I hope everyone has had a great Winter Break and is ready for the new year. My wish is for every student to get the most out of their classes, the process and the experience as possible. I can't wait to see how they progress.

That being said, the start of the year is going to be busy. We have two big projects that we will be working on as a school. The first project is personalized learning. We are going to formalize what we are working and Ed-Elements will be doing a walk through on January 29th to see how we are are progressing. Each teacher will be trying some form of personalized learning sometime throughout the day. Ask your child about this on the 29th and see what they think. This could be an interesting discussion.

The second big project will be accreditation. Advanc-Ed will be bringing a team of educators from across the state and the lower 48 to see how we are doing as a school. This team will be here on February 18th & 19th. They will want to talk to some parents so you may get a call. If you are interested in being a part of this parent group give Cindy Koplin a call at 235-4600.

And don't forget, our annual Parent Teacher Conference Event will be on Wednesday, February 6th from 5:00 - 8:00 pm in the commons. Normal Parent Teacher Conferences will be on February 7th from 8:30 - 11:00 am and 12:00 - 3:00 pm. Make your plan to attend now so you don't forget.

As always, I would love to hear from you. If you have ideas or suggestions, please drop by. If you can't make it in, you can call me at 907-235-4600 or e-mail me at dwaclawski@kpbsd.k12.ak.us.

Sincerely,

Douglas Waclawski

Principal

Summer opportunities for higher education

Many universities and educational organizations offer summer experiences for students interested in certain careers and/or in getting a preview of a college experience. These programs vary widely in their cost (from free to expensive) and in their selectivity (from highly competitive to “come one come all”), but they all require a little research and some advanced planning. Below is a small sample of what is out there:

• ANSEP – The Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program promotes college readiness, particularly in STEM fields. Native and non-Native students may apply. Application deadline is Dec. 7th for current 12th graders and is March 1st for current 8th through 11th graders. http://www.ansep.net/high-school/high-school . This program is free!
• RAHI – The Rural Alaskan Honors Institute invites motivated rural (Homer counts as rural) and Native Alaskan 11th and 12th graders to apply for a 6-week program on the campus of UAF. Students live in dorms and earn 8-10 FREE college credits. Application deadline March 1st. https://www.uaf.edu/rahi/
• College Quest WWU – One week residential programs on the campus of Western Washington University in Bellingham. Application period begins February 1st. https://ee.wwu.edu/collegequest
• Stanford High School Summer College – 8-9 week residential program. Early Decision application deadline January 16th, rolling admission January 17th – May 15th. https://summer.stanford.edu/program/high-school-high-school-summer-college
• Cornell Summer College – 3-6 week residential programs. https://www.sce.cornell.edu/sc/index.php
• NYLF - National Youth Leadership Forums are 1-2 week residential experiences held on college campuses across the country and give participants in-depth looks into specific careers of interest. https://www.envisionexperience.com/
  

Chris Perk was born and raised in Alaska. His commitment to the sport of wrestling began when he was 6 years old with Popeye Wrestling Club. It continued through Homer Middle School, Homer High School, into collegiate wrestling at Pacific University, and ultimately brought him back to Homer to share his love of the sport through coaching. Chris Perk is giving back to the sport of wrestling in our Alaskan community in the “wrestler way:” grinding hard work, focused problem solving, and steadfast heart, bringing new breath to Homer’s freestyle and folkstyle wrestling programs. As a wrestler, Chris Perk is a seven time Alaska State Freestyle Champion, two time Alaska State Place winner and a two time NAIA Collegiate All-American Wrestler.

As a coach, Perk elevates our community with his work ethic and dedication, and brings all of us: athletes, coaches, and wrestling supporters along with him. He has coached Popeye Wrestling for many years as a volunteer, assistant, and head coach. He coached at Homer Middle School for 4 years and eventually became the head coach for Homer High Mariner wrestling in 2000. Since 2000, Perk has coached 80 individual state place winners including over 18 state champions (3 in 4A and 15 in 123A).

His teams has earn the “Highest GPA Award” twice, the “Sportsmanship Award”, and Coach Perk has been named “Coach of the Year” multiple times. In 2015, he led his team to win the State Championship; 30 years since the last time the Homer Mariners won a title in 1986.

Chris Perk continues to coach, advocate, encourage, and support all aspects of wrestling on the Kenai Peninsula and throughout the state. Perk is an advocate and supporter for athletes of all ages often refereeing other sports, volunteering as an announcer, and participating in local road races and triathlons. As he continues to teach and coach today, he consistently emulates the important qualities of hard work, dedication, and commitment to be successful in the sport of wrestling but more importantly in life.

Let us welcome Chris Perk to the Alaska Wrestling Hall of Fame!

Thursday, February 7th

• 1:30 C-Team Seward vs Homer - Girls
• 3:00 Seward vs Sitka - Girls
• 4:30 Seward vs Sitka - Boys
• 6:30 Homer vs Galena - Girls
• 8:00 Homer vs Galena Boys

Friday, February 8th

• 3:00 Sitka vs Galena - Girls
• 4:30 Sitka vs Galena - Boys
• 6:30 Homer vs Seward - Girls
• 8:00 Homer vs Seward - Boys

Saturday, February 8th

• 10:00 C-Team Seward vs Homer - Girls
• 2:00 Seward vs Galena - Girls
• 3:30 Seward vs Galena - Boys
• 5:00 Homer vs Sitka - Girls
• 6:30 Homer vs Sitka - Boys

Thanks to the Sons of the American Legion for sponsoring the Winter Carnival Basketball Tournament. In their honor we are giving free admission to all active and retired military members and their families for the entire tournament. Come enjoy some awesome basketball and we will throw in free popcorn as a small token of appreciation for your service to our country. Just show your military ID at the door.

Jan 7 - School resumes after Christmas Break

Jan 8 - Hockey vs. Kenai 6:30

Jan 9 - Grade Check for Eligibility

Jan 10 - Boys Varsity Basketball vs Mt. Edgecumbe 7:00

Jan 15 - Basketball vs. Soldotna: G JV 3:30, B JV 5:00, G V 6:30, B V 8:00

Jan 21 - No School--Vacation Day

Jan 24 - Hockey vs Houston 7:00

Jan 25 - Basketball vs Nikiski: G JV 3:30, B JV 5:00, G V 6:30, B V 8:00

Jan 26 - Hockey vs Palmer: JV at 10:00, Varsity at 12:00

Jan 26 - Basketball vs Cook Inlet Academy: B C-team 11:00, G JV 12:30, B JV 2;00

Feb 1 and 2 - Cross Country Ski Homer Invite

Feb 1 - Basketball vs Nikiski Girls C-Team 11:00, Boys C-Team 12:30

Feb 4 - Grade Check

Feb 5 - Site Council Meeting 4:00

Feb 6 - Early Release Day

Feb 6 - Parent Teacher Conference Event and Chili Cook Off 5:00

Feb 7 - Regular Parent Teacher Conferences: 8:30-11:00, Noon-3:00, 5:00-8:00 (no conferences on Feb 8)

Feb 7-9 - Homer Winter Carnival Basketball Tournament

Feb 12 - Basketball vs SoHi Girls C-Team 4:00, Boys C-Team 5:30

Feb 22 - Basketball vs Grace: Girls JV 3:30, Boys JV 5:00, Girls V 6:30, Boys V 8:00

Feb 23 - Basketball vs ACS: Boys C-team 10:00, Girls JV 11:30, Boys JV 1:00, Girls V 2:30, Boys V 4:00

Feb 27 - First day of practice for Baseball, Softball, Track and Soccer

The Mariner Boys team earned their 2nd title in Four years and the girls placed 8th with 52 pts. McKenzie Cook a Senior won her 4th State Championship at 145 pounds. She ends her career with 97 career victories and two Outstanding Wrestler Awards at the State Tourney. McKenzie pinned Nailah Bealer from Eielson right at the end of the second period stacking her over top of her neck. Sadie Blake a Sophomore at 119 pounds broke the school record for girls takedowns in a season with 47. She also placed 6th at State. Mina Cavasos 125 and Mariah Grimes 160 both won matches but missed placing by one round.

The boys team earned points from nearly all their wrestlers entered. After sitting out for nearly a month, with a dislocated shoulder, Jadin Mann 285 (22-1) was able to pin his way back to the finals. His opponent the defending state champion Haley Osborne from Mt. Edgecumbe who was 30-0 going into the finals. The match was tied at 1-1 in the third period when Mann was finally able to earn a takedown and then tacked on two more near fall points at the end of the period winning 5-1. Mann ends his career as a three time state place winner for the Mariners.

This win pretty much made it impossible for the Glennallen Panthers from taking the Championship from the Mariners. Seth Inama 125 (37-1) dominated Caleb Evatt from Nome in his Championship match. Inama who earned 11 Technical Falls (Victory by 15 points) during the season added one more as he scored a 17-2 victory. Inama earned his back to back Championships and 132 career victories. Luciano Fasulo 135 (14-0) battled a nagging knee injury and had to sit out six weeks for it to heal. Fasulo came back to keep his unbeaten streak in Alaska to 111 matches by pinning all four of his opponents including Chris Williams from Dillingham. Fasulo is the only boy to win three State Titles and placed 3rd as a Freshman, he ends with 158 wins which ranks him 2nd all-time in HHS Wrestling history.

Leading the team with 40 wins this year was Wayne Newman 140 pounds (40-2). Newman beat Jesse Noden from Dillingham after securing a takedown in the first period and being able to keep Noden off his legs. Newman, who is the Mariners only four time state finalist for the boys added a Championship to his 3 runner up awards.

Mose Hayes 152 (32-6) the defending champion, made his way to the finals for a second straight year to battle Dillon Chaney from Dillingham. Chaney and Hayes has wrestled three close matches this season. This time Chaney was able to secure a reversal and did not allow Hayes to free his legs to score in the third period and won 2-1. Teammate Josh Bradshaw 152 (24-19) who beat Hayes last week for the Conference Championships earned a 4th place finish for the Sophomore. Ian Stovall 130 pounds (20-15) ended his career with a 5th place finish. Stovall upset the #3 seed from Mt. Edgecumbe with a last second head lock takedown. Hunter Harrington 215(22-20) will graduate with two wins at the State meet both by pins. Ryan 160 (10-10) upset the #6 seed Kyle Henderson from Valdez and his brother Alex Hicks 285 (14-14) pinned two opponents on the back side to help earn much needed team points. Austin Cline 112 (16-13) earned a State Qualification in his first year ever in wrestling. His match versus Jaryn Zoda from Nikiski was very exciting, he almost score a takedown with 1 second left that could have taken the match to overtime. Zoda beat Cline handily last week at the Conference Tourney. A lot of credit needs to go to Coach Bubba Wells for directing this ship all season, he was able to get these athletes to wrestle their very best at the end of the season. After finishing 2nd the past two years, the Mariners were able to top second place Glennallen by 23 points.

New classes available next semester

• Beginning Band – The Band program has grown this year, and Mr. Simondsen is welcoming students who haven’t played an instrument before, or who haven’t played for a few years, into the fray. If you’re interested in his 4th period beginning band class, contact the counseling office before Winter Break.
  
  UAS-Sitka offering free dual high school/college credit courses in Fisheries! Contact the counseling office if you’re interested! Two of the classes are:

• o FT S120 – Introduction to Fisheries of Alaska (3cr) The principles, concepts and techniques of fisheries management, enhancement and rehabilitation in Alaska are reviewed in terms of the biological, economic, social and political aspects. Topics include overview of Alaska fishing gear, geographical areas of salmon, herring, bottom and invertebrate fisheries, management methods enhancement and rehabilitation techniques, data collection and usage. This would be a great introductory course for students who enjoy hands-on jobs and might consider working in a hatchery or on a boat as a career. Grades 10-12.

• OCN 101 – Introduction to Oceanography (3cr) ***This counts as a non-lab science towards GERs for most majors (General Education Requirements) An overview of the ocean environment with emphasis on processes that support fisheries productivity. Introduces fundamental concepts and principles of oceanography including major geological, chemical, physical and processes that occur in the world’s oceans. Concepts will be presented in light of the interrelatedness of these disciplines and how they shape marine productivity. Human uses of fisheries and current issues in oceanography will be addressed. This is a great opportunity for a motivated student to work independently through a college level science class. Grades 11-12

Sometimes things change at the last moment and we can't call everyone. If you want the most up-to-date event schedules, start times, scores and last minute changes, like us on Facebook. Go to https://www.facebook.com/HomerHS/ and be sure to follow us. This is the most efficient way for HHS to post last minute details, school closures and more. We also post lots of the cool things our students are doing.

See you on Facebook!