In 28 days the students will be back into school and very quickly into the routine of another exciting school year.
The school office will be completely open on Tuesday August 9. If you not registered for school, please make dew appointment with the counseling office and select your classes for next year. If you need to make adjustments to you schedule because of summer school or other situations over the summer, please call the counseling office for appointment.
August 9 is the day for fall sports registration. You may pick up necessary forms for the Athletic Office or on-line at the Southwest web site. Make sure your physical is up to date. Forms need to be completed and forms and fees turned on the 9th.
August 15 is the first day of Band Camp. Great fun and a wonderful experience.
Teachers return for workshops the 22nd.
First day for all students is August 29th. You will receive a post card regarding transportation if you eligible for a school bus prior to the start of school. Students eligible for go-cards will receive those on the 24th as they pick up schedules or the first day of school.
The Summer Bridge Program for incoming 9th graders who want a jump start on the school year is Wwd., Thurs, and Fri, Aug 17, 18 & 19.
All incoming 9th graders are invited to the Project Success program Camp 2015 starting Monday, August 22. The program is free and transportation is provided but you need to pre-register at the Project Success web site.
Wednesday, August 24 is the Class of 2015 orientation at Southwest. It is in conjunction with the Project Success week. Orientation begins in the morning and lunch is served. The day of orientation continues with a pot luck picnic at Southwest starting at 6:30 pm for entire families. Schedules will be available for pick-up after 1pm on Wednesday. 9th graders will receive their schedules as part of the Link Crew orientation program.
Check out the Southwest web site for all the exciting and informative events with dates and times.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
August 1 First day of Ramadan
August 1 is the first day of the Muslim religious observance of Ramadan. In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.
Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar.
Very special days for many of our students and families. This month long observance ends August 31st. As we share our faiths, customs and traditions we learn more about each other and of ourselves.
Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar.
Very special days for many of our students and families. This month long observance ends August 31st. As we share our faiths, customs and traditions we learn more about each other and of ourselves.
Friday, July 29, 2011
School Supplies
For the high school student there is not a published list of school supplies. Every class will require some type of writing device and some paper to write on. Some may require a journal and notebook. Math at most levels will recommend a graphing calculattor. Gym clothing will be required for those enrolled in physical education.
Te best recommendation would be to get a pencil/pen and notebook with paper and listen to needs those first few days. There are numerous sales in the stores now. This is a good time to stock up on pens and paper. If you like spiral notebooks that is fine but in some classes you will need to turn in individual sheets and that is not as easy with a spiral notebook. The spiral ones are great for journal and class notes.
More and more class are moving to computer supported instruction. In many class the student can submit papers and homework via the Internet. The printer has replaced the tpewriter and reading assignments is much easier for all. The school will issue a planner than contracts all the rules and regulations but more importantly is a full calendar- day by day- for the student to keep track of due dates, dates and assignments. Some students are using their phones with calendars as a planner.
If there are specific questions check the teacher's web site or email your question to that teacher.
Te best recommendation would be to get a pencil/pen and notebook with paper and listen to needs those first few days. There are numerous sales in the stores now. This is a good time to stock up on pens and paper. If you like spiral notebooks that is fine but in some classes you will need to turn in individual sheets and that is not as easy with a spiral notebook. The spiral ones are great for journal and class notes.
More and more class are moving to computer supported instruction. In many class the student can submit papers and homework via the Internet. The printer has replaced the tpewriter and reading assignments is much easier for all. The school will issue a planner than contracts all the rules and regulations but more importantly is a full calendar- day by day- for the student to keep track of due dates, dates and assignments. Some students are using their phones with calendars as a planner.
If there are specific questions check the teacher's web site or email your question to that teacher.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
What t.he Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
"to a worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish.". Perhaps not the best mental picture. But there are some simple. Truths that are not necessarily true. For those of us that spend our waking hours in high school, the world is high school. Parents understand quickly that a teenager has a centralist focus - the world revolves around me. And the world is whatever I am interested in at that moment.
If I am going to have a conversation with a worm in horseradish - interest thought - I need to be aware that horseradish is the worm's view. I can discount it if I wish but the worm is not going to. If I want to convey a message to the worm it matters a great deal to me what the worm is using for references and conclusions. If I want to discount the self-centered focus of a teen, communication is pointless. That does not suggest approval or acceptance of the idea. But if I want to talk to and hear from the teenager, I need to be prepared to find his/her world at that moment.
Gladwell put together a series of articles that address these issues of seeing it from the other side. In fact it is more than a visual side trip. It is an experience. How does it feel? Smell? Sound? What are the emotion surrounding the moment. There are numerous experiments that place witnesses in a location to observe the same accident. In trying to report the details of the accident each individual reports what she/he believes to be true. But research demonstrates that each individual brings to the report his/her own set of eperiences and assumptions. What the person reports is true for her/him. But as you know in some cases it is extremely difficult to understand how the descriptions can be that varied from one another.
What the Dog Saw is a wonderful summer read. It just might provide some insights in the mind of the teenager sharing your house. good luck. We are almost at the jump spot for another school year.
If I am going to have a conversation with a worm in horseradish - interest thought - I need to be aware that horseradish is the worm's view. I can discount it if I wish but the worm is not going to. If I want to convey a message to the worm it matters a great deal to me what the worm is using for references and conclusions. If I want to discount the self-centered focus of a teen, communication is pointless. That does not suggest approval or acceptance of the idea. But if I want to talk to and hear from the teenager, I need to be prepared to find his/her world at that moment.
Gladwell put together a series of articles that address these issues of seeing it from the other side. In fact it is more than a visual side trip. It is an experience. How does it feel? Smell? Sound? What are the emotion surrounding the moment. There are numerous experiments that place witnesses in a location to observe the same accident. In trying to report the details of the accident each individual reports what she/he believes to be true. But research demonstrates that each individual brings to the report his/her own set of eperiences and assumptions. What the person reports is true for her/him. But as you know in some cases it is extremely difficult to understand how the descriptions can be that varied from one another.
What the Dog Saw is a wonderful summer read. It just might provide some insights in the mind of the teenager sharing your house. good luck. We are almost at the jump spot for another school year.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Time to Act -- Now
The Minnesota state budget for this year is now history. It probably can be explained as the good, bad and ugly budget. All current elected officials are declaring it wrong and not not in the best long-term interest of the state. That is interesting statement by itself. As the details are being worked out it is becoming clear that the real issue is - who will be hurt. We know for sure it will not be the 7,700 richest people in the state. This morning's paper noted that all the higher paying jobs went higher and all the rest of the jobs are seeing less pay. The wealth gap is widening and to some degree we can hold ourselves accountable due to whom we elect.
Regardless of too crowded phone lines or system crashes on the Internet, make your voice heard. Our representative government appears to be listening to party lines, special interests, one- agenda positions and those with lots of money. This is not a matter of choosing sides, it is a matter of trying to do the right thing. Whatever your own political views might be, tell your elected officials.
We need to get back in the game.
Regardless of too crowded phone lines or system crashes on the Internet, make your voice heard. Our representative government appears to be listening to party lines, special interests, one- agenda positions and those with lots of money. This is not a matter of choosing sides, it is a matter of trying to do the right thing. Whatever your own political views might be, tell your elected officials.
We need to get back in the game.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Surrendered by Chang-Rae Lee
A best seller which is not always the best recommendation. The Surrendered by author Chang-Rae Lee is about the Korean War and an American GI who served there and children living there and people who tired to deal with some of the aftermath of the war.
The major theme has to be that war is devastating to all. In itself that is not a novel idea for a book. But the strength of the novel as literature is the characters. Different births, different lives getting to the time of the story and different experiences. But all surrendered something of themselves to stay alive, tom cope, to try and understand. Lots of questions about life and it's pulse but few resolutions.
Lee also wrote Native Speaker, A Gesture Life and Aloft. This novel establishes his reputation as a serious writer.
If you are looking for a book with strong man and female characters, this is one to read. Th,e war provides the setting but could be any war and anyplace. Lots to discuss. Would be a good book club book as well.
The major theme has to be that war is devastating to all. In itself that is not a novel idea for a book. But the strength of the novel as literature is the characters. Different births, different lives getting to the time of the story and different experiences. But all surrendered something of themselves to stay alive, tom cope, to try and understand. Lots of questions about life and it's pulse but few resolutions.
Lee also wrote Native Speaker, A Gesture Life and Aloft. This novel establishes his reputation as a serious writer.
If you are looking for a book with strong man and female characters, this is one to read. Th,e war provides the setting but could be any war and anyplace. Lots to discuss. Would be a good book club book as well.
Countdown
Last week of July and it has been hot. Started with a cool summer and those wanting some make-up weather got it. So the water parks and beaches and summer in the fun places are enjoying the opportunities.
Fall sports registration and the end of July make the beginning of the end of Summer. It has been a nice break from some of the school moments. But the emails are changing tones and the questions a less general and more specific to my child and this specific school year. S we are thinking about school. Summer is waning.
Not necessarily a bad thing. But there is still plenty of time to finish that Personal Project if you are now a tenth grader, or select the Extended Essay if you are a senior of if you are grades 9-12 finish your summer reading.
Have fun and enjoy the moments.
Fall sports registration and the end of July make the beginning of the end of Summer. It has been a nice break from some of the school moments. But the emails are changing tones and the questions a less general and more specific to my child and this specific school year. S we are thinking about school. Summer is waning.
Not necessarily a bad thing. But there is still plenty of time to finish that Personal Project if you are now a tenth grader, or select the Extended Essay if you are a senior of if you are grades 9-12 finish your summer reading.
Have fun and enjoy the moments.
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