Bobcat Bulletin
SWHS Newsletter October 2022
Welcome to the Bobcat Bulletin!
Message from the Principal
Dear SWHS Families,
I hope this issue of the Bobcat Bulletin finds you well. As I shared with families at the beginning of the school year, there are many extracurricular activities available for students. Whether a sport, club, or other activity, SWHS has many different options for our students. Please feel free to visit our current options by CLICKING HERE.
Sincerely,
Frank Rizzuto
This issue contains information on the following topics:
- PSAT Day (Wednesday, October 12)
- Midterm Exam Schedule
- Early Dismissal Mondays (October 17 & 31)
- Spirit Week
- School Counseling Information
- Fall Sports
- Library/Media Center Information
- Message From SWHS Family Engagement Specialist
- Employment Opportunities in SWPS
- Important Dates/Events
PSAT Day (Wednesday, October 12)
For your convenience, I am re-providing a communication sent to families on September 27 regarding PSAT Day. PSAT is Wednesday, October 12. Please CLICK HERE for important information regarding PSAT Day (including the schedule for the day and special information for the Class of 2023).
Midterm Exam Schedule
For the convenience of families and our students, please CLICK HERE to view the midterm exam schedule for January, 2023.
Early Dismissal Mondays (October 17 & 31)
The first two Early Dismissal Mondays of the school year will take place this month. School will begin at 7:25 and end at 11:25 am. The dates are October 17 & October 31. CLICK HERE for the bell schedule for both dates.
In light of professional development sessions, we ask that students who are in extracurricular activities on these days to arrange for transportation to return back to SWHS when those activities begin.
Spirit Week
Student Council is sponsoring Spirit Week during the week of Monday, October 24th. The themes are:
Monday, October 24: No School (Observance of Diwali)
Tuesday, October 25: Twin Day
Wednesday, October 26: Wear Pink (In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month)
Thursday, October 27: Class Color War
- Grade 12: Groutfit Gray
- Grade 11: Navy
- Grade 10: Red
- Grade 9: Light Blue
Friday, October 28: Bobcat Gear
A Pep Rally will be held on Friday, October 28 toward the end of the school day, the Homecoming football game will kick off at 3:00 pm, and the Homecoming Dance will go from 7:00 - 10:00 pm.
School Counseling Information
COLLEGE FAIR: Thursday, October 20, SWHS will be hosting a College Fair. Over 120 college admissions, vocational programs, and military representatives will be available to all sophomores, juniors and seniors during an extended Period 1 in the SWHS gymnasium. Here are helpful hints for our students to get the most out of the College Fair opportunity:
- Focus on schools that meet your needs/interests;
- Location, majors, competitiveness, cost, etc.: Research possible matches on Naviance (link off SWHS Website) using the SuperMatch service. Your Naviance username and password are typically the same as your regular school login. Visit the Career Center for assistance;
- Introduce self to college representatives from your created list (ask questions, pick up information brochures, fill out an information card from the school indicating it is an "interest point." An “interest” point is given by many colleges as a means to quantify how interested you are with a school [points given for visits, emails, calls, etc.] Interest points can help ‘boost’ your application);
- Meet with your school counselor for more information or opportunities regarding your post-secondary plan!
Fall Sports Update
The fall athletic season is well underway at South Windsor High School as teams are competing against other schools in their respective sports. Below is an update on how our teams are doing as of Wednesday, October 5.
Girls Cross Country: 4-2
Boys Cross Country: 2-4
Both teams will participate in the Wickham Invitational on Saturday 10/8 beginning at 8 am.
Field Hockey: 1-5
This record reflects a couple of close contests including two tough losses to Northwest Catholic 2-1 in overtime and Newington 2-1.
Football: 1-3
This record reflects a couple of close losses to Bristol Central 31-30 and Manchester 28-25. They host New Britain this Friday in a 3:30 pm kickoff. They also host Glastonbury in a night game at Rye Street on Thursday 10/20 with a 6:00 pm game start time.
Sideline Cheer has been performing at home and away football games this fall.
Girls Soccer: 2-3-3
The team plays next on Wednesday 10/12 @ Tolland. They will also play a 6 pm game at Dillon/Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford on 10/21.
Boys Soccer: 6-0-2
The team will play an 8 pm game at Dillon/Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford on 10/21.
Girls Swimming & Diving: 4-1
The team travels to Cornerstone Aquatics in West Hartford on Friday 10/7 for a meet vs. Hall, Conard, and East Catholic.
Girls Volleyball: 6-6 record
The team hosts Suffield Saturday, October 8 at 11:00 am.
Library Media Center Information
Thanks to a generous grant from the South Windsor Public Education Fund, we have been able to purchase two additional 3D printers to expand our 3D printer program. Students who would like to use the 3D printer should stop by the Media Center to sign up with Mrs. Hilton. Mrs. Hilton will walk students through the process. Not sure what to build? Check out Thingiverse.com to explore thousands of possibilities. This is a free program offered to all SWHS students who want to explore, tinker, and create!
Message From SWHS Family Engagement Specialist
Teens & Social Media: Social media has become a popular form of interaction between teens. Social media has been an outlet for teens to connect with classmates and friends, keep up to date on what’s happening around the world, and communicate and build social networks. Although social media can provide teens with support, it can also have a downside:
“…the impact of social media on youth can also be significantly detrimental to mental health. In particular, social media and teen depression are closely linked. Furthermore, overuse of the apps exposes teens to cyberbullying, body image issues, and tech addiction, and results in less time spent doing healthy, real-world activities. And while the majority of parents believe they know what their child is posting on social media, according to a Pew Research poll, a survey of teens found that 70 percent of them are hiding their online behavior from their parents.” (Newport Academy, 2022)
There are many ways parents can be more involved in their child’s social media use. Below are some resources that can assist parents in keeping their child safe while using social media:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/social-media
https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/social-media-advice-hub2/
https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/well-being/effect-of-social-media-on-teenagers/
Teens Guide to Social Media Safety:
https://www.safesearchkids.com/a-teens-guide-to-social-media-safety/#.YzrSA3bMLIU
Popular Social Media Sites Parents Should be Aware of:
- Snapchat
- TikTok
- Tumblr
Employment Opportunities in SWPS
The South Windsor Public Schools has openings for caring, dedicated paraprofessionals in many of our schools. We need your help to find individuals interested in working in our amazing district with wonderful students, staff, parents, and community!
We have part-time and full-time positions, offer room for advancement, provide dedicated professional development time to continue to build skills, and have an excellent benefit package. Whether you are interested in assisting students in academics, behavior and social skill development, classroom support, or being part of our amazing specialty programs, we have opportunities for you!
Paraprofessionals are an essential part of our schools. If you are someone who believes in the power of a high-quality education, who champions equity and inclusion, and who is ready to be part of an exceptional team working to prepare students to achieve their own personal excellence in a complex global society, then we hope you’ll consider joining the South Windsor Public Schools. Please talk to your friends, neighbors, and relatives who may be looking for a new job opportunity as well! We invite applicants to join a team of exemplary teachers, administrators, and support staff working to shape an exciting time in the South Windsor community.
For more information, please contact any of our school principals or Special Education Supervisors Kim Sokale at ksokale@swindsor.k12.ct.us or Eve Hurley at ehurley@swindsor.k12.ct.us. Please visit our website for more information about these positions by CLICKING HERE.
Important Dates/Events
Indigenous People's Day: Monday, October 10 (No school for students)
PSAT Day: Wednesday, October 12
Early Dismissal: Monday, October 17 (Dismissal @ 11:25 am)
Parent Advisory Council Meeting: October 17 @ 6:30 pm
College Fair: Thursday, October 20
Spirit Week: October 24 - 28
SWHS Hall of Fame Induction Dinner: Thursday, October 27
Homecoming Football Game: Friday, October 28 @ 3:00 pm
Homecoming Dance: Friday, October 28 @ 7:00 pm
Early Dismissal: Monday, October 31 (Dismissal @ 11:25 am)