Sunday S'More
Dr. Monell's Weekly Message 12/10/2023
VISION AND MISSION
Vision 2023-2024
We are Engaged Learners
We are Diverse and Inclusive
We are Ethical Community Members
We are Southwest...
Because This Is Where We Belong
Mission 2023-2024 (Updated)
In order to develop global citizens, Southwest Guilford High School will provide rigorous, culturally relevant, and equitable educational opportunities using specific evidence that will engage students in a safe, inclusive, student-centered, and collaborative community that will prepare students for post-secondary success.
Dates To Remember
December 19- Interim Reports
December 20- **Leadership Team Meeting (Updated Date)**
December 21- Band and Orchestra Concert
December 22- January 1- Winter Break
SENIORS
Graduation 2024
Saturday, Jun 8, 2024, 04:00 PM
1921 West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro, NC, USA
URGENT! CAP AND GOWN ORDERS
Use THIS LINK to access the Herff Jones Southwest Guilford High School page.
Out of The Garden Project FREE Market
Out of the Garden Project hosts a FREE Fresh Mobile Market at Washington Terrace Community Center Pool (108 Murray St, High Point, NC 272603) on the 3rd Friday of every month at 2:30 pm. The next Fresh Mobile Market at Washington Terrace is on Friday, December 15, at 2:30 pm.
Second Quarter Freshman Incentive
Criteria to Qualify:
* B or higher in each class
* No unexcused absences (excuses must be turned in within 3 days of the students return to school)
* No more than 2 tardies overall
* No administrative consequences (discipline referrals)
Look for exciting details coming soon!
LEARNING HUB
The Learning Hub will be available to students December 12, 14, and 16th. December 16th is the last day the Learning Hub will be available in 2023. An update will be provided after the break for the start up for the 2024 Hub days.
Contact Ms. VanScoyk at vanscoa@gcsnc.com with any questions.
Send Donations to Help Student Council Serve our Community This Holiday Season
ATHLETICS
Please support our student-athletes throughout the seasons. We have an incredible athletic program with experienced coaches and skilled athletes! As a reminder, we want to ensure that we support students and coaches with positive words of encouragement during games and competitions. Negativity, foul language, conflict and argumentative behavior is not allowed at our student competitions as we want to continue to model the excellence and sportsmanship that we expect of our students.
Ticket Information:
- Cash at home gates- $7
- Most schools are online tickets only, go to www.gofan.co for events
- Online tickets- https://gofan.co/app/school/NC2210
- Debit/Credit/Google/apple pay accepted at the gate
Parking:
- All parking for Home Basketball and Wrestling is in the student lot behind the school on Barrow Rd. No parking in the front of the building for events
- Coggins Gym entrance is from the Barrow Rd lot behind the school
Live Streaming Events:
- All basketball/wrestling events are “Live Streamed” from the NFHS network. Go to https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/southwest-guilford-high-school-high-point-nc
- No other “live streaming” services are allowed in our facility
TESTING
EOC Testing
NC state EOC tests for Semester 1 will be given Jan. 12, 16, and 17.
11th Grade ACT Test
The ACT for 11th graders is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2024. No registration is needed.
ASVAB Testing
Any students interested in taking the ASVAB, the following dates will be offered for the 2023-2024 School year:
Dates
February 7, 2024 Time: 9:30 am -12:30 pm
April 25, 2024 Time: 9:30 am -12:30 pm
ASVAB FACT SHEET
https://www.officialasvab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASVAB-Fact_Sheet.pdf
Preparing for the ASVAB Resources
https://www.officialasvab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASVAB-Fact_Sheet.pdf
If you have more questions about the ASVAB see Mr. Anderson or speak with your school counselor.
SWHS IS A WEEKEND SAT TESTING SITE!
Southwest Guilford High School is an SAT testing site. Register for testing at CollegeBoard.org
Dec. 2, 2023 is the next SAT testing day.
Starting 2024 all SAT tests will be digital. Our Spring test dates are March 9th , May 4th , and June 1st.
PTSA has worked diligently to support our teachers and student community. They work with student programs such as Red Ribbon Week, Senior Picnic, and much, much more! Please click on the above link to join the SW PTSA online via MemberHub.
2/5/24 Membership Meeting
5/6/24 Membership Meeting, with 2023-2024 Election
RESTORATIVE RESPONDERS TO HELP WITH STUDENT CONFLICT OR CONCERNS
Students having an issue or concern with a peer can now scan a QR code in the building to get ahead of the issue! We are working to be proactive and offer your students the opportunity to work out any conflict before it escalates to a larger issue. We want to help! Help your students by viewing their social media, encouraging them to use trusted adults and scan that code to get ahead of any challenges!
TARDY SWEEPS CONDUCTED DAILY
Tardy Sweeps - We will conduct tardy sweeps for students that are not in class on time. We need students in class and ready to learn when the bell rings. If students are tardy, they are missing instruction. Instruction is happening bell to bell and we need your student from bell to bell. Doors will close when the bell rings and students in the hallways will complete a form by our teachers with sweeps form in the hallways. If your child is late, you will hear from the teacher as a first line so you can assist us in making a correction to this issue. Please see the tardy policy below.
DRESS CODE
Parents, we are seeing a high volume of crop tops and adjustment of shirts to reveal mid-driffs as well as holes above knees in students' clothing. Please speak with your students to assist them in correcting this dress code violation so that it does not continue to be an issue. Teachers reviewed this with students this week as well as I reminded students through my daily announcements. You conversations are powerful and as we have seen are already making an impact.
GCS CODE OF CONDUCT AND SWHS CELL PHONE/TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Guilford County Schools has updated its Student Code of Conduct. Two important district policy updates on technology:
Dr. Oakley's Letter - Code of Conduct
SWHS 2023-2024 Technology Policy
I-6 - Technology Violation: Students may not use any electronic device or personal entertainment device during instructional time unless authorized by the classroom teacher or other school personnel with supervision responsibilities during instructional time. With this, during the instructional time at Southwest, students will have technology put away while they are in class and engaged in instruction. In addition to other interventions we have in place, any device used in violation of this policy may be confiscated and only returned to the student's parents/caregiver.
I-9 - Technology Violation - Students are prohibited from taking photographs, videos, or other media of any other student or school personnel without permission. Students are further prohibited from posting any such media or images in public spaces including online or via social media platforms. This rule includes but is not limited to posting videos of fights or other disruptive conduct where permission is not granted for the posting of each person’s image, and posting pages including images designed to make fun of or negatively target a particular student or staff member without their permission.
Students may have technology during transitions and during lunch, however, the instructional time will be protected as your student's engagement in lessons and content is important to us as we know it is to you.
ATTENDANCE
We will be monitoring student attendance closely. Please make sure your student is at school before 9:15 to get to class on time and please send notes if your child must be late or absent from school. Please remember that daily attendance is vital to success in school.
Attendance Policy (Updated 2022-2023)
EVOLV SCREENERS AND ONECARD
OneCard is the Guilford County School's student identification and access card. One Card provides many functions including school attendance, identification, media center checkout, public library access, and more. Students will need to have their OneCard to enter the building at any time of the day.
OneCard
In addition to fostering a safe learning environment and enhancing school safety and security One Card creates a feeling of unity among students; boosts school identity and pride; and assists with building community partnerships.
OneCard Distribution
OneCards will be distributed within the first couple of weeks of school. All students will be reissued a new OneCard. If a student is new to GCS or does not have a picture on file, we will ensure that the student's picture is taken in order to get a OneCard issued as soon as possible.
All students who are car riders, bus riders and student drivers will be expected to enter the building through designated entrance areas using their One Card. It is expected for students to have their One Card visible throughout the school day and will need it to enter the building at anytime of the day.
Students who lose their One Card will have to pay $5.00 for a replacement card.
Evolv Body Scanners
- Every person, student & visitors, entering our building will travel through the body scanner.
- The body scanning system highlights and locates material that is deemed to be in question on our school grounds.
- If there is a ping from the body scanner, the administration will locate and identify the item in question.
- Body scanners are located at the main entrance of our building and near the student parking lot entrance.
- Students will walk through the body scanners and navigate to the OneCard machines prior to going to classes each morning as part of our daily safety protocols.
(Items to watch for a ping: magnetic closing eyeglass cases, large barrell spiral notebooks, or larger laptops with a metal barrell on the spine) If these items ping, we have a protocol to check for these items and students may pass these items through instead of having them in their bag as they walk through.)
HIGH FIVE!
Giving Our Students a "High Five!"
Classroom Environment
Communicated, posted, and agreed upon classroom norms to include technology and tardy policy
Academic Focus
Clearly posted and visible standard and skill that is being addressed in the class session.
Essential Question visible for that class session
Evidence of student discourse and collaboration
Evidence of rigorous task(s) aligned to the standard for the day
School Counselors Contact Information
Ryan Schnaith-Ivan - Freshman - schnair@gcsnc.com
Tammy Bowman (10-12) - A-D -bowmant@gcsnc.com
Denesha Moore (10-12) - E-L - moored@gcsnc.com
Syreeta Williamson (10-12) - M-R - willias16@gcsnc.com
Nakesha Varner (10-12) - S-Z - varnern@gcsnc.com
GCS DISTRICT RESOURCES
POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL
To facilitate seamless communication and timely updates about your child's grades, we encourage all parents and guardians to claim their PowerSchool Parent Portal account.
To get started with the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please follow these simple steps:
1. Visit www.gcsnc.com/Page/17246
2. Click on the "PowerSchool Parent Portal" link.
3. Follow the instructions to create your account or log in if you already have one.
HERE COMES THE BUS
In addition to the PowerSchool Parent Portal, we highly recommend downloading the "Here Comes the Bus" app, available for both iOS and Android devices. This user-friendly app will provide you with real-time tracking, allowing you to monitor your child's bus location and estimated arrival time conveniently from your smartphone, and will be available for tracking on August 28.
To download the "Here Comes the Bus" app, please follow these steps:
1. Go to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
2. Search for "Here Comes the Bus."
3. Install the app on your device.
4. Sign in using the same credentials as your PowerSchool Parent Portal account.
We are committed to ensuring the well-being and security of all our students during their daily commute. If you encounter any difficulties or have questions regarding the transportation process, please feel free to reach out to our Transportation Call Center at (888) 511-4GCS (4427) or your child’s school for assistance. Thank you for your partnership in making this school year a successful and enriching one for our students.
"WE'VE GOT THIS AND I'VE GOT YOU BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE BELONG!"