Great first week

Fantastic first week. Started with Link Crew and the outstanding freshman orientation. Off we went with the class of 2010 leadership. Ended the week with 1st Friday. Lots of fun and extra-curricular information. Everyone should be involved in something.

Football won 1st game 53-0. Boys soccer beat the team ranked 4th in the state with a score of 5-0. Volleyball won. Just a great sports week.

9/10 grade musical (Edges) auditions start Wednesday the 9th at 3:15 in the choir room.

Much happening throughout the school. A great beginning to another exciting school year.

First Day is Tuesday Sept. 1

The first day for another exciting school year is Tuesday September 1. Yes, the state fair is still going right on. We want to see you from the very beginning. Please make your plans to start school, Sept. 1 Tuesday.

Tips on how to write a mission statement

We have three different drafts out there for review. Each is a modification of the former. The links is for an informative site about writing mission statements. You might want to take a look at the tips for writing a mission statement

http://www.lifescript.com/Life/Money/Work/Tips_On_How_To_Write_A_Mission_Statement.aspx?trans=1&du=1&gclid=CPi4wZPEspsCFQ_xDAodYWECPA&ef_id=1350:3:s_4ed501c0cd396a9b8f472d9da7c46d51_2540591645:SkpNVEo-KR4AABlalLoAAAJA:20090630173724

First day back for teachers

Tuesday August 25 is the first day back to school for all SW teachers for the 2009-10 school year. The next week will be in staff development meetings focused on improvement student academic achievement.

Incoming 9th graders are invited to orientation on Thursday August 27 8:30 to 12:30. Lots of activities and a great way to begin high school in the home of the Lakers!

First day of school for all students is Tuesday September 1.

some minor tweaking but needs more

I think there is still room for improvement by tightening up:

Our mission at Southwest High School is to help students become principled, open-minded and caring members of society by nurturing their intellectual, emotional, social and physical growth through diverse in-class and extra-curricular activities.

We believe a well-rounded education is more than academic, and that adolescence is a time of enormous importance in developing healthy life-long habits. We promote learning through inquiry, positive risk-taking and critical thinking.

Because we live in a global community, we foster students’ international-mindedness and help them recognize the common elements of humanity that transcend national, racial, ethnic, religious, and political boundaries. Our students learn to be reflective, intentional in their thoughts and actions, and to communicate effectively and confidently.

Possible revisions to DRAFT

This can no doubt be shortened and further edited, but here's a possible version for all to continue working on:

"Southwest High School helps students become educated, principled, open-minded and caring members of society.

Recognizing that young people will need to operate in a global community, we seek to develop students’ international mindedness and help them recognize the common elements of humanity that transcend national, racial, ethnic, religious, and political boundaries.

We promote learning through inquiry, risk-taking and critical thinking. Students learn to be reflective, intentional in their thoughts and actions, and to communicate effectively and confidently.

Recognizing that a well-rounded education is more than academic and that adolescence is a time of enormous importance in developing healthy life-long habits, Southwest High School nurtures students’ physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth as well through diverse extra-curricular and in-school activities."

Draft mission statement

Southwest High School seeks to holistically develop young people to become principled members of their communities who demonstrate open-mindedness and caring in their interactions with others. We recognize that young people will inherit a society that is global in nature and seek to expand their horizons to develop international mindedness and to recognize their common humanity across national, racial, ethnic, religious, and political boundaries.

Our educational program promotes learning through inquiry, risk-taking and critical thinking. Students learn to creatively and confidently communicate their knowledge, ideas, thoughts, and solutions, while demonstrating the ability to be reflective and intentional in their thoughts and actions.

Recognizing that education is not only academic, Southwest High School develops the whole person nurturing balanced growth in the physical, social, emotional and intellectual spheres.

Two weeks left

It is fast approaching. The opening of school is September 1. Make sure that summer reading list is complete. Do you have your extended essay topic? How about that new notebook or backpack? Or is this the year that we are going to really move to the messenger bags?

The start of school is exciting. Check out the sales and get stocked up on the necessary items -- pens, paper, printer ink and locker locks.

Have fun and enjoy the remaining two weeks. But time to start getting prepared.......

Week of Aug 17 Announcements

Offiice open regular business hours this week 7:30 am to 3:30 pm

Monday Aug 17 is official first day of practice for all fall sports at Southwest. Check with your coach for more details.

August 27th is 9th orientation, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Program at 6:30 pm for families and 9th grade students.

August 27 First day official grades 10-12 students schedules will be available on Parent Portal.

Tuesday Sept 1, first day of classes for all grades.

9th grade Orientation

You should have received your invite (post card) to the 9th grade orientation on August 27th Plan to be at Southwest by 8:30 and expect a great time through 12:30. Southwest Link Crew -- a new team of about 100 upper grade students -- will be there to introduce the school and meet new friends. An exciting time is planned.

Later that evening 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Bring your families back to Southwest for an evening program and get your new high school schedule. Only 9th grade schedules will be available. There is a program for families at 7:30 pm provided by the counselors.

August 27th 8:30 to 12:30 -- only 9th graders
AND
6:30 to 8:30 The Class of 2013 and families.

Schedules on Parent Portal

The Schedules currently on Parent Portal are NOT official and many are not correct. As we change the master schedule and adjust classes the periods will change and maybe some of the Most 9th graders do not have a schedule on Parent Portal. Since it is not correct and unofficial the fact that there is not a schedule there means nothing.

10 - 12 grade schedule WILL BE on Parent Portal and will be official and hopefully correct on and after August 27. NO paper schedules will be distributed prior to Sept 1.

9th grade schedules will be given to 9th graders and families at 7:30 pm on August 27th.

Thank you for using Parent Portal. But the information there right now is incorrect. Thank you

Official Fall Sports Practice August 17

ON Monday August 17 all the fall sports start official practice. Not too late but need to make a decision quickly. All paperwork and physical needed to be on file prior to starting practice. See the Southwest web site for more information.

10 to 12th Graders Schedules

Southwest Students - grades 10 to 12 -- your schedules will be posted on the Parent Portal starting August 27th. No schedules will be distributed except for 9th graders at 7:30 pm on Thursday the 27th.

If you are in grades 10-12 this fall, your schedule will be available on the Parent Portal after Augusst 27th or available in the West Gym Sept 1st.

9th grade Orientation

August 27 -8:30 to am to 12:30pm is freshman orientation. 9th graders and families you received a post card in the mail this week inviting you to the orientation - 8:30 to 12:30.

But there was also another invite for students (the Class of 2013) and their families to attend a program at 6:30 pm. Dessert and beverages at 6:30 pm. 9th grade schedules will be distributed at 7:30 pm and families are invited to a special program just for them.

August 27, Thursday 9th grade orientation -- 8:e0 am to12:30 pm
AND
Students and Families 6:30 to 8:30 pm

20 more days

Yes, the days are counting down. After today there will be20 days until Sept. 1st and that is the opening day of school. Yes, that is prior to Labor Day. Yes, the state fair will still be going. But Tuesday Sept 1 is the first day of the new school year.

Another sample of a mission statement and why

Check out this link for more information a mission statement and why that might be important.

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_90.htm

Class of 2013 Orientation

In coming 9th graders, class of 2013, orientation begins Monday October 10. There is still time to register. Go to the Southwest web site and follow the links to Project Success. An important date is Wednesday October 12. On that day the class will be at the high school. Hope to meet you all there!

Start of another school year

In 24 days it will all start for another year. The Class of 2013 is taking the place of the Class of 2009. All the excitement and all the fears - another year. For us adults those are memories - some fun and some regrets. For the young people living those years, they are the most important of their very young lives. Not all of it will be fun and some of it will be very sad, but all of it is growing up. 70% of the students currently in high school will be working in jobs that currently don't exist. Learning to learn is the most critical. Self advocacy is an important skill. Finding and using information is critical. Getting along with others is survival. So off we go into another year. We wish us all luck and good fortune.

Longer school year?

Currently the Minneapolis student school year is 172 days. There is a fair amount of national talk - the President for example - about a longer student school year. How many days should be added?

Learning to Learn

An important quality in this age is the ability to learn. I believe high school needs to establish a foundation of skills and information but the most important being the ability to know what one does not know and then have the skills to figure out how to acquire the new skills and information.

Now how that gets reduced to a few words into a mission statement is be a different problem.

Most Important

If we could reduce all the concepts to 3-5 words - what would those be? What captures the most important qualities of a solid, significant and successful high school education?

draft words

Southwest recognizes the importance of cultural diversity and global interdependence. Southwest is committed to providing the educational foundation for students to be successful, responsible and responsive.

The above is not exactly all that original but may be a starting point. Others comments? ideas?

Repeat of current Southwest Mission Statement

"Southwest High School is committed to promoting academic excellence, creativity, critical thinking, lifetime learning skills, and physical well being for all students in a safe learning environment. Southwest recognizes cultural diversity and global interdependence and nurtures a respect of the environment. Southwest functions in a collaborative relationship of staff, students, parents, administrators, and community members."

The language needs to concise and clear. It should represent a challenge and be meaningful.

One comment is economic diversity - cultural and ethnic diversity. Should those be words or implied words in the mission statement? How can it say something people can use as a guide and yet not be so long?

Should the first statement be a statement of the obvious and the second is the commitment? Rather than recognizes -- is the school's mission leading to actions in these matter? What would that sound like?

Meeting the Challenge

Just some thoughts and questions ---- We need every student to be successful. The definition of success becomes an interesting problem. Does that mean monetarily wealthy? Does that mean famous? How do we know when a person sees him/herself as successful? How can a school support a student's search for success? How can the standard be the same (high) and yet different? Should not our purpose be the same for everyone? How do you support 14 year olds as they explore options and opportunities in their own unique manners?

Strenghts to build on

What are the strengths the school should build on? How can we word our commitment to preparing our students for living and working in a global society successfully?

Promise and Challenge

All of this is somewhere in the ranges of promise and challenge. A mission should be the guide to the work. At the same time it should challenge the institution and its community. It is not a goal but should clearly state the best of what we can be. But if it is merely a statement of what we already think we are doing, then it is probably not a statement of the best we can be. Education by its nature is forward thinking. It is a thinking and doing about the future. What we do today will not be fully realize for many years. We are preparing our young people for jobs and lives that we do not fully understand and definitely at not the same as today.

Southwest is a unique community. It definitely has strengths and opportunities. It has a tremendously supportive community. It has a demanding community that values education. We are working through the concepts of support and responsibility. What is a support adult and what is an enabling adult. Who is responsible for what? But interesting issues. It is a community that wants to be inclusive. How do we ensure that all means all?

Following the business world

Public education has a vital role in maintaining a democracy. Its value to its citizens should be obvious and valued. At the same time, the institution has an obligation to provide educational opportunities for its community that enable citizens to work and live in a free society. Part of that education is also an awareness of the responsibilities the individual has for him/herself, the community in which she/he lives and the environment surrounding and protecting the community. In order to work, there must be an awareness of one's own skills and interests as well as the competitiveness of our global economy. These also represent huge challenges for the education system. A foundational concept within the U.S. education system is that ALL citizens must and should be afforded an appropriate education. That has to be a hallmark concept that distinguishes the U.S. educational philosophy from those around the world.

Another link regarding the development of a mission statement is listed below. It comes from the business world. However, education is an important business in our community.

"The mission statement should be a clear and succinct representation of the enterprise's purpose for existence. It should incorporate socially meaningful and measurable criteria addressing concepts such as the moral/ethical position of the enterprise, public image, the target market, products/services, the geographic domain and expectations of growth and profitability.The intent of the Mission Statement should be the first consideration for any employee who is evaluating a strategic decision. The statement can range from a very simple to a very complex set of ideas."

according to: http://www.businessplans.org/mission.html

Reference Reading

I am not endorsing any particular website or university. The link is to some reading about mission statements, what they should do, and how to go about writing one.


http://www.boardsource.org/Knowledge.asp?ID=1.262&gclid=CJz1ls3BspsCFRAhDQodgGb6Ow

Review and Revision of Mission Statement

We are requesting your assistance and support in reviewing and possible revision of the Southwest High School Mission Statement. The purpose of this blog is to encourage the engagement of the entire Southwest educational community. Please review the current mission statement and post your comments, suggestions or ideas. From time to time, we will attempt to capture the various ideas and revise the working in DRAFT forms.

The second purpose is to introduce the concept of community "talks" through posting on a blog. Meetings have to be on a certain day, in a certain location and at a certain time. Blogs are time and place free. If you have other ideas, thoughts or suggestions, please email me.

Minneapolis Southwest High School Mission Statement

"Southwest High School is committed to promoting academic excellence, creativity, critical thinking, lifetime learning skills, and physical well being for all students in a safe learning environment. Southwest recognizes cultural diversity and global interdependence and nurtures a respect of the environment. Southwest functions in a collaborative relationship of staff, students, parents, administrators, and community members."