During the first week of school at Southwest, many new seventh-graders worked on learning their locker combinations, schedules and how long it takes to get from one end of the building to the other without being tardy.

Many eighth-graders have met up with friends, making future plans and working on their new schedules.

The classrooms in the lower unit received a facelift this year, with lowered ceilings and new ventilator systems to be more energy efficient and for the students and staff to have better air quality.

During the second week in advisory class, the students worked on bus safety, discussing the rules and taking their test, which all students passed with 100 percent. They also worked on naming their advisory and thought was also put into homecoming. Here are some before, during, and after school activities beyond the three Rs that are offered:

Cross country, football, volleyball, tennis, career day, swimming, band, choir, golf, student council, basketball, homecoming parade, baseball, softball, exploratory, math league, Youth in Government, orchestra, Jazz Band, wrestling, show choir, track, Americorps, soccer, school play, Tiger Trot, mock trial, Sibley tutors and yearbook.

The staff at Southwest hopes students take advantage of some of these opportunities and get involved. The public is always welcome to come and cheer on and support most all of these activities.