Greetings SWA Families,

Welcome to Week 33! As we begin the fourth and final quarter of the school year, we want to thank you for your continued support. Our theme this year, "Heroes in the Making," continues to shine through in the perseverance, growth, and pride we see in our students each day.

📊 Maryland School Survey – Monday
Students will complete the Maryland School Survey during ELA classes this week. This important survey gives students a voice and helps us improve school climate and culture. Please encourage your child to take their time and respond thoughtfully.

🎬 Screenagers Viewing – Tuesday & Wednesday
On April 2nd and 3rd, students will view Screenagers during Advisory. This film explores the effects of screen time and social media on youth well-being. We encourage you to talk with your child about what they learned and how they can make positive digital choices.

📚 4th Quarter Begins
Monday marks the start of Quarter 4—a fresh opportunity for students to refocus, set goals, and finish strong. Please continue to check in on grades, attendance, and assignments as we work together to support every student’s success.

🏅 Congratulations, SWA Athletes!
A big shout-out to our SWA sports teams who competed this past Saturday! We are proud of your effort, teamwork, and Tiger pride on and off the field. Keep up the great work—you're representing SWA with excellence!

Thank you for your partnership as we continue building up our students as Heroes in the Making. Let’s make Quarter 4 our strongest yet!

With appreciation,

Mrs. Bomar

Starting Tuesday, April 2, our 8th grade students will begin ELA MCAP testing, an important opportunity to show what they’ve learned and how much they’ve grown this year.

We are proud of the hard work our students have put in, and with your support, we know they will rise to the challenge! Here are a few ways you can help your child feel confident and prepared:

✅ Make sure they get a good night’s sleep
✅ Provide a healthy breakfast each morning
✅ Ensure they arrive on time and ready to focus
✅ Offer words of encouragement—let them know you believe in them!

At Southwest Academy, we know our students are Heroes in the Making, and this is just one more opportunity to shine. Thank you for being our partners in helping every child succeed.

Let’s go, Tigers! 🐾

Greetings, Administrators, Teachers, Staff members, and students of Southwest Academy! This is Mrs. King, PTSA President, with a reminder about an important event coming up this week. On Thursday, April 10 from 6:30-8pm, the PTSA will be showing the movie, “Screenagers.”

“Screenagers” is a documentary on the impact of social media and excessive screen time on the social, emotional, public health, and academic performance of our youth. Following the movie, we will have a community conversation about our collective relationship with technology and ways to reduce negative outcomes.

This event is free to all. We would love to have the students’ voice on this issue. Parents, mentors, teachers, staff, and community members, please bring your student out to learn more about how to make healthier choices.

DINNER and movie snacks will be provided. There will also be a drawing for a $50 gift card for those in attendance.

If you need more information, check the attached flier that was sent home last week and is also in the Main Office. We look forward to seeing all of you this week, Thursday, April 10 at 6:30pm in the cafeteria. Have a wonderful week!

📚 April is School Library Month! 📚
Let’s celebrate the heart of our school—the library!

This month, we recognize the vital role our school library plays in empowering students, supporting teachers, and nurturing a lifelong love of reading and learning. Our library is more than a place to check out books—it’s a space for exploration, creativity, collaboration, and discovery.

We’d like to give a special shout-out to our dedicated Media Center Specialist, Dr. Love, for curating engaging collections, leading innovative programming, and creating a welcoming environment where all students can thrive.

Throughout April, we’ll be highlighting student book recommendations, hosting fun library challenges, and showcasing some of the exciting resources available to support both academics and personal interests.

Encourage your child to visit the library this month, pick up a new book, and thank Dr. Love for being a champion of literacy and learning at Southwest Academy!

📖 “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” – Albert Einstein

This week, we proudly celebrate National Assistant Principal Week and take a moment to recognize the incredible leadership, dedication, and heart that our APs bring to Southwest Academy every single day.

To AP Booze, AP Gee, and AP Hammel—thank you for the countless ways you support our students, staff, and families. Whether it’s leading with compassion, solving challenges behind the scenes, being present in the halls, or cheering students on—your work doesn’t go unnoticed.

You are a vital part of what makes SWA strong, and we’re grateful for your steady leadership and commitment to our mission of Engage, Empower, and Excel.

Let’s show them some SWA love this week with a kind word, a handwritten note, or just a moment of appreciation!

Happy Assistant Principal Week! 💙💛 #Heroesinthemaking

We are in week 5 of the launch of our very first Tiger Trove Pop-Up Shop, and we want to make it a huge success! 🎊

Students have been working hard to earn Tiger Bucks through positive behavior, academic effort, and showing SWA pride. They were able to cash in on exciting rewards!

Please continue to encourage your child to earn and spend their Tiger Bucks—the more they earn, the more awesome items they can shop for! Let’s keep up the momentum and make this a fun, rewarding experience for our students.

Thank you for your support in making Tiger Trove a success!

#SWARewards #TigerTrove #EarnItSpendIt

From March 10th to April 11th, 1A classes will go head-to-head, competing for the best attendance until one class is crowned the Attendance Champion!

🏆 Prizes at Each Stage:
🎟️ Sweet 16: Raffle entry for Tiger Trove prizes
💰 Elite 8: Raffle entry for 10 Tiger Bucks
🎟️ Final 4: Dress Down Day Coupons
🍦 Championship Teams: Outside Lunch with Ice Cream
🏅 Winning Class: Class Trophy, Certificates, a Pizza Party, and an SWA Incentive Coupon Book!

Help us make this a success by encouraging your child to be on time and in school every day. Let’s work together to make attendance a winning habit!

Thank you for your support!

#MarchAttendanceMadness #ShowUpToWin #SWAChampions

April 9, Woodlawn Community Fair, 5:00pm-7:00pm at Woodlawn High School

The Woodlawn Community Fair is a celebration of student achievement in the arts and sciences at our community public schools. The annual event highlights college and career pathways with alumni art demonstrations, live performances from student musicians, and capstone projects from students participating in education, science, medical, culinary, and engineering studies. Please see the attached flier for information on this event.

*April 10, Screenagers Movie & Discussion, 6:30pm-8:00pm at SWA cafeteria

“Screenagers” is a critically acclaimed and engaging documentary on the impact of social media and excessive screen time on the social, emotional, public health, and academic performance of our youth. Following the movie, PTSA members, families and stakeholders are invited to participate in a community conversation about their relationship with technology– DINNER/SNACKS PROVIDED!

Parents- We have a pediatrician with expertise in this area for the panel. We hope you will join us for this really important conversation.

ALL STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT/GUARDIAN.

*This event is open and free to all.

**PTSA membership is NOT required for attendance.

For more information, see the attached flier. You can also check out the website: screenagersmovie.com OR click the link to view the trailer: SCREENAGERS (Official Trailer)

*SAVE THE DATE:

May 14, 2025- PTSA General Meeting & Elections (6:30pm)

*Please see the attached fliers for information on afterschool Flag Football and Soccer registrations.

*FOR PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS:

2024-25 PTA Council Scholarship Applications are now available!

The PTA Council of Baltimore County offers scholarships to Baltimore County Public Schools high school seniors with no restrictions on the selection of the college, university, or technical school. Please see the attached document for scholarship requirements.

That is all for now, if you have any questions or need more information, please email swaptsa@outlook.com OR call me at 443.799.5708. Thank you and have a wonderful evening!

Baltimore County Department of Health is offering a Pregnancy Support Group. Virtual classes began February 18th. Discussion topics are listed on the flyers

Our February staff heroes of the month are..... *DRUMROLL PLEASE*

• Dr. Love
• Mr. Hidar
• Mr. Leslie
• Ms. Parker
• Mr. Ridley
• Ms. Thomas

Our February student heroes of the month are..... *DRUMROLL PLEASE*

6th grade: Danna Martinez Galeano, Kaiden Turner

7th Grade: Aariz Abas, Sumera Khandaker

8th Grade: Kidus Woldegiorgis, Sarahi Rodriguez

Congrats to this month's winners!

Please click the link: Focus Parent Portal and within you account, there's a Schoology link which allows you to view your child's current grades. Progress reports will be available this Friday, Sept. 27th.

Download the Talking Points app for quick and easy communication with your student's teachers.

We have having an increase in students not coming to school in uniform. This week, we plan on doing uniform checks and items not adhering to the policy will be confiscated, returned at the end of the day and your student will receive detention.

Please ensure that your student adheres to the dress code policy. If you have any questions, feel free to contact your child's grade level administrator.

Students will also be permitted wear Southwest Academy shirts.

Our attendance is on the RISE🔼

Consistent attendance is key to academic success! When students come to school every day, on time, and ready to learn, they build strong habits, stay on track with their learning, and set themselves up for success.

We need your partnership to ensure that every student is in school, every day. Here’s how you can help:

✅ Encourage daily attendance – every day counts!

✅ Establish a routine to help your child arrive on time.
✅ Communicate with us if challenges arise—we are here to support you!

Let’s work together to Engage, Empower, and Excel by making attendance a priority. Thank you for your support in helping our students thrive!

If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

#SWAHereEveryDay #AttendanceMatters #SuccessStartsWithShowingUp

As a direct response to recent behaviors exhibited by students across the nation, BCPS staff from the Department of School Safety have created an addendum to the 2024-2025 Student Handbook – Code of Conduct. This addendum directly addresses disciplinary action that will be taken when students violate the code of conduct in specific ways. Students who engage in these behaviors will be subject to all legally allowable consequences including, but not limited to, suspension and expulsion. School system consequences are in addition to action taken by law enforcement.

We have partnered with BSN/Sideline Sports to offer merchandise options for students and staff. Order now and get an additional 20% off of your purchase. Use the link below to purchase.

For the 2024-2025 school year, there will be an intense focus on cross-curricular vocabulary instruction. In core content classes and on the morning announcements, students will be introduced to a word and given the opportunity to make connections with the word within their content, with the expectation of greater comprehension as well as increased MAP reading scores.

Help us reinforce this focus by asking your student what word is for the week and having them use the word at home. Practice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes progress.🙂

Apr. 7

• First day of Marking Period 4
• National Assistant Principal's Week Apr. 7-11
• MD School Survey administration

Apr. 8

• Grade 8 ELA MCAP

Apr. 9

• Grade 8 ELA MCAP
• Staff Basketball Game (8th Grade)

Apr. 10

• PTSA - Screenagers viewing and panel

Apr. 12 - Apr. 21: SPRING BREAK - Schools Closed

Apr. 22

• Schools Reopen

Website: https://southwestms.bcps.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southwest.academy?igsh=NmdmZGc2ZmFtczZq