Southwood Academy of the Arts
March 27th - 31st
Anderson University Piano Ensemble
Choir CPA
7th and 8th grade Chorus students will be having their CPAs on Thursday, March 30th at Brushy Creek Baptist Church in Taylors, SC. They will leave at 7:50 AM and return around 1:00 PM. They will sing two songs, “Akatonbo” and “Double Trouble,” and complete a sight reading assessment. All students will have the opportunity to eat at Zaxby’s, but they can choose to bring a bagged lunch, and 8th graders will be back in time for lunch. If students wants to eat at Zaxby’s, they must bring their own money.
National Orchestra Festival in Orlando
Strings participated in the National Orchestra Festival for Southwood Academy. They placed 3rd for middle schools and received an Excellent rating (they were only 1 point away from 1st place and a half a point away from second.) In addition, they attended a convention where they were selling different instruments. Logan Maeger thought it was interesting to try and play all of the instruments. Favorite booths included W. H. Lee professional instruments, and some booths had electric orchestral instruments, such as electric violins, electric cellos, and the electric upright bass. Lastly, the students spent time at Universal’s Orlando Theme park. Some of the favorite rides were the Velocicoaster, The Harry Potter Rides, and the Incredible Hulk. Mrs. Griffith, along with the rest of Southwood Academy, are very proud of the accomplishments of these students.
HS One Act Play
This year's student directed play is Lepers! Lepers is a one act play about five characters taking on the challenge of being outcasts. This is being directed by former Southwood Academy eleventh grade student Julia Orr. This will be showing April 4th-7th at 6pm in the Black Box Theater. The fee is $5 at the door. Come out and see this amazing show!
Spring MAP Testing
ELA Reading- March 28th & 29th
ELA Language-March 31st
Math-April 3rd & 4th
End of the 9 Weeks
Archery News
The SAA Archery team just finished their State Qualifier! They placed 3rd out of 7 teams, and the team has made the state tournament. Archery Team members will travel on Thursday, March 30th! The Archery team still has practice after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Southwood Academy is excited to have the opportunity to compete at a state level.
Youth Art Month Exhibit & Awards
Order Your Yearbook
* If you are not sure if you ordered a yearbook, check this list of students who will get a yearbook in the spring when they arrive!
Spring Break
Canned Good Drive Until March 31st
6th Graders Need to Get Tdap Vaccines
Parents of 6th graders, if your student has received his or her Tdap vaccine, please turn in that documentation to Mrs. Rosa, the school nurse. At this time, there are nearly 120 students who are missing this documentation. **YOU MAY NOT ATTEND 7th GRADE ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA WITHOUT THIS VACCINE!** If your student needs to get this vaccine, please call your doctor and make an appointment immediately. If you cannot get in with your doctor, please contact the Minute Clinics, Urgent Care, or the Health Department and make an appointment with them. Southwood Academy’s main office would like to have these by the end of this school year so we can run your child’s schedule over the summer.
Palmetto's Finest!
Summer 2024 trip to Europe for Current 7th & 8th Grade Students!
Work It Out Wednesdays
Student IDs
Clear Bag Policy for Anderson 5
As part of our ongoing effort to provide a safe and secure school environment for our students and staff, Anderson School District Five will be implementing a clear bag policy for high school and middle school football games. Further adjustments to this policy may be enacted prior to the beginning of winter sports. Prohibited bags include, but are not limited to:
Purses - larger than a clutch bag
Camera cases
Briefcases
Backpacks
Cinch bags
Tinted/printed pattern plastic bags
Diaper bags
Mesh bags
Diapers and other baby supplies can be carried into the stadium in a clear bag. Infant formula, milk, or medicine needing refrigeration is allowed in a small soft-side cooler, and is subject to search at the gate. For additional information, please check out the image below.
A5 Transportation News
Parents, A5 Transportation is excited to promote a new opportunity for you to get in contact with the Transportation Department. You can now text CONCERN to 98127 and gain quick access to:
Submit a new bus stop request
Submit a question, comment, or concern
Learn about the new Traversa Ride 360 parent app (this app is how parents get notification of late buses)
Anderson 5 Needs Bus Drivers
Anderson School District Five is in immediate need of bus drivers. The current salary is $17.43 for new drivers and up to $25.82 for equivalence drivers. On-site paid training is offered at a rate of $16.43 per hour. This includes, but is not limited to, classroom training and behind-the-wheel training. Certified bus drivers are guaranteed 30 hours per week and could work up to 40 hours per week. Full-time drivers qualify for state benefits and participation in the South Carolina Retirement System. If you are only interested in driving a morning or afternoon route, part-time positions are available. Please check out the interest form below.
Club News
Newsletter Club
Creative Writing Club
Creative Writing students meet every Tuesday morning in Miss Paradis's classroom! Students who attended worked on a short piece of literature about something that happened to them that morning. There were no guidelines, so everyone has the freedom to write in any form or style.
Southwood Academy's YCI
YCI is starting back up at Southwood Academy of the Arts! YCI, Youth Commission International, is a Christian organization that talks about God and fellowship. YCI is 7:30 am every Thursday in the Performance Arts Center, and Mr. Pendergrass (the 8th grade science teacher) is the supervisor. There will be games and snacks. All are welcome!
Games Club
Wyldlife News
The next Wyldlife club will be Tuesday, March 28th and the theme is Pick Your Own Theme! It will be 7:00-8:00 pm at the Point Church (1001 N Main St, Anderson, SC 29621). If any middle schoolers or parents have questions, text or call #678-857-8767.
Cafeteria Online Payments
Students may purchase meals and extra sales items with cash, checks deposited onto their account, or funds deposited into their account online. Students cannot purchase extra sales if their account balance is negative. To view your child’s balance or make payments on their account, visit this site. You will need your child’s student account number to create an account/log in and view their meal account.
SAA is an ABC Grant Recipient through the South Carolina Arts Commission!
PowerSchool for Students & Parents
A5's District Code is GWJZ
Bus Information
*The Robert Anderson Sports Bus is now available after school!
Early Dismissal / Appointment Policies
- When you arrive at school, please call the office: 864-260-5205 to let us know you are here to pick up a student for dismissal.
- Make sure to have your license ready and press the buzzer for entrance.
- Once the door is unlocked, be prepared to show your license through the window while you will remain in the foyer. Please DO NOT enter the office area.
- We will have a sign-out sheet in the foyer. Please know that we will get your student to you as quickly as we can.
A5 COVID Guidelines
Media Center Puzzle #3
Mr. Powell & Bojangles Donate Books
Media Center Schedule
Tuesday, March 28th - Media Center work day
Wednesday, March 29th- Games Club am, Gunn visit 10:30, Newsletter 3rd block
Thursday, March 30th - Liles circulation
Friday, March 31st - Media Center work day
Chromebook Care
Westside & RAMS Sports Meeting
RAMS will be having a mandatory student and parent meeting for any current 6th and 7th graders interested in playing sports next year at Robert Anderson or Westside. This meeting will be on Tuesday, March 28th at 6:30 PM in the auditorium. Students will need to bring their chromebooks. This meeting will be about the requirements for athletics including forms, schedules, expectations, and Playsafe information. Please contact our athletic director at alexandrasolla@anderson5.net if you have any questions.
Robert Anderson Cheer
Robert Anderson Cheer Tryouts will be April 26th - 28th. Anyone interested in trying out for the team must attend the athletics meeting on Tuesday, March 28th at 6:30pm in the auditorium at RAMS. Parents must attend the meeting with their students, and students will need their Chromebooks during the meeting. If interested, please follow all of the steps as outlined at the bottom of the flyer image.
Westside Winter Guard & Percussion News
This Westside Winter Guard team finished 3rd place in their division with a 1st place score in the Movement category. Winter Guard will conclude their competitive season at the 2023 CWEA Championships on April 1st. This event will take place at Winthrop Auditorium in Rock Hill, SC. In addition to our great news about Winter Guard, our indoor percussion group finished 4th place overall missing 3rd by less than .4 points. Percussion will continue their competitive season next weekend at Easley High School. Please congratulate these students and their coaches for these awesome achievements!
Winter Guard: Toni Blanding, Amare’ McGee, Anna Kloeck, Katie Mitchell, Jemma Bowman, Sara King, Javie Geer, Kayleigh Smith, Kaydence Romano, Ashley Morales, Mariah Kinser, Ja’Leigha Fruster, Hayden Floyd, Kentiya Baskin
Staff: Brittany Loudermilk, Phillip Ivester-Wood, Emerson Green
Indoor Percussion: Jahazani Gambrell, Jackson Fellers, Elisha Hyslop, Bryce Carpenter, Judah Dentino, Kaz McIlvain, Brylee Moore, Jayla Benson, Hezekiah Bowman, Evelyn Monterrosas, Nick Putnam, Hannah Roman, Abby Schmidt, Chansler Wilson, Yeraldin Simon, Kaylee Hawthorne, Cameron Carver
Staff: Kyle Bruenning
Early Dismissal Days
Anderson Five will utilize three early dismissal days during the 2022-23 school year to support staff development, teacher conferences or end-of-semester exams. When utilizing early dismissal, lunch will be offered to students. Elementary students will be dismissed at 11:00 AM and Southwood Academy students will be dismissed at 11:30 AM.
Early dismissal will be implemented on the following dates:
May 31, 2023
June 1, 2023
Please add these dates to your calendar!
2022-2023 Academic Calendar
Southwood Academy of the Arts
Eric Chamblee, Associate Principal & Instructional Facilitator
Paula Doolittle, Guidance
Joshua Powell, Arts Lead Teacher
Cheri Gilbert, Secretary
Email: jamiesmith@anderson5.net
Website: http://www.anderson5.net/southwood
Location: 1110 Southwood Street, Anderson, SC, United States
Phone: 864-260-5205