It is March and we are already thinking about next year. One of the items we are looking at is to create a 1-to-1 Chromebook-to-student program. Because of COVID-19, students already have been checking out Chromebooks and taking them home. Since this is Homer High School's Technology Plan year, we can purchase 2 Chromebooks for each desktop in the school. This means that next year we will have enough Chromebooks so each student can have their own Chromebook at school with the opportunity to take them home with parent permission.

There are still some details to be worked out, but here are the basic details:

• Every students will be assigned their own Chromebook
• Students can take them home if parents agree to this and sign all the required paperwork
• Students must make sure they bring their Chromebook to school every day for use in classes
• Students can put Chromebooks in secure charging carts if they don't take them home
• Students will have to make sure they charge their Chromebook every day

Here are some things for parents to think about:

• Do you want your child(ren) to bring their Chromebook home?
• Are you willing to pay for repair or replacement if it is lost or stolen (Chromebooks cost about $350)?
• If you allow your child to bring them home,, would you want a case or sleeve for protection?

We think this initiative will help both our teachers and staff so every class can work and get online if needed. We will share more information about this as it develops. Technology is important, but how we utilize it will determine if this is successful or not. Our teachers will also be getting training to make sure Chromebooks and technology are are used fully.

Let us know what we can do to help support you or your children while they are at home. I am willing to do what it takes to provide the best education possible even with Covid-19. If you have suggestions or critiques, please contact me at 907-235-4600 or email me at dwaclawski@kpbsd.org.

Sincerely,

Douglas Waclawski

Principal

What a great end to the HHS Drama, Debate, and Forensics team season. Our students excelled again this year even with all competitions happened online or through Zoom.

State DDF Championship Team awards

• Homer Debate – 1st place for Division II schools
• Homer DDF as a whole – 2nd place for Division II schools

• Eleanor Sweeney - 4th place Dramatic Interpretation
• Larry Dunn - 2nd place Domestic Extemporaneous Speech
• Larry Dunn - Semifinalist, Lincoln Douglas Debate (1st place speaker points)
• Spencer Co - Semifinalist, Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Zach Marley - Quarterfinalist, Lincoln Douglas Debate (2nd place speaker points)
• Thea Person - 5th place Extemporaneous Commentary

This was a very weird year for hockey and many teams only played a couple of games before the Championship Tournament. One team played one game and Houston had played two games. Both Homer and Palmer, teams that made the finals, had played the most with 7 games each before the State Tournament. Homer barely qualified for the state tournament and had 2 wins and 5 loses on the year. They were scheduled to play a "Play-In Game" on Wednesday to even get in the tournament. Juneau Douglas canceled at the last minute and HHS was officially in the tournament without playing the Play-in Game

Homer Hockey defeated Houston, North Pole and Palmer for the Championship. Homer was even able to get revenge on Palmer for their overtime win 2 years ago against Homer to win the state championship. This was Homer's 3rd trip to the finals in the last 3 years and their 2nd championship overall.

Great job Mariners!

Keegan Strong, Hunter Green and Reutov were named to the All Tournament awards.

We will have graduation, but it might look a little different this year. Right now we are planning on having graduation outside on the football field. The good thing about this is since it is outdoors and we have a large amount of seating even when spaced out 6 feet apart, graduates will be able to have friends and family attend. It may not be unlimited guests, but for sure they will have at least 6 guests per graduate and that number could go up if our COVID-19 numbers continue to improve.

The problem with outdoor graduations in Alaska is the weather may not be great. Because of this we are planning to hold this in good or bad weather. Graduates and spectators should plan to sit in the rain, cold or even snow. Make sure you are prepared, but hope for lovely weather!

The school district is working on protocol for holding an in-person prom. We haven't totally figured this out, but here are some ideas we are looking at. Prom will be postponed as long as possible to see if our COVID-19 numbers stay low. Next, we will try to limit who can attend and use a larger area for the dance and tables will be distanced far apart. For instance, we would use the whole gym and commons as the Prom site. Students and their dates will be able to dance without masks. Students without dates or if they are dancing with people they didn't come with, will have to wear masks.

This is still a work in process. We are trying to find a safe way for students to attend a Prom while still meeting Covid mitigation plans. We will provide more information as plans are solidified.

In these uncertain times it is important to know what is going at at your child's school. Homer High School uses Facebook to communicate with parent and the community about events, emergencies, school closures, sporting events, Covid-19 details and more. Go to https://www.facebook.com/HomerHS/ and be sure to follow us.

Don't be left out about news and information you need. Like us on Facebook today.

Job Opportunity

Northern Enterprises Boat Yard, Inc. is looking for a part-time employee to perform clerical duties like filing, data entry, answering the phone, scheduling, etc. For more information or to apply, contact office manager Carol Grace at 907-299-0514 or kshores@ptialaska.net.

Maritime Training in Homer

KBC Marine Technology and AVTEC are partnering to offer certifications and educational opportunities. Some upcoming classes are:

• Master 100 Ton/OUPV Course
• Advanced Firefighting for merchant mariners
• Marine Vessel Systems
• Basics of Marine DC Electricity

These classes range from 2 days to 4 weeks. Contact Jesus Trejo at 235-1622 or jtrejo@alaska.edu for more information and click here to apply for scholarship money (LOTS available!) from the Homer Marine Trades Association.

Scholarships and Contests

Joy Steward and Lin Hampson are both recently retired from their long-time positions as executive director of the Homer Foundation and HHS School Counselor, respectively. They helped hundreds of local students over the years earn scholarships for their post-secondary aspirations, and they recently teamed up to offer some wisdom to current students seeking help in financing their education. Click this link to read their Myths and Tips About Scholarships.

The KPBSD OneStop page has been growing with newly posted opportunities. Most of them are for 12th graders planning to attend college or trade school, but there are contests and programs open to 9th-11th graders, too.

• KPBSD OneStop Scholarship Database
• Alaska Community Foundation Scholarships

A unique scholarship for 9th-11th graders

The LFI Interim Scholarship originates from the belief that all children innately desire to learn, benefit from a broad and varied education, and yearn for adventures of their own choosing. The fund is designed to facilitate a beyond-the-ordinary activity, program, or experience that fosters success and well-being by helping a student live his/her own wild dream while discovering the magic of our fantastic world.

This is intentionally very open-ended. Last year’s winner used the money to fund scuba certification. Another winning idea was to help fund a summer wilderness adventure, but it could be almost anything. Apply here.

Another Unique Opportunity

Outer Coast is an institution in Sitka, Alaska that seeks to teach and inspire high school and college-aged students to create virtuous change in the world and in their own lives through academics, service & labor, and self-governance.

They offer a summer program for current 10th and 11th graders (“Rising” juniors and seniors), and a year-round program for high school graduates.

“Cost will not be a barrier to attendance. Outer Coast will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all students, including travel.”

Applications due April 4, 2021.

2021-2022 Course Registration

Last week, 9th – 11th graders reviewed their transcripts and graduation requirements progress in their L.A. classes with the counselors, then made their course requests for next school year. These requests may be viewed and edited in PowerSchool for the next two weeks.

Registration worksheet – the document we used to see available classes and make selections. These are now viewable in PowerSchool. Navigate to “Scheduling”, then select “Class Registration”, and finally “View course requests”.

PSAT 10

The PSAT 10 is normed for sophomores and is good, cheap practice for the PSAT/NMSQT and/or the SAT.

• Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at HHS – 9am
• $20 cash or check to HHS
• Students signup here (by March 4th please)

ACT/SAT – primarily for current juniors planning to apply to 4-year universities. Fee waivers available from Mr. Story for students who qualify for free/reduced lunch

April 17 ACT

• Regular registration deadline – Mar. 12th
• Registration link

May 8 SAT

• Regular registration deadline – Apr. 8th
• Registration link

Free ACT/SAT practice and dual credit scholarships for Alaskan high school students here