  Forgotten Language

2^nd Place: Isabella Gold– Southwest; Ms. French

Hidden by covers  A clandestine world awaits  In paper and ink

3^rd Place: Haley Downham– Southwest; Ms. Ebner

Soggy warped pages  Watercolor coffee stains  Whisper “I was here”

Honorable Mention: Cole Hummel – Southwest; Mr. Rees

I recline for hours  Nose buried in my paperback  Absent from the world

Honorable Mention: Nathaniel Murray– Southwest; Ms. French

Pages whispering  Raindrops tap on the window  Snuggled up with books

Honorable Mention: Isiah Anderson– Southwest; Ms. French

Whispers all night long  Trees up against my window  They tell me secrets

Honorable Mention: Salma Mohamed– Southwest; Ms. French

In the dark alone  Small light shines through a blanket  Imagination

Honorable Mention: Mohamed A Mohamed– Southwest; Ms. French

Imagery in line  Words come to life on the page  Live inside the mind

Category D: Adult

1st  Place: Beth Chaplin - Southwest

When reading a book  Time melts away like snowfall  The first day of spring

2nd  Place: Terry Kern - Southwest

Last page, bittersweet  Farewell to new friends I had  For too short a time

Honorable Mention: Michael Thompson- Southwest

Unsteady tower  Tilting against table leg  Unread hard covers

Kyoko French

SPCO Youth Chamber Music

2016 SPCO Youth Chamber Music

2016 Second Prize (tie) | Andres String Quartet

2016 Second Prize (tie) | Vento Silva Wind Quintet

2016 First Prize | Vesper String Quartet

2016 Second Prize (tie) | Andres String Quartet

PrevNext

Congratulations to our 2016 Competition Winners!

LEVEL A:

First Place and $1,000 - VESPER STRING QUARTET, coached by Tom Rosenberg
Vivian Murphy, violin; Kajsa Johansson, cello; Addison Nichols, violin; and John Paul Shoemaker, viola

Tie for Second Place: $600 each group:ANDRES STRING QUARTET, coached by Laura Sewell
Angel Lyn Andres, violin; Patrick Allen Hyatte, violin; Edwin P.T. Donovan, viola and Chris Jubok Kwon, cello

VENTO SILVA WIND QUINTET, coached by Norbert Nielubowski
Sarrah Bushara, oboe; Andrea Kloehn (Sophomore Southwest High School), flute; Susan Stewart, Clarinet; Rachel Lauson, horn; Beck Rusley, bassoon

Outstanding Wind Ensemble: $150: VENTO SILVA WIND QUINTET

LEVEL B:

First Place and $100 - TRIO GIOVANE, coached by Tom Rosenberg
Emily Kleiber, violin; Hannah Greenstein, cello; and Joseph Caswell, piano

Southwest 1987 Alumni Dan Martinson In the News

http://www.niteize.com/images/History-Series-Million-Dollar-Genius.pdf?mobile=no

http://www.kare11.com/mb/entertainment/television/programs/breaking-the-news/gear-tie-reusable-twist-tie-a-hit-and-made-in-mn/87338693

Southwest Guys and Dolls - ONLY Two More Performances

ONLY TWO PERFORMANCES REMAINING
LIMITED Tickets for each Performance!

Come see Southwest's Performing Arts performance of

"Guys and Dolls,"

 music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

March 19, 2016, 7 pm; March 20, 2 pm

For tickets and information: www.southwesttheatre.org

Be Heard Slam - Four Lakers Make it to Finals

I am very proud of all the Spoken Word poets competed in the Be Heard Slam series. Four of them (pictured) made it to finals in the Be Heard Youth Poetry Slam: Harun, Mark, Yasmin, Cypress, two of them are freshman! [insert raise the roof emoji]. 

Please congratulate them if you see them in the hall. This means they are competing to represent Minnesota in the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam at the Kennedy Center in July.

Please consider supporting these four students by attending finals, it is a very fun, inspirational and entertaining event in which young people from all over the city speak their truth bravely, humbly, and with honorable conviction.

Walker Art Center

Saturday, March 26, 2016 7:00PM

The McGuire Theater

Tickets available at:

http://secure.walkerart.org/single/SelectSeating.aspx?p=1133

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Miriam Bungert (supporting adult to Southwest Spoken Word poets)

Southwest Math Team Third Place in Minnesota State High School Tournament

The Southwest Math Team earned a third-place finish in the beta class at the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League State Tournament! 

I'm so proud of the kids and the way they composed themselves all day. Go Lakers!

David McMayer, Math Team Coach 

Guys and Dolls - Musical at Southwest - Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

ONLY FOUR PERFORMANCES REMAINING
Limited Tickets for each Performance!

Come see Southwest's Performing Arts performance of

"Guys and Dolls,"

 music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

March 17-19, 2016, 7 pm; March 20, 2 pm

For tickets and information: www.southwesttheatre.org

Southwest First Lunch in New Commons

Well, it did happen.  The first lunch in the new commons space in the center of Southwest High School.  Mixed seating holds over 750 students or others during lunch or any event.  There are tables and chairs, high tops and regular lunch bench tables.  Something for everyone.

The Commons in the gathering place for the building.  There are electric plugs everywhere and since the building is wireless, data can be gathered from all corners.  Homework, research, social media and study groups are all part of the possibilities for this huge area.

The center section is open now.  Furniture is being moved into offices and classrooms.  Teachers and classes will be moving starting Wednesday.  The entire project will be complete by August 25.

Guys and Dolls - The American Musical Classic Alive at Southwest

The fantastic American Musical Guys and Dolls is present on the Southwest stage by over 150 students under the direction of many theater staff.

This American classic is reference in Broadway Director Jack Viertel's new book, The Secret Life of the American Musical.  You now have the chance to witness what is part of the American Musical - the 'Havana" sequence and the "second couples" subplot between Nathan and Adelaide.

You don't have to be a famous director or an expert on American theater to thoroughly enjoy this wonderful show.  The music, the dancing, the songs, the passion of the students and the overwhelming production will win your heart and ears from the first note in the overture.

ONLY FOUR PERFORMANCES REMAINING

Come see Southwest's Performing Arts performance of

"Guys and Dolls,"

 music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

March 17-19, 2016, 7 pm; March 20, 2 pm

For tickets and information: www.southwesttheatre.org

Southwest New Traditions in the Making - Monday March 14

Monday, March 14 the New Commons Will Open

As always Only 11^th and 12^th grade students are allowed off-campus lunch privileges.  

Everyone has a responsibility to keep our school clean; Clean-up after yourself

Additionally, there will also be some new norms for Southwest Lunch periods.

All food, whether purchased from the cafeteria or brought from home, shall be consumed in the cafeteria/commons areas

Students will remain in the cafeteria and commons area during their assigned lunch period – passes are required for all other areas

Locker needs must be taken care of during passing times, not during your lunch period

Restroom use during your assigned lunch period will be limited to the new restrooms located near the new main office area

All lunches will be consumed in the cafeteria / commons area – no more hallway lunches

Southwest Center Section to Open Officially Monday, March 14

Southwest Commons - the Atrium area ready for students

The center section of the Southwest renovation and addition project is almost ready.  Furniture is moving into the center section.  The first floor cafeteria and kitchen area is priority today.

The entire three floors and 15 additional classrooms will open as quickly as furniture can be installed.  The entire changes will be complete by the end of spring break

Southwest Guys and Dolls - Early Reveiw

Early Opening Night Review:

Thank you Margaret, Colleen, Nathan, Reid, and Emily Meyer for shinning the spotlight on the wonderful talent of our students. Your passion for your profession is  certainly displayed in the stunning production of Guys and Dolls. 

Everything-- from the fine tuned orchestra to the beautiful singing and moving acting, the  lively staging and choreography, the colorful costumes and functional set design--  everything in this production made me cry with pride.  Loved it.

Casey Briskin 

Friday and Saturday Night -- 7:00 pm

Sunday -- 2:00 pm

same schedule for next weekend plus Thursday at 7:00 pm

Get your tickets early!

Southwest Women Unite for International Women's Day 2016

Southwest Laker Women

celebration of

International Women's Day

Worldwide, women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement.
And we have much to celebrate today. But progress towards gender parity has slowed in many places.
The World Economic Forum predicted in 2014 that it would take until 2095 to achieve global gender parity. Then one year later in 2015, they estimated that a slowdown in the already glacial pace of progress meant the gender gap wouldn't close entirely until 2133.

So how do we want to celebrate International Women's Day 2016?

We say by Pledging For Parity!
Everyone - men and women - can pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity more quickly - whether to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, develop more inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity.

Southwest Men's Nordic Ski Team State Champions

Southwest 2016 Nordic Men's Ski Team 

Minnesota State Champions

at the Baord of Education meeting with Board Members.

Attention Southwest Alumni

Postcards from Harris Connect to Southwest High School alumni are arriving in homes today. 

The cards tell each alum about the directory and ask that the individual call Harris Connect to verify and update information for the directory. 

The directory will be similar to the one the Foundation did in 1996 with class lists and individual contact information. 

Harris Connect is the company the Foundation is working with to compile an alumni directory in honor of Southwest’s 75th Anniversary. 

This is a legitimate Southwest Foundation project. If you should get any questions, please checkout the Southwest Foundation website:

http://southwest.mpls.k12.mn.us/southwest_foundation

Southwest Commons Opens March 14 and a New Culture and Tradition

Please talk with students

The Last Lunch in the current cafeteria will be March 11^th.

Starting March 14^th we will have lunch space in the new center area in the commons (1^st floor)

We have a new large space to accommodate students and staff.  This is a new beginning.  With the new commons and open space we also have a new culture and traditions being developed for our lunch time:

• ·         During the assigned lunch hour – students not assigned to class will be in the commons (11^th and 12 graders may leave the building)
• ·         The commons is the student assigned area for lunch. 
• ·         If you buy it from the cafeteria, you eat it in the commons – do not take food from cafeteria outside
• ·         If you bring your lunch, just as always, eat your lunch in the commons
• ·         We are not using any other place, room, hallway or stairway for lunch
• ·         During the assigned lunch period, students are to be in commons or 11^th or 12 graders may be out of the building
• ·         Keep food (and mice) out of the building – all food should be confined to the commons

  

The new kitchen may not be totally functional until after spring break.  However, there is a regular lunch served through the nutrition center until the new kitchen is completely open. 

The snack shop will not open until after spring break and there will be more information about that later.

Southwest Shira Rabkin 1st Place Original Oratory at Tournament.

The Southwest Speech team competed in the St. Anthony Village Tournament and placed 10 overall.

Shira Rabkin, senior, received a 1st place victory in the Original Oratory category.  Congratulations Shira and the Southwest Speech Team
 

Southwest Guys and Dolls Opens March 10, Thursday with Curtain at 7 pm

Come see Southwest's Performing Arts performance of

"Guys and Dolls,"

 music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

March 10-12, 2016, 7 pm; March 13, 2 pm

March 17-19, 2016, 7 pm; March 20, 2 pm

For tickets and information: www.southwesttheatre.org

Opening Night is Name Your Price at the door, Mar. 10

Southwest Student 2016-17 Pre-Registration is Happening Now

Registration for Current 9, 10, and 11 Grade

The course registration process for 2016-2017 is underway. 

The timeline for final course submission and resources to help students and families can be found on the SWHS Academics Tab: http://southwest.mpls.k12.mn.us/academics_2 

Students and families are encouraged to make use of the many resources detailed on the Academics Tab and be prepared to receive and submit final course selections on the following dates:

·                  9^th grade: Week of March 7-11 in Science classes

·                  10^th grade: Tuesday, March 15 in classes

·                  11^th grade: Thursday, March 17 in English classes

MAYO Clinic Career Immersion Program Applications

MAYO Clinic Career Immersion Program 

Application due March 18, 2016

Join other diverse Minnesota high school students (sophomores and juniors in the 2015-2016 school year) who are interested in health professions for the weeklong Career Immersion Program at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, July 11-15, 2016.

·        

The program includes:

Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Networking dinner with other students

Student housing in Rochester and on-site program director

Tours of Mayo Clinic and the Rochester area

Housing and meals are provided to the students selected for the program. Transportation scholarships are available.

·        

Required application materials:

Completed application form (See your Counselor)

Current high school transcript

Letter of recommendation from a science teacher, guidance counselor or principal

Short essay about your interest in health sciences

Call Out to Southwest Families

"Au secours!  Attention les parents! ¡Ayuda! Caawin! Saacid!  مساعدة

PARENTS:  Transitions can be Tricky. Summer is coming and end-of-the-year finals are just around the corner. There are so many things to consider.  

What will my child do this summer while I'm at work? How do I support my child when they're stressed out? How do I keep lines of communication open so that they don't shut me out?

Would you like to get together to discuss how to manage family stress?  

Please call or e-mail fellow parent, June Thiemann (612-928-0639or june@visi.com), with topics you'd like to discuss .

Southwest Baseball Booster Fundraiser March 5

SW Baseball Program Fundraiser

Please join the baseball boosters on Saturday, March 5th, for its 7th Annual Beer Tasting Fundraiser. 

It is a great way to meet the coaches, families and friends in our baseball program. Freshmen families, please come!  Spread the word.  All are welcome. Like last year, we hope to see a great turnout of our baseball alums that are over 21.

Minneapolis Southwest High School Baseball Boosters

http://www.mplssouthwestbaseball.org

Chess Tournament March 5

CHECK IT OUT CHESS TOURNAMENT

Saturday, March 5, 2016

8:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Pillsbury Elementary School  2250 Garfield Street NE Minneapolis, MN 55418

REGISTER AT: http://osfce.mpls.k12.mn.us/chess_2

Southwest Guy's and Doll's Opening Thursday, March 10

Southwest High School presents the Spotlight Musical : Guys and Dolls

Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, 

March 10-12, 7 pm; March 13, 2 pm, March 17-19, 7 pm; March 20, 2 pm. 

Opening night is "name your price" at the door. 

Online, reserved seating ticket sales: http://www.southwesttheatre.org/

Southwest Guys and Dolls Opens March 10

"We Are Southwest"

​

Come see Southwest's Performing Arts performance of "Guys and Dolls," music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

March 10-12, 2016, 7pm; March 13, 2 pm

March 17-19, 2016, 7 pm; March 20, 2 pm

For tickets and information: www.southwesttheatre.org

Opening Night is Name Your Price at the door, Mar. 10

Southwest Hosting Sister School Students from Kasugaoka High School

Students from Kasugaoka High School in Japan are visiting with Southwest families and hosts.   Kasugaoka High School is a sister school (5 years) with Southwest.  Students from Japan have been coming to Southwest for many years.  Southwest students travel to Japan during the summer and live with host families.  An exciting exchange program for both schools many years long.
 

Southwest Students Involved in Their Community

At the Uptown caucus Tuesday evening three Southwest students, Liam Wulfman, Natalie El-Hai and Jonah Edelman, were three of the first to stand up to volunteer as delegates.

Alumni David Premack said, "If we ever needed a reminder of the upstanding citizens our students are growing up to be, tonight was that."

Here is a video of Natalie declaring her candidacy .

It has a Name - Southwest High School

The Southwest High School renovation and addition project is moving along to schedule.  The new main entrance to the became official with the adding of the school name.  The main entrance will probably become active after March 21.