SWHS Principal's weekly updates and reminders for January 28th

Good evening Southwest community!

The first semester is over and teachers are working on grades. With the Grading issues from the state, our report card distribution is on hold at this moment. Please understand that this only impacted our Q1 and Q2 grades, not the final grades or GPAs for SWHS.  

A gentle reminder that tomorrow is a mandated workday for all staff, therefore students do not come to school. The first day of the second semester starts Tuesday and all students will report to their homeroom before being guided to their 1st block class. Their new schedule sheet will be provided to each student in homeroom. As I mentioned at the beginning of each semester, with the fluctuation of enrollment, it is common for us to have to adjust the scheduling matrix. This is turn could impact student schedules. I am happy to tell you that we had to make very few matrix changes considering we are a school of 1600 students. Thank you for your understanding.

ACT Prep Academy is Thursday, Feb. 7 Say Yes Guilford will host an ACT Prep Academy on Thursday, Feb. 7, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown Campus, Center for Advanced Manufacturing,

located at 6012 W. Gate City Blvd. Juniors and seniors who will be taking the ACT in Spring 2019 or Fall 2019 are invited to attend.

Free admission with registration or on-site registration link: www.tinyurl.com/SayYesAct2019

Please mark your calendar as February 11th is the PTSA Walk the Schedule Night. This is an opportunity to meet your student's teachers for the 2nd semester. The event starts at 5:30 in the SWHS Auditorium and will then proceed into following your student's schedule. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Another great event is February 25th. This is our curriculum night for all under classmen and rising 9th graders. Spread the word! While all students and parents will be able to interact with teachers of all the curricular opportunities at SW, we will also have an AP potential overview as well as a FAFSA completion session for those who haven’t completed the FAFSA or have questions regarding it. 

This night is a no miss event!

We continue to see great improvements in such a short time with the OneCard system. Please reinforce to your student to be wearing the card at all times. We want the students in the habit of displaying the cards at all times, blue lanyard around the neck, not in the pocket, not inside the shirt, etc. As I have mentioned before, this is a safety and security layer that has been added to the school and we greatly appreciate your support with this project. There will be more features surrounding the OneCard, so it is important to get in the habit of wearing it at all times. Please know all students will be responsible for card and lanyard replacements come February 1st. 

As it relates to athletic schedules, please visit the SWHS Athletics page at www.cowboysports.org

Monday, January 28

No School for students - Mandatory workday for teachers - Parent conferences if needed
4:30 PM Coed Varsity Track GCS Championships @ JDL Fast Track Home
6:00-8:00 PTSA Meeting - Room C132

Tuesday, January 29

First day of the 2nd semester

8:35 - 8:55 Homeroom

5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball Dudley Senior High School Home 

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling OPEN DATE 1st Rd. 3A State Playoffs Home 

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Dudley Senior High School Away 

6:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Dudley Senior High School Home 

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Dudley Senior High School Away

Wednesday, January 30

4:30 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Home 

6:00 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Home 

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Away 

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Away

Thursday, January 31

4:30 PM Coed Varsity Track Southeast Guilford High School Last Chance Qualifier @ SEGHS Away 

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling OPEN DATE 3rd Round NCHSAA 3A Playoffs @ TBA Home

6:00 PM Beta Club Inductions Media Center

Friday, February 1

TBA Coed Varsity Swimming OPEN DATE NCHSAA 3A Regional Playoffs@ TBA Home

Wednesday, February 6

3:30pm - Report card distribution - Homeroom

Thursday, February 7th

5:30-7:30 ACT Prep Academy Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown Campus, Center for Advanced Manufacturing

Friday, February 8th

PTSA Soup Luncheon for the staff - Contact the PTSA if you would like to help. 

Monday, February 11

5:30-7:30 Walk the Schedule Night 

Wednesday, February 13

7:45 - 8:30 - Leadership Team Meeting - Media Center

Monday, February 25

5:00 - 7:00 Curriculum Fair

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, Twitter and 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 and reminders for January 21

Good evening Southwest community!

As we continue state testing after the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day holiday, please join me in remembering the legacy of this influential civil rights leader and beloved icon. Dr. King was a racial justice leader and organizer whose influence is still felt today and he is known as one of the greatest non-violence leaders the world has seen. I truly believe Dr. King deserves to be meaningfully recognized on MLK Day and beyond. Thank you for assisting me in this recognition. 

Parents, and students.....Exams have begun. 

ALL teacher made exams have been completed, and we are now under way with state exams. Students who do not have a state exam will not need to come to school on those specified days. Also, please know that state exam days end at 1:30, with the possibility or an earlier release if all state exams end prior to that time. Buses will start their runs as soon as we dismiss from school. Additionally, please understand that the responsibilities to provide our students the magnitude of these state exams, this means we use all of our teachers for administering and proctoring these exams. Thank you for understanding the responsibilities of our staff during this time. 

January 21st - MLK HOLIDAY

Day 5 - January 22nd, Tuesday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 2 CTEs,EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing, Multiple Test Day Accommodations & Block 1 Make Ups

Day 6 - January 23rd, Wednesday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 3 CTEs,EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing, Multiple Test Day Accommodations & Block 2 Make Ups

Day 7 - January 24th, Thursday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 4 CTEs,EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing, Multiple Test Day Accommodations & Block 3 Make Ups

Day 8 - January 25th, Friday- - 8:35 - 1:30 - only for students who are needing to make up exams - EOC and NCFE make up exams

January 28th, Monday - Mandated workday - Parent Conference Day - please request a conference with any teacher if necessary. 

February 11th is the PTSA Walk the Schedule Night. This is an opportunity to meet your student's teachers. The event starts at 5:30 in the SWHS Auditorium and will then proceed into following your student's schedule. We look forward to seeing you there. 

February 25th is a curriculum night for all under classmen and rising 9th graders. Spread the word! While all students and parents will be able to interact with teachers of all the curricular opportunities at SW, we will also have an AP potential overview as well as a FAFSA completion session for those who haven’t completed the FAFSA or have questions regarding it. 

This night is a no miss event!

Thank you for supporting the OneCard system.  We continue to see great improvements in such a short time. Please reinforce to your student to be wearing the card at all times. We want the students in the habit of displaying the cards at all times, blue lanyard around the neck, not in the pocket, not inside the shirt, etc. As I have mentioned before, this is a safety and security layer that has been added to the school and we greatly appreciate your support with this project. There will be more features surrounding the OneCard, so it is important to get in the habit of wearing it at all times. Please know all students will be responsible for card and lanyard replacements come February 1st. 

As it relates to athletic schedules, please visit the SWHS Athletics page at www.cowboysports.org

Monday, January 21

Holiday - No School for staff and students

Tuesday, January 22

State Exams - BLOCK 2 - Day ends at 1:30

Wednesday, January 23

State Exams - BLOCK 3 - Day ends at 1:30
4:30 PM Coed Varsity Track Cancelled- Southeast Guilford High School GCS Polar Bear Meet @ SEGHS Away

Thursday, January 24

State Exams - BLOCK 4 - Day ends at 1:30

5:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Mount Tabor High School Home 

Friday, January 25

State Exams - Make Ups Only

5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball Glenn Away 
6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Ben L. Smith High School Home 
6:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Ben L. Smith High School Away 
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Ben L. Smith High School Home

Saturday, January 26

8:00AM - Noon Saturday School - Media Center

Monday, January 28

No School for students - Mandatory workday for teachers - Parent conferences if needed
4:30 PM Coed Varsity Track GCS Championships @ JDL Fast Track Home
6:00-8:00 PTSA Meeting - Room C132

Tuesday, January 29

First day of the 2nd semester

8:35 - 8:55 Homeroom

5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball Dudley Senior High School Home 

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling OPEN DATE 1st Rd. 3A State Playoffs Home 

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Dudley Senior High School Away 

6:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Dudley Senior High School Home 

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Dudley Senior High School Away

Wednesday, January 30

4:30 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Home 

6:00 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Home 

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Away 

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Away

Thursday, January 31

4:30 PM Coed Varsity Track Southeast Guilford High School Last Chance Qualifier @ SEGHS Away 

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling OPEN DATE 3rd Round NCHSAA 3A Playoffs @ TBA Home

Friday, February 1

TBA Coed Varsity Swimming OPEN DATE NCHSAA 3A Regional Playoffs@ TBA Home

Wednesday, February 6

3:30pm - Report card distribution - Homeroom

Monday, February 11

5:30-7:30 Walk the Schedule Night 

Wednesday, February 13

7:45 - 8:30 - Leadership Team Meeting - Media Center

Monday, February 25

5:00 - 7:00 Curriculum Fair

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, Twitter and 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 January 14

Good evening Southwest community!

We are now heading into the beginning of exams. 

While just a few teachers begin their exams on Tuesday, ALL teacher made exams begin on Wednesday and Thursday. These are regular days however, the bells are slightly altered on these days. While our staff will be sharing these exam day schedules with the students, please help us by reiterating them to your child. State exams officially begin on Friday with block one state exams. Students who do not have a state exam will not need to come to school on those days. Also, please know that state exam days end at 1:30. Buses will start their runs as soon as we dismiss from school. Please understand that the responsibilities to provide our students state exams means we use all of our teachers for administering and proctoring these exams. 

Day 1 - January 15th, Tuesday - Full Day for all students, normal bell schedule - Teacher made exams (part 1) only if approved by Mr. Hettenbach

Day 2 - January 16th, Wednesday - Full day for ALL students - slightly modified bell schedule - 1st and 3rd block teacher made exams ONLY - class times will be extended for blocks 1 and 3

Day 3 - January 17th, Thursday - Full day for ALL students - slightly modified bell schedule - 2nd and 4th block teacher made exams ONLY - class times will be extended for blocks 2 and 4.

Day 4 - January 18th, Friday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 1 CTEs, EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing

January 21st - HOLIDAY

Day 5 - January 22nd, Tuesday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 2 CTEs,EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing, Multiple Test Day Accommodations & Block 1 Make Ups

Day 6 - January 23rd, Wednesday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 3 CTEs,EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing, Multiple Test Day Accommodations & Block 2 Make Ups

Day 7 - January 24th, Thursday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 4 CTEs,EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing, Multiple Test Day Accommodations & Block 3 Make Ups

Day 8 - January 25th, Friday- - 8:35 - 1:30 - only for students who are needing to make up exams - EOC and NCFE make up exams

January 28th, Monday - Mandated workday - Parent Conference Day - please request a conference with any teacher if necessary. 

The OneCard system has now been through 12 days of operation. We have seen great improvements in such a short time. Please reinforce to your student to be wearing the card at all times. We want the students in the habit of displaying the cards at all times, blue lanyard around the neck, not in the pocket, not inside the shirt, etc. As I have mentioned before, this is a safety and security layer that has been added to the school and we greatly appreciate your support with this project. Please know all students will be responsible for card and lanyard replacements come February 1st. 

As it relates to athletic schedules, please visit the SWHS Athletics page at www.cowboysports.org

Monday, January 14

5:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Conference Meet @ Greensboro Aquatics Center Away 

Tuesday, January 15

5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball Mount Tabor High School Away 

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Mount Tabor High School Home 

6:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Mount Tabor High School Away 

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Mount Tabor High School Home 

Wednesday, January 16

7:45AM - 8:30AM - Leadership Team Meeting - Media Center

TEACHER MADE EXAMS - BLOCKS 1 and 3

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Tri-Conference Meet vs. WG and Dudley Home

Thursday, January 17
TEACHER MADE EXAMS - BLOCKS 2 and 4

5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball High Point ANDREWS Home 

5:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Ragsdale High School Meet @ Ragsdale YMCA Away 6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Mike Raybon Invitational @ TBA Home 

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball North Forsyth High School Away 

6:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball North Forsyth High School Home 

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball North Forsyth High School Away 

Friday, January 18

State Exams - BLOCK 1 - Day ends at 1:30

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Sarah Wilkes Invitational @ Morehead High School Away

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Parkland High School Home

6:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Parkland High School Away

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Parkland High School Home

Saturday, January 19

9:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Mike Raybon Invitational @ TBA Home 

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Hickory High School MLK Classic vs. Hickory HS @ Atkins HS

8:00AM - 1:00PM School is open for Final Exam Boot Camps. Check with your child's teachers if they have exam preparation opportunities.

Monday, January 21
Holiday - No School for staff and students

Tuesday, January 22

State Exams - BLOCK 2 - Day ends at 1:30

Wednesday, January 23

State Exams - BLOCK 3 - Day ends at 1:30

Thursday, January 24

State Exams - BLOCK 4 - Day ends at 1:30

Friday, January 25
State Exams - Make Ups Only

Saturday, January 26

8:00AM - Noon Saturday School - Media Center

Monday, January 28

No School for students - Mandatory workday for teachers - Parent conferences if needed

Tuesday, January 29

First day of the 2nd semester

Monday, February 11

PTSA 2nd Semester Walk the Schedule - 5:30-7:30 

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, Twitter and 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 Reminders and Updates for January 7

Good evening Southwest community!

We had a great couple of days getting back in the swing of the new year. I hope each and every student is ready for this last push as we approach final exams.  

As a reminder, we started this past week 5 minutes early. Nothing else has changed in the schedule other than students being guided to class at 8:30 and the late bell being 8:35 instead of 8:40. Please make sure you remind your child so they are not marked tardy to start their mornings.

This coming Friday is a Palladium Chic Fila PTSA day. Please visit the Palladium Chic FilA breakfast, lunch or dinner and mention SWHS to have proceeds returned to the PTSA!

The 1st semester exam schedule has been finalized. We now have 7 regular school days until teacher made exams start, and 9 until state testing begins. As we have very little time left in the semester, every minute of every class is crucial. Please reach out to your child's teachers with any questions and/or concerns. Also, please reinforce the importance of finishing up strong, especially with such little time left in the semester. 

Exams will be given the last 8 days of the semester. This schedule can be found on the School's website. 

Day 1 - January 15th, Tuesday - Full Day for all students, normal bell schedule - Teacher made exams (part 1) only if approved by Mr. Hettenbach

Day 2 - January 16th, Wednesday - Full day for ALL students - slightly modified bell schedule - 1st and 3rd block teacher made exams ONLY - class times will be extended for blocks 1 and 3

Day 3 - January 17th, Thursday - Full day for ALL students - slightly modified bell schedule - 2nd and 4th block teacher made exams ONLY - class times will be extended for blocks 2 and 4.

Day 4 - January 18th, Friday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 1 CTEs, EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing

January 21st - HOLIDAY

Day 5 - January 22nd, Tuesday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 2 CTEs,EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing, Multiple Test Day Accommodations & Block 1 Make Ups

Day 6 - January 23rd, Wednesday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 3 CTEs,EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing, Multiple Test Day Accommodations & Block 2 Make Ups

Day 7 - January 24th, Thursday - 8:35 - 1:30 - Block 4 CTEs,EOC and NCFEs; Afternoon schedule – EC Extended Time Testing, Multiple Test Day Accommodations & Block 3 Make Ups

Day 8 - January 25th, Friday- - 8:35 - 1:30 - only for students who are needing to make up excams - EOC and NCFE make up exams

January 28th, Monday - Mandated workday - Parent Conference Day - please request a conference with any teacher if necessary. 

The OneCard system has now been through 7 days of operation. We have seen great improvements in such a short time. Please reinforce to your student to be wearing the card at all times. We want the students in the habit of displaying the cards at all times, blue lanyard around the neck, not in the pocket, not inside the shirt, etc. As I have mentioned before, this is a safety and security layer that has been added to the school and we greatly appreciate your support with this project. 

As it relates to athletic schedules, please visit the SWHS Athletics page at www.cowboysports.org

Monday, January 7

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Ben L. Smith High School Away
6:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Ben L. Smith High School Home
6:30 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Conference Meet @ Smith Pool Away
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Ben L. Smith High School Away

Tuesday, January 8
7:00PM Chorus Concert - Auditorium
4:30 PM Coed Varsity Track SWGHS Invitational @ JDL Home
5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball Summit School Home
6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Western Guilford High School Away
6:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Western Guilford High School Home
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Western Guilford High School Away

Wednesday, January 9
6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling North Forsyth High School Away

Friday, January 11
PTSA Chic FilA Day - Support the PTSA by visiting the Chic FilA Palladium and mention SWHS
6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Sarah Wilkes Invitational @ Morehead High School Away
6:00PM Womens Varsity Basketball Parkland High School Home
6:30PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Parkland High School Away
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Parkland High School Home

Saturday, January 12
9:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Sarah Wilkes Invitational @ Morehead High School Away
8:00AM - 1:00PM School is open for Final Exam Boot Camps. Check with your child's teachers if they have exam preparation opportunities.

Wednesday, January 16
7:45 - 8:30AM Leadership Team Meeting

Saturday, January 26
8:00AM - Noon Saturday School - Media Center

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, Twitter and 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!