Principal's Message - Let's Get Back In The Building
I want to thank everyone in Homer for helping keep the community safe so students on the Lower Kenai Peninsula could start school face-to-face. We were able to be in person for an entire quarter which is better than many people thought possible.
Unfortunately, our Covid-19 numbers are rising and we are now 100% remote for our students. Our teachers are doing a great job and most students are participating in their classes as usual, via Zoom, but we all know our students want to be in the building. Most students do better and learn more when they are in the building with their peers and teachers face-to-face.
I hope each of you can contribute to reducing the Covid-19 numbers in the Homer community. Please wear a mask, social distance and avoid large indoor gatherings. Get tested if you have symptoms and quarantine as needed to avoid infecting others. We can't be in school in person when the community transmission is high. Thanks for your support and let's get our kids back in school!
I know living in a pandemic is tough, but Homer and Homer High School is tougher and we will get through this. 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. I want to know how we can help you, change or adapt. Give me a call at 907-235-4600 or email me at dwaclawski@kpbsd.org.
Sincerely,
Douglas Waclawski
Principal
Mask Contest Winners
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Financial Aid - FAFSA
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid – www.studentaid.gov/fafsa
- The key to unlocking grants, loans, work study and the Alaska Performance Scholarship
- Application for aid for the 2021-22 school year opens Oct. 1, 2020
If you have questions, please contact the HHS Counseling Office:
- Paul Story, grades 10-12 – pstory@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or 235-4685
- Lisa Fellows, grade 9 – lfellows@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or 235-5716 (am), 235-4691 (pm)
National Merit Scholar Semifinalists
Big CONGRATS!!!!! to Jeremiah Bartel and to Larry Dunn for being named Semifinalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. They scored in the top 1% of the 1.5 million juniors who took the PSAT last fall and have applied to become finalists, a big honor.
A shout out to Vianne Sarber, too, who just missed the cutoff but was recognized as a commended student in the program, also an impressive accomplishment.
Dates To Remember
October 29: Parent Teacher Conferences Via Zoom/No school for students
October 30: In-Service Day for teachers/No school for students
November 2: Big Booster meeting 6:00 zoom
November 23-25: 3 day school week/block day schedule
November 26: Thanksgiving/No school
November 27: Thanksgiving break/No School
December 1: Site Council meeting 4:00 zoom
Class Attendance is Expected!!
When Homer High School is remote, we are still 100% in session. Students should attend their scheduled classes at the regularly scheduled time via zoom. This does not mean the student will be on zoom or the computer all day. Most teachers have students check in at the start of class, provide lesson instruction, answer questions and then give the students the remainder of the class time to work independently. Attending class is required unless the teacher has indicated otherwise.
Mariner Masks Available--Call to Get Yours!
Welcome Sarah Boss
I am excited to be an English Language Arts teacher at Homer High School. I grew up in Northern California and went to Nevada for undergraduate studies in English and Spanish. I received a master’s degree from the University of Alaska as a K-12 Reading Specialist. I have taught for 22 years in Nevada and Alaska. I am proud to now be a part of such an excellent high school and beautiful community with so many people who clearly care about supporting the education of young people. My husband and I are excited to have our own two children in Homer schools as well. It is awesome to be a Mariner!
Sarah Boss
Post-Secondary Testing
“Test optional” – Virtually every university in the country is going this direction for the Class of 2021. This means that students will be held harmless if they choose not to report a SAT or ACT score and that admission decisions will be based on other criteria, usually a “holistic review”. So while not reporting a test score can’t hurt you, reporting a good score could help you. Additionally, some schools are still requiring test scores for students to be considered for merit-based scholarships.
- SAT/ACT – Juniors and seniors sign up for these tests on the respective web sites. Fee waivers are available in the counseling office for those who qualify for free/reduced lunch.
- www.sat.org/register
- www.myact.org
PSAT – In addition to being excellent practice for 10th and 11th graders before the “real” SAT, the PSAT is the only opportunity for juniors to qualify for the prestigious and lucrative National Merit Scholarship. Dates are past for this year's PSAT.
Need Money For College? Attend This Meeting!
Fund Your Future Workshop – Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6pm
ACPE (AK Commission on Postsecondary Ed) is hosting a Fund Your Future for HHS students and families via Zoom. Topics covered:
- What Financial Aid is, and how it works, and how to apply
- Cost of Attendance (COA)
- Overview of FSA ID Process (required before filling out the FAFSA)
- Grants, scholarships, and loans
- WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange)
- Exchange Programs
- And More!
Meeting ID: 948 3098 8684
Passcode: 429628
Want To Know What is Going on At HHS? Use Facebook!
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.
Counselor's Courner
ASVAB testing – Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9am
Primarily utilized by students to determine the types of jobs within the military they’d qualify for, students who aren’t necessarily interested in the military may take it to assess their aptitudes in areas not covered by most standardized tests, like electronics, mechanics, and assembly. Contact the counseling office to sign up.
OneStop for scholarships and contests
OneStop is the place to go for regional- and state-wide scholarships, essay contests with cash prizes, and even a local award to help fund “a beyond the ordinary activity helping a student live his/her dream”. Check back often as more opportunities are listed all the time!
Anchorage College and Career Fair
Held over Zoom Oct. 13-14, all the (very informative sessions) were recorded here. In many ways, this was a more succinct delivery method than a traditional in-person fair, with over 80 schools delivering 5-7 minute presentations highlighting their campuses and programs.
Upcoming visits
Both of these schools have been popular destinations for HHS alumni.
· University of Alaska Southeast – Mon., Nov. 2nd during FOL (2:20pm)
· Southern Oregon University – Fri., Nov. 13th during FOL (2:20pm)
Homer Marine Trades (HMTA)
HTMA is offering FULL SCHOLARSHIPS IN ADVANCE for the KBC 100 TON/OUVP in-person class which begins on November 12 for people who can demonstrate financial need. See flyer.
HTMA is also supporting other in-person marine technology classes! High school students interested in getting into the marine trades are one of their main priorities. See the schedule of classes and the scholarship application.
Suicide is Preventable
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among school age youth. However, suicide is preventable. Youth who are contemplating suicide frequently give warning signs of their distress. Parents, teachers, and friends are in a key position to pick up on these signs and get help. Most important is to never take these warning signs lightly or promise to keep them secret. When all adults and students in the school community are committed to making suicide prevention a priority, and are empowered to take the correct actions, we can help youth before they engage in behavior with irreversible consequences.
Suicide Warning Signs
Most suicidal youth demonstrate observable behaviors that signal their suicidal thinking. These include:
- Suicidal threats in the form of direct ("I am going to kill myself") and indirect ("I wish I could fall asleep and never wake up again") statements.
- Suicide notes and plans (including online postings).
- Prior suicidal behavior.
- Making final arrangements (e.g., making funeral arrangements, writing a will, giving away prized possessions).
- Preoccupation with death.
- Changes in behavior, appearance, thoughts and/or feelings.
- Extreme withdrawal from friends and family.
www.BeThe1to.com Twitter: #BeThe1to
Federal Funding is Critical for HHS and the KPBSD
KPBSD gets over 6 million dollars a year in federal funds and it is important that our community knows where it comes from and how we get this money. For example, by filling out the reduced and free lunch form KPBSD receives federal lunch monies and Title 1 monies. Even if you don't qualify for free and reduced lunch, you can still help us get federal funding.
Please review the following videos if you are interested.
- Federal programs overview video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjMyS6gkE0c
- English Learners video https://youtu.be/An6sW3JyoD4
- Students in Transition video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PMH1nBk0Q0&feature=youtu.be
- Title IV Rise program video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlqls77K8NA&feature=youtu.be
- Migrant program video https://youtu.be/pZW4B2X8kF4
- Title VI Indian Education video https://youtu.be/jYpIqJlgwVE
