Southwest Elementary School

The Southwest Sun - Valentine's Edition!  

Begindergarten and Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year

Begindergarten and Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school is now open at HowellSchools.com/KDG. Join us on March 7, 6-7 p.m., for an informative night at your child's elementary school to meet educators and explore the school. Additionally, we're accepting applications for Academia Bilingüe's Spanish immersion kindergarten class until March 22. Discover the bilingual journey at HowellSchools.com/DualLanguage and attend the parent night on February 21 at Three Fires Elementary to learn more. 

New Offering from ParentGuidance.org

Thanks to our partnership with ParentGuidance.org, we are pleased to offer families in Livingston County a new initiative called "Ask a Therapist Live." This is a no-cost event designed specifically for families in our community. "Ask a Therapist Live" provides an opportunity to receive expert answers to any questions you might have about your child's mental health or your parenting journey. You can submit your questions anonymously via the webinar chat or through their interactive tools. Alternatively, you may choose to listen to questions from other parents and the responses provided by our live therapist. The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21, at 8 p.m. Please register at https://bit.ly/49bJ9la. To learn more about "Ask a Therapist Live,” please visit https://bit.ly/48iX9bu. 

COUNSELOR CONNECT: HELPING KIDS WITH FRIENDSHIP

Research shows that friendships are critical for social and emotional health: they can decrease stress and tension, help us develop empathy, and strengthen our defenses. To kids, though, choosing friends is a little simpler - they likely connect with people they have the most fun with. For a child, having even one good, dependable friend can make a huge difference! Similarly, when those friendships change, children can really feel a sense of loss.   
There are three basic, social skills that are critical for making and keeping friends, whether you are 5 or 55:

• Breaking the ice with kids/people you have not met before

• Acting positively and appropriately with others

• Managing conflicts/problems constructively

We are often very vigilant in helping our kids master concepts in math or reading, but we often forget to teach behaviors. Here are some strategies for teaching these important friendship skills to our children:

1. First and foremost, do a self-assessment and make sure you are modeling and showing the behaviors we are hoping to see in our children! Do you make friendships a priority? Are you friendly to new people? Are you open-minded and respectful when problems arise with others?

2. Pay close attention to how your child behaves with same-age peers. Point out his/her strengths (“I noticed you let Lilly go first - that was very thoughtful!” or “When Stuart tried to argue with you, you calmly walked away - that was a good choice.”).

3. Similarly, take note of what skills s/he needs to practice. For instance, does your child often interrupt others or boss them around? Is your child shy and afraid to try new activities, or hesitant to join a group?

4. Once you identify what your child needs to work on, come up with creative ways to practice the skill. When it’s not the heat of the moment, talk about what that skill looks like. Go to the park and role play different scenarios. Check out books from the library that illustrate children using these skills. At the least, talk with your child about your strengths and weaknesses, and work together to form and strengthen your personal relationships together. 

5. Lastly, be patient. Teaching social skills takes time and lots of practice. 

Gigi Jackson

School Counselor

Reading to your child is one of the most important activities you can do together! When you read to your child, you open up a world of imagination and learning. It helps them develop language skills, expands their vocabulary, and boosts their creativity. Plus, it's a fantastic way to bond with your little one and create special memories together. By making reading a part of your daily routine, you're not just sharing stories, you're opening doors to endless possibilities for your child's future. So, grab a book, cuddle up, and let the adventure begin!

We're excited to begin celebrating March is Reading Month with you.  Look for more information coming home with your student within the next two weeks.  Wylie is going to join in on the fun.  He loves being read to!  We are coming up on having our favorite furry guy for 1 WHOLE YEAR!  Wylie came to Southwest as a puppy on February 25th, 2023.  Time flies when you are having fun!  Southwest continues to be grateful for the iniative of our Howell Senior Survivor group in pairing us with Wylie.  To say we love him is an understatemnet. 

While he is still growing (quite literally) and learning as a puppy, With how big Wylie is, sometimes it is hard to remember he is only a year old. Wylie enjoys walks, visiting classrooms, and naps on the tile in the main office.  Students have done an amazing job giving Wylie the space he needs to learn.  They are amazing with asking to pet Wylie, being respectful to not surround him, and he loves all the attention. We're excited to pair two amazing things, reading AND Wylie!  Look for more information coming home to help us celebrate all month!  

Southwest Book Fair will be March 4th - 8th in our Media Center.  Contact Lisa Kollath ([email protected]) for more details. 

Happy reading,

Jennifer Goodwin - Principal

• 2.19.24: No School for Students - President's Day
• 3.4 - 3.8.24: BOOK FAIR!
• 3.25 - 3.29.24: No School for Students - Spring Break!