Southwest Middle School - OCPS

We need your help in building a reading culture in the Sea Lion Nation! Please click on the link below for more information from our Media Specialist, Ms. Wright-

https://www.donorschoose.org/project/building-a-reading-culture-on-campus/8458371/?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=directlink&utm_campaign=project&utm_term=teacher_3896843&rf=directlink-dc-2024-06-project-teacher_3896843&challengeid=20843926

Hello Sea Lion Nation! Please read below from Student Government Advisor, Ms. Coan:

The Seven Habits Our Kids Need to Learn, a project from Ms. Coan Help me give my students tools for growing their leadership and success skills. We are seeking materials to develop and implement our new student government and leadership program. SGA aims to empo...

Attention bus riders! 🚌

The OCPS transportation team is preparing for the 2024–25 school year. If your child will be riding the bus, you must register them by logging into your Skyward parent account.

- If you are using a mobile device, you must first select the silhouette of the person in the upper right corner of the app and then select “switch to full desktop mode."
- Log into the OCPS Parent Portal at parents.classlink.com/ocps and then select Skyward (parents).
- Select the Online Forms tab.
- A 2024 PCF window will open and the 2025 School Bus Registration Form will be at the bottom of the list.

For any additional questions, contact your child's school.

Today we held our final staff meeting of the year where, along with giving out raffle prizes, we recognized the following staff members for Superlative awards for the month of May:

Support Staff member of the month-Ms. Latoya Russ

New Sea Lion of the month-Ms. Ashley Green-Lecointe

Teacher of the month-Ms. Kristen Bryant

Plunger award-Mr. Keith West

In addition, the following staff received their 10, 20, & 30 year pins for their time with OCPS:

10 year pin-Mr. Keith West and Mr. Rene Guity

20 year pin-Mrs. Sha’ron McWhite

30 year pin-Mrs. Mary Carol Thibeau

We also made sure to recognize Mrs. Susan Storey, SWMS PTSA President, and Mrs. Nicole Fatkin, SWMS SAC president, for all of their assistance with our school this year.

The meeting concluded with a send off to Art teacher, Ms. Mia Schweickert, for her 23 years at SWMS.

Thank you, Dave and Buster’s, for hosting our final meeting.

From all of us at SWMS, have a restful summer and Gooooooooooooooooooooo Sea Lions!!

From Ms. Schweickert:

It is with a heavy heart that I am saying ‘Farewell’ to Southwest Middle School this year. Next year I am going to Luminary Middle, a brand new school opening up in Lake Nona a bit closer to my home.

Southwest Middle has been my school and community for 23 years. I have had so many wonderful students, and even some of their children here at Southwest. I will miss this community very much and seeing many of my former students who came back to say ‘Hi’ and let me know what they have been up to since middle school.

Although I am leaving, this will always be where I consider my home. I know you all are in good hands with the new leadership and it has been nice to see SWMS returning to its glory days this year.

Southwest will forever be in my heart!
-Ms. S (Art 2000-2024)
[email protected]

Farewell 2023-2024 school year with one last pic of our 7th grade and 8th grade Sea Lions today!

Part 3-Our 8th grade Sea Lions had quite the proper send off today with their 8th grade day!

One lucky student, Bruce Minott, was able to put a pie in the face of Principal Rosado to end the year! It must have felt sweet for both of them (for different reasons😃).

Part 1-Our 8th grade Sea Lions had quite the proper send off today with their 8th grade day!

Below are some of the outdoor events that they participated in to cap their time at Southwest. Thank you Mojo Sweet Snow for providing refreshments, Southwest Middle School PTSA, and all the volunteers & teachers who helped with the event. BIG thank you to Ms. Kristen Bryant for spearheading the function!

Congratulations to all of the following students from Ms. Matarrese's DIT class who was certified in COMPTIA ITF+ this year:

-Parker Swan
-Ana Aijaz
-Alexa Dinda
-Sahir Farhan

GOOOO SEA LIONS!

Before the year ends, we had to make sure we give a HUGE shout out to our Principal for a day this year-Caleb McCaffrey! Earlier this week, he had the opportunity to learn the in’s and out’s of running the school and take on many of responsibilities such as being on the morning announcements.

Not only did he do his job well, to steal a line from MIB, he “made it look good!”😎

SWMS classroom spotlight: Mrs. Kahana’s science classes

Mrs. Kahana’s students are looking forward to Thursday’s egg drop! In this STEM activity, they designed a contraption using various materials (usually recyclables) to protect a raw egg from a high fall. The students worked cooperatively to ensure that their contraptions meet the rigorous criteria. We can’t wait to see what these scientists come up with!

We’re sure they’ll all be eggstordinary designs! 😆

SWMS classroom spotlight: Ms. Westerfield's US History classes

Yesterday, Ms. Westerfield's students held mock trials to further their understanding of lessons that they've learned in the course.

What a law-fully fun way to end the year! 😄

SWMS Classroom spotlight: Mr. Jn Baptiste

In Mr. Jn Baptiste's class, students used math and engineering concepts in the design and construction of a model bridge from their own plans that would carry a maximum load while using few craft-sticks as possible. In addition, the lesson developed neatness, craftsmanship, and creativity.

Winning Team: Illy Parra & Molly Hanson at 221 pounds!

That's an amazing way to build bridges to their futures-some would even say grate!

Part 1-The year is almost over, and our 8th graders had a chance to "star" in their own end of year dance on Friday. Great night! Great fun! Great memories! Thank you to PTSA, SWMS staff, and all those sponsors who made it happen.

Laptop collection begins next week! See below for more details-

Not sure what to read this summer? All middle school students, staff, and families are invited to read the ONE OCPS book, The Liars Society by Alyson Ge**er. The Liars Society is available as an eBook on Sora via LaunchPad or via the Sora mobile app.

This year's Summer Reading Celebration includes a ONE OCPS Reads selection for middle school students called The Liars Society. This title is available as an eBook on Sora via LaunchPad or via the Sora mobile app. See what author Alyson Ge**er has to say about summer reading, too! Log those reading minutes in Beanstack!

Sea Lion Nation, we're coming down to the home stretch as next Friday (5/24) will be the last day of school. Please remember that students are to not bring backpacks next Thursday (5/23) and Friday (5/24).

SWMS classroom spotlight: Ms. Scudlo's ELA classroom

After reading and discussing their books over the last five weeks, students created unique projects to demonstrate their understanding of their books. Projects included interviews with the main character, alternate/extended endings, music playlists, dioramas, art museums, board games, and more. Below a few of the stellar projects below!

Good job, Ms. Scudlo! This definitely puts the ELA in ELAboration!

Hooray, Mrs. Selena Benjamin! She was recognized by OCPS for her exemplary work in our PASS (Positive Alternative to School Suspension) program. SWMS is truly fortunate to have you facilitating that classroom.

Reminder-

Final sale of the year! This Friday before school, we’ll be selling donuts in the cafeteria for $1 each.

Reminder-registration is open today at ymcacf.org.

The cost is free. It will operate Mondays through Thursdays. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Russ at [email protected].

Below is the YMCA Summer Zone camp information where one of the camps will be located at Southwest Middle.

Registration opens today!

The cost is free. It will operate Mondays through Thursdays.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Russ at [email protected].

Our 7th graders had a blast on their field trip to Sea World last Friday! Thank you to all of our chaperones!