We would like to extend a giant congratulations to the students who participated in the Colors of the Rainbow dance competition on Saturday. They showcased outstanding teamwork, sportsmanship, and remarkable dance talent, truly representing Southwood beautifully! We were very impressed with all the students' poise and professionalism. Way to go, Panthers!
Teacher Feature: Mr. Bwanika's 4th grade class. As a way to show a sense of togetherness and belonging, students have an opportunity to create Share Fair projects highlighting their unique interests and the ideas that are meaningful to them. On February 13th, students will present their projects to the students of the school; receiving and giving feedback from their peers and families. Way to get an early start on your projects, 4th graders!
Today, our school came together for a special MLK Day assembly to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The highlight of the event was a beautiful performance by our school choir, who sang songs of unity and hope that inspired us all. It was a meaningful reminder of the power of community, kindness, and standing up for what’s right. Thank you to everyone who made this event so memorable!
Come visit the Early Childhood Resource Fair on February 6, 2025, from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm at the Birth to Five Center at JJ Smith. You can connect with local resources and learn what is available for you and your child through age 8.
Teacher Feature: Students in Ms. Cryste's class use a penny chart when accomplishing their class work. When they earn 5 cents, they get paid real coins to add to their piggy bank. They have opportunities to sort and count their money and exchange coins for larger denominations. Some students have earned over $2.00 during an earning period! Every 6-8 weeks we set up a class store. In a beautiful act of kindness, one student noticed that another child had very little money in their bank (due to having been on vacation) and donated $1.00 to them so they could shop! Students look forward to getting paid each day, and saving up for toys, stuffies, and extra special treats! This is a great way for students to see how math serves them in real life. Way to go, Ms. Cryste's Class!!
Last Friday at our Panther Pride Assembly, students were recognized for displaying the Panther skill of the month for December, Respect! And, our Green Team got a jump on our January skill of the month by giving a demonstration on how to make good Choices by recycling! Way to go, Panthers!
January Lunch Menu
Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Winter Carnival this Friday at the high school!
Teacher Feature: This week students in Mrs. Johnson's media class are celebrating Jolabokaflod–an Icelandic celebration of books! They are building blanket forts, selecting books to lounge with, and enjoying a warm cup of cocoa or apple cider before curling up with a book.
Holiday Color Day here at Southwood!!
Spirit week next week, Panthers!!
What a fantastic couple of days here at Southwood!
Our talented 4th and 5th graders hit all the right notes during their incredible music program last night, filling the room with holiday cheer and impressive performances. Then, we laced up our sneakers and jingled all the way through our annual Jingle Bell Run! Smiles, laughter, and festive energy were everywhere as students, staff, and families came together for the holiday-themed fun.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who made these events so special—from our amazing teachers and staff to our supportive families and, of course, our superstar students!
What a fun Friday here at Southwood! First, our PTO treated the students to Popcorn Friday during recess! Next was our Panther Pride assembly where we were able to recognize our recipients of November's Skill of the Month Awards for demonstrating the skill of Encouragement! Then, the first graders introduced us to December's skill, Respect, by singing us the Respect Song and our Hero Team took their oath vowing to be leaders in helping to make Southwood a great place to be! 🐾
The fifth graders along with our four/five split class showcased their hard work and dedication during the Dancing Classrooms performance today, and it paid off - they were amazing! Thank You @EnumclawSchoolsFoundation and @SouthwoodElementaryPTO for bringing this program to Southwood!
To support November's skill of the month, we launched an Encouragement Challenge where students filled out Shout-outs of encouragement to show appreciation to other students and staff who had been helpful or kind. It was very ENCOURAGING to see the posters in the gym fill up as students encouraged one another throughout the month!
Way to go, Panthers!
Lunch
Meet the Staff Monday: Today, in honor of National Special Education Day (Dec 2), we are meeting our Resource Room team as well as our ILC team, Mrs. Colby, Mrs. Self, Mrs. VanHoof, Ms. Johnna, Mr. Josh, Ms. Erica and Ms. Addy!
Mrs. Colby has been with Southwood for 20 years and leads our resource room team. She loves to teach and see the kids learning new things and likes that she is able to work with them year after year. In her spare time she loves to spend time with her family!
Mrs. Self has been at Southwood for two years now and heads our ILC room. She worked as an interpreter and a paraeducator before coming to Southwood and she said the best thing about her job is the kids!
Mrs. VanHoof has been with Southwood for 19 years and said that she loves the Southwood kids and her Southwood family (especially those ladies in the office...)! When she's not at school she enjoys hanging out with her family.
Ms. Johnna has been at Southwood for 10 years and loves creating meaningful relationships with the students! In her free time she enjoys being in the great outdoors.
Mr. Josh has been working in education for the last 10 years and this is his 3rd year at Southwood. He enjoys watching the kids learn new things and grow in their skills. Mr. Josh has a 5 month old at home so he doesn't have free time, but he tries to sneak in watching the Mariners and Kraken when he's able.
Ms. Erica has been with Southwood since February of last year. She's got two girls and a boy and spends her spare time transporting them to their various activities. She is happy to be part of the Southwood family and is looking forward to the 2024/2025 school year!
Ms. Addy is working on her 2nd year at Southwood and said her favorite thing about her job is connecting with the kids and watching them learn new things. In her former life she was a hairdresser and still enjoys doing that when she has time.
Thank you, Resource Room and ILC team, for all you do for the students of Southwood!
Southwood Spotlight: We are so THANKFUL for art! Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, Panthers!
Teacher Feature: Students in Mrs. Stuenkel's class put on their science "hats" and their gloves to dissect owl pellets. Using cooperative skills, they partnered up to explore the transfer of energy in a food chain. Using reference materials, students identified the bones and other undigested remains from the owls' diet. Despite some kiddos having a little apprehension, all students fully participated with joy and curiosity. Way to go fifth grade scientists!
Due to ongoing power and technology outages, Byron Kibler Elementary and the Birth to Five Center are closed today. All other schools are fully operational and will be open today. Open schools will run on the regularly scheduled half-day schedule. Conferences will occur at open schools only. Buses will be on normal routes. Thank you to our operation teams, first responders, and PSE workers who are still working to return operations and power to our community!