Tuesday, July 10, 2012
School Supplies - Check for Sales
High school does not have a school supply list. Each class will have its own requirements for the specific class. In general the supply list is something to write on - notebook and something to write with - pencil. Some classes will require journal. Others might have a notebook check. For many classes the loose-leaf binder with divider tabs and paper works. A spiral notebook for each of the different classes works for some students.
The important notice at this time is to take advantage of the sales! Many stores are in the school supply mood right now. I know Staple's has a 15% discount offer going through August. Most stores will have some type of discount. Check out the prices. Buy the items on sale at the store at that time. Selection is good now but might want to price check.
If you shop at Target don't forget that every purchased made with the Red Card provides dollars to Southwest. That's assuming you listed Southwest as you school of choice.
That is a reminder for families of incoming students - Class of 2016 -- switch your school selection name on your Target Red Card! Thank you for your support.
Monday, July 9, 2012
John Irving - Last Night in Twisted River
Good summer read -- not slow, the plot moves with great scene description and strong characters. Yet, not a rush pace either. Look at the lake and reflect. Read for a bit and then take that walk. Much to read and much more to think about.
Irving is a prolific and famous writer. I am sure many have read one or more of his novels. His writing started in 1968 and has been going strong since.
Twisted River is about the writing process and being a writer. But it is also about the living process. Each moment of our lives is a little story - or at least part of. Most of us could tell (write) a story about our last visit to Grandma's or that baseball game we just saw. Each is full of characters, dialogue, action, conflict and an ending.
Much of what we do is dictated by the events and people around us. We do not cause those situation nor do we control them. We start out on a drive and the action starts. Just as in the book-- sometimes what we are seeking drops out of the sky.
Check out the new electives for '12-13
Posted previously, Southwest is offering new different and exciting electives.
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
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
Friday, July 6, 2012
Radio Program Southwest and North students
From the Southwest Patch - your online news source for the area.
http://southwestminneapolis.patch.com/
Youth reporters from North and Southwest high schools produce joint audio documentary to air on Jazz 88
Documentary culminates Parent Voices Talk Radio Show season
MINNEAPOLIS – KBEM Jazz 88 on July 10 will air “Graduation 2012,” a 60-minute student-produced audio documentary that explores cross-cultural and racial differences in the graduating classes at their respective high schools. The audio documentary, produced by students from North and Southwest high schools, is part of a season finale for Parent Voices Talk Radio Show, a weekly program on KBEM that is led by Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) parents and community members focusing on the importance of parental involvement.
Four students from the two schools served on the Parent Voices Talk Radio Show youth reporter team over the past seven weeks. The students served as radio hosts and facilitated discussions aimed at specific topics affecting public school students in urban school districts, such as closing the achievement gap between white students and students of color and comparing the experiences of students at North and Southwest.
To prepare for the audio documentary, students reflected on the different people, places, ideas and experiences that shaped the graduating classes of 2012.
This program was sponsored by a grant from the MPS Office of Equity and Diversity to provide cultural learning, interracial dialogue and interaction between two racially isolated MPS schools.
WHAT: Parent Voices Youth Reporter Team Audio Documentary “Graduation 2012” airs on KBEM
WHEN: Tuesday, July 10, from 9-10 p.m., Parent Voices live finale show begins at 8 p.m.
WHERE: KBEM Jazz 88.5 FM
Documentary culminates Parent Voices Talk Radio Show season
MINNEAPOLIS – KBEM Jazz 88 on July 10 will air “Graduation 2012,” a 60-minute student-produced audio documentary that explores cross-cultural and racial differences in the graduating classes at their respective high schools. The audio documentary, produced by students from North and Southwest high schools, is part of a season finale for Parent Voices Talk Radio Show, a weekly program on KBEM that is led by Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) parents and community members focusing on the importance of parental involvement.
Four students from the two schools served on the Parent Voices Talk Radio Show youth reporter team over the past seven weeks. The students served as radio hosts and facilitated discussions aimed at specific topics affecting public school students in urban school districts, such as closing the achievement gap between white students and students of color and comparing the experiences of students at North and Southwest.
To prepare for the audio documentary, students reflected on the different people, places, ideas and experiences that shaped the graduating classes of 2012.
This program was sponsored by a grant from the MPS Office of Equity and Diversity to provide cultural learning, interracial dialogue and interaction between two racially isolated MPS schools.
WHAT: Parent Voices Youth Reporter Team Audio Documentary “Graduation 2012” airs on KBEM
WHEN: Tuesday, July 10, from 9-10 p.m., Parent Voices live finale show begins at 8 p.m.
WHERE: KBEM Jazz 88.5 FM
Southwest Alumni in Summer Race
From the Southwest Patch your online source on up to date news in the area:
http://southwestminneapolis.patch.com/
Last weekend, a team of three recent grads from Southwest High School and one Robbinsdale's Armstrong High School took second place in what's surely one of the most unusual five-kilometer road races Minneapolis has ever seen.
In this madcap dash across downtown, Gus Price, Sam Hills, Matt Dole and Ryan Heltemes didn't even know what the course would be. Instead, they and the other 90 teams taking part in the Challenge Nation Urban Scavenger Race were given a set of 12 brain-twisting clues and tasks that had to be completed before they crossed the finish line.
"It was a lot of fun," Hills told Patch on Tuesday, while trying to hold back his laughter. "One minute you're sprinting like crazy and the next you're chatting up strangers and getting people at a bus stop to jump into the air all at once, while we took a picture."
Believe it or not, Hills said, trying to organize strangers into peculiar group photos, while panting and dripping with sweat in the searing heat is not as awkward as you'd think.
"People were surprisingly willing to help us out," he said.
The least cooperative was a police officer filling out paperwork in his parked cruiser. Desperate for directions to a particular fire station, Hills walked up to the front passenger door.
Pasting on his brightest smile, Hills rapped on the door and asked how to get to the station in question. The officer, Hills said, frowned and buried his nose in his papers, probably sick of questions from members of the 90 other teams combing downtown that Sunday.
"He deliberately tried to ignore us, but I wouldn't stop nocking—or smiling," Hills said with a laugh. "Finally he gave up."
But they weren't just up against the clock and Challenge Nation's puzzlemasters. Just as Hills, Heltemes, Dole, and Price were stepping away from the cruiser, they saw a group of other racers lurking nearby, watching their move and waiting to tail them.
"We were like 'Aaah! Run way from the other teams,'" Hills said.
This same scene played itself out one other time as the team coursed through downtown. Trying to dodge another pack who they suspected of piggybacking off of their breakthroughs, Hills and the others pounded around a corner—and over a 12-foot wall. Good thing all four used to be successful athletes at Southwest.
"As we were going into it, we didn't expect the event to be nearly as big as it was," Hills said. "We imagined it as a random gathering of people, who wouldn't take it too seriously."
In the end, they finished this concrete scavenger hunt-cum-steplechase in a hair over an hour, winning second place and a $100 bill. The next day, it was back to their day jobs at Southwest's Super Summer program, and then back to college in the fall, but Hills said he hopes to reunite the team for another try in summers to come.
Thanks to reader/blogger Mary Ann Schoenberger for tipping us off to the cool stuff her son Sam and his friends were getting up to this summer.
In this madcap dash across downtown, Gus Price, Sam Hills, Matt Dole and Ryan Heltemes didn't even know what the course would be. Instead, they and the other 90 teams taking part in the Challenge Nation Urban Scavenger Race were given a set of 12 brain-twisting clues and tasks that had to be completed before they crossed the finish line.
"It was a lot of fun," Hills told Patch on Tuesday, while trying to hold back his laughter. "One minute you're sprinting like crazy and the next you're chatting up strangers and getting people at a bus stop to jump into the air all at once, while we took a picture."
Believe it or not, Hills said, trying to organize strangers into peculiar group photos, while panting and dripping with sweat in the searing heat is not as awkward as you'd think.
"People were surprisingly willing to help us out," he said.
The least cooperative was a police officer filling out paperwork in his parked cruiser. Desperate for directions to a particular fire station, Hills walked up to the front passenger door.
Pasting on his brightest smile, Hills rapped on the door and asked how to get to the station in question. The officer, Hills said, frowned and buried his nose in his papers, probably sick of questions from members of the 90 other teams combing downtown that Sunday.
"He deliberately tried to ignore us, but I wouldn't stop nocking—or smiling," Hills said with a laugh. "Finally he gave up."
But they weren't just up against the clock and Challenge Nation's puzzlemasters. Just as Hills, Heltemes, Dole, and Price were stepping away from the cruiser, they saw a group of other racers lurking nearby, watching their move and waiting to tail them.
"We were like 'Aaah! Run way from the other teams,'" Hills said.
This same scene played itself out one other time as the team coursed through downtown. Trying to dodge another pack who they suspected of piggybacking off of their breakthroughs, Hills and the others pounded around a corner—and over a 12-foot wall. Good thing all four used to be successful athletes at Southwest.
"As we were going into it, we didn't expect the event to be nearly as big as it was," Hills said. "We imagined it as a random gathering of people, who wouldn't take it too seriously."
In the end, they finished this concrete scavenger hunt-cum-steplechase in a hair over an hour, winning second place and a $100 bill. The next day, it was back to their day jobs at Southwest's Super Summer program, and then back to college in the fall, but Hills said he hopes to reunite the team for another try in summers to come.
Thanks to reader/blogger Mary Ann Schoenberger for tipping us off to the cool stuff her son Sam and his friends were getting up to this summer.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Southwest Grad John Jamison - Great Article
Great article and pictures on wonderful young talent! Southwest Alumni John Jamison.
The article is long but definitely worth the read.
Subject: The new song and dance: Twin Cities teen John Douglas Jamison II gains attention of national talent scouts | Twin Cities Daily Planet
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2012/07/01/new-song-and-dance-twin-cities-teen-john-douglas-jamison-ii-gains-attention-national#.T_JgIWG0_6c.gmail
Monday, July 2, 2012
Summer book review -- Birds In Fall by Brad Kessler
An interesting summer read -- Birds in Fall by Brad Kessler. A tragic story plot but interesting character study. The story is about continuing life through tragedy and misfortune. Migrating bird patterns provides a background to the book's theme. Migrating is a part of life that is a given for birds. It is not necessarily a choice or a direct result of anything the birds have done. They do not cause it or responsible for it or to blame because of it. Migrating is what nature has in store for them.
Living and loving and being part of life is an individual activity. At any given moment something we did not cause or even anticipate changes it all. Then what happens?
Great character book. Would be a good book club selection with considerable moments within the book to explore. Definitely worth the time.
The Review from Amazon --
"One fall night off the coast of a remote island in Nova Scotia, an airplane plummets to the sea as an innkeeper watches from the shore. Miles away in New York City, ornithologist Ana Gathreaux works in a darkened room full of sparrows, testing their migratory instincts. Soon, Ana will be bound for Trachis Island, along with other relatives of victims who converge on the site of the tragedy.
As the search for survivors envelops the island, the mourning families gather at the inn, waiting for news of those they have lost. Here among strangers, and watched over by innkeeper Kevin Gearns, they form an unusual community, struggling for comfort and consolation. A Taiwanese couple sets out fruit for their daughter's ghost. A Bulgarian man plays piano in the dark, sending the music to his lost wife, a cellist. Two Dutch teenagers, a brother and sister, rage against their parents' death. An Iranian exile, mourning his niece, recites the Persian tales that carry the wisdom of centuries."
What are you reading this summer? Share with others. Email me your thoughts and selections.
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