Bobcat Bulletin
SWHS Newsletter January 2023
Welcome to the Bobcat Bulletin!
Message from the Principal
Dear SWHS Families,
Happy New Year to SWHS families! We hope the first few days of 2023 have gotten off to a good start for our students!
January is typically a fast moving month for our students highlighted by midterm exams. For your convenience, the midterm exam schedule is located in this newsletter along with other important information associated with exams. Additionally, there are tips on preparing for exams in the "Message from SWHS Social Workers" section of the newsletter.
January is also a busy month as underclassmen begin preparations for the courses they would like to select for next school year. Please see the "School Counseling Information" section of the newsletter to learn how to best prepare for this process.
Sincerely,
Frank Rizzuto
This issue contains information on the following topics:
- Midterm Exam Schedule & Important Information
- Message from SWHS Social Workers (Midterm exam advice)
- Library/Media Center Information
- SWHS on Facebook & Instagram
- School Counseling Information
- SW Operation Graduation ($5,000 Raffle Information)
- Athletics News
- Employment Opportunities in SWPS
- From the CT State Department of Education
- Important January Dates/Events
Midterm Exam Schedule
Please CLICK HERE to view the midterm exam schedule for January, 2023.
Transportation During Exams: During exams, the morning bus runs before the start of school will be the same as normal. After exams conclude, buses will depart SWHS at approximately the following times:
Monday, January 23: 11:30 am (after period 2 exam)
Tuesday, January 24: 11:30 am (after period 4 exam)
Wednesday, January 25: 11:30 am (after period 6 exam)
Thursday, January 26: 9:30 am (after period 7 exam)*
Friday, January 27: 9:30 am (after period 8 exam)*
* On Thursday, January 26 & Friday, January 27 a late bus will be available at 11:30 am for students who are taking make-up exams.
Important exam information for parents/guardians/students:
Students who do not have an exam are not required to be on campus;
If a student is on campus, but they do not have an exam, they must report to the cafeteria for a quiet study hall;
If a student leaves campus, they are not permitted to come back to utilize school-provided transportation home;
If a student is not able to attend their exam, they must be excused by a parent. Students must then communicate with their teacher to reschedule the exam upon receipt of administrative approval;
Students are to remain in their exam room for the duration of the exam (even if finished early);
If a student has an extracurricular activity or athletic activity in the afternoon, they will need to leave after exams and be transported back for their activity.
Message from SWHS Social Workers (MIDTERM EXAM ADVICE)
Here are a few things to keep in mind as your child is preparing for exams and how you can help them:
Encourage your child to prepare & study for their exams sooner rather than later;
If there is a class they are struggling with, encourage them to meet with their teachers in the weeks leading up to the exam so they can receive any individualized support they may need;
Students can also receive support from the Academic Support Center which is available in Room 122A Monday - Thursday from 2:00 - 3:00PM;
Students may have a challenge remembering to get enough rest. On average, high school students require nine hours of sleep. Help them to get the recommended amount of sleep in order to stay healthy, retain the information they are studying, and remain focused when taking exams;
Help them make a daily schedule to visually show and chunk out all that needs to be done each day - school, studying time, activities, sleep, chores, relaxation, etc.;
Encourage them to complete all study guides in a timely manner in order to ask the teacher any follow up questions;
Help them review notes, outlines, slides, previous study guides/quizzes/tests;
Offer to test them or to listen to them describe what they are learning - speaking the information out loud helps with remembering and understanding.
Here are a few test taking tips that you can review with them.
1. Eat a good breakfast each exam day;
2. Read the directions thoroughly before starting;
3. Look over the whole exam and decide where you want to start. Here are some options:
- There is no rule that says you need to start with Number 1 so start anywhere.
- Start with what is worth the most points.
- Start with what is easiest for you.
- Start with the items that you find the most difficult to remember in order to get them completed.
- Make sure you put an answer, or at least part of an answer, for each question - something written down may earn you some points.
4. Show all of your work and make sure your answer has the appropriate label - ex. ounces, feet, inches, yards, etc.;
5. Manage your time and use all of it - if you finish with time left then go back and check over your work;
6. If you start to become worried, anxious or nervous, put your pen/pencil down, close your eyes, take three deep breaths and then return to working on the test.
Library/Media Center
Midterm Exams: The library will be open during midterm exams for quiet study. Students wishing to use the library during exams just need to sign in upon arrival. Please see Mrs. McCool if you have any questions.
Important information for second semester: Students who want to come to the library during their study hall need to obtain a pass from the library before school or during passing time. When the period falls during lunch, all students in the library will go to 4th lunch. Please note that we have a limited number of passes during those lunch periods so get your passes early.
SWHS on Facebook & Instagram
South Windsor High School is now on Facebook and Instagram. We hope that these will be helpful for SWHS students and families. The Facebook page is SWHS Bobcats and the Instagram account is swhs_bobcats.
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 the Google form below to be featured on the "big screen" outside the Career Center and School Counseling Office. This form can be filled out with as many college acceptances as you receive, and can be filled out 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 graduation. COMPLETE THIS GOOGLE FORM
Grades 9-11: The 2023-24 Course Selection Process is coming soon! As school counselors begin to plan for next year, please visit swhscourses.org to view the 2023-24 SWHS Course Catalog in order to begin your preparation. More information and deadlines will be shared soon! Please connect with your school counselor with any questions.
SW Operation Graduation ($5,000 Raffle Information)
Just a friendly reminder...South Windsor Operation Graduation (SWOG) needs your immediate support! SWOG relies on funding from the $5,000 raffle being held on January 28th to provide our seniors with a no cost, safe overnight party on graduation night. As of this week, we have sold enough tickets to cover the prize but with little left for event funding and less than a month remaining for tickets sales. We need your support in selling another 500 tickets between now and January 28th! Please don’t hesitate and buy your tickets now--CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO BUY TICKETS. Please, reach out to family and friends to help make this event possible for the Class of 2023.
Thank you for your continued support for a no cost, safe graduation party!
Athletics News
The SWHS Winter Sports Season is underway and teams have begun competing against other schools. As of Wednesday, January 4 here is a look at how the varsity programs are doing:
- Varsity Girls Basketball: 3-3
- Varsity Boys Basketball: 1-5
- Cheerleading and Dance Team have been performing at home boys and girls basketball games. Both teams are practicing in preparation for their post-season competitions.
- Gymnastics has their first meet January 5, at 5 pm vs Wethersfield High School at Silas Deane Middle School in Wethersfield.
- Varsity Boys Ice Hockey: 6-1
- Varsity Girls Co-Op Ice Hockey (The STORM): 2-2-1
- Boys Swimming & Diving: 0-1
- Wrestling: 1-1 and recently placed 3rd as a team in the Danbury Holiday Tournament.
Employment Opportunities in SWPS
The South Windsor Public Schools has openings for caring, responsible, and reliable individuals to substitute in all of our schools. We need your help to find individuals interested in working in our amazing district with wonderful students and staff, while having a flexible schedule and earning $125 per day. Prior experience working with school-aged children or a bachelor’s degree is required. Our substitutes are an essential part of our schools. Please talk to your friends, neighbors, and relatives who may be looking for a flexible job opportunity, enjoy community involvement, or are interested in gaining experience working in the field of education.
For more information, please contact any of our school administrators or visit our website to apply for these important positions.
From the CT State Department of Education
The CSDE has updated Educational, Safety, Mental Health and Food Insecurity Resources for Families and Students. This resource also includes Support & Services | Wrap CT (connectingtocarect.org) developed by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Important Dates/Events
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 16 (no school)
PAC Meeting: Monday, January 23 @ 6:30 pm
Week of January 23: Midterm Exams