Principal's Message
Homer High School and the KPBSD have teamed up to try something new with Parent Teacher Conferences. Homer High School had evening Parent Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, October 30th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. We picked this day because Halloween was on Thursday and we didn't want to hold them on Friday because our attendance would be really low.
We will hold Parent Teacher Conferences during the day on Monday, November 4th from 9:30-12:00 and 1:00 - 3:00 pm. We are holding them on Monday to see if that meets parents needs better than what we have done in the past. We also did this because one of the biggest complaints we have gotten is that coaches and many teachers are missing on Thursday and Friday.
Hopefully this will work a little better for everyone. We will try to get parent feedback and see if this will work in the future. We are willing to try anything once. If you have an opinion about this schedule or have a better suggestion, e-mail me at dwaclawski@kpbsd.k12.ak.us.
As always, I would appreciate hearing from you. If you have ideas or suggestions, please drop by. If you can't make it in, call me at 907-235-4600 or e-mail me at dwaclawski@kpbsd.k12.ak.us.
Yours in great education,
Douglas Waclawski
Principal
KPBSD Budget Meeting
HHS Wins Silver Medal for 9th Year in a Row
We received this award for 2019! We are currently ranked the #2 high school in Alaska!
Check out link below to read the article:
Dates To Remember
Note: all dates for sports are home events; away events are not listed here.
Nov. 4 - Parent Teacher Conferences 9:30-Noon and 1:00-3:00
Nov. 14 - Hockey--End of the Road Shootout 5:00 and 7:30
Nov. 15 - Hockey--End of the Road Shootout 5:00 and 7:30
Nov. 16 - Hockey--End of the Road Shootout 10:00 and 12:30
Nov. 23 - Hockey vs Kenai 12:00
Nov 27. - Wrestling vs SoHi 6:00
Nov. 28 and 29 - No School Thanksgiving Holiday
 |  |  |
| | | |
SAT & ACT Dates
SAT and ACT
College-bound students are recommended to take both tests if possible, because some students perform better on one than on the other, and most universities take students’ best score. Students whose family income qualifies them for free or reduced lunch can get a fee waiver from the counseling office.
Juniors who need to take these tests should consider these dates and put them on their calendars now. Otherwise, busy lives tend to roll along and they may finish the eleventh grade without having tested, which is not good for a college-bound student.
Seniors should generally finish their testing by December.
Remaining 2019-2020 Test Dates at HHS (all Saturdays beginning at 8am)
Greetings from the Counseling Department!
College Fair Wrap-Up
This year over 90 students from HHS attended the College and Career Fair in Kenai. A wide range of representatives from military branches, technical programs and colleges (local and out-of-state) were on hand to talk to high school students from all over the Kenai Peninsula. As usual, our students were interested, polite and well behaved through the entire process.
PSAT at HHS
October 16 and 19, 52 students (the majority of them current juniors) joined over a million students nation-wide to take the PSAT. All participants will receive important feedback on their performance that will undoubtedly help them be more successful when they take SAT and ACT tests in preparation for college applications.
HHS has a history of National Merit Finalists in past years and everyone is hoping that some of these recent testers will join the ranks of these notable students. This status helps students to be accepted at the colleges of their choice and can lead to scholarship in some instances. We are proud of all HHS testers, regardless of their scores.
The next opportunity for sophomores to test will be in the spring of 2020 when we will offer the PSAT 10. Although this test doesn’t enter students in the National Merit competition, it is a good opportunity for 10th graders who didn’t test in October to get some practice before taking the regular PSAT in October of 2020.
HHS Communicates Using Facebook
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 and staff are doing.
See you on Facebook!
Annual Career Exploration Day
A big thank you goes out to the following community members who presented career topics to Homer High School FOL groups October 15, 2019. The guests covered jobs from making chocolates to world travel, manufacturing products and physical therapy.
Also, there were presentations on technology, marine biology, stream conservation, becoming an EMT or being a CNA. Nursing was included, mental health careers and money management too. In addition, we had a session that covered job readiness and employment skills. Over 100 students participated while others attended the College/Career Fair in Kenai. We will continue to have guest speakers throughout the year on many topics. Students can check with the counseling office for more information.
Thank You:
Christine Kulcheski; Lucinda Martin; Anthony Salinas; Irene Saxton; Courtney Moody; Samantha Cunningham; Jen Hakala; Kim Schuster; Nancy Bishop; Sue Mauger; Karen Northrop; Janel Sweeney; Evangelina Biggs; Jim Bartilson; and Rose Masui. The guests covered jobs from making chocolates to world travel, manufacturing products and physical therapy. Also, there were presentations on technology, marine biology, stream conservation, becoming an EMT or being a CNA. Nursing was included, mental health careers and money management too. In addition, we had a session that covered job readiness and employment skills. Over 100 students participated while others attended the College/Career Fair in Kenai. We will continue to have guest speakers throughout the year on many topics. Students can check with the counseling office for more information.
Gia Baker, Counseling Assistant and Career Guidance Liaison
Homer High School
 |  |  |
| | | |
Seniors!!!!!
Mr. Story has been meeting with seniors about their individual post-secondary plans. Parents will be emailed a document similar to this example, which will detail:
- Remaining graduation requirements, including service hours
- Alaska Performance Scholarship eligibility
- Financial Aid sources:
- FAFSA – Every senior considering ANY type of post-secondary education should apply
- KPBSD OneStop – Lots of local, state and national scholarships listed by due date.
If a parent or guardian would like to join in on this conversation and/or arrange to conduct the meeting sooner than later, just contact Paul!
HHS will soon be ordering graduation ceremony regalia (cap, gown, tassel, stole) for every senior. Graduates will then repay HHS the $51 when they pick up their outfit 2nd semester. We are hoping this is more manageable than the past practice of each student making his or her own separate cap/gown order. Students who want any additional Class of 2020 swag should visit Jostens.com or pick up one of the catalogs available at school.
The registration deadline for the Dec. 7 SAT and the Dec. 14 ACT is Friday, Nov. 8. These are the last tests of 2019 and, generally speaking, the last chance for seniors to earn scores that will be considered for the purposes of college admission and scholarship qualification. Register online at sat.org and/or act.org.
College Summer Programs for High School Students
Every year the counseling office is notified about summer programs offered at top universities around the country: Yale, Duke, Barnard, etc. Their target students range from those interested in everything from Creative Writing to STEM to outdoor programs. I know that summer in Alaska is a busy time for families but some of these offers definitely bear consideration. Fortunately, we are receiving information for next summer so there could be time to plan.
In past years, most of the promotional flyers have offers of scholarship money. We know for sure that Alaska has an exotic appeal and a small population. I believe that our students should be applying for some of these potentially life-changing opportunities. Please talk to a counselor if this sounds as intriguing to you as it does to us.
Flying Yoga Comes to HHS
 |  |  |
| | | |
