School Information
CONCERTS
In order for everyone to enjoy our student performers, please keep your younger children seated with you.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to the Southwest Middle Chess Team - 3rd place winners, advanced division.
Alex Zheng- 6th place winner, individual
The following students participated in the Parkway Chess Tournament on Saturday, January 16, at Parkway Central High School:
Cheyanne Haskins
John Li
Tommy Liang
Thomas Yanke
Rachel Zhang
Alex Zheng
Zargham Ziauddin
Mr. Darwin Haskins, Coach
Southwest Middle will have its own Chess Tournament at the end of the school year.
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The 2009 – 2010 Spelling Bee was held on January 20. Congratulations to the Spelling Bee winner Stefano Todaro, 8th Grade Eastside Pride and to runner up Michelle Harrison, 7th Grade Trailblazers. Attached is a list of the Classroom Finalists.
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The 2009 – 2010 Geography Bee was held December 10, 2009. Congratulations to the Geography Bee winner Blake Ritchie, 7th Grade Trailblazers, and to runner up Rashikha Dar, 6th Grade Champions. Attached is a list of the Classroom Finalists.
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Congratulations to Lauren Meisel for being accepted into the Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program) 7th grade program. She was previously a member in the elementary school division as well. To qualify for the middle school program, Lauren took the ACT, a standardized college admission exam, in December and scored a 27 composite score, placing her in the U.S. 90th percentile. The exam, usually administered to high school seniors, covers English, mathematics, reading and science. The average U.S, Missouri and Parkway scores are 21.1, 21.6 and 24.1 respectively. Lauren's exceptional score qualified her for not only the Duke TIP Missouri Level award, but also the special, elite, Grand Recognition (national) Level award too. Lauren is invited to ceremonies to be recognized and awarded at Duke University in North Carolina on May 18 for the Grand Recognition Ceremony as well as Drury University, Springfield, Missouri on May 22 for the Missouri award ceremony. Way to go Lauren--we're very proud of you!
DIAL SAFE (ATTENDANCE)
314-415-7300, Option 1
Student absences should be reported by 8:30 a.m. by the parent/guardian.
GRANTING DREAMS
Applications for Granting Dreams must be turned into the Parkway Administrative Building by 4:00 p.m. on February 11. This program, sponsored by the Parkway Alumni Association, provides grants to students for educational opportunities that are beyond the scope of the classroom.
HIGH SCHOOL HEROES
The High School Heroes will be coming to visit the 6th grade classes in February. High School Heroes is an anti-tobacco program which originated in 1996. This program was developed through a partnership with the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and Parkway Safe and Drug Free Staff. The secret to this programs success is the trained High School Heroes. These Heroes are sophomore facilitators who go into the health classes and present many hands on demonstrations. These upbeat lessons focusing on health risk and resistance training capture the attention of the 6th grade audience. The Heroes will revisit the classrooms with a follow up lesson in April, but for now tell your 6th grader to be watching because the heroes are coming!
PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT (Draft)
Parkway develops remarkably capable, curious, and confident learners who are well equipped to understand and respond to the challenges of an ever-changing, complex world.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS 2009 - 2010
School will not be in session on the following date:
April 23, 2010
PTO
On the following dates PTO will meet at Southwest Middle in the House Commons:
March 4, 2010 7:00 p.m.
May 6, 2010 9:00 a.m.
RECORDS DAY
School will not be in session on the following date:
February 12, 2010
SCOLIOSIS SCREENING
On February 10 and 11, 2010, Spinal Screening will be performed at Southwest Middle School. Girls in the 6th and 8th grade as well as boys in the 8th grade will be screened during their Physical Education or Health class period.
Abnormal spinal curvature is usually first noticed at the beginning of the adolescent growth spurt. Often early detection and appropriate treatment can prevent the progression of the curve.
The screening procedure takes about 30 seconds, but does require the student to remove his/her shirt or blouse in order that the spine can be visually observed by the school nurse or other allied health professional who has been trained in the screening procedure. Girls may be screened wearing a swimsuit top or halter top which MUST be worn under clothing deemed appropriate by the dress code at Southwest Middle School. Privacy is provided for these individual screenings.
If deviation from the normal is suspected, you will be notified and requested to take your child to a physician for professional evaluation.
If you prefer not to have your child screened for spinal curvature, please contact the nurse at (314)-415-7329. Thank you for your time and cooperation.
SRO (SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER)
The crime of Identity theft is on the rise in America. Numerous surveys show that there are about 9 million victims each year. This crime cost the average victim 6,500 dollars and takes on average over 40 hours to clean up. Even though the average victim is not held responsible for majority of the money taken (with credit cards its usually only 50 dollars.) It leaves the victims with bad credit which can follow them for months and sometimes even years.
There are two types of Identity theft.
*"Account takeover" occurs when a thief acquires your existing credit account information and purchases products and services using either the actual credit card or simply the account number and expiration date.
*"Application fraud" The criminal uses your identifying information (SSN, Birthday, etc.etc..) to open new accounts in your name. Victims are not likely to learn of application fraud for some time, because the monthly account statements are mailed to an address used by the impostor. This is not usually discovered by the victim until they get a collection call from the account agency or see it when looking over there credit report.
There are many ways that criminals can get the information to steal their victims’ identity. For example they can:
1. They can search through trash looking for papers that contain personal information. This is also known as dumpster diving.
2. Stealing credit card applications or other papers that have your personal information from your mailbox.
3. Obtaining personal info from records kept at your place of employment.
4. Phishing scams which are e-mails that look like they come from your bank asking you to visit a fake web site that resembles your banks in order to confirm your account information (for more info visit WWW.AntiPhising.Org.)
5. Using an electronic skimmer to record your credit card number.
In next months article I will be covering ways to prevent this from happening. If you do not want to wait until then or have any questions at all you can always call me at (314) 415-7305.
Officer Waters
SENTINEL STAR AWARDS
Students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher EACH trimester during their middle school career are recognized at the end of 8th grade. Students are honored during the Sentinel Star Awards program. Parents and students are notified in early May.
SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE (SOE)
Touhill Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis
February 23, 2010, 6:30 pm
In the book, 100+ Educational Strategies, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu states that students who have a strong self esteem attribute their academic successes to ability or effort that is made. If they do poorly on an academic assessment or assignment they never question their ability, but instead realize that their performance is always within their control. Take a student, any student, who does not have a strong self esteem, and they will believe that their poor performance is a result of low ability. When they are successful, instead of patting themselves on the back for a job well done, they think, “Well, that was lucky!”
Many African Americans hold this mental model, that they are not high achievers and do not have a high ability. In an effort to work against this model, the Spirit of Excellence awards recognizes African American students who are excelling in academics. Here at Southwest, these are kids who have earned at least a 3.5 GPA for the first trimester. The celebration provides an opportunity for our African-American students to feel recognized by their peers, teachers, family and the Parkway community.
Why do we have Spirit of Excellence?
By recognizing African American students in the awards assembly we are providing a mirror that proves that the mental model of low ability and achievement is not a reality for them. African Americans are capable and that is clear to them when they see peers that look like them being awarded and celebrated.
The district-wide awards recognition ceremony is directly connected to Parkway School District’s efforts to eliminate the achievement gap. It provides the following:
• A showcase for kids
• Motivating for kids, staff and families
• Academically rewarding
• Strong cultural celebration
• Strong and positive cultural representation
• See others like themselves achieving
• Gives the younger ones something to aspire to
• Affirming to the families
• Focus on closing the achievement gap
• There are other opportunities that highlight arts and athletes
• Brings us together (community and school)
• Critically important for all gifted kids to be with other gifted kids (kids of color usually isolated)
• Raises awareness of unknown strengths of students
• Exposure
The following Southwest Middle students have been selected to receive an Academic Excellence Award during the Spirit of Excellence Awards Ceremony on February 23, 2010.
Nathan DeBerry-7
Kimberly Fortune-8
Daija Isaac-8
Imani Jones-7
Nyjhia Lee-8
Jasmyn Malone-6
Terrance Mosely-6
Leandre Shannon-8
Michael Shannon-8
Carvell Williams II-6
STUDENT ARRIVAL TIME
To ensure your child’s safety, he/she should NOT arrive to Southwest Middle prior to 7:00 a.m. The building doors open at 7:00 a.m. and there is adult supervision.
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Attached is the November 2009 list of students receiving the Student of the Month Award.
SUMMER SCHOOL 2010
June 7 – July 2
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12 Noon
Watch for the Parkway Summer School Brochure to arrive in the mail mid-March. Grades 6 – 8 at South Middle and Southwest Middle will be held at the Southwest Middle campus.