Chipotle Fundraiser for Nordic Ski Team
Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser.
Tuesday, April 20th 5:00pm - 8:00pm Calhoun Chipotle.
Show your flyer and proceeds benefit Southwest High School Nordic Ski Team.
Download the Flyer at http://southwest.mpls.k12.mn.us/uploads/southwest_hs_nordic_ski_team.pdf
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Marketing and Communications
Are you a positive person? Do you like to share wonderful stories with others?
Well, do I have deal for you?
We need committee members for the Southwest Communications Committee. If you have some time to volunteer with this group to continue our efforts to get out the word about the wonderful things happening at SW, please email me.
We do a lot by email and we meet about once a month and can definitely work around your schedule.
Well, do I have deal for you?
We need committee members for the Southwest Communications Committee. If you have some time to volunteer with this group to continue our efforts to get out the word about the wonderful things happening at SW, please email me.
We do a lot by email and we meet about once a month and can definitely work around your schedule.
Weather is warmer and outside more -- remember safety
Longer daylight hours - more time to be outside - earlier in the morning and later in the evening.
Now is a good time to review with your entire family (and talk to yourself a bit) safety tips. Regardless of your age or the age of your children (or gender) a reminder that there are nuts people out there is a good idea. Not everyone is your friend.
We are fortunate to live in a relatively safe city with good law enforcement which is visible. But that does not eliminate the need for all of us to walk in pairs or groups whenever practical. Beware of the surroundings. Do not accept rides from anyone except family members or the very closest of friends. Be cautious and safe.
As you probably read in the newspaper there was a problem in the early evening of someone attempting to grab a young girl. Fortunately, the end was OK but I am sure it was scary for the young person. All of us and our children need to know what to do in an emergency and what our first reactions will be.
This is a place of great wonderful outdoor adventures. Almost any time of the day or night one sees people out walking or jogging. The vast majority of the time nothing unsafe happens. But it is better to have than safety conversation one more time than to regret not having it later.
Have fun, enjoy the time and be safe.
Now is a good time to review with your entire family (and talk to yourself a bit) safety tips. Regardless of your age or the age of your children (or gender) a reminder that there are nuts people out there is a good idea. Not everyone is your friend.
We are fortunate to live in a relatively safe city with good law enforcement which is visible. But that does not eliminate the need for all of us to walk in pairs or groups whenever practical. Beware of the surroundings. Do not accept rides from anyone except family members or the very closest of friends. Be cautious and safe.
As you probably read in the newspaper there was a problem in the early evening of someone attempting to grab a young girl. Fortunately, the end was OK but I am sure it was scary for the young person. All of us and our children need to know what to do in an emergency and what our first reactions will be.
This is a place of great wonderful outdoor adventures. Almost any time of the day or night one sees people out walking or jogging. The vast majority of the time nothing unsafe happens. But it is better to have than safety conversation one more time than to regret not having it later.
Have fun, enjoy the time and be safe.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
And the testing is over for the time being
We finished day two of the state mandated tests in writing, reading and mathematics. The morning went by quickly (but not for the students taking the tests) and without incident. Now we wait on the results.
If there is some problem and a student did not successfully demonstrate proficiency, there are numerous other times to re-take the test(s). As the student approaches his/her senior year, the pressures increase because the opportunity to re-test is reduced. But we want to work and support the student in order for that not to be a problem.
I think the rains helped. The major storm was not planned but both mornings were not as beautiful and inviting as has been the case. Being stuck a classroom taking a test is not near as difficult when it is rainy and miserable outside.
Thursday is back to a regular school day. We have some make-up test time scheduled for those students ill or absent for other reasons those days. But we basically finish the week in a routine manner and back to wonderful educational opportunities throughout the day in all our classes.
If there is some problem and a student did not successfully demonstrate proficiency, there are numerous other times to re-take the test(s). As the student approaches his/her senior year, the pressures increase because the opportunity to re-test is reduced. But we want to work and support the student in order for that not to be a problem.
I think the rains helped. The major storm was not planned but both mornings were not as beautiful and inviting as has been the case. Being stuck a classroom taking a test is not near as difficult when it is rainy and miserable outside.
Thursday is back to a regular school day. We have some make-up test time scheduled for those students ill or absent for other reasons those days. But we basically finish the week in a routine manner and back to wonderful educational opportunities throughout the day in all our classes.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Mandated State Testing Tuesday and Wednesday
These are the days we all love. Two full mornings tied up with state mandated tests that will determine if the student is going to receive a diploma. 9th grade is writing, 10th grade is reading and 11th grade is mathematics. 12th graders who have not demonstrated proficiency in all three are taking make-up tests.
The two days are official school days. The students are assigned to a classroom for about three hours. We use the entire building to make the testing situation smaller and hopefully more comfortable and in familiar surroundings. We hope this provides the students with positive opportunities to complete the tests successfully.
We notify the students in advance and ask that they bring study or reading material with them if they think they will finish early. Students are not allowed to have cell phone or ipods or other electronic equipment in the testing room. You can understand the security issues surrounding those rules.
Freshman have school on Wednesday even though their test is concluded on Tuesday. We request that they bring study materials and make good use of the time to read and make-up school work. We want a quiet and orderly building for all of our students during this testing period. If you have a doctor appt that day or some other family situation you may want to use this day for such.
Ask your son/daughter to get a good night's rest, eat a decent breakfast and do your best on the tests. There is sufficient pressure on this entire process so having some conversation about relaxing and not get caught up in the anxiety would be helpful. You know your daughter/son and how he/she reacts to this.
The two days are official school days. The students are assigned to a classroom for about three hours. We use the entire building to make the testing situation smaller and hopefully more comfortable and in familiar surroundings. We hope this provides the students with positive opportunities to complete the tests successfully.
We notify the students in advance and ask that they bring study or reading material with them if they think they will finish early. Students are not allowed to have cell phone or ipods or other electronic equipment in the testing room. You can understand the security issues surrounding those rules.
Freshman have school on Wednesday even though their test is concluded on Tuesday. We request that they bring study materials and make good use of the time to read and make-up school work. We want a quiet and orderly building for all of our students during this testing period. If you have a doctor appt that day or some other family situation you may want to use this day for such.
Ask your son/daughter to get a good night's rest, eat a decent breakfast and do your best on the tests. There is sufficient pressure on this entire process so having some conversation about relaxing and not get caught up in the anxiety would be helpful. You know your daughter/son and how he/she reacts to this.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Pianos in the halls
So there are two pianos in the main hall. Now there is a rather long and complicated story to all that. But maybe it is best to forget all of that and accept to reality that there are two pianos in the main hall.
5th period is the time for piano recitals. We have a piano class that period and we need space so why not spread music throughout the building?
Yes, we have moved it around to try and find a way not to distrub classes. Sometimes it is a wonderful stream of music. Sometimes it is the stumblings of trying to learn a new piece. But regardless it is music in the hallways. I gues that is better than chaos and confusion.
Don't you love it. On any given day you can wander through a hallway and be surprises by the new adventure you find yourself part of. You can not be a visitor at Southwest without being part of the experience. This is not a passive place you wander by. You step in and you are part of the action. At any given moment, you are part of the presentation, a film, a happening, part of a discussion, stepping through the behaviors that represent teen-agers and young adults. You cannot come into the building without being involved and and intregrel part of the learning.
So we have two pianos in the main hall. Enjoy the music of life.
5th period is the time for piano recitals. We have a piano class that period and we need space so why not spread music throughout the building?
Yes, we have moved it around to try and find a way not to distrub classes. Sometimes it is a wonderful stream of music. Sometimes it is the stumblings of trying to learn a new piece. But regardless it is music in the hallways. I gues that is better than chaos and confusion.
Don't you love it. On any given day you can wander through a hallway and be surprises by the new adventure you find yourself part of. You can not be a visitor at Southwest without being part of the experience. This is not a passive place you wander by. You step in and you are part of the action. At any given moment, you are part of the presentation, a film, a happening, part of a discussion, stepping through the behaviors that represent teen-agers and young adults. You cannot come into the building without being involved and and intregrel part of the learning.
So we have two pianos in the main hall. Enjoy the music of life.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Spring and our minds turn to ,,,
I am aware that the national news may cause me to focus on bullying and the pain some of our young people are forced to endure. There will always be kidding and playing around. Yes, it may be teasing and perhaps a little too sharp at times. Those moments of friendly interaction are vastly different from the spiteful, mean and intentional acts of harassment.
If the opportunity presents itself, you might have that discussion with your children. Tuesday April 13 is a PTSA meeting at 7 pm with a speaker on the topic - Connecting with your teen."
But I stray from my original purpose. For whatever reason the spring sometimes when our thoughts turn to other things than the books and the upcoming test. For some of our students, that is every day and every season.
But over the years it seems that an "insider" activity has been to start a notebook (nowadays that might be electronic or some MySpace MyFace) with the name of the various people one knows at the top of the page. The notebook is then passed around to that circle of friends and comments are added under each of the names. Depending on who starts the notebook, there can be specific questions or prompts for the comments. As you can suspect, they can get a bit harsh or even hurtful.
This activity is more prevalent in the junior high grades. We see it from time to time in our 9th and 10th graders. Especially among a "close" group of friends. Almost always someone gets mad or hurt in the process. A slight comment can be very painful to targeted individual.
We do not condone this activity in school. As you might suspect, the students do not ask us for permission. If you are aware of your son or daughter being involved in some like this, you might ask them about it and how they feel about being "criticized."
I'm sure this is more MyFace and MySpace stuff and is just as hurtful to some individuals. You can't image how many parents see nothing wrong with words and phrases their children use in social networking.
Being a kid should be fun. Yes, there are some bumps and tears along the way just in the natural process. They should not be subjected to the mean and nasty young people out their.
If you have particular concerns or questions, let me know.
If the opportunity presents itself, you might have that discussion with your children. Tuesday April 13 is a PTSA meeting at 7 pm with a speaker on the topic - Connecting with your teen."
But I stray from my original purpose. For whatever reason the spring sometimes when our thoughts turn to other things than the books and the upcoming test. For some of our students, that is every day and every season.
But over the years it seems that an "insider" activity has been to start a notebook (nowadays that might be electronic or some MySpace MyFace) with the name of the various people one knows at the top of the page. The notebook is then passed around to that circle of friends and comments are added under each of the names. Depending on who starts the notebook, there can be specific questions or prompts for the comments. As you can suspect, they can get a bit harsh or even hurtful.
This activity is more prevalent in the junior high grades. We see it from time to time in our 9th and 10th graders. Especially among a "close" group of friends. Almost always someone gets mad or hurt in the process. A slight comment can be very painful to targeted individual.
We do not condone this activity in school. As you might suspect, the students do not ask us for permission. If you are aware of your son or daughter being involved in some like this, you might ask them about it and how they feel about being "criticized."
I'm sure this is more MyFace and MySpace stuff and is just as hurtful to some individuals. You can't image how many parents see nothing wrong with words and phrases their children use in social networking.
Being a kid should be fun. Yes, there are some bumps and tears along the way just in the natural process. They should not be subjected to the mean and nasty young people out their.
If you have particular concerns or questions, let me know.
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