halimo Yusuf - Dell Scholar 2014

Congratulations to Halimo Yusuf a senior AVID student.  Halimo has been awarded the prestigious Dell Scholars.  The Dell Scholars Program is an initiative of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.  The Dell Scholars program, a large national program, specifically requires students to have demonstrated academic potential and financial need.  Only  300 awards are given each year among thousands of applicants. 

One strength of the Dell Scholars program is the wrap-around approach to ensure that scholars succeed.  The award is for up to six years and provides Scholars with “technology, a private scholar networking community, resources, and mentoring to ensure they have the support they need to achieve their college degrees. Scholars become part of a support network for each other that is made up of themselves, their schools, families, peers and a dedicated Dell Scholar team at the Michael & Susan Dell foundation.” 

http://www.dellscholars.org/

Caroline Hooper
NBCT Social Studies
Southwest High School

National Honors Society Applications for Sophomores through Seniors.

Dear Colleagues, Families and Students

For the first time in many years, perhaps for the first time ever, NHS will be  admitting sophomores (in addition to juniors).  NHS applications will be available from Friday, April 11, and will be provided two days early to those choir and band students leaving town after Wednesday classes.  The deadline for turning in applications is Monday, April 21.  Application forms are available in rooms 113 and E115.   (Note: This is the second time in the present school year that NHS will be accepting new candidates.  Those who are accepted will participate in the invocation ceremony next January, along with those students admitted in the fall.) 

We will attempt to publicize this information as much as possible, but invariably there will be students who will learn too late about this new development.  Applicants should possess a 3.5 GPA and should have demonstrated involvement in community service and/or Southwest extracurricular activities, including student council, theater, music, athletics, etc.  It should be added that NHS is a service organization dedicated to doing good works in Southwest and the larger community.

Please contact us if you have questions.

Stamatka Platikanova

Bob Rees

NHS advisors

MPR Featured Artist Vote for Senior Nora Doyle

SWHS Senior Featured on MPR

Senior and cellist, Nora Doyle, has been selected as a featured artist in Minnesota Public Radio'sMinnesota Varsity competition. Minnesota Varsity is MPR's annual search for talented young classical musicians around the region. 

Go tohttp://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2014/03/24/mn-varsity-showcase-round-voting to hear Nora's performance and to vote online for your favorite featured artist to advance to a Showcase Round, which will take place at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, on Sunday, April 27, at 5:00 p.m.

Film Fest May 2

It's Film Fest time again. We are accepting films for submission in the Film Festival until 3pm April 24th. The Festival isFriday May 2 in the auditorium. See http://southwest.mpls.k12.mn.us/West_David.html for details

National Honor Society Spring Applications Due April 21

NHS Spring AdmissionFollowing spring break, juniors and sophomores (for the first time in many years) will be eligible to apply to Southwest NHS.  A 3.5 GPA is expected of applicants, but not required.  Applications will be available in Room 113 and E115from April 11^th; the deadline for applications is Monday, April 21^st.  For additional information, contact Stamatka Platikanova (stamatka.platikanova@mpls.k12.mn.us or Robert Rees (rj.rees@mpls.k12.mn.us).

Southwest Ranked in Top 2% of High Schools in the Country by Washington Post

The Washington Post released its Challenge rankings for the graduating class of 2013.

Using their standard of a 1.000 ratio of graduates to number of seniors who took one or more AP tests and score a 3 or better, there are 1,900 public schools listed.

Southwest ranked 328 in the country (in top 2%) and number 4 in the state.

Interesting to note a larger number of schools listed and several notables not in the listing.  I think more schools are paying attention to the rankings.

The rankings do not factor in social economics, special education or other "special" conditions.

One number for some thought.  45% of the seniors took one or more AP test in the high school experience and scored a 3 or higher.  That is an important number and one we should monitor as we continue to encourage our student to challenge themselves.

There is always reason to carefully consider these types of rankings.  Our concern and attention remains focused on each and every one of our students.  At the same time it is more than fair to congratulate the entire staff, students, families and community for continuing its efforts to inspire excellence in academics, arts and athletics.

Washington Post High School Challenge Rankings

1. How does America’s Most Challenging High Schools work?

We take the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year and divide by the number of seniors who graduated in May or June. I call this formula the Challenge Index. With a few exceptions, public schools that achieved a ratio of at least 1.00, meaning they had as many tests in 2013 as they had graduates, were put on the national list atwashingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge. We rank the schools in order of ratio, with the highest (21.91) this year achieved by the American Indian Public Charter in Oakland, Calif., which repeats as the top-ranked school.

This year's Challenge

America's Most Challenging High Schools ranks schools through an index formula. View this year's national and local lists.

America’s Most Challenging High Schools 2014

Jay Mathews APR 4

Most schools in the top 100 of The Washington Post’s annual list do not have 11-person football teams.

The very best among high-caliber institutions

Jay Mathews APR 4

These top-performing schools were left off the Most Challenging High Schools list because of elite status.

Alternatives to the Challenge Index

Jay Mathews APR 4

There are other ways to rank the nation’s high schools; here are a few.

I think 1.00 is a modest standard. A school can reach that level if only half of its students take one AP, IB or AICE test in their junior year and one in their senior year. But this year, just 9 percent of the approximately 22,000 U.S. public high schools managed to reach that standard and earn placement on our list. On our list, the top 220 schools are in the top 1 percent nationally, the top 440 in the top 2 percent, and so on.