SWSC News November 13, 2026

• SES Turkey Trot: Wednesday, November 18 at the SHS track. Come cheer on our Darts!

• Alice @ Wonderland: the SHS Drama Club's fall play opens Friday, November 20 at 7:00 P.M., with shows November 21 and 22 at 2:00 P.M.
• FCA Game Night: Sunday, November 22 for SWSC students in grades 6 to 12.
• Food drives are underway at Carlisle and SMS to help local families at Thanksgiving. See each school's section for how to help.

Join the ultimate evening of fun at FCA Game Night, open to all SWSC students in grades 6 to 12, on Sunday, November 22, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. in the Sullivan High School cafeteria. The night includes a devotional, Minute to Win It games, ping pong and corn hole, and pizza, snacks, and drinks. Please RSVP using the QR code on the FCA Game Night flyer. For more information, contact Audrey Badger at (812) 240-2790 or Paige Chickadaunce at (812) 564-3314.

Auditions for Anastasia Youth Edition are Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, December 3, from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. in the SHS Choir Room (enter through Door 12). Auditions are open to all 6th through 12th grade SWSC students, plus one young girl and one young boy as young as 4th grade. Performances are March 11, 12, and 13. Audition preparation details are available through the QR code on the audition flyer.

A free Sullivan County Thanksgiving Dinner will be provided on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, at Joe's Italian Food, with carry out or dine in available. To place a carry out order, call Joe's at 812-268-1144 any time from now through Thanksgiving.

When weather affects school, Southwest aims to announce closings, delays, and e-learning days before 6:30 A.M. by automated call from (812) 268-6311, text from 98900, X (@SWESTSCHOOLS) and Facebook, and regional radio and TV. On a 1-hour delay, drop-off begins at 8:45 A.M.; on a 2-hour delay, at 9:45 A.M. Dismissal times do not change. Please keep your emergency contact numbers up to date, and please do not call the schools or central office during severe weather so phone lines stay open.

Coming Up at SES

• November 25 to 27: No school, Thanksgiving Break.
• Saturday, November 28: First archery tournament, at North Central.
• Wednesday, December 9: Christmas Program at 10:00 A.M. (AM Preschool, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades) and 6:00 P.M. (Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grades).
• Thursday, December 10: Christmas Program at 1:00 P.M. (PM Preschool, 2nd, and 4th grades) and 6:00 P.M. (1st, 3rd, and 5th grades).

• Homework Help: Tuesdays and Thursdays after school until 4:00 P.M. Contact your child's teacher to sign up. Pick up is at Door #1 (main entrance), and you MUST note the change in Pick-Up Patrol.
• Spell Bowl: Tuesdays after school until 4:00 P.M. Pick up at the main entrance; note the change in Pick-Up Patrol.
• Dartettes: Wednesdays after school until 4:00 P.M. in the SES gym.
• Archery (new schedule): 5:30 to 6:30 P.M. on Tuesday (Bullseye), Wednesday (3D), and Thursday (Bullseye and 3D). The first tournament is November 28 at North Central.

Reminders

• Lost and Found: check the SES Facebook page every Friday for the weekly Lost and Found post, and comment to claim your student's items.
• Outside food must come in a lunchbox or lunch sack, not in restaurant packaging (McDonald's, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Subway, etc.).
• Menus with complete nutrition information are available in the Nutrislice app.

Congratulations to our Elks Hoop Shoot winners! Ages 8 to 9: Paisley Boyll and Lane Woodard. Ages 10 to 11: Hattie Kramer and Cole Cooke. Ages 12 to 13: Tevan Quick. We are proud of all of our Darts!

Our 2nd graders had a special guest this week when Jesse Walker visited to talk about the weather. Students had plenty of questions, and lots of hands went up. Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with our Darts!

The SES Turkey Trot, sponsored by the Sullivan Elementary PTO, is Wednesday, November 18 at the Sullivan High School track, with awards on Friday, November 20. Turkey Trot paperwork went home in backpacks this week; please return it today, Friday, November 6. All students will run regardless of how much money they raise, and each grade will have 1st through 10th place winners for both boys and girls.

Race times by grade:

• 2nd grade: 8:30 to 9:15 A.M.
• Kindergarten: 9:20 to 10:05 A.M.
• 5th grade: 10:10 to 10:55 A.M.
• 3rd grade: 11:00 to 11:45 A.M.
• 1st grade: 12:45 to 1:30 P.M.
• 4th grade: 1:35 to 2:20 P.M.

Prizes for donations: $5 earns a Turkey Slap Bracelet, $10 a Turkey Fidget, $20 a Turkey Trot Sweat Band, and $50 or more a pizza party for your child and a friend. The five students who raise the most will get to throw a pie in the face of Mrs. Wegner, Mrs. Whitkanack, Mrs. Hamilton, or Mrs. Maloon! Families are welcome to come cheer! Enter through the main football gates, where you will receive directions. The event is outdoors, so please dress for the weather.

Volunteers will help with a variety of race activities. Sign up at signupgenius.com/go/10C044DA9AF28A4FBC52-67128573-turkey. All volunteers must have a valid background check on file at SES. We appreciate your help!

• Wednesday, December 9: Christmas Matinee at 10:00 A.M. (AM Pre-K, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades) and Evening Program at 6:00 P.M. (Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grades).
• Thursday, December 10: Christmas Matinee at 1:00 P.M. (PM Pre-K, 2nd, and 4th grades) and Evening Program at 6:00 P.M. (1st, 3rd, and 5th grades).
• December 14 to 18: Santa's Workshop during specials.
• Friday, December 18: Winter Break begins! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Beta Club

SMS Beta members represented the Arrows at the Beta Convention in Evansville on November 12 and 13. The Beta Induction is Tuesday, December 1 at 6:00 P.M.

Mark Your Calendars

• Tuesday, November 17: Basketball team pictures starting at 2:00 P.M
• Tuesday, November 17: Beta Induction at 6:00 P.M.
• Friday, November 20: School-wide field trip to SHS to watch the high school play.
• November 25 to 27: No school, Thanksgiving Break.
• Saturday, December 5: Jingle Jog.
• Friday, December 18: Christmas Ball, 6:00 to 8:00P.M.

Clubs and Activities

• Arrow Homework Hub: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. in the Library.
• FCA: every Wednesday at 7:45 A.M. in the Multipurpose Room.
• Dartettes: every Wednesday, 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. in the SES Gym.
• Archery: Tuesday (Bullseye), Wednesday (3D), and Thursday (Bullseye and 3D). 6th and 7th grade practice 6:30 to 7:30 P.M.; 8th grade practices 7:30 to 8:30 P.M.

Reminders

• Attendance: parents may call in or excuse up to 5 absences per semester. After the 5th absence, additional absences must have documentation to be excused.
• Phones: Southwest maintains a bell-to-bell cell phone policy. The SMS school day is 8:05 A.M. to 2:55 P.M.
• Lunch money: bring it to the office between 7:45 and 8:15 A.M. Money turned in after that is posted the following day.

The SMS Kindness Club is holding its annual Thanksgiving in a Bag food drive, collecting food items to help local families enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal. Every donation, big or small, helps make someone's Thanksgiving a little brighter. Check the flyers for needed items or contact Mrs. Miller for details. Let's show what it means to have big hearts and kind spirits!

The SMS Christmas Ball is Friday, December 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. We are looking for chaperones, who must pass a background check. Parents who would like to help should contact the SMS front office or email Lindsey Gotshall at lgotshall@swest.k12.in.us by Friday, November 20.

Lace up your sneakers, dress in your holiday best, and join us for a morning of running, walking, and holiday cheer! Students, families, and friends of all ages are welcome.

• When: Saturday, December 5. Doors open and check-in begins at 8:00 A.M.; the 5K Run/Walk begins at 9:00 A.M., and the 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk begins at 9:10 A.M.
• Where: the SMS Ag Barn. Park in the Sullivan Middle School parking lot and walk over to the Ag Barn.
• Registration: $10 with an event T-shirt or $5 without, using the QR code on the Jingle All the Way flyer. T-shirts are limited and available while supplies last, so register early if you want one!
• Included: hot chocolate, a picture with Santa, and a jingle bell medal for every participant.
• More holiday fun: bring a little extra cash for treats from Summers Baking Company and coffee from Roots Coffee, and dress up for the Festive Dress Contest, with awards for the top 3 most festively dressed runners.

Come for the run, stay for the holiday fun!

Beta Convention

Good luck to our Carlisle Beta members, who represented the Indians at the Beta Convention on November 12 and 13!

Now Hiring: Instructional Aide

Carlisle Elementary and Middle School is hiring an Instructional Aide, available immediately and open until filled. Send a letter of interest, current resume, and professional references by email or mail to Mr. Scott Staggs, Principal, Carlisle Elementary and Middle School, 204 W. Eaton Street, Carlisle, IN 47838. More information is at swest.k12.in.us/page/employment.

• Elementary: Archery (new schedule): 5:30 to 6:30 P.M. on Tuesday (Bullseye), Wednesday (3D), and Thursday (Bullseye and 3D).
• Middle School: Tuesday (Bullseye), Wednesday (3D), and Thursday (Bullseye and 3D). 6th and 7th grade practice 6:30 to 7:30 P.M.; 8th grade practices 7:30 to 8:30 P.M.

Mark Your Calendars

• November 25 to 27: No school, Thanksgiving Break.
• Saturday, December 12: CMS Christmas Ball, 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.

Birthday Grams and Contact Information

To request a Birthday Gram or for Carlisle questions, please contact Debra McCrary at 812-398-3851 ext. 2402 or dmccrary@swest.k12.in.us.

From now until Thanksgiving, Carlisle students are collecting non-perishable food for Shaker Prairie Church to help fill a need at the Blessing Barn. Each grade has its own item:

• Kindergarten: spaghetti noodles
• 1st grade: fruit cups or canned fruit
• 2nd grade: boxes of cereal
• 3rd grade: cans of ravioli
• 4th grade: boxes of cereal
• 5th grade: cans of soup
• 6th grade: boxes of granola bars
• 7th grade: cans of SpaghettiOs
• 8th grade: Goldfish crackers or something similar

Thank you for helping our neighbors this Thanksgiving!

The CMS Christmas Ball is Saturday, December 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. More details to come!

Beta Book Drive for Indy Reads

This year's Senior Beta Statewide Service Project is a book collection benefiting Indy Reads, in memory of Dolly Parton. The goal is for every student attending convention to bring at least three books to donate, and the SHS community is invited to help. Books must be in good condition. Drop off books at the Beta closet or give them to any SHS Senior Beta member.

Student Reminders

• Cap and gown pictures will be delivered to the school before Thanksgiving Break.
• All fall sports Sectional decorations need to be cleared off lockers.
• Any FFA member who has not received a fundraiser form should see Ms. Goeppner.
• Lost and found is in the commons. Please check the table for your items.

Free After School Tutoring

• Tuesday: Room 101, Mr. Obryan
• Wednesday: CRC Room, Mrs. Couch
• Thursday: Room 221, Mr. Simmons

Archery Practice Schedule

• Tuesday and Thursday, 3:15 to 4:15 P.M.: after school practice (Bullseye and 3D).
• Tuesday, 7:30 to 8:30 P.M.: Bullseye.
• Wednesday, 7:30 to 8:30 P.M.: 3D.
• Thursday, 7:30 to 8:30 P.M.: Bullseye and 3D.

Share Your Team's Accomplishments

SHS wants to recognize our sports and club teams. Coaches, parents, or players who would like to send game and competition updates can email Mrs. Knowles at sknowles@swest.k12.in.us.

Follow the White Rabbit to the SHS Theater! The Sullivan High School Drama Class presents Alice @ Wonderland by Jonathan Yukich. Tickets are $5 at the door.

• Friday, November 20: 7:00 P.M.

• Saturday, November 21: 2:00 P.M.

• Sunday, November 22: 2:00 P.M.

Come out and support our student actors!

Kindness Club is sponsoring The Stocking Project to help make Christmas brighter for local children and teens. Donations of new gifts and stocking stuffers will fill stockings for families in our community. Donations are accepted for ages K to 12: monetary donations, new toys, books, games, and art supplies. Drop off donations with Mrs. Hollis or at the SHS attendance office by Friday, December 11.

• Little kids (ages 5 to 8): coloring books, crayons, and markers; small stuffed animals; LEGO or building blocks; picture books; Play-Doh and card games; puzzles and small toys.
• Tweens (ages 9 to 12): art and craft kits; journals and fun pens; books and graphic novels; bracelet-making kits; sports balls and accessories; board games, puzzles, and card games.
• Teens (ages 13 to 18): gift cards; cozy socks, beanies, and gloves; water bottles and tumblers; journals and quality pens; art supplies and hobby kits; books, puzzles, and portable games; toiletry bags and everyday essentials.

Attention all high school clubs: earn one service hour for every five items donated. NHS and Key Club members: take your picture with your items and submit it to myinnerview.org. Beta members: add your hours to the Beta app.