Southwest Schools
Before The Bell....
Welcome from Dr. Brenda Arteaga, Superintendent of Schools
"“Let’s get ready to rumble!” This phrase reminds me of something that invokes excitement, an anticipation of something that is about to start that we can wait to see. On behalf of Southwest Schools, Welcome Back to the 2016-2017 school year!
On August 22, almost 2,000 students will come through our doors with that same anticipation and excitement to see their friends, to get back in to the learning environment, and some will be there because it is one of the best places that they can be. Our quest is always the same – Excellence in Education through Exploration.
One of the things that I believe will help bring us further along in our quest is moving deeper in to the learning by utilizing project-based learning in our curriculum and combining it with our established components of STEAM, E-Colors, and Capturing Kids Hearts.
There is one single factor that drives these positive outcomes:
· It is as important as intelligence in student achievement.
· It supports better job performance.
· It leads to better relationships.
· People with more of it have greater life satisfaction.
· It can help us live longer.
· It predicts leadership ability.
What is that single factor? Do you know? CURIOSITY!
My continual focus is hope, health, and happiness. We are going to have a great 2016-2017 school year!
Know Thy Impact!
Dr. Brenda Arteaga
Be sure to keep up with current happenings in the district by downloading our free Yapp app; liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
We Are Very Proud To Present..........
Special Group of Seniors
Suited For Success
Do you shop on Amazon? Now you can shop and Support Southwest Schools through AmazonSmile!
Cruz Arcia, a 2016 Graduate, Created This Tribute For His Fellow Class Members
Middle School Student and Teacher Spend a Week In Bahamas!
Congratulations to Middle School student Kevin Turrubiartes for being named one of the few #JasonProject 2016 National Argonauts. Kevin Turribiartes along with Bobby Cotton, the District Teacher of the Year 2015 and Jason Project Educator, spent a week on the Island of Eleuthra in the Bahamas as part of the Student and Teacher Argonauts program for the Jason Project. They participated, at no cost to them, thanks to the generous support of Chevron. Students and teachers participated in several scientific activities along side CEI Institute School scientists and researchers. Some of the subjects they covered included marine life, sea coral, sustainability, lionfish overpopulation, hydroponics, and mangrove trees. Students also engaged in hands-on scientific activities such as, examining squid or lionfish, exploring mangrove tree roots, seeing hydroponic gardens, studying sea corals, snorkeling along coastlines, and exploring sandbars.
They were able to have some fun in the sun as well! Bike riding, swimming, cliff jumping, and water polo were just a few of exciting activities. The highlight of the week gave students the opportunity to feed and observe sharks in action.
It was a great week filled with camaraderie, scientific exploration, and experiencing real science in the field.
A HUGE thank you to Chevron for the continued support of students and teachers of Southwest Schools!
To learn more about The Jason Project, visit http://www.jason.org/
7 Grants Available For Teachers
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Teacher Grant
Purpose of Grants: to fund projects that make creative use of common teaching aids, approach curriculum from an imaginative angle, or tie nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities. Innovation and merit account for 40% of the evaluation.
Eligibility:
Pre-K-12 certified teachers teaching in the subject of the project at public, private, charter, or parochial schools within the U.S. Kids In Need currently DOES NOT fund home school projects.
Grant Amounts: $100 to $500. We want to be the sole funding agent for your project. In exceptional cases, a grant may be awarded in conjunction with funding from another source. If you are receiving additional funds for this project, please indicate it in the budget section of the application. Click here to apply for a Jo-Ann Teacher Grant
Elmer’s Teacher Toolkit Grant
Purpose of Grants: to provide teachers with the means to replicate projects found in the Winning Projects Guide found on the Kids In Need website, KINF.org/printables, in their own classrooms. These projects, previously funded by the Kids In Need Foundation, make creative use of common teaching aids, approach curriculum from an imaginative angle, or tie nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities.
Eligibility: Pre-K-12 certified teachers teaching in the subject of the project at public, private, charter, or parochial schools in all 50 states and District of Columbia in the U.S. Special consideration will be given to teachers from schools that have at least 70 percent of the students enrolled in the federal free and reduced lunch program and to first year teachers. Kids In Need currently DOES NOT fund home school projects.
Grant Amounts: $100 to $500. In exceptional cases, a project from the catalog may be budgeted for more than $500. The teacher must prove that additional funds from another source are secured to do the project before funding will be granted from Elmer’s Teacher Tool Kit. If you are receiving additional funds for the project, please indicate it in the budget section of the application.
You may submit applications for up to three different projects from the Elmer’s Teacher Tool Kit catalog, but you must complete a separate application for each project. Click here to apply for an Elmer’s Teacher Toolkit Grant
Dollar General Reading Scholars Teacher Grant
Purpose of Grants: to fund creative classroom projects that are designed to improve the reading skills of Pre-K to 12th grade students.
Eligibility: Pre–K – 12 certified teachers teaching reading/language arts at public, private, charter, or parochial schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the U.S. Kids In Need currently DOES NOT FUND home school projects.
Amount of Grants: Grants are from $100 to $500. We should be the sole funding agent for your project. Click here to apply for a Dollar General Reading Scholars Teacher Grant
Georgia-Pacific Innovation Grant
Purpose of Grants: to fund projects that make creative use of common teaching aids, approach curriculum from an imaginative angle, or tie nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities. Innovation and merit account for 40% of the evaluation.
Eligibility: Pre-K-12 certified teachers teaching in the subject of the project at public, private, charter, or parochial schools within the U.S. Kids In Need currently DOES NOT fund home school projects.
Grant Amounts: $100 to $500. We want to be the sole funding agent for your project. In exceptional cases, a grant may be awarded in conjunction with funding from another source. If you are receiving additional funds for this project, please indicate it in the budget section of the application. Click here to apply for a Georgia-Pacific Innovation Grant
ArtSkills Teacher Grant
Purpose of Grants: To fund projects that make creative use of common teaching aids, approach curriculum from an imaginative angle, or tie nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities. Innovation and merit account for 40% of the evaluation.
Eligibility: Pre-K-12 certified teachers teaching in the subject of the project at public, private, charter, or parochial schools within the U.S. Kids In Need currently DOES NOT fund home school projects.
Grant Amounts: $100 to $500. We want to be the sole funding agent for your project. In exceptional cases, a grant may be awarded in conjunction with funding from another source. If you are receiving additional funds for this project, please indicate it in the budget section of the application. Click here to apply for ArtSkills Teacher Grant
WIMA Creative Writing Teacher Grant
Purpose of Grants: to fund creative writing projects. Please do not apply with this application if your project is not a creative writing project.
Eligibility: Pre-K-12 certified teachers teaching in the subject of the project at public, private, charter, or parochial schools within the U.S. Kids In Need currently DOES NOT fund home school projects.
Grant Amounts: $100 to $500. We want to be the sole funding agent for your project. In exceptional cases, a grant may be awarded in conjunction with funding from another source. If you are receiving additional funds for this project, please indicate it in the budget section of the application. Click here to apply for WIMA Creative Writing Teacher Grant
Helping Humanity Fund – Navajo Pottery Project
Purpose of Grants: to provide teachers with the means to replicate the Navajo Pottery project in their own classrooms. Although originally done by middle school students, the project can be conducted on any grade level. Click here for Pottery Lesson Plan
Eligibility: Pre-K-12 certified teachers teaching at public, private, charter, or parochial schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the U.S. Kids In Need currently DOES NOT fund home school projects.
Grant Amount: $195 Click here to apply for the Helping Humanity Fund – Navajo Pottery Project
Whose Most Likely To Succeed?
Middle School & High School Campus Close to Having Green Space
Our Current "Green Space"
The Vanguard Fellows
Draft Of Future Green Space
District Partnerships Available To You
The District partners with organizations that offer benefits to our employees. A couple of those are the YMCA and Western Governors University.
The YMCA offers you and your family Corporate Membership benefits:
• Pay nothing when you join. Your joining fee will be waived, a savings of up to $100.
• Receive 10% off the facility member rate for programs.
• Choose from several membership types at a citywide or center level.
Western Governors University offers you the opportunity to start or complete a degree.
The program is completely online, and is self-paced. What does that mean to you? It means, in a six month period, you may take as many classes as you can complete. Yes, really! It is completely up to you. Completing one class is the same cost as completing 7 classes during a six month term.
Online degrees offered in:
- Education
- Business
- Technology
- Online Teacher Licensure Degree Programs
- Online Master in Education with Teacher Licensure
- Online Graduate Programs for Licensed Teachers
The cost for our employees:
Bachelor Degree Program
$2,745.50 per semester for up to 4 semesters. After that it will be $2,890
Master Degree Program
$3,087.50 per semester for up to 4 semester. After that it will be $3,250
Scholarship:
I’d encourage you to apply for scholarships offered through the WGU Institutional
Partners Scholarship program. Scholarships are valued at up to $2,000.00. Recipients
will receive $500.00 tuition credit each term, renewable for up to four terms based on
satisfactory academic performance.
We Thank Our Very Generous Star Partners
Our thanks to these Individual Partners:
Mr. Dave Payne
Mr. Richard Schwer
Dr. Madeline Burillo
Dr. Spyros Catechis
Mr. Theldon Branch
Ms. Mary Murray
Mr. Jai Daggett
Mr. Anil Chanday
Ms. Janeice Jaynes
For more Information please contact:
Director of Community Relations & Partnerships
Email: mbrewer@swschools.org
Website: www.swschools.org
Location: 3333 Bering Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 713-784-6345
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthwestSchools/
Twitter: @swschoolstx