Southwest Scuttle
January 2023
Our Attendance line is available 24 hrs. a day 507.379.5312
Introducing "The Tiger's Den"
Here are the programs that we are currently able to offer our SWMS students.
We are hoping to launch the two newest programs in January, 2023.
Donations for these programs can be dropped off at Southwest anytime between
7:30am - 3:30pm during school days.
Thank you to Taco John's, the American Legion and the Moose Lodge for their generous donations to our school. Below are a few pictures of the donations.
Items purchased from American Legion donation
$598.07 from our Taco John's fundraising night
Items donated by Moose Lodge members
E-Learning Day Expectations
Join the Book Club & earn FREE books & prizes!
The S.W.A.G. Book Club
(Southwest's Astute Generation)
Reading punch cards are available in the Media Center or from Mrs. Luoma in the office.
Get yours today!
Books that you read for class or had read over the summer will count towards your reading club punch card! Once you get 10 punches on your punch card you will receive a free book and other prizes.
(you will get to choose 1 of the many titles available)
Punch cards can be completed all year long.
For example, if you read 50 books and complete 5 punch cards you will be eligible to receive 5 FREE books and prizes!
Click HERE for a link to our media center to see what is available to check out.
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Once you have finished a book, either have your teacher stamp the punch card or have Mrs. DeRaad in the media center punch your card.
These books must to be age and grade appropriate.
This program is open to all 6th & 7th grade students in 2022-2023
Dean's Corner
Families, Students, and Community Members,
As we head into Winter Break, I want to wish each of you a Happy Holidays. We are halfway through the school year. When students return from Winter Break on Thursday, January 5, 2023 it will be our second semester, our third quarter. With the new semester comes changes in classes and schedules.
Thank you all for putting our students and their academic and social emotional learning at the forefront this school year. Take time to relax and make wonderful memories together.
Encourage your student to stay engaged during the break by diving into a good book, spending time outdoors, and enjoying times with family and friends.
I hope you all are able to take time to relax, recharge, and connect with those you cherish, and enjoy the holiday season. I wish you all good health and hope that 2023 is an amazing year.
Kim Larson, Dean of Students
507-379-5249
This year the School Counselor and School Social Workers have teamed up to present WhyTry Lessons during Advisory +. These lessons are taught once every other week during Advisory + time. WhyTry is an evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) program. The purpose of this curriculum is to help students answer the question…“Why Try? Why should I put effort into life, school, or work?” The WhyTry approach uses 10 visual metaphors designed to build resiliency skills as well as increase engagement and motivation in students. Our December metaphor was focused on defense mechanisms/coping skills.
Our metaphor for November was “Defense Mechanisms”
Key Concepts:
Pressure situations are best handled by maintaining control of your emotions and selecting positive defense mechanisms (those that don’t hurt yourself or others).
Lesson Objectives:
Students will list defense mechanisms, both positive and negative, they have used in the past.
Students will describe how positive defense mechanisms lead to solutions better than negative ones.
Students will list different positive defense mechanisms I can use in pressure situations.
Students will plan and practice how to react in pressure situations by choosing positive defense mechanisms.
Common Language:
Defense mechanisms -Ways to cope with stress or difficult feelings
Pressure Situations- people or situations that make you feel forced to do something or act a certain way.
Impulse control -the ability to resist an impulse, desire, or temptation
Students will list defense mechanisms, both positive and negative, they have used in the past.
Students will describe how positive defense mechanisms lead to solutions better than negative ones.
Students will list different positive defense mechanisms I can use in pressure situations.
Students will plan and practice how to react in pressure situations by choosing positive defense mechanisms.
Upcoming Events
Dec. 22-Jan.4 - NO SCHOOL
Jan. 16 - NO SCHOOL
Feb. 8-17 - Scholastic Book Fair
Feb. 9 - Parent Session - Vaping @ 6pm - Little Theater
Feb. 9 - Evening Conferences 4-8pm
Feb. 16 - Parent Session - Vaping @ 6pm - Little Theater
Feb. 16 - Evening Conferences 4-8pm
Feb. 20 - NO SCHOOL
Feb. 27 - 6th -12th grade Orchestra Concert @ 7pm - HS Auditorium
Parent Tech Tools
These are GREAT resources that cover HOW to set up Parent VUE on mobile devices, check Google Classroom for MISSING work, and see how your student is doing with IXL among other things.
Resources for students on everything from How to Turn Assignments in on Google Classroom to How to answer various types of questions in Formative
Chromebook Insurance
Chromebook insurance is still available to purchase. Students must have their chromebook inspected before they will be able to purchase the insurance.
Cash or a check made out to "District 241" can be sent with your student to school to be brought to the main office along with their chromebook to be inspected.
coca-cola give
Keep continuing to save your bottle caps and printed codes from the inside of the paper box packaging!
These can be dropped off in the collection container outside in the Main Office at SW at any time!
Changes to student's contact information
When or if there are changes to you and/or your student's contact information, such as an address change, new/different phone number(s), new/different email address(es), etc,. please contact us as soon as possible by calling 507-379-5243 or emailing jane.beighley@alschools.org
Your assistance with keeping your student's records up to date is greatly appreciated.
SWMS Office Staff & Administration
Kim Larson, Dean of Students
Jillann Luoma, Secretary to the Principal
Jane Beighley, Student Services/Attendance Secretary
Attendance Line - 507-379-5312
Jill Pryor, Licensed Nurse
Alicia Leal, Health Clerk
Stephanie Engebretson, Social Worker
stephanie.engebretso@alschools.org
Rachel Crosby, Counselor
Adam Conn, Police Liaison
SW & HS Athletics
Paul Durbahn, Director
Megan LeBrun, Secretary
Holly Dahl, Clerk
Southwest Middle School
Email: jillann.luoma@alschools.org
Website: https://www.alschools.org/domain/33
Location: 1601 West Front Street, Albert Lea, MN, USA
Phone: 507-379-5240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertLeaAreaSchools/
Twitter: @SWMSAlbertLea