Roughrider District News
Southwest Public Schools
Superintendent Message
Mr. Billeter
As we approach Thanksgiving, Southwest Public Schools wants to express our heartfelt thanks
to our dedicated staff, students, parents, and the entire community. This season is a great time
to reflect on what we are grateful for, and we truly appreciate your ongoing support for our
school.
With colder weather here, we want to keep families informed about possible late starts or
cancellations due to bad weather. Notifications will be sent through our Blackboard
communication system. If you miss the morning call, updates will also be posted on our social
media pages and shared with local radio and TV stations. Staying connected helps us all adjust
to any changes smoothly.
Looking ahead, we wish the best of luck to our talented students participating in one-act plays,
quiz bowl competitions, and winter sports teams. We are also excited about our upcoming
Christmas music concerts! These performances will highlight the amazing talents of our
students and celebrate the joy of the holiday season. Please check the school calendar for
concert dates and details.
As we near the end of the semester, we encourage parents to keep an eye on their children’s
grades, attendance, and lunch balances. There is still time for students to improve their grades
by completing any missing assignments. Additionally, students who show growth on their MAPS
assessments will have a chance to attend a reward trip to Spring City in Grand Island on
December 9th. This trip is a way to celebrate their hard work!
We invite all families to get involved in school activities and support our students as they aim
for success. Your participation makes a big difference in building a strong school community.
Thank you for your continued support! We wish everyone a joyful December filled with
warmth, celebration, and special moments with loved ones.
Elementary- Tara Fries
As we approach the midpoint of the 2024-2025 school year, it is hard to believe how quickly time is passing! With the conclusion of the first semester on December 20th, our students are diligently working towards their academic goals, eagerly anticipating the upcoming winter break, and looking forward to the holiday festivities we have planned.
Students at Southwest Elementary have been actively practicing and preparing for our Christmas program on December 9th at 7:00 p.m. The program will be held in the gymnasium at the high school in Bartley. All students from preschool through 5th grade will perform during this event. We look forward to seeing you there!
To celebrate an excellent first semester, our elementary students will embrace the Rider Pride Behavior Expectations of being Safe, Respectful, and Responsible. As part of this celebration, we will take students to the movie theater in Arapahoe. Students will leave after lunch, ride the bus to Arapahoe, enjoy a fun movie, and return to school in time for dismissal.
The Good Friends program will also hold its first gathering on December 18th at 2:00 p.m. This program is a fantastic opportunity for 3rd-grade students to connect with some of the wonderful members of our community. Thank you to all who have signed up to help make this program a success.
Students will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20th, for Winter Break. There will be no after school daycare this day. Students will return to school after the holidays on Tuesday, January 7th.
I want to extend warm wishes to each and every one of you for the happiest of holidays, a peaceful and relaxing winter break, and a joyous season spent with family and friends. May your holidays be filled with laughter and love.
Junior/Senior High- Matt Springer
Important Updates for Parents
As we approach the end of the first semester, we would like to remind you about a few important matters. With winter weather settling in, please ensure that your children dress warmly. It can be surprising to see many students walking the halls in flip flops and shorts. Remember, a bus loses heat quickly if the engine is not running or if the heater malfunctions. Keep this in mind as you send your child out the door to catch the bus.
Students have been and will continue to take semester tests. It is crucial to understand that these tests are not only important for assessing their knowledge but also serve as a vital learning process for their next educational level. We urge you to ensure that your child attends school during the last few days of the semester. If your child is unable to be present during testing, they will be responsible for making up those tests at a later date during the holiday break. These makeup tests must be completed before the start of the second semester.
Please contact the school to arrange a time for makeup tests on December 26, 27, 28, or 29. I will meet the students at school to administer their tests. Thank you for your cooperation and support!
Mrs. Smith
Winter Weather and Attendance: A Message for Parents
As the colder days approach, it's important to ensure that students arrive at school prepared for winter weather. Please make sure your child is equipped with a warm coat, stocking cap, and gloves to stay cozy before and after school, as well as during recess. If your child lacks a suitable coat or winter accessories and you need assistance, feel free to reach out to me at the elementary school.
This season also brings challenges with seasonal illnesses such as colds and the flu, which can sometimes result in school absences. While some absences are unavoidable, we encourage you to prioritize attendance when your child is feeling well. Chronic absenteeism—missing 10% of the school year, or about 18 days—can significantly impact a child's academic growth and development. This is equivalent to just two days a month, but research indicates it can negatively affect a student’s performance in the classroom.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping our students warm, healthy, and ready to learn! Together, we can ensure a successful winter season for our children.
Mr. Schake
Scholarships
Seniors can access scholarship applications at www.swpschools.org
- Hover over the Jr. Sr. High School tab at the top
- Go to the bottom of the selection and choose “Senior Scholarships”
- Click the google link.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tUvMVTpzKq3umttYJmzwmBM64aNEs60AOFPMJARU_jQ/edit?gid=0#gid=0
*The spreadsheet is organized by monthly due dates so be sure to look at the months in advance, so you have time to fill the applications out before the due date. This is updated as I receive scholarships throughout the year.
*The scholarships highlighted in red are not updated and the scholarships highlighted in green are always open and have differing due dates so be sure to look back on these frequently.
Seniors wanting to improve their ACT scores can take it through February to use on their college and scholarship applications.
Taking a campus visit this fall to the college of their choice is a great way to make final decisions and get all the information needed so seniors don’t miss deadlines at the college they plan to attend next fall.
Juniors
You will be taking the ACT at the school on March 26 th starting in the morning. It would be a good idea to take some practice tests on your own to see how the test is going to feel before we get to test time. If you need any help let me know.
ACT
Register for the ACT at: actstudent.org
Southwest School Code: 280151
MCC Test Site Code: 024600
