Southwood Elementary

We had a big milestone earlier this week at Southwood as we welcomed our kindergartners for their first few days of school! They’re already learning the ropes and settling into routines and we love seeing their “bubbles and ducktails” as they walk the halls! We also held our very first Panther Pride Assembly of the year! We kicked off our new Character Strong program, starting with a Kindness Kickoff — our first graders did an amazing job singing a song all about kindness. We also introduced our September focus: Respect. Next week will be our first five-day week of the year, and we’re excited to keep the positive momentum going strong! Have a great weekend, Panthers! 🐾

We've had such a great start to the school year here at Soutwood! It’s been fun seeing the kids settle in, make new friends, and dive into their school routines. 😊 Enjoy the holiday weekend, Panthers! Stay safe, and we’ll see you all back here on Tuesday!

We had such a great time at last night’s Ice Cream Social! It was wonderful to see our Panther Community back on campus. We can’t wait to welcome our students back tomorrow and kick off an amazing new school year at Southwood!

Exciting News from Southwood!!

We’re thrilled to welcome some amazing new teachers to our school family this year! Please join us in giving a warm welcome to:

Mrs. Smith– 3rd Grade
Mr. Whittaker - Music
Ms. Young - Resource Room
Ms. Snyder - 2nd Grade

Each of them brings unique talents, passion, and heart to our classrooms, and we can’t wait for your children to get to know them.

Only a few more days until we kick off another fantastic school year — we can’t wait to see all of our students' smiling faces back in the building next week!

Mark your calendars for your students' back-to-school events:

Enumclaw High School Hornet Drop-in Day - Monday, August 18, 9am-12:30pm
Enumclaw Middle School Timberwolf Day - Tuesday, August 19, 9am-3pm
Thunder Mountain Middle School Day of Thunder- Wednesday, August 20, 9am-2:30pm
All elementary school Meet the Teacher events - Monday, August 25, 3pm-4pm

Please see each school for more details regarding its event.

Our last few days together were packed with memories and milestones we won’t forget. Our end-of-year assembly and 5th grade promotion were full of Panther Pride as we celebrated our students' growth and achievements. We also said goodbye to three beloved teachers and staff members. Mrs. Bubnick, Mrs. Means, and Mr. Josh — thank you for everything you have done for the students of Southwood! You’ll always be part of the Southwood community. As the last bell rang, we waved goodbye to our students and sent them off into a well-earned summer break. We’re so proud of each and every one of them! Have a fun and safe summer, Panthers!

What a fun couple of days here at Southwood! The kids had a blast at both the Fun Run on Friday and Field Day today—two awesome days full of running, games, laughter, and sunshine. From cheering on their friends to showing off their best moves in every event, they made some great memories. Huge shoutout to our amazing staff and volunteers who helped make it all happen. Way to go, Panthers!

The end of the school year is coming in fast here at Southwood, and there's been so much happening! Last week, we had the privilege of welcoming AP History students from the high school, who led engaging history lessons for our 3rd–5th graders — such a fun visit! On Friday, our amazing PTO hosted Pastries for Parents, giving students a chance to enjoy a special breakfast with their families. We wrapped up the week with our final Panther Pride Assembly of the year — full of celebration and spirit. You're doing great, Panthers… just 4.5 days to go!

After 7 wonderful years at Southwood, we’re sending off one of our beloved second grade teachers with full hearts and deep gratitude. 💙 Mrs. Hauswirth has touched so many lives, shared countless smiles, and left an imprint on our school that won’t be forgotten. Pictured here with her teaching partner, Mrs. Coleman, the love and teamwork they’ve shared is something truly special. Mrs. Hauswirth, you will be so missed. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter — and thank you for everything you’ve done for the students of Southwood!

The "Make 'Em Weep" tradition never fails! Yesterday, our graduating seniors returned to Southwood to visit the teachers who first cheered them on! There were hugs, happy tears, and many memories shared. Tonight, they’ll walk the stage — but yesterday, it was special to see them walking the halls that started it all! To our teachers: thank you for planting the seeds. To our seniors: we couldn’t be prouder! #ClassOf2025

As we near the end of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, we want to give a big shoutout to our wonderful school speech-language pathologist, Mrs. Moudy! Her dedication to helping students communicate, grow, and thrive makes a lasting impact every single day. Whether it's supporting speech development, language skills, or social communication, her work is essential—and deeply appreciated. Thank you, Mrs. Moudy, for all you do for the students of Southwood!

Attention Southwood Community:

Today we celebrate our amazing school nurse, Nurse Melanie, who goes above and beyond every day to keep our students healthy, safe, and ready to learn. From caring for bumps and bruises to offering a comforting smile, she is truly amazing! Thank you, Nurse Melanie, for all that you do for the students of Soutwood!

Teacher Feature: Today we are featuring Ms. Johnson's class! Ms. Johnson's students partnered up for an art and science integration project with Mrs. Hauswirth's class. They used clay and other items to create insect sculptures. It was a fun experience and allowed the older students to create positive connections with younger students. Way to go, Fifth Graders!

What an electrifying day at Southwood! Our students and staff lit up the halls with their brightest neon colors for Neon Glow Spirit Day! From glowing shirts to neon accessories, everyone was shining with school spirit! Way to go, Panthers! And, don't forget tonight is Neon Glow Night put on by the PTO. In the gym from 5:30-7:00. Can't wait to see you there!

Teacher Feature: Today we are featuring Mrs. Hauswirth's class and Mrs. Coleman's class. Both of these classes recently hosted an authors tea for their families! Mrs. Hauswirth's Second Grade class worked on writing Animal Research Books. They chose a favorite animal to read and write facts about Appearance, Diet, Habitat, Life Cycle, and Fun Facts. Once they had their facts, they organized them and wrote a rough draft, edited, and created a final copy book. They drew realistic illustrations and a cover. With their published books completed, they practiced presenting skills. Families were invited to be our audience and small groups presented parts of their books to those rotating groups. This gave everyone a chance to be brave as they shared their hard work! Well done second graders!

We can't wait to meet all of our future Panthers!!

UPDATE: Students and staff are safe. Law enforcement has confirmed the device in the Enumclaw Middle School courtyard was a cell phone battery that caught fire after being thrown to the ground. The fire was immediately extinguished. We have confirmed there were no injuries. Students and staff are still safely evacuated, and law enforcement has cleared the school and surrounding exterior. We will provide you with any additional information once it has been received. ...... Enumclaw Middle School has been evacuated by the Enumclaw Police Department after a small explosive device detonated outside in the school courtyard. Students and staff are safely evacuated. We will provide updates as soon as we receive them.

We can't wait to see you at Kindergarten Orientation on Thursday, March 27 in the school gymnasium!