Southwest Open School

08/24/2026

SWOS, this could be a cool opportunity!

https://www.cortezco.gov/1026/Cortez-Municipal-Teen-Court

08/19/2026

08/06/2026

Hello SWOSians!

School starts August 10th! See you at 8:00am. We are so excited! Do not fear if you forgot to register, come in to the front office and we will help get you going!

07/30/2026

SWOS staff is back in action! We went on an expedition to Dolores River Ranch to prepare for the 2026-2027 year. We mastered Pipeline and reflected on the adventures to come!

Enrollment is open. Please feel free to come by the office to pick up an enrollment packet and meet staff: Monday-Thursday, 8:00-4:00!

Returning students: check out Danielle's Classroom to choose a class!!! Here are your options:

Boots on the Playground
Learn how and why some people claim play decreased and changed in unhealthy ways. Engage in healthy play and discussion activities to experience and understand the purpose of play for human beings. Study and compare different play opportunities available to young people today. Draw their own conclusions about what the “perfect” play space for young people might look like. Design their own ideal public play space for young people.

People, Places and Plants- Ethnobotany of North America
In this class students will participate in hands on activities designed to teach them about the cultural uses of native plants throughout North America both past and present with a particular focus on the peoples and plants of the Four Corners region. Specific projects to be produced and incorporated into student portfolios include:
Native Plant collection identifying each plant and its use by a specific group of people,
A cordage or cattail mat project using traditional materials and techniques,
A map showing the ancestral home of a particular group of people in North America - including a brief history and major plants used.
Outside experiences will include daily trips around campus and one field trip per week to local public lands to identify and collect plants.

SWOS' 40th Anniversary
Students in this intensive will collectively build a narrative history/website for the school to commemorate SWOS's 40th Anniversary. They will be responsible for conducting interviews with staff (former and current), their fellow students, and a few alumni. We will be engaged in a variety of historical research methods in order to better understand and present the school's origins, the significant changes that have occurred throughout the years (both to the physical campus and the school's mission), and several of the historical highlights that have cemented this school's unique status within our community.

07/28/2026

Hello SWOSians!
Katri and Brielle will be down at the Community Center in Towaoc from 5:30-7:00 pm tonight! They will be there to help register new students. We would love it if you dropped by to say hi!

07/25/2026

SWOS Community:

Teen Hangout Night is a collaborative effort born from a shared vision within the Safe Spaces Action Team. We believe that every person deserves a designated space where they can simply be - free from rules, pressure, structure, judgement and the stress of everyday life. This initiative was brought to life to directly address the need for accessible, casual and consistent weekend space for middle and high school youth in the community.

Teens can drop-in from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at various participating venues for free. Snacks and drinks available. By participating in Teen Hangout Nights, teens are subject to the code of conduct posted upon entry.

07/16/2026

Enrollment for SWOS is open! Please come visit us on campus to pick up an enrollment packet and set up an interview. We are excited for the new year!

Or print off the packet here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pBLTU1PjS9Ih2OXEju4-ciiSoc43jkUW/edit

Returning SWOS students can update their enrollment at https://swos.getalma.com/

Office hours:
July 20th-23rd 8:00-12:00
July 27th-29th 8:00-4:00
July 30th 8:00-4:00
August 3rd-6th 8:00-4:00

School begins on August 10th!

05/14/2026

05/13/2026

Join us for a BBQ to celebrate the year!