SWHS Principal's Weekly updates for August 27th

Welcome back!  

Tomorrow is the first day back to school! All students should report to their homerooms. Homerooms will be posted in various locations. Freshmen should look for their homeroom on the walls of the Freshmen Gym. Upperclassmen should look down the main hallway. When the 8:35 bell rings, students will report to their homeroom where each student will receive their most updated schedule. As a reminder, with the ongoing fluctuation of enrollment, there are chances that schedules may have altered from just a few days ago and can still later all the way up to the 10th day of school. We appreciate your understanding as we work with these daily changes.  

As a reminder, if you need more guidance with your schedule, feel free to contact the assigned counselor. Counseling responsibilities are now alphabetically assigned in grades 10-12.

9th grade will all have Ms. Compton

A-D  - Ms. Graves

E-L - Mr.  Hawkins

M-R - Mrs. Richards

S-Z - Mrs. Hudgens 

All grade levels except for the senior class must be in complete dress code starting tomorrow. The dress code is found on the website if you need clarification. Seniors have spirit week. Seniors will be allowed to follow these themes... Monday, Hawaiian/Tie Dye, Tuesday, Senior Queen, Wednesday - Neon Pink shirt slogan with We're kind of a B19 Deal!", Thursday, Swat/Camouflage, Friday, SW Spirit shirt or class shirt (these can be homemade this week). 9th, 10th and 11th graders can wear homemade class shirts on Friday as well. Typically, homemade shirts are not allowed within the dress code expectations, however, we are making an exception this Friday. This Friday, we also have a PTSA Jean Day. If you have purchased one of the PTSA jean day bracelets OR signed up for PTSA as a student, you should have a jean band Bracelet and therefore can wear jeans on Friday as well. At no time, should jeans have rips, shreds, holes, etc. As we start the year, failure to work with our dress code will result in the requirement to change clothes, calling home, as well as possibly receiving other consequences.

If you are needing transportation AM or PM stops, please visit the GCS transportation website and look up the bus stop locator. This will guide you to the morning and afternoon stops and times. Please be patient in the first week as delays are common in the beginning of the school year. 

If you are driving, please be mindful that traffic coming in and out of the school is much heavier than normal. If your child has the opportunity to ride the bus, we encourage you to take advantage of that to assist us with the flow of traffic. Student pick up and drop off should always be in the front of the school. For safety reasons, the back lot by the gym should be kept to teacher and student movement and parking during the day. Athlete pick up and drop off can resume in the athletics parking lot. Thank you for assisting us with this request.  

Parent assist attendance and grade monitoring will be up and running on 9/11 the 11^th day of school. The reason for this delay, is to ensure we have all schedule changes in the system.Please reach out to your child's teachers if you have any inquiries about their grades.

To register for an account go to Powerschool under the Parent tab on SWHS website site.

If you had an account, try your old password first,  if it doesn’t work click on “forgot my password”. If all fails and you need assistance, email clinek2@gcsnc.com

Starting tomorrow, any students arriving before 8:10 should either report to the freshmen gym if they are 9th graders or wait in the front atrium if they are upperclassmen. Obviously there are exceptions to this such as being in Jazz Band zero block, meeting with teachers for tutorials, clubs, etc. Please understand that our staff do not start their day until 8:15. Thank you for understanding this additional measure we put in place for the safety of all individuals who arrive to our campus. Additionally, one of the magnetic doors will be activated starting tomorrow. All visitors must still check in with either attendance of the main office. Thank you again for understanding the importance of this process.  

As a reminder, all students should have already started their summer reading. Students will be tested in the first couple weeks of school. If a student has English in their 2nd semester, they can still get their test out of the way during the beginning of the first semester. All he/she needs to do is to reach out to their 2nd semester teacher. Summer reading lists for all grade levels can be found under the students tab on the SWHS website. https://www.gcsnc.com/southwest_guilford_high

In regards to Safety and security, one of our two main entrances have now been installed with magnetic door locks with surveillance. We are anticipating the other install over the next month. We are also expecting a pilot program for a student identification card system as well as a visitor monitoring system. We will keep everyone updated as we receive these programs in place. Thank you for working with these changes and understanding that these measures are being put in place to increase the level of safety and security at SWHS.
Also, 

As it relates to athletic schedules, please visit the SWHS Athletics page at www.cowboysports.org and contact Coach Christman with any athletics concerns.

Monday, August 27
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
4:00 PM Womens Varsity Golf Glenn Home 
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis East Forsyth High School Away

Tuesday, August 28
3:30 PM Womens Varsity Golf Tri-Meet w/ Ragsdale and HP Central Home 
4:30 PM Womens Junior Varsity Tennis High Point Christian Academy Home 
5:00 PM Coed Varsity Cross Country 2018 Guilford County Cross Country Championship Home 
5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Volleyball Parkland High School Away 
5:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Soccer Ragsdale High School Home 
6:30 PM Womens Varsity Volleyball Parkland High School Away 
7:00 PM Mens Varsity Soccer Ragsdale High School Home

Wednesday, August 29
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis Mount Tabor High School Away 
7:00 PM Mens Junior Varsity Football High Point Central High School Home

Thursday, August 30 
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis Asheboro High School Home 
5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Volleyball Mount Tabor High School Away 
5:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Soccer Ronald Reagan High School Away 
6:30 PM Womens Varsity Volleyball Mount Tabor High School Away 
7:00 PM Mens Varsity Soccer Ronald Reagan High School Away 
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Football High Point Central High School Away 

Friday, August 31 
No Athletics

Remember, you are always able to access this message on our school website under School News and titled Principal's Weekly Updates or on Facebook and Twitter and soon, Instagram. Please follow Southwest High School at SouthwestGHS for Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! This is a great way for us to communicate and stay connected. 

We are... Southwest!

SWHS Principal's weekly updates for August 20th

Good evening, this is Mike Hettenbach, Principal of Southwest Guilford High School with some updates and reminders...

Only one week to go! Tomorrow, Monday, is the Open House for all High Schools from 5:30-7:00. This is an opportunity for you and your child to walk the halls, and visit teachers. Plenty of groups will be present to assist you with your connection and needs associated with SWHS such as the PTSA, Transportation Department, School Nutrition, and more.

All schedules have now been picked up or delivered.  Hopefully each of you have seen the most updated version of your schedule.  At this time, if you need more guidance with your schedule, feel free to contact the assigned counselor. Counseling responsibilities are now alphabetically assigned in grades 10-12.

9th grade will all have Ms. Compton

A-D  - Ms. Graves

E-L - Mr.  Hawkins

M-R - Mrs. Richards

S-Z - Mrs. Hudgens 
Please remember that our enrollment fluctuates as we continue to approach the first day, and even thereafter. This can cause shifts in the overall scheduling matrix. Please understand that if your child's schedule varies on the morning of homeroom, there are multiple reasons that can cause these last minute changes. 

Freshman Orientation is on Thursday, August 23rd with only students reporting from 8:30AM -12:30 and parents reporting that evening from 6:30PM to 8:00PM. This orientation has proven to be extremely successful in providing a very successful transition for both the students and parents who attend this event. 

The first day for all students is Monday, August 27th. All students should have already started their summer reading. Students will be tested in the first couple weeks of school. If a student has English in their 2nd semester, they can still get their test out of the way during the beginning of the first semester. Summer reading lists for all grade levels can be found under the students tab on the SWHS website. https://www.gcsnc.com/southwest_guilford_high

In regards to Safety and security, one of our two main entrances have now been installed with magnetic door locks with surveillance. We are anticipating the other install over the next month. We are also expecting a pilot program for a student identification card system as well as a visitor monitoring system. We will keep everyone updated as we receive these programs in place. Thank you for working with these changes and understanding that these measures are being put in place to increase the level of safety and security at SWHS.

As it relates to athletic schedules, please visit the SWHS Athletics page at www.cowboysports.org and contact Coach Christman with any athletics concerns. 

Monday, August 20 
5:30 - 7:00 PM Open House
4:00 PM Womens Varsity Golf Cancelled- Conference Meet @ Jamestown Golf Course hosted by SW Guilford Home 
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis High Point Christian Academy Home 
6:30 PM Mens Varsity Soccer Postponed- Cornerstone Charter Academy Away

Tuesday, August 21 
5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Volleyball Northern Guilford High School Home 
5:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Soccer Glenn Away 
6:00 PM Coed Varsity Cross Country Rumble at the Ridge- hosted by WCA @ SWGHS Home 
6:30 PM Womens Varsity Volleyball Northern Guilford High School Home 
7:00 PM Mens Varsity Soccer Glenn Away 

Wednesday, August 22 
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis Ben L. Smith High School Home 
5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Volleyball Wheatmore High School Home 
6:30 PM Womens Varsity Volleyball Wheatmore High School Home 
7:00 PM Mens Junior Varsity Football Union Pines HS Home 

Thursday, August 23 
8:30AM - 12:30PM   Freshmen Orientation (Students)
6:30PM - 8:00PM     Parent Orientation for Freshmen
4:00 PM Womens Varsity Golf High Point Central High School Away 
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis High Point Central High School Home 
5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Volleyball Ragsdale High School Away 
5:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Soccer High Point Central High School Home 
6:30 PM Womens Varsity Volleyball Ragsdale High School Away 
7:00 PM Mens Varsity Soccer High Point Central High School Home 

Friday, August 24 
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Football High Point ANDREWS Home

Remember, you are always able to access this message on our school website under School News and titled Principal's Weekly Updates or on Facebook and Twitter and soon, Instagram. Please follow Southwest High School at SouthwestGHS for Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! This is a great way for us to communicate and stay connected. 

We are... Southwest!

SWHS Principal's Updates and reminders for the week of August 13

Good evening, this is Mike Hettenbach, Principal of Southwest Guilford High School with some updates and reminders...

Let the countdown begin, only 2 weeks before school begins! I hope that each and every one of you are still enjoying your summer. As a reminder, for those of you new to my communications, you will receive a weekly phone message on Sunday evenings around 6:30PM. This message will be posted on the school's website, posted to Facebook and Twitter and I am still working to get future postings on Instagram as well. This will be a great way to review my messages and keep you connected to what's happening on the ranch. 

All schedules being delivered to the home has now been moved up to August 15th, however, if you would like to pick up your schedule early, seniors and juniors can stop by Monday between noon and 4, while freshmen and sophomores can stop by the school on Tuesday between noon and 4. While all remaining schedules will be delivered to the post office on the 15th, please allow the postal service a few days to get them to your mailbox. Additionally, counselors will not be taking any schedule change requests until the first 5 days of school. More directions will follow. At that time, if you need more guidance with your schedule, feel free to contact the assigned counselor. Counseling responsibilities are now alphabetically assigned in grades 10-12.

9th grade will all have Ms. Compton

A-D  - Ms. Graves

E-L - Mr.  Hawkins

M-R - Mrs. Richards

S-Z - Mrs. Hudgens 

Open House is Monday August 20th from 5:30-7:00. This schedule was set by GCS in order to reduce any conflicts between all schools, specifically, elementary and middle. This will be an opportunity for students and parents to locate classrooms and have conversation with the teachers. This will also be an opportunity to sign up for the PTSA, order the jean day incentive bracelet, pay for the student parking lot pass, and more. It is important to become well versed with the student dress code before you go shopping for clothes. You can find that dress code on the SWHS website. Last, GCS recently increased the student parking lot passes to $30 for the year so we feel it is important you are aware of this information prior to the start of the school year. Part of this fee will return to the school for safety and security purchases. You will have the opportunity to pay for your child's parking pass at open house.

Freshman Orientation is on Thursday, August 23rd with only students reporting from 8:30AM -12:30 and parents reporting that evening from 6:30PM to 8:00. This orientation has proven to be extremely successful in providing a very successful transition for both the students and parents who attend this event. 

The first day for all students is Monday, August 27th. All students should have already started their summer reading. Students will be tested in the first couple weeks of school. If a student has English in their 2nd semester, they can still get their test out of the way during the beginning of the first semester. Summer reading lists for all grade levels can be found under the students tab on the SWHS website. https://www.gcsnc.com/southwest_guilford_high

In regards to Safety and security, one of our two main entrances have now been installed with magnetic door locks with surveillance. We are anticipating the other install before the school year starts. We are also expecting a pilot program for a student identification card system as well as a visitor monitoring system. We will keep everyone updated as we receive these programs in place. Thank you for working with these changes and understanding that these measures are being put in place to increase the level of safety and security at SWHS.

As it relates to athletic schedules, please visit the SWHS Athletics page at www.cowboysports.org and contact Coach Christman with any athletics concerns. 

Monday, August 13 
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis Ragsdale High School Home 
Noon - 4:00PM      Seniors and Juniors Schedule pick up

Tuesday, August 14 
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis Southeast Guilford High School Away 
5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Volleyball East Forsyth High School Away 
5:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Soccer Ragsdale High School Away 
6:30 PM Womens Varsity Volleyball East Forsyth High School Away 
7:00 PM Mens Varsity Soccer Ragsdale High School Away 
Noon - 4:00PM      Sophomores and Freshmen Schedule pick up

Wednesday, August 15 
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis Trinity High School Home 

Thursday, August 16 
4:30 PM Womens Varsity Tennis High Point Central High School Away 
5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Volleyball Glenn Away 
5:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Soccer Southern Alamance HS Home 
6:30 PM Womens Varsity Volleyball Glenn Away 
7:00 PM Mens Varsity Soccer Southern Alamance HS Home 

Friday, August 17 
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Football R J Reynolds High School Endowment Game Away
No workday for 10 and 12 month GCS employees

Coming up...

Monday, August 20
5:30 - 7:00 PM Open House

Thursday, August 23
8:30AM - 12:30PM   Freshmen Orientation (Students)
6:30PM - 8:00PM     Parent Orientation for Freshmen

Remember, you are always able to access this message on our school website under School News and titled Principal's Weekly Updates or on Facebook and Twitter and soon, Instagram. Please follow Southwest High School at SouthwestGHS for both Twitter and Facebook. This is a great way for us to communicate and stay connected. 

We are... Southwest!