Principal's weekly updates for the Holiday break

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

A big thank you to the entire community, students, staff and parents for providing us with the support needed during this past week. I have had a tremendous amount of conversations with many of you over these past few days, particularly about poor decision making amongst our teenagers. While we can all agree that young people may make poor decisions, I think we can all agree that we can assist with minimizing those decisions, especially decisions surrounding drugs and alcohol. We must start taking as many steps as possible to be completely sure we are doing everything we can to teach, monitor and intervene when it comes to these young people. Please assist us in this process. We have lost too many young people and this must stop immediately. 

Please remind each other that we return to school from break on Wednesday January 3rd. 

Parents and students, we now have 8 full instructional days left while two of these days may have teacher made final exams being issued. As you can see, we are a blink of an eye away from being complete. Interim reports were distributed this past Monday, December 18th. Please contact your child's teachers if you did not receive them. Please make sure your child's grades are kept up, excessive attendance issues are corrected, time made up, and positive choices maintained.  If you need assistance with grade monitoring through the parent assistance program, please contact Kristy Cline through e-mail at clinek2@gcsnc.com. Exam exemptions will be distributed on Tuesday, January 9th in the cafeteria during all lunches. In order to earn an exemption card, the student must be in attendance 97% for the entire semester and without any unexcused absences.  

End of semester Final Exam Testing for non state exams will occur on Thursday, January 11th for blocks 1 and 3, and Friday, January 12th for blocks 2 and 4. These two days are regular school days. Exempting the exams on these two days do not excuse any student from school on these days, however, students do not have to attend school the following week in which their class would have been scheduled. The following week, January 16th to Friday, January 20th will test blocks 1-4 for all state exams. These 4 days will end at 1:05 for dismissal. Students should be in dress code for all exams and will not be allowed to take their exam if out of dress code. Please reach out to your child's teachers if you have more questions related to the exams. 

Freshman Focus parents, we are having a "be active" hoops/jump rope for heart day in our freshman focus classes.  On January 9^th, we are asking all Freshman Focus students to make a $2 dollar donation to participate in the event. All additional donations are certainly welcome and appreciated.

The men’s and women’s varsity basketball teams are sponsoring Hoops for Hunger for the remainder of the basketball season.  We ask that you bring non-perishable food items to the remaining home basketball games.  Green bins will be available in the gym lobby for

you to deposit your donations. All of the items donated will go to support families in need within the Southwest Schools. Hunger is not just an issue around the holidays.  Hunger is an issue every day of the year. These donations are not in lieu of the regular price of admission. We have the Sheetz holiday tournament over break as well as home games following thereafter so come on out and support the basketball program as well as the Hoops for Hunger program!

LET’S DUNK HUNGER TOGETHER!!

As it relates to the weekly athletics, please feel free to navigate to the www.cowboysports.org website for detailed information. 

Upcoming Athletic schedule, extracurricular events, and important activities:

Tuesday, December 26

9:00 AM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball NW JV Basketball Tournament Away

Wednesday, December 27

TBA Mens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

TBA Mens Junior Varsity Basketball NW JV Basketball Tournament Away

TBA Womens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

Thursday, December 28

TBA Mens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

TBA Mens Junior Varsity Basketball NW JV Basketball Tournament Away

TBA Womens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

Friday, December 29

TBA Mens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

TBA Womens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

10:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Holy Angels Tournament @ Bojangles Arena in Charlotte Away

Saturday, December 30

9:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Holy Angels Tournament @ Bojangles Arena in Charlotte Away

Wednesday, January 03 
4:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Western Guilford High School Conference game Home 
6:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming OPEN DATE Home 
6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Western Guilford High School Conference game Home 7:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Parkland High School Match Away 
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Western Guilford High School Conference game Home 

Friday, January 05 
4:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming N. Davidson Invitational @ WSSU Pool Home 
4:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Parkland High School Conference game Away 
5:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Quentin Crosby Invitational @ Dudley HS Away 
6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Parkland High School Conference game Away 
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Parkland High School Conference game Away 

Saturday, January 6
EOC boot camp - specifics to be communicated by teachers
9:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Quentin Crosby Invitational @ Dudley HS Away

Monday, January 8
6:00 PM PTSA Meeting - C132

Tuesday, January 9
7:00 PM Winter Choral Concert

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. Please follow Southwest High School at SouthwestGHS for both Twitter and Facebook. This is a great way for us to communicate and stay connected.

Everyone at SWHS wishes you all a very safe and joyous holiday break. 

We are... Southwest!

SWHS Principal's weekly updates for December 18th

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

We now have 9 full instructional days left before the first day of exams start. Please make sure your child's grades are kept up, excessive attendance issues are corrected, time made up, and positive choices maintained.  If you need assistance with grade monitoring through the parent assistance program, please contact Kristy Cline through e-mail at clinek2@gcsnc.com. 

Parents, we need your help, as we try to enforce safety procedures at SWHS, we ask that you work with us on the check out procedures. Also - when you enter our building, it is imperative you check in with either the front office or the attendance office. Do not walk straight into any classroom, cafeteria, etc without checking in with the school first. If you have others picking up your child, please notify us as well, and please share our expectations with them as well. Thank you for working with us on this. 

Freshman Focus parents, we are having a "be active" hoops/jump rope for heart day in our freshman focus classes.  On January 9^th, we are asking all Freshman Focus students to make a $2 dollar donation to participate in the event. All additional donations are certainly welcome and appreciated.

The men’s and women’s varsity basketball teams are sponsoring Hoops for Hunger for the remainder of the basketball season.  We ask that you bring non-perishable food items to the remaining home basketball games.  Green bins will be available in the gym lobby for

you to deposit your donations. All of the items donated will go to support families in need within the Southwest Schools. Hunger is not just an issue around the holidays.  Hunger is an issue every day of the year. These donations are not in lieu of the regular price of admission. We have home basketball games this week so come on out and support the basketball program as well as the Hoops for Hunger program!

LET’S DUNK HUNGER TOGETHER!!

As it relates to the weekly athletics, please feel free to navigate to the www.cowboysports.org website for detailed information. 

Upcoming Athletic schedule, extracurricular events, and important activities:

Monday, December 18

2nd interim report for the 2nd quarter
6:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Conference Meet at Smith Pool Home

Tuesday, December 19

7:00 PM Band Winter Concert

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Tri-Meet with HPC/E. Forsyth Home

Wednesday, December 20

4:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Bob Sawyer Invitational @ Greensboro Aquatics Center Away

4:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball High Point Central High School Home

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball High Point Central High School Home

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball High Point Central High School Home

Thursday, December 21

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Greensboro Day School Home 

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball West Forsyth High School Home

Friday, December 22

5:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Tiger Holiday Classic Away

Saturday, December 23

9:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Tiger Holiday Classic Away

Tuesday, December 26

TBA Mens Junior Varsity Basketball NW JV Basketball Tournament Away

Wednesday, December 27

TBA Mens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

TBA Mens Junior Varsity Basketball NW JV Basketball Tournament Away

TBA Womens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

Thursday, December 28

TBA Mens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

TBA Mens Junior Varsity Basketball NW JV Basketball Tournament Away

TBA Womens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

Friday, December 29

TBA Mens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

TBA Womens Varsity Basketball Sheetz Holiday Christmas Classic Home

10:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Holy Angels Tournament @ Bojangles Arena in Charlotte Away

Saturday, December 30

9:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Holy Angels Tournament @ Bojangles Arena in Charlotte Away

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. 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!

SWHS Principal's weekly updates for December 11th

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

We now have less than 4 weeks before we start testing. Please make sure your child's grades are kept up, excessive attendance issues are corrected, time made up, and positive choices maintained.  If you need assistance with grade monitoring through the parent assistance program, please contact Kristy Cline through e-mail at clinek2@gcsnc.com. 

The yearbook is currently having a sale that will go through December 15^th on the yearbook and senior ads. A full page senior ad is $330, a half a page is $185, and a quarter is $90. This will be the last time senior ads are available for purchase this school year. Also, the senior picture replacement fee is $15 if you plan on using a non-Lifetouch photo as your senior picture. Senior pictures must be submitted by December 20^th. 

Next Friday, December 15th is PTSA spirit day at Chic Fil A. Go get some breakfast lunch or dinner and make sure you tell them you are from Southwest High School so that a portion of the money spent goes right back to the school. If your child is a driver to the school and they normally stop by, have them tell them they are from SWHS! This partnership with Chic Fil A will happen every 2nd Friday of the month!  

The men’s and women’s varsity basketball teams are sponsoring Hoops for Hunger for the remainder of the basketball season.  We ask that you bring non-perishable food items to the remaining home basketball games.  Green bins will be available in the gym lobby for

you to deposit your donations. All of the items donated will go to support families in need within the Southwest Schools. Hunger is not just an issue around the holidays.  Hunger is an issue every day of the year. These donations are not in lieu of the regular price of admission. We have home basketball games this Friday against Ragsdale so come on out and support the basketball program as well as the Hoops for Hunger program!

LET’S DUNK HUNGER TOGETHER!!

As it relates to the weekly athletics, please feel free to navigate to the www.cowboysports.org website for detailed information. 

Upcoming Athletic schedule, extracurricular events, and important activities:

Tuesday, December 12

4:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Dudley Senior High School Conference game Away

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

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

Wednesday, December 13

4:30 PM Coed Varsity Track GCS Polar Bear Meet @ Southern Guilford Away

6:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Ragsdale High School Home

7:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Western Guilford High School Match Home

Thursday, December 14th
7PM-8PM  Winter Orchestra concert
Tentative 10th grade incentive trip

Friday, December 15
Chic Fil A SWHS PTSA Spirit day - all day - portion of proceeds goes back to PTSA

4:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Ragsdale High School Home

6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Ragsdale High School Home

6:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Conference Meet @ Smith Pool Home

7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Ragsdale High School 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. 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!

SWHS Principal's weekly updates for December 4

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

We now have less than 5 weeks before we start testing. Please make sure your child's grades are kept up, excessive attendance issues are corrected, time made up, and positive choices maintained.  If you need assistance with grade monitoring through the parent assistance program, please contact Kristy Cline through e-mail at clinek2@gcsnc.com. 

As it relates to the weekly athletics, please feel free to navigate to the www.cowboysports.org website for detailed information. 

Upcoming Athletic schedule, extracurricular events, and important activities:

Monday, December 4

No athletic events

Tuesday, December 5
8:35-Noon  ACT Workkeys - Coggins Gym (Seniors who qualify will be notified)

4:45 PM Coed Varsity Track SWGHS Invitational @ JDL Home 
5:00 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Away 
6:00 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Home 
7:30 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Northwest Senior High School Home

Wednesday, December 6
8:35-Noon  ACT Workkeys - Coggins Gym (Seniors who qualify will be notified)
6:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Conference Meet vs. Smith/Dudley/Parkland Home

Thursday, December 7

7:00 PM Winter Dance Concert - Auditorium
No athletic events

Friday, December 8

11:50 AM - 2 PM Senior graduation supplies pick up (during lunch outside cafeteria)
4:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Ben L. Smith High School Conference game Home 6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Ben L. Smith High School Conference game Home 7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Ben L. Smith High School Conference game Home 

Saturday, December 9
8:00 AM - Noon Saturday School - Media Center

9:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Jim Coggins HOF Classic @ SWGHS 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. 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!

SWHS Principal's weekly updates for November 27th

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

I hope each and every one of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving break!

We now have roughly 6 weeks left before we start testing near the end of the first semester. Please make sure your child's grades are kept up, excessive attendance issues are corrected, time made up, and positive choices maintained. This window of time always seems to fly by. We don't want any student being blindsided by the very end of the semester finding themselves in a tough situation. Thank you for helping us guide our students down the right path.  If you need assistance with grade monitoring through the parent assistance program, please contact Kristy Cline through e-mail at clinek2@gcsnc.com. 

Come out and support Spikesgiving on Wednesday. SW volleyball players vs SW soccer players. It starts at 6:30 pm. Entry into Coggins gym is either 2 cans of non perishable items or $2. There will be a faculty game as well. The Faculty winner will play the winner of the students game. Grand champion will be allowed one full week to wear jeans during the week of December 4th.

November is Tobacco Prevention Month. The teen years are critical for brain development, which continues into young adulthood. Young people who use nicotine products in any form, including e-cigarettes, are uniquely at risk for long-lasting effects. Because nicotine affects the development of the brain's reward system, continued e-cigarette use can not only lead to nicotine addiction, but it also can make other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine more pleasurable to a teen's developing brain. Nicotine also affects the development of brain circuits that control attention and learning. Other risks include mood disorders and permanent problems with impulse control—failure to fight an urge or impulse that may harm oneself or others

As it relates to the weekly athletics, please feel free to navigate to the www.cowboysports.org website for detailed information. 

Upcoming Athletic schedule, extracurricular events, and important activities:

Monday, November 27

No athletic events
PTSA Meeting  6-8 - Conference Room, C130

Tuesday, November 28

4:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball High Point Central High School Away 
5:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming High Point Central High School Away 
6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball High Point Central High School Away 
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball High Point Central High School Away 

Wednesday, November 29
Spikesgiving - 6:30PM - Coggins gym
4:30 PM Coed Varsity Track GCS Polar Bear Meet @ SEGHS Home 

7:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Dudley Senior High School Match Away

Thursday, November 30

4:30 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Ragsdale High School Away 
6:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Bishop Mc Guinness Memorial H S Home 
6:00 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Ragsdale High School Away 
7:30 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Ragsdale High School Away 

Friday, December 1
5:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Falcon Frenzy @ W. Henderson Away

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. Please follow Southwest High School at SouthwestGHS for both Twitter and Facebook. This is a great way for us to communicate and stay connected.

The Southwest family hopes you all had a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving break. We look forward to seeing everyone back in action tomorrow, Monday November 27th!

We are... Southwest!

SWHS Principal's weekly updates for November 20th

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

As the holidays and the end of the semester approach, be mindful that your child may be experiencing more stress and anxiety than usual.  Look for signs such as sleeping more or less, school avoidance, and changes in mood or other behaviors.  Use this time off from work and school to have open and honest conversations about how they are dealing with stressors.

This Tuesday, interim reports will be distributed. Please make sure you ask your child for each teacher's report. Tuesday is also a jean day ONLY for those who have purchased a PTSA bracelet. Students who do not have a bracelet must be in dress code for the day. 

November is Tobacco Prevention Month. The teen years are critical for brain development, which continues into young adulthood. Young people who use nicotine products in any form, including e-cigarettes, are uniquely at risk for long-lasting effects. Because nicotine affects the development of the brain's reward system, continued e-cigarette use can not only lead to nicotine addiction, but it also can make other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine more pleasurable to a teen's developing brain. Nicotine also affects the development of brain circuits that control attention and learning. Other risks include mood disorders and permanent problems with impulse control—failure to fight an urge or impulse that may harm oneself or others

As it relates to the weekly athletics, please feel free to navigate to the www.cowboysports.org website for detailed information. 

Upcoming Athletic schedule, extracurricular events, and important activities:

Monday, November 20

Tuesday, November 21

Interim Reports are distributed in each class
Jean day for students with PTSA bracelets ONLY
5:00 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Southeast Guilford High School Away
7:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Northwest Senior High School Away 
6:00 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Southeast Guilford High School Home 
7:30 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Southeast Guilford High School Home

Wednesday, November 22
No School for staff and students

Thursday, November 23

THANKSGIVING!
No School for staff and students

Friday, November 24
No School for staff and students

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. Please follow Southwest High School at SouthwestGHS for both Twitter and Facebook. This is a great way for us to communicate and stay connected.

The Southwest family hopes you all have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving break. We look forward to seeing everyone back in action on Monday November 27th!

We are... Southwest!

SWHS Principal's weekly updates for November 13th

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

This Tuesday is a our 1st semester Senior Speech. If you are still interested in judging speeches, please contact Dawn Davis at davisd9@gcsnc.com as soon as possible.

November is Tobacco Prevention Month. With the rise of vaping products, research is beginning to show that teens who are more likely to end up using traditional cigarettes, make e-cigarettes a gateway to traditional tobacco. Addiction may be the most dangerous thing about teen use of e-cigs/vaping. "Nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause addiction and harm the development of the brain". Parents, please have this conversation with your teenager about the dangers of tobacco and vaping products. 

Southwest is having a school wide canned food drive Nov 13th -17th this week.  Items like canned soup, canned vegetables, and canned fruit are needed. Please no glass containers.  The collected items are going to Out of the Garden that serves families in Guilford and Forsyth county.  To make this really easy for you, you can drop your goods off in the morning car line in the front circle on Thursday morning. Students from the leadership team will be there to greet you and collect those goods. 

Report Cards were distributed this past Wednesday. If you did not see your child's report card, please ask them for a copy or call the main office and ask for Ms. Durant. 

Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors: The Guilford Apprenticeship Partners will have an information session at school on Wednesday, November 15^th .  The GAP program offers a path to attaining a college education for free while also obtaining paid on the job training.  See Michelle Cook, cookm@gcsnc.com for more information or to sign up. 

As it relates to the weekly athletics, please feel free to navigate to the www.cowboysports.org website for detailed information. 

Upcoming Athletic schedule, extracurricular events, and important activities:

Monday, November 13

Tuesday, November 14

Senior Speech Night - 5:30 - 9:00 (Still looking to judge - reach out to Dawn Davis at davisd9@gcsnc.com)

Wednesday, November 15
Guilford Apprenticeship Partners Information session  -Media Center - 10:30 - 11:30 AM

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Wrestling Tri-Meet with Northwood/Smith Home
6:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Glenn Home

Thursday, November 16

6:00 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball Ronald Reagan High School Home
7:30 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Ronald Reagan High School Home

Friday, November 17
All County Orchestra

Saturday, November 18
HOSA Event - 7 AM - 5:30PM - SWHS
All County Orchestra - SWHS
9:00 AM Mens Varsity Wrestling Cedar Ridge Round Robin @ Cedar Ridge HS Away
8:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Freshman and Sophomore Invitational Meet host by Grimsley HS Away

Monday, November 20
Reality of Money for Freshmen - 8:15-3:35 - Old gym

Tuesday, November 21
5:00 PM Mens Junior Varsity Basketball Southeast Guilford High School Away

6:00 PM Mens Varsity Basketball Southeast Guilford High School Home
6:30 PM Womens Junior Varsity Basketball Southeast Guilford High School Away
7:00 PM Coed Varsity Swimming Northwest Senior High School Away
7:30 PM Womens Varsity Basketball Southeast Guilford High School 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. 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!