WHHHS Update
We have reached the end of the 2023-2024 school year! It was great to celebrate the 306 graduates of the Class of 2024 in a packed house at Graduation on Tuesday night, and we were able to recognize our 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students with academic awards yesterday morning!
Please see the updates and reminders below as we wrap up the 2023-2024 school year and look to the 2024-2025 school year!
Community Engagement Update
Last week, we continued our five-part video series about how school finance works at SLSD. In the first video, we discussed the history of past levies here at Southwest, and how SLSD utilizes your tax dollars to ensure a quality education and opportunities for every student.
If you missed last week’s video or the previous parts in our school finance series, you can view them by clicking below:
Video #1: https://youtu.be/mqSFIBqDlQk
Video #2: https://youtu.be/lmvZesPZXg8
Video #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09e34jbZe4s
This week, our finance series continues with a focus on how enrollment and inflation impact expenditures at SLSD.
You can watch this new video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv6yywXOwaA
The big takeaway is that, as enrollment increases at SLSD, the amount of money being spent also increases. Ensuring that every student gets the education they deserve in every building is critical, and spending increases as enrollment increases. Additionally, economic inflation plays a role in how much the district spends. As costs for services, maintenance and more increase, so do the budgets associated with those expenditures.
We continue to provide the information that we’ve been hearing the community ask for throughout our efforts to engage more directly with residents, parents, and students.
Stay tuned for Part 5 of our series, which will provide more information on how new residential developments impact school finance.
Summer Office Hours
Our summer office hours will be 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM (closed 11:30 – 12:30 for lunch), and after mid-June, we advise calling before you come to school as there may be a day or two the office is closed due to vacation schedules. We will post days on which the office will be closed on the doors as far in advance as possible.
Summer School
Grades are due tomorrow (Friday 5/24). Guidance counselors will be in touch next week with families whose students would benefit from Summer School. I will send a separate email tomorrow specifically with information on Summer School.
Student Laptops
Students in Grades 9-11 turned in their laptops yesterday. All students were asked to turn in their laptops at this time, except for Mr. Deak’s AP Government students still working on Financial Literacy in Edgenuity (those laptops are due Friday 5/31). Students who will need a laptop for summer school will be issued a different device at the start of summer school on Monday 6/3. Any student who was not in attendance on Wednesday, May 22 should turn in their laptop to the office as soon as possible. As mentioned above, the office is open Mon – Fri 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM (closed 11:30 – 12:30 for lunch) during the summer and after mid-June, we advise calling before you come to school as there may be a day or two the office is closed due to vacation schedules.
Parent/Guardian Survey
In the Southwest Local School District, we strive for excellence through the relationships we build with all of our stakeholders. Partnering with parents is crucial for the success of our students and our school community. We value your input and would like to know your thoughts on our school climate and services. This information will help to inform our decision-making as we work to continuously meet the needs of all of our students and provide an excellent educational experience for our families.
For completing this survey, you will entered into a drawing to win a Southwest Local School District swag basket! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us; your feedback is very important to us. Please take a moment and complete the survey found here.
Class of 2024 Graduation Photos
Executive Studio/Ritchie Photo took pictures of each senior receiving his or her diploma; families will receive a proof of their diploma picture in the mail, along with an order form to fill out and return via mail.
School Fees
School fees are posted to our students’ accounts. If you have not done so already, please take care of these obligations right away. Directions for how to log on and pay student fees can be found here. Thank you for your attention to this information!
Yearbooks – On Sale Through May 31
The final day to order your 2023-2024 yearbook is next Friday, May 31, 2024. You don't want to miss out on the 208+ pages of memories from this year! You can order here. No extra books will be ordered, so make sure to guarantee your copy of this historical document this week!
Contact Jane Hinterlong with any questions.
Class of 2024 – Purchase the Graduation Ceremony / Senior Video Package
Preserve your memories of your senior year by purchasing the Class of 2024 Video Package, containing the Senior Video and Graduation ceremony. It is available as a double-DVD set, or in .MP4 format on a flash drive.
The Senior Video includes bonus segments not seen at the Senior Banquet, including a section on end-of-the-year activities, as well as a timeline of significant local, national and world events that happened this year.
Click HERE to place your order online, or click HERE to print the order form which you can mail in with payment.
The deadline to place orders is Friday, May 31.
NOTE: If you placed an order back in late winter when you submitted your senior/baby pictures, there is no need to re-order.
Class of 2025 – Senior Portrait Information/More Info to Come
Executive Studios/Ritchie Photography is our official school photographer. For your convenience, they will have photography sessions at Harrison High School in the Makerspace Mon 6/24 – Fri 6/29. More information on scheduling is forthcoming.
Please note that only Executive Studio portraits will be used in the Yearbook and on the composite Class of 2025 picture (which is displayed in the Activity Center). To appear in the 2024-2025 Senior Portrait section of the Yearbook and on the composite Class of 2025 picture, students must schedule a sitting with Executive Studios. There is a $25 sitting fee, but you are not required to purchase any packages.
Additionally, all senior proofs must be submitted to Executive Studios/Ritchie Photography no later than December 15, 2024. If you have any questions, please call the office at 513-367-4169 or email Mrs. Hinterlong at jane.hinterlong@southwestschools.org.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions at any time. Thank you so much for a great school year and have a safe and relaxing summer!
Joe Pollitt
Principal
William Henry Harrison High School