Good morning, and welcome back for another great Southern week! With only 9 instructional days remaining, it is imperative that students stay engaged, right up through the very last day on May 22. Please encourage your students to come to school ready to learn every day! Sometimes toward the end of the year, students begin to want to do less work, but as we prepare for summer break, teachers are working hard to ensure they get everything they need to avoid the "summer slide" and start their 2026-27 school year off ready and knowledgeable. We hope you will partner with us in motivating students to stay engaged every day! Thanks in advance!

Trojan Motivational Tip: -"Real teaching is about lighting a fire, not filling a bucket." - William Butler Yeats

This week, I would like to recognize Ms. Olivia Warren, one of our ECE MSD Teachers. She just joined Southern this year, but has already become a staple of our community, and is beloved by her students and their parents. We are grateful for her leadership in our MSD department, and sincerely thank her for LEADing Like a Trojan every single day! 

Ford Driving Skills for Life offers free, hands-on driving clinics designed to help newly licensed drivers—teens with either a learner’s permit or a driver’s license—strengthen critical skills that address the leading causes of vehicle crashes. Participants receive instruction and practice in four key areas:

1) Hazard Recognition

2) Vehicle Handling

3) Speed and Space Management

4) Distracted and Impaired Driving, along with Safety in Mobility

This half-day course provides newly licensed drivers with the opportunity to practice these essential skills in a safe, controlled environment, guided by professional instructors who ride alongside teen drivers. The clinic is the next step beyond traditional driver education courses and a valuable addition to a young driver’s learning journey.

To attend a Ford Driving Skills for Life hands-on clinic, participants must have either a learner’s permit or a driver’s license. The program is completely free of charge, and vehicles are provided for use during the event.

Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to attend and learn alongside their teen drivers. An informational session for parents will also be offered as part of the clinic.

For More information and to register: https://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/training/hands-on-training

Please come out and support our students!

Dear Jefferson County Public Schools Families, 

As we continue planning for the new school year, we need to know how your child will get to and from school for the 2026-27 school year. The JCPS Transportation Verification (TV) form is now open. Every JCPS family must complete this form letting us know how your child will get to and from school - JCPS bus rider, car rider, walker, or YMCA Childcare Enrichment Program (CEP) student. Note: YMCA CEP registration will open in mid-May. 

The final day to request bus transportation for the first day of school is June 8, 2026. Eligible bus riders who fill out the Transportation Verification form by June 8, 2026, will be notified of their bus stop location in July via the JCPS Bus Teller. More information on Bus Teller will be provided to families this summer. The first day of school for 2026-27 is August 6, 2026.

Who is eligible for JCPS transportation for the 2026-27 school year?
-All JCPS students who attend their resides school

-All students attending Central High School and Western High School

-All students enrolled at:

-Grace James Academy

-W.E.B. DuBois

-Newcomer 

-Liberty

-TAPP

-Phoenix School of Discovery

-Waller-Williams 

-Breckinridge Metropolitan

-Minor Daniels

-All students enrolled at: 

-Coleridge-Taylor Montessori

-Johnson Traditional Middle 

-Students who are directly certified for Free and Reduced Lunch and attend:

-Butler Traditional High 

-Louisville Male High 

-duPont Manual High 

Special education students with transportation as a documented accommodation in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Please note: Special Needs Transportation (SNT) is handled separately and does not require the TV form to be filled out. 

How to fill out the Transportation Verification Form

Log in to the JCPS Transportation Portal 

Enter the information requested

Select how your child will get to and from school: bus rider (if eligible), car rider, walker, or YMCA CEP student 

Submit the form

If you have any issues with completing the form, please click the ‘I Need Help’ button or contact your child’s school

Please complete the Transportation Verification process as soon as possible. The final day to request a bus stop for the first day of the 2026-27 school year is June 8, 2026. If you miss the deadline, you are not guaranteed JCPS-provided transportation for at least the first two weeks of the school year. 

Again, every JCPS family is required to let us know how your child plans to get to and from school next school year. 

Thank you for your support and partnership.

Jefferson County Public Schools 

Tickets: https://gofan.co/app/school/KY6221

Graduation Pratice Notice:

Graduation practice at Freedom Hall will be on May 21st at 1:00 PM. You MUST be present  to participate in the ceremony.

Transportation: If you need a ride, you MUST fill out this form.
Arrival: If you are providing your own transportation, please arrive a few minutes before 1:00 PM.
Parking: Parking is free for all students.

Address:
937 Phillips Ln, Louisville, KY 40209

Graduation:

Southern High School Graduation will be at Freedom Hall on May 22nd at 8pm. More information will be coming soon!

After the Tassle:

🎓 Graduation Is Around the Corner—Launch Your Career with After the Tassel

With graduation just around the corner, many seniors are starting to ask, “What’s next?” After the Tassel is a free program designed to help Southern's seniors confidently transition from high school into full-time careers after May. The program connects students directly to quality job opportunities in high-demand fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and skilled trades.

Through personalized one-on-one coaching, job-readiness support, and engaging incentive-based activities, seniors gain clarity, build confidence, and take real steps toward employment before they graduate. Whether students are still exploring their options or are ready to enter the workforce immediately, After the Tassel helps turn graduation into a launchpad—leading to full-time jobs with starting pay of $15–$24+ per hour.

🎥 Watch this short video to see how After the Tassel is shaping the next generation of professionals.

👍Interested?  Fill out this short interest form and your After the Tassel Career Advisor will reach out to you. 

-Art club will meet on May 11th from 3:20-4:30 in room 136.

-The STLP (Student Technology and Leadership Project) and Cybersecurity Team - May 13th from 3:30-4:30 in room 142.

-Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) meets May 13th at 8:15am in the Library. Join us for fellowship, devotion, prayer, and snacks!

-Book Club meets on May 13th. Students will meet in the library from 8:15-8:35!

All English classes are starting new units. Please check this link for more information about what your student will be learning and how you can support their learning at home. Be sure to ask them about their Essential Question!

Todas las clases de inglés comienzan nuevas unidades. Consulta el enlace para obtener más información sobre lo que aprenderá tu estudiante y cómo puedes apoyar su aprendizaje en casa. ¡No olvides preguntarle sobre su Pregunta Esencial!

Click here to see the math units your student will be studying this year. Ask them about their class and their unit. Let them explain what they're learning and try the listed task together.

Southern has a wonderful and very dedicated PTSA. They work ceasingly to support students and staff in numerous ways. Join today by clicking the image below to be part of this awesome team!

Join today by clicking on this link:

https://southern.givebacks.com/shop