The Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) at Southwest High School invites you to join us in our mission to:

• Promote the well-being of Southwest students at school, at home, and in the community.
• Bring parents, teachers, and staff together to support students and achieve excellence in education.
• Successfully advocate for laws that serve the best interest of Southwest and all MPS students.
• Share our strengths to promote Southwest’s community value and attract partnerships and support.

Join the PTSA by simply emailing southwestptsa@gmail.com  The PTSA board is also currently seeking parent leaders to partner with current PTSA leadership to build a bigger and stronger leadership group as we move to the 2013-14 school year. 

Mark your calendars! Save the dates!

October 9, 2012 - Drama Free Communication: Handling Difficult Interactions with Your Teen
Dr. Jody Janati, University of MN, Faculty in Communication Studies
Learn drama free step by step techniques that demonstrate practical solutions for difficult interactions with your teen. Learn to control anger and emotions, be assertive and effectively diffuse conflict through a variety of approaches that really work. Set healthy boundaries and ultimately find your "Conversation Peace."

Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 7:00 PM Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain.

Speaker: Erin Walsh, Mind Positive Parenting and daughter for Dr. David Walsh, author of this groundbreaking book.

Adolescence has been described as a "normally abnormal stage of life." This workshop, based on Dr. David Walsh's best selling book, explains exactly what happens to the adolescent brain on the path from childhood into adulthood. Revealing the latest scientific findings in easy-to-understand terms, our speakers show why moodiness, quickness to anger, willingness to take risks, miscommunication and other familiar teenage behavior are so common-all are linked to physical changes and growth in the adolescent brain. This workshop goes beyond the well-known issues of hormones and peer pressure. We also shows parents and anyone who works with youth how to use this information to understand, communicate with, and stay connected to their kids.

March 12, 2013 - Identifying and Working through Risky Behavior in Teens (Drugs and Alcohol)
Amy Mitchell, Family Specialist at Fairview Health Services

PTSA Speaker Series Nights are Tuesdays @ 7p.m. in the Media Center on the dates above.
We encourage you to attend, explore our wide variety of volunteer options, and consider joining the PTSA with an annual donation of $25 to support continuing excellence at Southwest.