Bobcat Bulletin
SWHS Newsletter April 2023
Welcome to the Bobcat Bulletin!
Message from the Principal
Dear SWHS Families,
I hope this message finds you well. When our calendars turn to April, the end of the school year moves quickly. For seniors, it means the final push to graduation. For all grade levels it means completing academic responsibilities and demonstrating the growth obtained throughout the year--we encourage our students to finish strong!
My highlighted item to share with families concerns morning traffic and safety. The traffic volume in the morning is very high--I emphasize the following to all student drivers and/or their families who drop students off:
1) Safety: Please be mindful of students using the crosswalk areas on and near the high school campus. Exercising caution, obeying speed limits, avoiding distracted driving, and using turn signals are critically important to avoid accidents and injuries.
2) Timeliness: Traffic congestion typically begins at around 7:05 am. I encourage all drivers to be mindful of this and to leave their homes at a time when this congestion can be anticipated but with ample time for our students to be dropped off/park and walk to their first period in time for the start of class (7:25 am).
I thank everyone for their partnership to optimize safety for all and to ensure students arrive to their first period class on time.
Sincerely,
Frank Rizzuto
This issue contains information on the following topics:
- Class of 2023 Graduation Information
- Class of 2023 Picture Request
- Choices Matter Program: April 25, 2023
- Congratulations to Karolyn Andrews & Cara Singer
- School Counseling Information
- Message from SWHS Social Workers: The Power of Music
- Athletics News
- Club Spotlight: Future STEM Leaders of America
- Important April Dates/Events
Class of 2023 Graduation Information
Please CLICK HERE for initial graduation ceremony details.
Class of 2023: Picture Request
Dear Class of 2023 Families, WE NEED YOUR HELP! The yearbook staff is creating a video dedicated to the seniors to be played at graduation on the Jumbotron at Dunkin Donuts Park. These picstures can be from birth through senior year. We want to get pictures of EVERYONE in the senior class. Please know, we try to get all submitted pics into the video, but submission is not a guarantee.
Please CLICK HERE to send your submitted picture(s). May 1st is the deadline for picture submission. If you have any questions, please email swhsyearbook@swindsor.k12.ct.us
Choices Matter Program: April 25, 2023
Attention 11th and 12th grade students, parents, and guardians. You are invited to attend the Choices Matter Program on April 25th from 6:00 - 7:30 at SWHS in the auditorium. Funded by the CT Highway Safety Office, Choices Matter is a life-changing program for young drivers using personal stories and interactive materials to inspire students to make the right choices both behind the wheel and in life. Admission is free and no tickets are needed. Hope to see you there!
Congratulations to Karolyn Andrews & Cara Singer
Congratulations to Ms. Andrews & Ms. Singer who received Fund for Teachers fellowships! Fund for Teachers is a national organization that provides fellowships for teachers to self-design and embark on summer professional growth experiences. Ms. Andrews & Ms. Singer are two of the recipients from the 69 individuals and 30 teaching teams in the State of Connecticut. They are looking forward to their educational experience on their travels to India!
School Counseling Information
Grade 12: Accepted to one or more colleges? Enlisting with a branch of the military? Job offer for next year? We want to know! Fill out this Google form below to be included in our "good news" announcements for the Class of 2023! This form can be filled out with as many college acceptances as you receive, and can be submitted multiple times as future decisions arrive. You may also use this form to indicate that you have enlisted in the military or received an offer of employment for after you graduate. https://forms.gle/TYhjv8cLzzdrdZRc7
Grades 9-11: Student Schedules for 2023-24
Students can still visit their school counselor to make any changes to their 2023-24 course requests. Making a change by April 14th will give the student the best chance to gain access to their desired courses.
All: In case you missed it--to visit the March School Counseling newsletter, please visit: https://www.smore.com/7s14g
Message from SWHS Social Workers: The Power of Music
Listening to music is a very common activity among adolescents. Teens have their favorites, are plugged in a lot and use music for a variety of reasons. Let’s combine the love of music with the many tasks we ask teenagers to accomplish throughout the day. Research shows that there are great benefits to adding music into our daily lives and that it aids in the healthy development of adolescents. The two articles below contain information on how music nurtures creativity, increases confidence, improves social skills, improves academic performance, helps cope with emotions, promotes tolerance, provides a sense of identity and promotes happiness. Music improves so many of our brain functions.
The Benefits of Music for Teens — Stage Music Center In Acton and Winchester MA
Rhythm Notion: 10 Benefits of Music for ADHD Brains
Also, here are some unique ways to use music in helping your teen’s accomplish daily responsibilities:
Have your teen create playlists for a variety of moods - to get pumped up, to work out, to relax, when upset, etc. Discuss the musical choices and moods with each other. What would be on your playlists?
Make a playlist that can be used when doing chores in order to make the time go faster, use up some energy and possibly have fun dancing/singing.
Identify 3-5 songs that your teen can listen to in order to determine the preferred length of a shower. When the last song is over the showering time is done.
Longer songs (either classical music or instrumental versions of current favorite songs) can help with accomplishing more mundane tasks, less preferred required tasks and to help pass the time while waiting.
Research sounds (musical or from nature) that your teen finds soothing to help with falling asleep or winding down after a higher energy activity such as sports or celebrations.
Create songs that incorporate information from a class so that students can have an additional study tool to help remember content. (Remember the 50 states song when they were younger?)
Athletics News
Spring sports teams have begun. Boys volleyball opened up on Saturday, April 1st when they in the CIAC Early Season Volleyball Tournament as well as softball at Rockville High School. All other spring sports began their spring contests this week. Please see the link below for all spring sports schedules.
https://highschool.southwindsorschools.org/athletics/teams_and_coaches
CLUB SPOTLIGHT: Future STEM Leaders of America
Go Baby Go, is an interesting name, however, once you find out the meaning behind this project it will pique your interest. Our club FLSA, lead by Mrs.Davies, Ms.Howard, Arnav Kumar, and Kevin Joseph, collaborated with Dr.Dischino, a highly regarded professor at CCSU, to get behind this project for the good of our community, particularly those who suffer from various physical conditions. Our club FLSA (Future STEM Leaders of America) worked with Dr.Dischino and students from CCSU and UCONN to re-engineer and construct a power wheels vehicle.
Though the project was rigorous in terms of difficulty, we as a group accomplished our goal of creating modified power wheels cars for families in our local community of South Windsor. The cars were designed to assist two different children who have conditions that we could alleviate by designing cars to suit their needs. The best part of this project was seeing the joy on the faces of the children and families we helped through our creation of these cars. This project altogether hallmarked our first major accomplishment as a club, and in the future, we aspire to create more projects intended on helping those who benefit from our efforts at our club. Overall, we hope this venture attracts more people to join our club, to spread awareness on what our club is about, and to share our vision with others who may help our club progress. New members are always welcome.
FLSA (Future STEM Leaders of America)
Mrs. Davies - Advisor
Arnav Kumar - President
Kevin Joseph - Vice President
Important Dates/Events
Good Friday: Friday, April 7 (No School)
Spring Break: April 10 - 14 (Spring Break)
The Addams Family Musical: April 21 @ 7:00 pm, April 22 @ 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Choices Matter Program: Tuesday, April 25 @ 6:30 pm