Sept%2011-12

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Volume 10, No. 2 September 2011 http://lsw.lps.org/

INSIDE THIS

ISSUE:

Important Dates

PT Conf Info./Bell Schedule

Testing

Pinnacle/Tardy

Senior Info.

Counselor Info.

Yearbook/Clubs

Theatre

VIP’s

Booster Info.

Misc.

Lincoln Southwest High School

7001 S. 14th, Lincoln, NE 68512

(402) 436-1306

LSW: Year #10—The Places We Have Been!

Welcome to the 2011-2012 School Year! We are off to a fantastic start and look for-ward to the best year ever at Lincoln Southwest! We have everything we need to be successful: a professional and quality staff, quality students who come to school ready to grow and learn, and supportive parents and community members who have a stake in our success. We are fortunate to have all we need to build our Community of Learners!

Our theme this year is Success For Every Student! We define success as our ability to take our stu-dents as close to their potential as possible in the time we have. We know that the majority of our stu-dents are very successful and do quite well. However, until each and every student achieves success by reaching their potential, we will have plenty of work to do.

Something very special is happening at our school. There is a spirit that is beyond what we have ex-perienced in the past. Our staff came back on fire and ready to help each student. Our students came back with pride in their school that is unmatched in recent years. Students are coming ready to learn and they are taking extra good care of their school. The behavior is better, there is less litter in and around the school, and the quality of work is quite good. Pride and spirit are the fuel for success!

The tag line for our school is: “Lincoln Southwest High School—A Place Where Safety and Learning are the Highest Priorities!” I want to thank you in advance for helping with the learning process and giving support at home. We have students who are well-prepared and do quality work. However, their success is enhanced when they get extra support at home. We hope you are helping your chil-dren to have a constant time to study and a comfortable, supportive place to do their work at home. Parents who show interest and give support for homework often find that their children experience a high-level of success. Keep up the great work in this area.

School safety is a major focus for us. I want to thank all of our patrons for honoring the emergency zones outside of our school and parking in appropriate areas. Our traffic patterns and our parking lots are planned for success. However, it takes all of us working together to make it work. By parking in the appropriate places, by not stopping in traffic zones, and by practicing give-and-take in the traffic flow, we can make a challenging system workable. It is important that we model for our students the kind of safety and consideration that is needed to move a lot of people. We have made great strides in this area over the past several years.

I want to personally thank you for your support for our school. I am honored to be your principal. I look forward to an incredible year!

Take care,

Rob Slauson

“Lincoln Southwest High School…A place where safety and learning are the highest priorities.”

Principal:

Rob Slauson

Assoc. Principals:

Keri Applebee

John Hastings

Susette Taylor, Ph.d.

Instructional Coordinator:

Rochelle Conner

Sped Coordinator:

Sara Mann

Athletic Director:

Dave Gillespie

Assist. Athletic Director:

Kim Carson

Attendance Coordinator:

Duane Baack

The The Official Newsletter of Lincoln Southwest High School

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Important Dates Sept. 1: Drama Club Meeting, 3:15 p.m., Senior Family Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Theater Parent Booster Meeting, 7 p.m.

Sept. 2: Homecoming Dance, 8 p.m.

Sept. 5: Labor Day-No School

Sept. 6: Forensics Team Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Freshman Family Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 7: Assembly, Rohan Murphy, 8:30 a.m.

Sept. 9: Assembly, Blue Angels

Sept. 10: Choreography Camp, 12 p.m.

Sept. 13: Novice Forensics Auditions, 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 14: Honors Convocation, 8:15 a.m., Novice Forensics Auditions, 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 15: Novice Forensics Auditions, 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 16: Blood Drive, 8:30 a.m.

Sept. 19: Parent Teacher Con-ferences, 4-7 p.m.

Sept. 20: Jr. Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 26: Forensics Parent Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 28 WGDE Testing

Sept. 29: WGDE Testing, Theatre Performance, 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 30: Theatre Performance, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 2: Theatre Performance, 2:00 p.m.

Oct. 3: Forensic Meeting, 3:15 p.m.

Oct. 5: RGDE Testing, State Thespian Meeting, 4:30 p.m., Jazz/Band/Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 6: WGDE Testing, Drama Club Meeting, 3:15 p.m., Thea-ter Parent Booster Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

Parent Teacher  

Conferences 

Sept. 19th          

4‐7 p.m. , Main Gym 

Homecoming—Sept. 2nd, 2011

Football Game, 4:30 p.m.

Dance, 8-11 p.m.

Testing Dates Sept. 28,

29 & Oct. 5, 6

Dates to

Put on the

Calendar!

Oct. 10: Forensic Meeting, 3:15 p.m., Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 11: 9th Grade Health Screening

Oct. 13: Finals, Girls Golf Ban-quet, 6 p.m.

Oct. 14: Finals

Oct. 15: Craft Fair, PSAT

Oct. 17: Fall Break-No School

Oct. 18: Winter Show Audi-tions, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 19: WGDE make-up, Win-ter Who Auditions, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 20: RGDE make-up, Win-ter Show Auditions, 3 p.m.

Oct. 22: ACT testing

Oct. 24: Forensic Meeting, 3:15 p.m.

Oct. 25: Softball Banquet, 5:30 p.m.

Final’s Bell Schedule

Oct. 13th Oct. 14th

7:50-8:55 Final Exam Preparation 7:50-8:55 Final Exam Preparation

9:00-10:30 Block 1 exam 9:00-10:30 Block 3 exam

10:45-12:15 Block 2 exam 10:45-12:15 Block 4 exam

12:15-3:30 make-up if necessary 12:15-3:30 make-up if necessary

Homecoming Dance Tickets sales begin Tuesday, August 30th after school! Students can purchase tickets after school on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Au-gust 31st they are available before school, during the noon hour, or after school. Thursday, September 1st tickets are for sale before school and during the noon hour!

Tickets will be not be sold after lunch on Thursday. Tickets are $5 All fines will need to be paid before students will be eligible to purchase tickets for Homecoming. Remind student not to wait until the last minute to pay their fines!

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Bell Schedules Standard Bell Schedule Tuesday PLC Early Release Schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) (First Week & Every Tuesday)

00 07:15 – 08:00 00 07:15 – 08:00 01 08:15 – 09:45 01 08:15 – 09:30 02 09:51 – 11:21 02 09:36 – 10:51 03 11:21 – 11:51 1st lunch 03 10:51 – 11:21 1st lunch 11:57 – 01:27 1st lunch class 11:27 – 12:42 1st lunch class 11:27 – 11:54 2nd lunch class 10:57 – 11:22 2nd lunch class 11:54 – 12:24 2nd lunch 11:22 – 11:52 2nd lunch 12:27 – 01:27 2nd lunch class 11:55 – 12:42 2nd lunch class 11:27 – 12:27 3rd lunch class 10:57 – 11:52 3rd lunch class 12:27 – 12:57 3rd lunch 11:52 – 12:22 3rd lunch 01:00 – 01:27 3rd lunch class 12:25 – 12:42 3rd lunch class 04 01:33 – 03:03 04 12:48 – 02:03

Parent Teacher Conferences Monday, September 19th, 4-7 p.m. is our first parent-teacher conference. Parents will pick up mid-quarter reports in the commons and meet with teachers in the gym. Please plan to attend and get updated on how your student is doing.

Don’t

Forget!

Important Please read!

Keep

PSAT Test PSAT Registration takes place in the LSW Counseling Center and begins on Wednesday, Sept. 28th and ends on Tuesday, Oct. 11th. The cost is $20.00 and all checks need to be made payable to Lincoln Southwest. The test will be at Southwest on Saturday, Oct. 15th at 8:00 a.m.

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GRADUATION DEMONSTRATION EXAM REQUIREMENTS

All ninth grade students and any other student in 10th, 11th, and 12th who has NOT yet passed the Graduation Demonstration Exam (GDE), will be taking it the upcoming weeks. ONLY students 9th and 10th graders enrolled in English terms 1 and 2 will take the exam this fall (in their English Classes). Ninth and tenth graders enrolled in English terms 3 and 4 will take the exam in the spring. This will allow the students to test during the semester that they receive instruction in the area of writing.

The GDE is an assessment that provides evidence that a student has reached an expected level of achievement. The GDEs were adopted by Lincoln Board of Education to ensure that all students who graduate from LPS are skilled in reading and writing.

Why is this assessment given to nine grade students? LPS wants to ensure that all students have the opportunity to show their level of mas-tery in reading and writing. Early testing also gives students plenty of time to learn these skills if they don’t pass as ninth graders. Finally, early testing communicates what is expected for graduation with regard to reading and writing.

Once a student has passed the GDE or met the requirement in another way, they are no longer expected to take the assessment at future test-ing opportunities. If a student does not pass, we have the time and the opportunity to provide classroom instruction and or supplemental instruction to close the gap of understanding and performance. Students will find out how well they did in a special mailing.

Accommodations for students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be honored if they have been noted in the student’s IEP. Parents or guardians of students participating in special education should contact their child’s IEP Manager for additional information.

It is important that students are in attendance on the days of testing. Please refrain from scheduling appointments and other events that would take your child out of school in the morning of the dates listed below if they are a part of the tested community.

September 28, 2011 Writing-Editing (proof reading) Format: Multiple Choice

September 29, 2011 Writing-Narrative (personal story) Format: Paper and Pencil

October 5, 2011 Reading-Vocab. & Comprehension Format: Multiple Choice

October 6, 2011 Writing-Expository (explaining) Format: Paper and Pencil

STUDENTS MUST TAKE ALL THREE WRITING PARTS

and pass

IN ORDER TO MEET THE REQUIRMENT.

There is no GDE test administered for math. The Math GDE is met entirely through the successful completion of Algebra.

The Reading GDE may be met in four other ways. (LPS web page)

http://www.lps.org/post/index.cfm?collection=57

More information about the test and preparation can be found on the LPS web page (lps.org). Additionally, practice tests and test taking tips are available online which have been designed support your child’s testing experience.

Crumb Path: Instruction -> Assessment, Evaluation, Testing -> Graduation Demonstration Exam.

http://www.lps.org/post/index.cfm?collection=46

Juniors!!! ACT!!! 11th Grade Students ONLY!!!

Last May, the Nebraska Legislature determined that ALL Juniors in LPS and seven other school districts would be required to participate in the administration of the ACT Test. The ACT Test will be administered at LSW on April 24, 2012. This is offered at no cost to stu-dents’ or their families, and can be used for college, scholarship, and military applications. This opportunity to test free of charge is only for 11th graders during the school day. If a Junior/11th grader chooses to take the ACT Test earlier or on the June date, that will be at their expense. They must register for those dates if that is their intention. No other grade level students will be testing on the 24th. at LSW. Other students are still encouraged to test as that information will be valuable in planning their future. PLAN AHEAD: Save the date; April 24, 2012! Save money!

More information will be coming.

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Pinnacle

Southwest High School utilizes Global Scholar, specifically Pinnacle Gradebook, to record and share student information with parents and students. With this system families are able to view attendance, grades, and assignments online. This information is live and can be accessed by the parents any time they choose, as well as setting their own parameters for information to be sent to them on a regular basis. This is called Pinnacle Internet Viewer (PIV). If you have not done so, return your signed user agreement form (AUP) to the Southwest office during regular business

hours, show a photo ID, and get your user name and password to access this valuable tool. Parents can view all their children’s information with this one password. Families only need to sign up one time in the career of their students with Lincoln Public Schools. We hope all families will utilize this incredible system to enhance their involvement in their children’s education.

To help us be as accurate as possible in reporting attendance, please include the following when you call to report your student’s attendance:

1. Student name, ID#, and Date of absence

2. How long (clock time) you expect them to be absent

3. Reason they are absent

When you view your student’s courses online, this is the format that LSW uses:

T=term, B=block, Course name For example: T3-B1-World History

Student Cell Phone/Electronic Device Usage Procedure

Lincoln Southwest High School We are going to focus on student cell phone/electronic devices use. We believe that having cell phones is an important aspect of student safety and for effective communications. We also believe that student cell phone use is a privilege not a right. Students who bring cell phones and electronic devices to school are doing so at their own risk. The school does not guarantee the safety or security of these devices even when they are impounded. This policy is not intended to be a punitive response; it is intended to reinforce and represent a fresh commitment to our need for the SOAR aspects of Re-spect and Responsibility which is part of our school climate. However, we feel that use of these devices is a privilege and should not interfere with the learning environment at Lincoln Southwest High School.

The following policies and procedures apply to student cell phone use at LSW:

Cell Phone/Electronic Devices use will be restricted to non-class times. Students will ensure that their phones are in the ‘off’ or ‘silent’ modes during class times. Students who have a legitimate purpose to use cell phones during class time will do so at the direction of their teacher.

(This should be cleared in advance before class begins.) Students who are seen using phones/electronic devices in the hallways during class times will have their phone confiscated

by administration and security techs. The devices will be turned into security until the end of the school day. (this includes tardy times as well as class times)

Students who are caught using phones in class will be subject to a three-step response— 1st Incident—Teacher will say, “Please put your phone away-this is a warning”. 2nd Incident—Teacher will pick up phone and keep it until the end of the day (Parent notification will be made by teacher). 3rd Incident—Teacher will pick up phone, turn into security, and make office referral. Student may be suspended for one day and a plan will be developed for electronic device. Students who may already have been informed will be subject to the current level

of intervention that already exists!

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Tardy Policy Tardy – Will be determined by the teacher’s discretion. Example: If a student is not in the room when the bell rings.

1st Tardy-warning (conference with teacher/student) 2nd Tardy-student behavior intervention plan and contact home (conference with teacher/parent) 3rd Tardy-assigned to lunch detention 4th Tardy-assigned to lunch detention 5th Tardy-administrative referral (alpha)

PLEASE notice there are no parent excused tardies.

For every tardy after the 3rd, the student will serve lunch detention. If the student is a no-show or late to lunch detention, the student will then be assigned 2 lunch detentions. Failure to complete lunch detention may result in administrative consequences or suspension. Students who come to class late without a pass will be marked tardy. If the teacher previously marked the student TR then that will need to be changed to TD (by the teacher).

Students who come into school late from doctor’s appointments, court, etc. with documentation from the doctor’s office, court, etc. should sign-in at the attendance office. (Documentation must be pro-vided or student will be marked tardy) All other students who are tardy should go directly to the classroom and sign-in there. When leaving the building early for any reason (except early dismissal for activities), please sign-out in the attendance office.

Phone Messages/Appointments

Please help us minimize interruptions in the classroom by planning ahead. If your student needs to leave early for an appointment, please send a note with them and have them take it to the atten-dance office. When they drop it off, the attendance office will then give them a pass thus minimiz-ing class interruptions. When students return to school on the same day it is important they bring back a note from the appointment. If they do not bring a note, the student will be sent to class with-out a pass and the teacher may have the student sign a blue tardy card. If you forget to send a note for dismissal, please make sure and call ahead AT LEAST 1 hour prior to the time you need your student dismissed. Please remember we do not have phones in the classrooms. You may also call during the evening and leave us a message as we do have voice mail.

Any time a student is marked absent and the student believes it is an error it is the student’s re-sponsibility to take care of this. Students should start in the attendance office and follow the proce-dure to get it corrected.

All absences cleared by parents need to be done within 2 school days of the absence.

All messages should be called in by 2:15 to ensure delivery. Any message called in after 2:15 may not get delivered. Please help us with this endeavor.

Phone

Messages/

Apt.’s

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Government and Politics Volunteer Hours

All seniors are required to take Government and Politics their senior year. As part of this class requirement, students need to fulfill 20 hours of community ser-vice. Below is a link with information regarding what qualifies for the 20 hours: http://isite.lps.org/rsalem/web/documents/GoPoDirectory2009-2010.pdf Due dates for Government and Politics volunteer hours: If your student is enrolled in Term 1 Government and Politics, volunteer hours are due: October 14th. If your student is enrolled in Term 2 Government and Politics, volunteer hours are due: December 22nd. If your student is enrolled in Term 3 Government and Politics, volunteer hours are due: March 9. If your student is enrolled in Term 4 Government and Politics, volunteer hours are due: May 24. Questions? Contact Social Studies teachers Ryan Salem, Tanner Penrod, or Tho-mas Nettleton.

Important Senior

Information!

Parent Advisory Council Interested in learning more about Southwest? Come to the Parent Advisory Council meetings that meet on a quarterly basis. This is an open forum where parents and community members can meet with school administration to receive information and discuss issues and concerns relating to LSW. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. and end no later than 8:30 p.m. They are held in the A118 forum unless notified differently. No membership is needed. Come when your

schedule allows. The next meeting is September 12 and the topics for the evening are: new staff, meet principal.

Senior Panoramic Picture On Tuesday, August 30th, seniors were asked to come to the front plaza to have a class photo taken. Seniors interested in purchasing these photo’s, who didn’t pur-chase them previously, should stop by the office. The panoramic class picture is

$25. For $40 students can get a class picture, one fun picture, and students lined up in the shape of ‘12.

Senior Information!

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Counseling Center News: September

Counseling Staff Dolores Simpson-Kirkland Grades 9-12 * A-G [email protected] Ext. 66302 Eric Feeken Grades 9-12 * H-K [email protected] Ext. 66305 Peggy Volker Grades 9-12 * L-P [email protected] Ext. 66304 Colleen Finkhouse Grades 9-12 * Q-S [email protected] Ext. 66307 Tim Ernst Grades 9-12 * T-Z [email protected] Ext. 66303 Joyce Lehn SPED Grades 9-12 * A-Z Team Leader [email protected] Ext. 66308 Janene Way Secretary [email protected] Ext. 66300 Christine Carman Registrar [email protected] Ext. 66025 Nancy Clare Social Worker [email protected] 436-1659

ccn

Senior Family Meeting

Thursday, September 1st @ 6:30 pm

This fall, seniors who are planning on attending a 4-year college or university should retake the ACT and/or SAT as colleges use your best score for admission and schol-arships. This is also a great time for seniors to narrow their college selection by con-tinuing to visit campuses, visiting with admissions reps at LSW, attending the Lincoln Area College Fair on October 23rd at SCC, asking their parents and school counselor for their advice and suggestions, using college selection resources such as those available at EducationQuest.org, ACT.org, and Collegeboard.com.

Now is the perfect time for seniors to begin requesting letters of recommendation and they should allow at least 2-3 weeks before the actual letter is needed. Students are recommended to complete 3-4 college applications for realistic school choices and 2-3 for dream school choices.

For seniors interested in applying for scholarships, they should register at Scholar-shipQuest available at EducationQuest.org or check out the other online scholarship resources that Mrs. Volker posts in the Scholarships & Financial Aid Section on the LSW Counseling Center’s website located at http://isite.lps.org/pvolker/web/ScholarshipsFinancialAid.html. Other helpful resources include the financial aid websites for the schools that seniors are planning on applying to. Seniors are also encouraged to update their Activities Resume to include their honors and activities for admission and scholarship applications.

To learn more about what seniors and their families should be doing to prepare for their post-secondary plans, plan on attending the Senior Family Meeting at LSW on Thursday, Sept. 1st @ 6:30 p.m.

Post-Secondary Planning Resources for Seniors

http://isite.lps.org/pvolker/web/PlanningforafterHighSchool.html

www.act.org

www.collegeboard.org

www.educationquest.org

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/plan.html

www.fafsa.com

www.pin.ed.gov

www.todaysmilitary.com

https://www.disability.gov/education/parent_resources/transition_planning/preparing_for_post-secondary_education

Become a Fan @ Facebook | LSW Counseling Center

Follow LSW Counseling Center @ twitter.com |

LSW Counselors

Bookmark LSW Counseling Center’s website |

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2011-12 LPS PSAT | ACT | SAT Test Workshops

Lincoln Public Schools offers affordable workshops to help students prepare for the PSAT, ACT and SAT I college exams. A copy of the registration form may be downloaded at http://isite.lps.org/lgeisert/. The site also includes the location information, and a complete schedule of workshops. At the present time, registra-tions still must be sent by mail. Both LPS and non-LPS students are welcome to register.

Cost: $80 for each 7-week workshop. If a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, tuition is reduced ($10 for free lunch, $15 for reduced lunch). To qualify, I must have a note or e-mail from your school counselor verifying your student's lunch status, or a copy of the District letter granting the lunch status. Workshop regis-tration does NOT register your student for the national exam. You MUST register separately for national ex-ams. For more information about the workshops, visit http://isite.lps.org/lgeisert/ or contact Ms. Linda Geisert at [email protected] or 402-441-5639.

ACT/SAT Test Info

ONLINE REGISTRATION is recommended for taking either the ACT (www.act.org) or SAT (www.collegeboard.org) tests. The ONLY exception to registering online is for students who qualify for spe-cial testing accommodations. For more information about special testing accommodations when taking the ACT, please contact Mrs. Wall, LSW’s ACT Testing Coordinator.

Reminders:

Fee waiver forms for students who meet income guidelines - Contact person: Mr. Feeken  December ACT and November SAT test results accepted by most 4-year schools  Spring/summer dates are considered to be optimal test dates for juniors  Inquire about which test is preferred at schools of interest

ACT | www.act.org

Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) September 10, 2011 August 12, 2011 August 13 – 26, 2011 October 22, 2011 September 16, 2011 September 17 – 30, 2011 December 10, 2011 November 4, 2011 November 5 – 18, 2011 February 11, 2012* January 13, 2012 January 14 – 20, 2012 April 14, 2012 March 9, 2012 March 10 – 23, 2012 June 9, 2012 May 4, 2012 May 5 – 18, 2012

SAT | www.collegeboard.org

Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required)

October 1, 2011 September 9, 2011 September 14, 2011

November 5, 2011 October 7, 2011 October 21, 2011

December 3, 2011 November 8, 2011 November 20, 2011

January 28, 2012 December 30, 2011 January 13, 2012

March 10, 2012 February 10, 2012 February 24, 2012

May 5, 2012 April 6, 2012 April 20, 2012

June 2, 2012 May 8, 2012 May 22, 2012

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Freshman Family Meeting

Tuesday, September 6th @ 6:30 pm

As parents/guardians of a freshman student, one of the most important people you will come in contact with during your student’s high school career is his or her counselor. Here are some tips you can use to help build helpful relationships.

Get to know them. Encourage your son/daughter to get to know the counselors early in his/her high school career. Have him/her make an appointment to talk to them, learn about their policies and proce-dures, and learn about programs they host at your student’s school. Your son/daughter may want to intro-duce goals, skills, strengths and weaknesses. This will make future conversations much more productive. Keep in contact. Introduce yourself to the school counselor at school events – open house, parent/teacher conferences and maintain contact. Having said this, your son/daughter is no longer in elementary school. Encourage the student to navigate the course of high school with the counselor. While you should never hesitate to ask your student’s counselor questions, you will be helping your son or daughter develop into a responsible adult by encouraging him or her to take charge of his or her issues. Encourage him/her to schedule another face-to-face appointment to check in. Stay involved. Participate in as many parent activities as you can at your student’s school, including open houses, college fairs, college workshops, and evening programs. Become knowledgeable about the types of educational, occupational and personal choices your student will be making about high school and life beyond high school. Utilize counseling resources. Counselors do their best to make resources on a variety of topics available to you. Newsletters, web sites, pamphlets and informational programs are all often available to give you more information. Take advantage of these resources. By maintaining a good relationship with your stu-dent’s counselor, and by making sure your son/daughter is following through with the goals the counselor helps set, you can make the most of your son/daughter’s time in high school. The counselors invite fresh-men and their families to attend the Freshman Family Meeting on September 6th at 6:30 pm to learn how this year’s freshmen can SOAR throughout their high school journey.

Adapted from: www.nea.org

NAIA & NCAA Eligibility Info for Student-Athletes

Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, to participate in NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate-Athletic) athletics, student-athletes, including current high school seniors, need to register with the NAIA Eligibility Center (http://www.playnaia.org/). Student-athletes who may be considering competing at a NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I or II school will need to register at the Eligibility Center’s new web site, which is located at www.eligibilitycenter.org.Typically, most student-athletes register during the start of their junior year. Student-athletes are reminded to complete Transcript Release form to Mrs. Carman in the Registrar’s Office to receive an official transcript for mailing to the NAIA and/or NCAA Eligibility Centers.

Excellent resources for student-athletes and their families include the NAIA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (http://www.playnaia.org/page/process.php) and the NCAA Eligibility Center’s 2010-11 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (which may be downloaded at http://www.ncaapublications.com/p-3931-2009-2010-guide-for-the-college-bound-student-athlete-pack-of-25.aspx). For more information relevant to student-athletes wishing to compete at the collegiate level, check out the handouts available at the Counseling Center’s website link at http://isite.lps.org/pvolker/web/LSWStudentAthleteInformation.html. If you have questions about the NAIA or NCAA, please contact Mr. Ernst.

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Junior Family Meeting

Tuesday, September 20th @ 6:30 pm

Top 10 List for Juniors

1. Sign up for Countdown2College at EducationQuest.org to receive monthly college planning advice. 2. Complete our online Activities Resume to record your honors and activities for future admission and

scholarship applications. 3. Research colleges that interest you. 4. Review online college profiles at school websites and EducationQuest.org. 5. Attend the Lincoln Area College Fair on October 23rd. 6. Talk to admissions representatives who visit LSW. 7. Seek advice from your school counselor. 8. Attend the financial aid program in your area. 9. Take the PSAT. This exam is used for National Merit consideration.

10. Attend the Junior Family Meeting on September 20th @ 6:30 pm.

PSAT/NMSQT for Juniors LSW juniors will have the opportunity to take the PSAT test at Southwest on the morning of Sat-urday, October 15th. According to the College Board’s website, the PSAT/NMST is the Prelimi-nary SAT®/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which is a co-sponsored program by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Mr. Feeken is the contact per-son for the PSAT at LSW.

PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's a stan-dardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test™. It also gives juniors a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs. Visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html for more details.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures: Critical reading skills Math problem-solving skills Writing skills

Students have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require students to recall specific facts from high school classes. My College Quick Start located at https://quickstart.collegeboard.com/posweb/login.jsp provides personalized feedback, practice and college planning based on a student’s PSAT/NMSQT results. College Board.com provides this free service to students who take the PSAT/NMSQT.

Adapted from: collegeboard.org | collegeboard.com

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Top 5 Colleges with the Highest Paid Graduates According to CNBC.com, PayScale.com has identified the highest salary potential among the top colleges and universities throughout the United States. While location, prestige, academic reputa-tion, and tuition have long been primary factors in the college selection process, students and their families are beginning to also consider what their potential salaries may be like after graduation. Below is a list of schools that produce the top five highest paid college grads. 5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Mid-career median salary: $115,000 2010-2011 tuition: $39,212 Starting median salary: $69,700 College rank: 7 (National) Location: Cambridge, MA Acceptance rate: 10.7% Total undergrad enrollment: 4,232

4. Harvard University Mid-career median salary: $116,000 2010-2011 tuition: $38,416 Starting median salary: $54,100 College rank: 1 (National) Location: Cambridge, MA Acceptance rate: 7.5% Total undergrad enrollment: 6,655

3. Harvey Mudd College Mid-career median salary: $121,000 2010-2011 tuition: $40,390 Starting median salary: $64,400 College rank: 18 (Liberal Arts) Location: Claremont, CA Acceptance rate: 34.1% Total undergrad enrollment: 757

2. California Institute of Technology (CalTech) Mid-career median salary: $123,000 2010-2011 tuition: $36,282 Starting median salary: $69,600 College rank: 7 (National) Location: Pasadena, CA Acceptance rate: 15.3% Total undergrad enrollment: 951

1. Princeton University

Mid-career median salary: $130,000 2010-2011 tuition: $36,640 Starting median salary: $56,900 College rank: 2 (National) Location: Princeton, N.J. Acceptance rate: 10.1% Total undergrad enrollment: 5,113

For more colleges that bring the highest paychecks, visit

http://www.cnbc.com/id/40703034/Colleges_That_Bring_the_Highest_Paycheck_2011

Adapted from: cnbc.com

Page 13

Common Application Facts The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application – online and in print – that students may submit to any of the organiza-tion’s 456 members. Once completed online or in print, copies of the Application for Undergraduate Admis-sion can be sent to any number of participating colleges. The same is true of the School Report, Optional Report, Midyear Report, Final Report and Teacher Evaluation forms. This allows applicants to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college re-search, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework. Last year almost 2.5 million applications were submitted via the Common App Online. Common Application membership is limited to colleges and universities that evaluate students using a holistic selection process. A holistic process includes subjective as well as objective criteria, including at least one recommendation form, at least one untimed essay, and broader campus diversity considerations. The vast majority of colleges and universities in the U.S. use only objective criteria – grades and test scores – and therefore are not eligible to join. If a college or university is not listed on this website, they are not members of the consortium. Sending the Common Application to non-members is prohibited. More information about the Common Application may be found at www.commonapp.org.

Adapted from: commonapp.org

September Events 1st Senior Family Meeting @ 6:30

Contact Person: Mrs. Volker

Provides ideas in preparing for the senior year.

6th Freshman Family Meeting @ 6:30

Followed by meeting for parents of gifted students.

Contact Person: Dr. Simpson-Kirkland

Offers insights and suggestions for ensuring students’ successful transition to high school.

20th Junior Family Meeting @ 6:30

Contact Person: Mr. Ernst

Informs families about what they can do now to assist their students in finishing strong

during high school and preparing for beyond high school.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

~ Albert Einstein

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Yearbook News!

PICTURE RE-TAKES Any student needing their picture re-taken or taken for the first time will need to have it done on Tuesday, September 27th. If your student did not have their picture taken at Locker Check-Out or the first day of school they need to have it taken on this day. This picture will be used for the yearbook. This is the only re-take day, so please plan accord-ingly.

YEARBOOKS FOR SALE FOR $55 Yearbooks will be sold during the week of Parent/Teacher Conferences, Sept. 19-23 for $55 before and after school (except PLC Tuesday). Please make your check payable to LSW. This may be the last chance to purchase the yearbook for $55. The next sale will be during the Term 2 Parent/Teacher Conferences in December. SENIOR PHOTOS FOR THE YEARBOOK Senior pictures for the yearbook are due the end of October. Information on how to submit your senior photo is located on the following link:

http://lsw.lps.org/detail.html?id=994

Check to see if your photographer is submitting the photo or if you will need to do this. If you are emailing a photograph, follow the specifications and email to [email protected]. Re-member that if a picture is not submitted, the yearbook staff will use the student identifica-tion photo (if available). Please direct all questions to the adviser at [email protected] or have your student come to Rm. C110 to ask. SENIOR YEARBOOK AD INFO (coming in November) Senior ad information for the yearbook will be posted in the November Silver Talon as well as on the LSW home page. Look for it then.

Picture

Information

Speech & Debate

Interested in joining the LSW Speech/Debate Team? The first meeting for students will be Tuesday, September 6th at 6:30 p.m. in the B218 Forum. The initial meeting for parents will take place in the LSW Commons at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sep-tember 26th. Please email [email protected] if interested.

Matt Heimes Oral Communications/Forensics Lincoln Southwest High School

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One Book, One Hawk

This year’s “One Book, One Hawk” will be The Hunger Games by Suzanne

Collins. Our goal is to have all freshmen students at South-west read this book before the beginning of October. Students who have English 9 this term can

check out a book from their English teacher. Students not in English 9 can check out a book from the media center. Students can also purchase the book, borrow the book from a friend or check out the book from the city library.

Starting in October, we will have a series of programs for these students who are interested in discussing the novel. These programs will take place before school, after school and in the evening to accommodate all students and their schedules. Programs will include workshops on archery, dystopian literature, script writing, stage combat, edible plants and many others. We will also have games, contests and other surprises.

Students in the upper grades or parents who want to partici-pate as a discussion leader or in workshops are encouraged to contact the media center with their interest.

Also, if anyone has copies of the book they would like to donate for students or if anyone would like to donate new copies, please bring these books to the main office or the media center.

For questions, please contact the media center, Ms. Ford, Mr. Gudgel, Ms. Heimes or Ms. Shannahan.

JAPAN

This summer, Japanese Club and Student Council welcomed 160 Japa-nese students to our building and provided tours. The LSW show choir sang for them and the Japanese students sang their school song for us! This year, our sister school, Senshu-Matsudo in Tokyo, Japan has in-vited all LSW students to consider being part of the pen-pal/gift ex-change program. Please see or contact Smith Sensei for more details. Also keep your ears and eyes open for information about a Skype night with our sister school this winter!

Jeremy Smith, Japan Teacher Lincoln Southwest

SHOS (Silver hawks Helping Other

Silver hawks)

Silver hawks Helping Other Silver hawks is an effort organized by the Ambassadors to support 9th graders’ transition to the classroom and to seize opportunities beyond the community to build healthy relationships with students and staff. It creates an opportunity for 9th graders to connect with other 9th graders and positive peer models from 10, 11, and 12 grade in appropriate ways that are not possible for all 9th graders.

Meetings are every Tuesday in Term 1 from 2-2:30 p.m. All 9th Graders are expected to attend each Tuesday and invited to participate in the challenges, events and hap-penings throughout the term. Attendance is taken each Tuesday. But, what if they cannot attend because of an appointment, transportation, or obligations to family? There are exceptions and with a note/contact from a par-ent/guardian to excuse them they can be released at 2:03. Notes/calls may be submitted to the main office before SHOS on the Tuesday they cannot attend.

9th Grade students

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LSW Athletics

All 2011-12 Sports Schedules

may be found at

highschoolsports.net

Lincoln Southwest Summer Baseball The Lincoln Southwest Baseball program would like to take this opportunity to thank our summer American Legion and reserve Baseball sponsors.

The summer varsity team is sponsored, for the ninth year, by Pinnacle Bank of Lincoln. Mark Hesser of Pinnacle Bank has been very generous in his support.

And for the seventh year John Baylor Test Prep has sponsored our junior legion team. John Baylor has also been very generous in his support of our baseball program on the JV level. John played legion baseball in Lincoln and has a strong grasp of the impor-tance of baseball as an opportunity for young men in our community.

Our summer reserve team is sponsored for the second year by REMAX Realty. Michelle Benes, Larry Holmes, and Ken Emmons have shown tremendous support for our baseball program.

We are very fortunate to have quality sponsorships for our program in Pinnacle Bank, John Baylor Test Prep, and REMAX!

Again, THANKS! to Mark Hesser, John Baylor, Michelle Benes, Larry Holmes, and Ken Emmons for their contribution to the Southwest High School athletic community.

Doug Kaltenberger

Head Baseball Coach

Blood Drive LSW is hosting a Blood Drive on Friday, September 16th from 8:30 to 3:00 in the wrestling room. If interested in donating, please stop by.

Page 17

THIS PRODUCTION INCLUDES MATURE LANGUAGE AND SUBJECT MATTER WHICH MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER VIEWERS

Join Us For Our Season Opener The Musical Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Twain's timeless classic sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures

along the way are hilarious, suspenseful and heartwarming, bringing to life your favorite characters from the novel-the Widow Douglas and her stern sister, Miss Watson; the uproarious King and

Duke, who may or may not be as harmless as they seem; Huck's partner in crime, Tom Sawyer, and their rowdy gang of pals; Huck's drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn; the lovely Mary Jane Wilkes and her trusting family. Propelled by an award winning score from Roger Miller, the king of coun-

try music, this jaunty journey provides a brilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana. “A classic American musical with the most fetching score of the decade.” – Time Magazine

TICKETS GO ON SALE : August 29

$10 for Adults and $8 for students

Call 402-436-1335 for Tickets and Information

Page 18

Please join us in recognizing the extraordinary commitment and involvement of the businesses that support Lincoln Southwest High School in honor of our

10th Anniversary. *Denotes Founding Partnership (Established 2002-2003)

Art F/X Screenprinting and Embroidery B107.3

*McDonald’s – Pine Lake Location Noodles & Co.-Pine Lake Road

Design Data US Bank-S. 13th Street

Security First Bank Texas Roadhouse

*SouthPointe Pavilions Granite City

*Famous Daves’ Buffalo Wild Wings

*Edward Jones Investments UNL-Office of Admissions

*Old Chicago Olive Garden

Pizza Hut – 10th Street Mr. Goodcents— S. 16th Str.

Super Saver Holiday Inn-South/Tamarin Ridge

Wilderness Ridge Southwest Pediatrics Dentistry

Menard’s South

Godfather’s Pizza

Red Robin

Landscapes Unlimited LLC

*Shopko Store – S. 27th

*Union Bank – S. 27th & Pine Lake West

*Duteau Chevrolet

*Lied Center for Performing Arts

*KIBZ 104 FM

If you would like information about the Ventures In Partnerships program For Lincoln Southwest High School – please contact the main office at 402-436-1306

VENTURES IN

PARTNERSHIPS

Page 19

September 3rd October 1st November 5th December 3rd

Granite City is excited to partner with

Southwest High School Join us on the above dates and we will

donate 10% of our sales to the “Literature of the Holocaust Trip”. Guests participating

will inform their server they are here for the event and 10% of those sales

will be given to the school.

Talk to us about fundraising for your organization.

Granite City on O Street

Page 20

Driver’s Education Classes

Nebraska Safety Council will offer a driver’s education class at Southwest High School this fall. The classroom lectures will meet for five weeks.

Course Curriculum

22 hours of classroom instruction

5 hours hands-on driving

5 hours of observation (suggested but not required)

1/2 hour Behind-The Wheel Drive Test for Provisional Operator’s Permit (POP)

Driving includes: highway/gravel parallel/perpendicular/angle parking, marked and unmarked streets/intersections, interstate driving, heavy city traffic driving.

Advance registration and payment are required. Students must pos-sess a learner’s permit to enroll.

Lecture dates: October 13-October 31, October 26-November 21, Contact for times.

Driving Appointment Cancellation Policy: Student must give their instructors at least four (4) hours notice before cancelling a driving appointment. Failure to do this will result in a $20.00 no call, no show charge and must be paid before students can receive their P.O.P forms.

Please contact Nebraska Safety Council regarding ques-tions and registration fees. (402) 483-2511

This fall, Southeast Community College will offer driver educa-tion classes at Lincoln Southwest. The classroom lectures will meet twice each week for 5 weeks The drive lab will meet for 2 hours once a week for 6 weeks.

Students must have a school or learner’s permit and complete both the lecture and driving to be eligible for documentation for the Provi-sional Operator’s Permit and/or insurance requirements.

Participation in a mandatory orientation is required before each class. The orientation for student and adult representative is scheduled be-fore each session to provide important information and to schedule the drive lab. Please bring a planning calendar for this purpose. A registered student who is not accompanied by an adult representative (i.e., parent, legal guardian/representative/sponsor) at the orientation will be dropped from the class.

Orientations will be held at the Continuing Education Center, 301 South 68 Street Place. Required book is available at the Orientation and the SCC Bookstore.

Tuition: $225, Orientation date: September 1, 2011, Lecture dates: September 13-October 12, Tuesday & Thursday lecture, 3:30-5:30 or 6:30-8:30

Orientation date: October 13, 2011, Lecture dates: October 24– November 29, Monday, Wednesday lecture, 3:30-5:30 or 6:30-8:30

Please contact Southeast Community College regarding questions and registration fees. (402) 437-2710

Silver Hawk Authentic Booster Store

Regular Store Hours:

School Days except Finals Days — Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11am-1pm, Tuesday 10:30 am-12:30 pm, 2nd Saturday of the month 9 am-11 am

Silver Hawk Authentic Booster Store is part of the Southwest Booster Club coordinating board. All store personnel are volunteers and all profits go to the Southwest Booster Club. New volunteers are welcome! Please inquire at the store. Buying from your Southwest Store shows school spirit and supports your school!

Page 21

Silver Strike Is Back! Silver Strike is back by popular demand…..and you can help impact its suc-cess! The Silver Strike Benefit Auction consists of a Silent and Live Auction held for the benefit of our Lincoln Southwest High School community! For 2011, the Silver Strike event will be held on Saturday, November 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Hi-Mark Golf Course.

Proceeds from past auctions have been used to provide support for activities, athletics, and perform-ing arts groups and make improvements to outdoor facilities. The 2011 Silver Strike proceeds will be used to grant the needs and wish lists of those groups in the 2011/2012 school year, while working on our bigger capital improvement projects benefiting all Lincoln Southwest students.

How can you help?

An event of this size provides opportunities for families throughout the Southwest community to get involved. You can help by: Volunteering to Assist with: ____ Ticket Sales ____ Gift Acquirement ____ Auction Display & Set-Up ____ Treasurer/Cashiers Providing Donations: Suggested donations include:

o Products (Artwork, Clothing, Electronics, Jewelry, etc.) o Tickets (Concerts, Movies, Sporting Events, Theater, TV Shows, etc.) o Gift Certificates (Catering, Malls, Restaurants, Salons, etc.) o Vacation Getaways (Hotel, Limousine, Plane Tickets, Timeshares, Tours, etc.) o Professional Services (Attorney, Chiropractor, Computer Tech, Contractor, Land scaping, etc.) o Sports/Entertainment Memorabilia o Lunch with a Celebrity/Government Official o Cash Donations

Donating Baskets: A number of our donations will be packaged together. We appreciate any donations of baskets or containers that can be used for developing our packages. Please drop off basket/container donations in the LSW Main Office by October 1.

Please direct any questions or gift donations to one of the Silver Strike co-chairs:

Shelly Anderson 402.328.9578 [email protected] Jodi Rowlett 402.423.8556 [email protected]

SILVER STRIKE 2011

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Using Scrip is now EASIER! Our Silver hawk Scrip Program has gone online! This will make ordering and using Scrip even easier for Silver hawk families! Simply go to www.shopwithscrip.com and set up your family account using enrollment code A532AECE22418, which will automatically link you, and all future card purchases, to our Silver hawk Scrip program! You can now purchase cards from all of the hundreds & hundreds of retailers offered by Great Lakes Scrip (not just the cards we nor-mally keep in stock), print ScripNow certificates from your home computer, and reload some of your previously purchased cards online! Also new this year...we will be offering Scrip for sale in the Silver hawk Authentic Booster Store! Scrip will be avail-able for purchase during the store’s open hours. The cards available in the store will be limited to grocery and gas: SuperSaver, Hyvee, Russ’s Market, Walmart, Target & U-Stop. And as with all Scrip purchases, you purchase the card/certificate for face value and the rebate offered by the retailer automatically goes to our Scrip program which benefits all students, staff and programs at LSW! If you are new to LSW, or simply haven’t yet heard about Scrip, visit the Silver hawk Booster Website to learn more about it! It’s the easiest fundraiser you’ll ever participate in! And you won’t spend a penny more than you would already spend at the retailers you already shop with! What a great way to support your student and Lincoln South-west!! We will also continue to have paper order forms available right outside the Booster Store for families who prefer not to order online. Simply attach your check made out to Silver hawk Scrip, with your order and drop it in the locked drop-box on the front wall of the Booster Store. All orders will be available for pick-up by you or your student in the Booster Store during daily open hours.

Athletic Boosters –

NEED YOU!!!! If you have an interest in supporting the continued success of LSW Athletics then please join our Athletic Booster Club meetings the 3rd Monday of every month starting at 6:00 in the commons area.

To start off the year we are in great need of some website and newsletter assistance. If you have these gifts and would like to share them to make a difference in the student/athletes at LSW then please contact Athletic Booster President Connie Edmond at [email protected] or (402)430-6045.

Page 23

Drive 4 UR School

Boosters need your support!!!

Monday, September 19th 4:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Take a 3 minute drive in a Ford Vehicle and have a chance to Win…

WIN:

GPS System Micro Soft Zune and or Apple IPod Two Tickets to a Husker Football Game Free Oil Changes from Anderson Ford Free car washes from Anderson Ford Gift Certificates to various restaurants.

In Addition ALL Drivers will receive:

Free Meal Deal Free Popcorn Free Drinks Our sincere appreciation.

Please come out and help support the Basketball Booster. Ford will donate $20.00 per test drive.

When: Monday, September 19, 2011

Where: Southwest High School parking lot

Time: 4:00 – 8:30 p.m.

It’s easy, come out and test drive a new Ford Vehicle and Ford will donate $20.00 for each person (1 per household, must be 18 years old) that test drives a vehicle. Invite your neighbors, friends, relatives and co-workers. Thanks for your continued support.

Don’t miss your chance to Win Fee Prizes for just driving.

For questions please contact Elton Edmond 430-6046 or Edmond @cornhusker.net

To: Faculty, Family, Friends and Students

We know you’re gearing up for “Back to School,” and so are we. Westfield Gateway is excited to announce our “Gateway to Glory” Pep Rally Series. We are sad you could not be a part of the excitement this year,but we invite your school to participate in the upcoming years as a way to make money for your school and bring the community together.

The good news is that Westfield Gateway has a second way for your school to get some money to get your year started off right. We are featuring a contest where a local school will win a $1,000 donation fromWestfield to further support school programs.

How to win the $1,000: families who shop at Westfield Gateway between August 22 and October 31, 2011 bring their receipts to the concierge or management office during posted hours. Each dollar spent countsas 1 point, and shoppers can earn an additional 100 points for their school by “Liking” Westfield Gatewayon Facebook. The local school with the most points will win the $1,000 donation.

Of course we will take the appropriate steps to make sure each school is credited proportionally based on enrollment to make sure everyone has a fair chance.

We’d like to provide you with materials that will make it easy for you to support your school and ensure that members of your community have all the information they need, and give you the best chance of receiving the $1,000 donation from Westfield. My contact information is below – please let me know if you would liketo receive flyers or an email that is easily sent out to PTA members, parents, boosters, and members of the community, and of course if you need any additional information about the program.

Thank you for your time, and best of luck with getting back to school. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Ryan Bouc

Marketing DirectorWestfield [email protected]

GATEWAYTO GLORYPep Rally Series

#5 GatewayLincoln, NE 68505402.464.3196

Westfield.com