Sunday, March 29, 2020

SWGHS Principal's weekly updates for March 30th

Good evening Southwest,

I hope this message finds you all staying healthy, practicing social distance, getting exercise, and staying on top of what your teachers are providing

This past week, we officially started e-learningWhile our teachers have started delivering instruction this week to keep our students growing minds fresh, please make sure your student is accessing Canvas on a daily basis to work on their assignments.  Also, the teachers and administration have access to monitor if, when and how long students are accessing Canvas. This gives us a great idea if your student is staying on top of the academics being delivered to them. We will start calling to make sure you check on your student so they are in fact accessing their academics that our teachers are working so hard to provide. As a parent, please know you have the capability to be on canvas with your student to personally monitor their work. There is a link embedded in this blog if you wish to sign on. 




EOGs, EOCs, and related Alternate Assessments will not be administered this Spring 2020 per the approved State Testing Waiver submitted to the USDOE.
NCFEs are administered due to state policies. Once more information is provided by the General Assembly, an update on NCFEs will be communicated. 

The College Board has released the following information regarding AP exams:
· Traditional face-to-face AP exams will not take place.
· Students will take a 45-minute secure online exam from home on a computer, tablet or phone. Students may also complete exams with paper and pencil and submit by photo.
· Students will be able to choose between two possible exam dates for each exam. The dates will be announced April 3.
· Exams will consist of free-response questions (no multiple choice) that will only cover content which would have been covered in most classrooms by early March.
· While students will also have the option of cancelling their exam order with no penalty fee, GCS strongly encourages students to take the exam which will still be accepted by universities for credit and advanced placement.

· Teachers will continue to provide daily instruction on content covered by the exam as well as other major concepts that students would be expected to know for future college courses. o Students should take full advantage of practice resources on AP Classroom. o The College Board has also released free daily video lessons conducted by AP teachers across the nation which focus on high impact topics and skills. The full daily schedule is available online. The videos will also be available on the GCS AG Webpage. · Students may access the most recent updates from College Board here. 

You also may have seen some news related to seniors and getting a pass/fail grade. I will be receiving more information with further clarification on this as there were many questions created by this delivery of news. As soon as I receive all specifications, I will share them with you. Please know it is still very important to stay on top of what the teachers are delivering regardless of the outcome. The process in being educated is second to none. Please make sure you assist us with keeping your student engaged academically throughout the remainder of the year. 
Please continue to stay healthy, exercise, sanitize not only your hands, but items you touch. Social distancing is absolutely key to slowing this pandemic down.



Please make sure you all are signed up for your teachers' and counselors'  reminds if they have one to stay in touch besides as well as checking their websites for any necessary instructions to access online learning opportunities.

If you do not have internet, we want to remind you of Spectrum's free 60 day trial for internet service. If not, please call them at 1-844-488-8398
FAQs regarding this process can be found on the Southwest website under the Contact us tab at the top of the Southwest Guilford High School website. There will also be a link to submit a question you may need an answer for. 

Be on the lookout on our social media platforms as well as on our website under students services for the SEL activity for the week. Thank you to Ms. Farmer for leading the charge on this! This will start this upcoming week!
A gentle reminder that we have amazing staff on site who can support you during these times. Please make sure you reference this attachment in case you need anything
Please continue to stay healthy Southwest. Our staff continue to work extremely hard behind the scenes transforming their delivery of education to best serve your student at this time. We also know your lives have been turned upside down as well. Feel free to e-mail your students' teachers if you need assistance with your student's work, or call any of our support staff if your student needs extra support. I miss each and every one of you and can not wait to see you real soon!  Thank you very much, have a great night, practice social distancing please, and remember we are... Southwest!

Friday, March 20, 2020

SWGHS Principal's weekly updates for March 23

Good evening Southwest,

I highly recommend you connect to our social media platforms, as well as Guilford County School's if you haven't done so already. 

This Monday, we officially start e-learning. While our teachers have started delivering instruction this week to keep our students growing minds fresh, please make sure your student is accessing Canvas on a daily basis to work on their assignments.  

Starting this Monday, March 23, the building is no longer open to the public except by appointment and between the hours of 10am-2pm. You must e-mail Mrs. Flores at floresz@gcsnc.com to set up that appointment.
Please remember to stay healthy, exercise, sanitize not only your hands, but items you touch. Social distancing is absolutely key to slowing this pandemic down.

As we enter these uncharted waters, it is vital to keep each other up. We must, and we will persevere through this together.

Perseverance is like any other mindset skill. It’s not something that you either have or don’t have, it is a skill that can be trained, improved, or lost without practice. Perseverance can open up doors that you otherwise couldn’t walk through. As you face difficult tests, intimidating presentations, and complex classwork, perseverance will be the difference between you succeeding or falling short of your goals.

The definition of perseverance is as follows: “persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” How do we train persistence when facing difficulty? Let’s look to athletes and understand how they train this crucial skill. In a variety of sports, athletes will go through grueling practices. At the very end of a long and difficult practice, there will be some form of conditioning: pushups, situps, running sprints, etc. Why do they do that last little spurt of conditioning at the end? Because a pushup is easy for an athlete at the beginning of practice. It’s not so easy after you are tired, covered in sweat, and aching from a full practice of being tested physically. That last minute conditioning isn’t to make the body physically stronger, but to make the mind stronger, pushing through fatigue purposely.

Muhammad Ali famously said, “I don’t count my sit-ups; I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count.” He didn’t bother worrying about the reps that were easy to get because he wanted to improve his perseverance. His ability to work at the highest levels when he was tired and facing difficulty allowed him to reach the championship in boxing. He was incredibly talented and had many physical tools working for him, but nothing was more beneficial than his mindset.
 - Academicmindset@gmail.com



CHECK THIS OUT!!!

How to Work with Canvas Tutorial
This tutorial will help students with how to work with Canvas. Parents can also watch to be able to assist their students. 

Sessions will be held Monday, March 23rd at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm

Join when you can out of those times. If you cannot join during these times, a recording of the tutorial will be posted, or if demand is high for more sessions they will be announced.

There is a limit of 100 viewers per session. If you cannot get in, it may be full. 

Hosted by OUR VERY OWN: Ms. Powell and Mr. Baker 

Sessions are Live-streamed using Zoom
Meeting ID: 242-736-235


You do not have to have an account to be able to join. It can be used on any device. 

More resources:


Please make sure you all are signed up for your teacher's remind if they have one to stay in touch besides as well as checking their websites for any  necessary instructions to access online learning opportunities.

If you do not have internet, we want to remind you of Spectrum's free 60 day trial for internet service. If not, please call them at 1-844-488-8398
FAQs regarding this process can be found on the Southwest website under the Contact us tab at the top of the Southwest Guilford High School website. There will also be a link to submit a question you may need an answer for. 

Be on the lookout on our social media platforms as well as on our website under students services for the SEL activity for the week. Thank you to Ms. farmer for leading the charge on this! This will start this upcoming week!
A gentle reminder that we have amazing staff on site who can support you during these times. Please make sure you reference this attachment in case you need anything
Please stay healthy Southwest. I love you all and please know this staff has been working tirelessly this week transforming their delivery of education to best serve your student at this time. We also know your lives have been turned upside down. Feel free to e-mail your student's teachers if you need assistance with your student's work, or call any of our support staff if your student needs extra support. Thank you very much, have a great night, practice social distancing please, and remember we are... Southwest!

Friday, March 13, 2020

SWGHS Principal's weekly updates for March 16...

Hello Southwest!


Tomorrow, students who signed up to take the SAT on our campus should know it is still scheduled to take place. 

Here is the most updated communication from GCS:


COVID-19 UPDATE (Mar. 12, 2020; 6:50pm): GCS announced several new protocols to help limit the spread of COVID-19. The district made the changes as state officials announced the virus had spread to more North Carolina counties.
Effective Friday, March 13, GCS is:
Postponing and/or cancelling school and district events of 100 people or more such as concerts, plays, theater productions, dances and assemblies
Canceling all student field trips and travel.
Restricting visitor and volunteer access to schools to parents or guardians only.
Read more here: http://bit.ly/2IIwqMd
A reminder of my announcement I made and sent to staff via e-mail.  

I will continue to update everyone on where Southwest Guilford High Stands as it relates to the coronavirus. As soon as I gte information I will share it via our social media platforms. You may see it or read it on Guilford County Schools social media platforms before me so it is important to be connected not only to those sites, but to make sure your information is updated specifically your phone numbers. If you are reading this blog and are not getting ours, or Guilford County's phone calls, please contact our data manager, Mrs. Kristy Cline immediately.   

I also shared this over the announcements today at school to students and staff and this information may be redundant as you may already are aware of this:

At this time we still have school on Monday.
All clubs will not meet at this time
No one outside of students and staff will be allowed in any classroom
All meetings that involve parents, such as conferences, PTSA booster clubs, etc should meet online only. All field trips even to neighboring schools are canceled
All athletics will be suspended as of midnight tonight through April 6.
Staff and parents should make every effort to prepare students’ lunches before school and not deliver them to school. Of course, lunches in the cafeteria will still be provided.
As a reminder, the coronivarus pandemic is by nature unpredictable. Our plans and communications  will continue to change as new information and additional guidance are received from public health experts. Continue to refrain from any information that has not been shared by either myself, Guilford County Schools, The Guilford Health Department as well as the state of North Carolina.
If we do close, the school system is currently working on online as well as other means to provide you with ongoing academics.
I am very proud of our staff and students along with their families for refraining from passing inaccurate information. You all are the best!


A gentle reminder that when entering our parking lot, please reduce your speed.

It’s Registration Time!  Students are now meeting with their school counselor between February 24th through April 17th  to review their course requests and prepare for next school year.  We thank you for partnering with us as we strive for academic excellence for your child.  If you have questions or concerns regarding registration, please contact your student's counselor.
The registration book for the 2020-2021 school year is now available and a link for the book can be found within this blog:






As it relates to athletic schedules, please visit the SWHS Athletics page  

at 

www.cowboysports.org

Monday, March 16 

Tuesday, March 17 
8:30AM - 12:30AM - ACT Make up Day

Wednesday, March 18 
Leadership team Meeting - see e-mail - no face to face meeting

Thursday, March 19 

Friday, March 20 

Saturday, March 21
8:00 AM - Noon - Saturday School - Media Center - CANCELED

Thursday, March 26
3rd quarter Grading Period ends

Tuesday, March 31
8:30-12:30 Cap and Gown Pictures - Seniors - Coggins Gym


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 TwitterFacebook, and Instagram! This is a great way for us to communicate and stay connected. 

We are... Southwest!

Friday, March 6, 2020

SWGHS Principal's weekly updates for the week of March 9

Hello Southwest!


First and foremost, a gentle reminder to move your clocks forward this weekend!



As I have shared previously, we have asked students who may have interest for sign language classes if we were able to offer it. Please make sure your student speaks to their counselor to sign up if they have interest. Again, this will only go into effect if we have enough interest. At the moment, our interest level seems to be high. Keep it up!



It’s Registration Time!  Students are now meeting with their school counselor between February 24th through April 17th  to review their course requests and prepare for next school year.  We thank you for partnering with us as we strive for academic excellence for your child.  If you have questions or concerns regarding registration, please contact your student's counselor.
The registration book for the 2020-2021 school year is now available and a link for the book can be found within this blog:



As it relates to the ongoing discussions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, please reinforce the following procedures: 

·         Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing the nose, coughing or sneezing.
·         Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.
·         Stay at home if sick.

While Guilford County Schools are providing us with extra cleaning supplies and sanitizer dispensers very soon, I have also purchased extra sanitizer and dispensers to put around the school. Please remind your student of the above practices shared. 




As it relates to athletic schedules, please visit the SWHS Athletics page  

at 

www.cowboysports.org

Monday, March 9
6pm - Winter Awards Banquet - Auditorium
4:00 PM Mens Varsity Golf Conference Meet @ Jamestown Golf Course hosted by
SW Guilford Home
4:30 PM Mens Varsity Tennis Western Guilford High School Away

Tuesday, March 10
4:30 PM Mens Varsity Tennis Cornerstone Charter Academy Home 
5:30 PM Womens Varsity Lacrosse High Point Central High School Home 
7:00 PM Womens Varsity Softball South Stokes High School Away

Wednesday, March 11
4:00 PM Mens Varsity Golf East Forsyth High School Away
4:30 PM Mens Varsity Tennis Dudley Senior High School Home
4:45 PM Coed Varsity Track Tri-Meet @ SWGHS Home
5:00 PM Mens Varsity Baseball Grimsley High School *Endowment Game Home
5:00 PM Mens Junior Varsity Baseball Grimsley High School Away
5:30 PM Womens Junior Varsity Soccer Northwest Senior High School Away
6:00 PM Womens Varsity Softball Southeast Guilford High School Home
7:00 PM Mens Junior Varsity Lacrosse West Forsyth High School Away
7:00 PM Womens Varsity Soccer Northwest Senior High School Away

Thursday, March 12
5:00 PM Mens Varsity Tennis High Point Central High School Home
5:00 PM Womens Varsity Lacrosse Grimsley High School Away
5:00PM Womens Junior Varsity Softball Providence Grove High School Home
5:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Baseball Walkertown High School Away
5:30 PM Womens Junior Varsity Soccer Page High School Home
7:00 PM Mens Varsity Lacrosse Grimsley High School Away
7:00 PM Womens Varsity Soccer High Point Central High School Home
7:00 PM Womens Varsity Softball Providence Grove High School Home

Friday, March 13
5:00 PM Womens Varsity Lacrosse Ragsdale High School Away
5:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Soccer NC Leadership Academy Home
5:30 PM Womens Junior Varsity Softball NC Leadership Academy Home
7:00 PM Mens Varsity Lacrosse Ragsdale High School Away

Saturday, March 14
TBA Mens Varsity Baseball Ragsdale High School Ragsdale @ Finch Farm Field Away

Wednesday, March 18
7:30AM - Leadership team Meeting - Media Center

Saturday, March 21
8:00 AM - 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 TwitterFacebook, and Instagram! This is a great way for us to communicate and stay connected. 

We are... Southwest!