Southwest Elementary School

📣 Reminder: There is NO SCHOOL today, Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21! Wishing all our families a wonderful and relaxing Easter Weekend! 🐰🌸

Dear Lawson Families, As we approach the final stretch of the school year, we thank you for your continued support and partnership. Every day of school matters, and strong attendance—right up to the very last day—helps ensure your child finishes the year on a high note. The next six weeks of the 2024-2025 school year are packed with valuable learning, final projects, celebrations, and important preparation for next year. When students are present and engaged, they remain connected with their teachers, classmates, and the learning that supports their long-term success. Let’s work together to make these final weeks count! Please continue to encourage your child to attend school every day, arrive on time, and stay focused until the end of the school year. Your support makes a big difference. Thank you for helping us finish the year strong! Dr. Stephenson #AttendanceMatters #SuccessStartsWithShowingUp

Exciting Progress at Southwest Elementary! We’re thrilled to announce the successful completion of the demolition and footing phase for the new office suite and main entrance at Southwest Elementary! This marks a major milestone in our project, bringing us one step closer to a safer, more modern, and welcoming space for our students, staff, and families. Stay tuned for more updates as construction moves forward—great things are happening! #SouthwestElementary #BuildingForTheFuture #ProgressInMotion

It's always a great day to be a Cardinal...but it's better WHEN YOU'RE HERE!!! 2025-2026 Openings *MS Special Education (Grades 5-6) *Elementary Classroom (2nd Grade) *Early Childhood Classroom (PreK) *MS Math (Grade 6) Click the link to learn more and apply. https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/page/employment-page

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lawson Board of Education Approves A Change to the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar The Lawson Board of Education approved modifying the current academic calendar during its February 19 meeting. The change will replace the Staff Professional Development Day on March 31, 2025, with a student contact day. Dr. Stephenson emphasized the importance of this change, stating, “Over the past two months, we have lost nine student instruction days due to weather-related closures. The approved change will allow us to regain a day of lost instruction.” March 31, 2025, will now be a student contact day. No other changes were recommended for consideration. The last day of school for the 2024-2025 school year will remain as scheduled for an early release on Friday, May 16.

❄️ School’s Stuck in a Time Loop—No Classes Tomorrow, Thursday, February 20th! ❄️ Just like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, we seem to be waking up to the same winter storm… over and over again! While we’d love to break the cycle, Mother Nature has other plans. Due to hazardous conditions, school will be closed tomorrow—again! So, set your alarm, but don’t be surprised if you wake up to the same snowy scene. If you happen to see a groundhog, ask it how to escape this endless winter! P.S. If we have to close again, we might just start offering extra credit for learning to predict the weather like Punxsutawney Phil!

🚨🚨 SCHOOL CANCELED AGAIN! 🚨🚨 NO SCHOOL - Wednesday, February 19th - We checked outside… yep, it's still frozen solid. The mysterious polar bear seen last night in the city park has been located heading north toward Cameron, and now penguins have overtaken the high school parking lot. Until further notice, stay inside, drink hot cocoa, and brush up on your penguin-waddling skills—just in case this turns into a full migration. See you when we reclaim the school! 🐧❄️🚨 #WeAreLawson

🚨 POLAR BEAR ALERT! 🚨 Reports are coming in that a polar bear was spotted in Lawson City Park looking VERY confused, swatting at the wooden Cooper The Cardinal, asking for directions back to the Arctic. 🐻‍❄️❄️ Given this extreme encounter, we have decided it best to cancel school for Tuesday, February 18th. Stay warm, stay inside, and remember: if you see a bear, DO NOT offer it your hot cocoa. See you all when the tundra melts! ☕🔥😂 #WeAreLawson

2025-2026 Employment Opportunities It's always a great day to be a Cardinal...but it's better WHEN YOU're HERE!!! Click to learn more:https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/page/employment-page

All evening activities and events are canceled. Campuses will remain closed until 6am Thursday, February 6th.

Southwest is ready to round up Kindergartners for the 2025-26 school year! Please see all the details below. Kindergarten enrollment packets can be picked up in the Southwest Office starting today!

Immediate Opening: Paraprofessional Support Position 📍 Location: Southwest Elementary Building 🗓 Start Date: ASAP ⏳ Employment Type: Full-time Job Overview: Southwest Elementary seeks a dedicated and compassionate paraprofessional to provide immediate support to students and teachers. This position will assist with classroom instruction, student supervision, and individualized support for students with diverse learning needs. Application and additional information can be found on the district website. Click https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/page/employment-page to learn more and to apply.

Lawson School District Announces Approval of Contract with Excel Construction for New Administrative Office Suite and Main Entrance Lawson School District is thrilled to officially announce the approval of an exciting construction project that will enhance functionality and security at Southwest Elementary School. Plans are underway to develop a state-of-the-art administrative office suite and a redesigned main school entrance. This project, approved by the Lawson Board of Education, reflects a commitment to providing an improved experience for students, staff, and visitors. The new administrative suite will feature modernized workspaces for school personnel, an upgraded conference room, and enhanced technology to streamline operations. The redesigned main entrance will also prioritize accessibility and safety, ensuring a welcoming and secure environment. Key Features of the Project Include: *Expanded Administrative Offices: Designed with efficiency and collaboration in mind, the new office suite will provide ample space for staff and streamline administrative functions. *Modernized Security Enhancements: The new entrance will include updated security measures, including controlled access points, to ensure the safety of students and staff. *Improved Visitor Experience: A welcoming reception area and clear navigation will make the school more accessible for families and community members. *Aesthetic and Functional Upgrades: The design will blend seamlessly with the existing architecture while incorporating contemporary elements. “This project represents a significant step forward for Southwest Elementary and our community,” said Mrs. Cross, Principal of Southwest Elementary School. “The new administrative suite and main entrance will enhance our ability to support students’ educational journeys while ensuring their safety and comfort. We’re grateful for the support of our community for making this vision a reality.” The Southwest project is one of several initiatives designated for completion as part of the No Tax Increase Bond passed by the Lawson community in April 2024. The construction is scheduled to begin in March 2025 and is expected to be completed by July 2025. The construction timeline will ensure no interruption of daily school operations during the build process. Lawson School District is committed to informing the community as the project progresses. Regular updates, including timelines and milestones, will be shared via the school’s website and communication channels.

2025-2026 Employment Opportunities It's always a great day to be a Cardinal...but it's better WHEN YOU're HERE!!! Click to learn more:https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/page/employment-page

Due to extreme temperatures and concerns for student safety on buses, there will be no school tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Winter Cheer Mini Clinic forms are coming home! Please see the details below. Forms and money are due by Friday, 1/31

Southwest is looking for new Nesters! Information about the 2025-26 preschool program at Southwest is below. Families that are residents of the Lawson School District and have a child(ren) who will be three before August 1, 2025 are eligible. Interested families should use the link or the QR code on the flyer to register for a screening. https://bit.ly/3Zy0jG2?r=qr (A limited number of spots are available - Screening does not guarantee acceptance - The District will use the student screening and other evaluation processes to determine acceptance.) Please contact Southwest Elementary's office (816) 580-7272 if you have any questions.

With continued safety concerns regarding our most rural bus routes, there will be NO SCHOOL on Thursday, 1-9-25.

Inclement Weather / School Cancelation - UPDATE 1-5-25 Dear Cardinals, As anticipated, the winter storm has created significant challenges across our region. To ensure everyone’s safety and a smooth start to the second semester of the 2024–2025 school year, we have adjusted our schedule as follows: Updated Schedule • Monday, January 6, 2025: All campuses and facilities will remain closed. • Tuesday, January 7, 2025: Staff in-service day (rescheduled from January 6). • Wednesday, January 8, 2025: Students return to school (rescheduled from January 7). These adjustments prioritize the well-being of our students and staff while allowing adequate time to prepare for a successful start to the semester. We are optimistic that weather and road conditions will improve by midweek, but we will monitor the situation closely. Decisions regarding team practices on Monday and Tuesday will be made as more information becomes available. Our goal is to ensure the safety of all students and staff while keeping families informed to help with planning. Please stay tuned to district communications for further updates. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this together. Dr. Stephenson

Lawson School Campuses and Facilities will be closed to all access beginning at 5pm 1/4/25. They will remain closed until the winter storm has passed, and we can clear parking lots and sidewalks for safe passage. We will share additional information about our return to school once we have more information on road conditions.