Clubs

Battle of the Books

Battle of the Books is a reading incentive program for students. Students read books and come together in groups to demonstrate their abilities and to test their knowledge of the books they have read. Battle of the Books promotes teamwork and collaboration. While reading/studying the novels, students are able to develop their reading skills. Validation of comprehension becomes evident as their book quizzes, the students create, are submitted to the Battle of the Books' coaches.

Students in 4th - 5th grade may participate in Battle of the Books. Students must tryout for the Battle of the Books team. Tryouts are usually announced at school following Christmas Break. Typically ten members are selected with one alternate. Skills that are focused on include:

• Attendance
• Completion of books verified by quizzes submitted
• Involvement/participation in group discussions w/ grade-levels during practice

Practices begin in January, meeting after school until 4:00 pm once a week. In March, practices will increase to two times per week, with the final competition taking place in March. No cost is involved to participate.

Robotics

The Southwood Elementary Robotics program started in 2016 with one team of seven students. Today, we have four teams totaling 28 kids. The Robo Knights have been to the State Championship four times in the past five years. In fact, all of our teams the past five years have gone to State.  Our teams have also made it to the World Championship two times with three teams!

The Southwood Elementary Robotics Teams are open to students in 3rd - 6th grade. Participants must tryout for Robotics. Typically an announcement is made a couple of weeks into the school year with instructions on how to tryout. Tryouts usually take place at the end of August. 

Tryouts are a combination of a paper packet filled out at home and a week-long robotics camp. Students fill out the packet by answering questions about robot design ideas, strengths, interests, and ideas for the next game. During camp, we look for good teamwork skills, overcoming failures, supporting teammates, following directions, and a passion for robotics. If students do not make the team after camp, we provide a letter giving them tips on what to work on for next year if they choose to try out again.

Robotics season usually begins and lasts until March or even through May, depending on how far the team advances. Practices take place on Mondays and Wednesdays after school until 4:30 pm. Extra practices may be scheduled as needed.

Robotics is not only the future, it is also the present. By familiarizing students with programming, sensors, and automation, they hone critical computational thinking skills needed to succeed in both the 21st century's workforce and in everyday life. Robotics can boost student engagement and motivation, allow them to capitalize on their strengths, and enable them to meet their learning needs.

Activities involving robotics necessitate that students collaborate, think computationally, troubleshoot, and innovate - all fundamental skills for 21st-century learners and, eventually, 21st-century professionals. Beyond science and engineering principles, VEX Robotics solutions encourage creativity, teamwork, leadership, passion, and problem-solving among groups. 

Spelling Bee

All 5th and 6th grade students are encouraged to compete in the school level Kiwanis and Journal Gazette Spelling Bees. Both a 5th grade winner and 6th grade winner are then sent onto the County level Kiwanis Bee. One school-wide winner is sent on to the County level Journal Gazette Bee. If we have a winner at the county level, they are sent on to the Regional level.