Homer High-Lights
Volume 4, Issue 3, October 2015
Message from the Principal
Parents & Guardians,
Every year Homer High tries to get better. We work with parents and teachers to develop school goals and then groups and individuals develop action items to help achieve those goals. Last year we met two out of three goals.
- We were able to improve FOL to implement directed interventions for failing students and improved attendance and reduced skipping by over 10%.
- 88% of our freshmen were able to earn the full 6 credits their freshmen year.
- Half of our seniors earned the APS scholarship instead of the 60% we were hoping for.
Overall we are happy with our results, but we want to see improvements this year. Having 60% of our seniors earn the APS was a stretch, but we felt it was worth the effort. Currently we have 57% of this year's seniors are on track to earn this scholarship.
For the 2015-16 school year these are Homer High's goals:
- 88% of our freshmen to earn 6 credits by the end of the year
- 50% of our seniors to earn the APS Scholarship.
- We want to improve both ''Hope" and "Engagement" of HHS students by 10% based on the Gallop survey that KPBSD administers each year.
Our new goal for the year deals with the social and emotional health of our students. We plan to achieve this goal by offering Green Dot training, involving student council in more leadership roles and partnering with other groups such as the Rec Room and the Center.
I expect to have another great year, but if something comes up or you have suggestions for improvement please let me know. My office is open and I appreciate hearing your opinions or thoughts. My goal is to be responsive to what our parents and community want and need. Please give me a call or come in and chat.
Sincerely,
Douglas Waclawski
Principal
Dates To Remember
Oct. 2 - Homecoming Fire - 6:00 pm
Oct. 3 - SAT Testing - 7:30 am
Oct. 3 - Football vs Voznesenka - 2:00 pm
Oct. 3 - Homecoming Dance - 8:00 pm
Oct. 13 - Fall Music Concert - 7:00 pm
Oct. 14 - 1st Day of Hockey Practice
Oct. 15 - Site Council Meeting / KPBSD Budget meeting - HMS Library 6:00 pm
Oct. 16 - No School - End of Quarter
Oct. 21 - Grade Check
Oct. 23 - Wrestling Round Robin Duals - 5:00 pm
Oct. 24 - Wrestling Round Robin Rumble - 10:00 am
Oct. 27 - Volleyball vs Nikiski - 4:00, 5:00 & 6:30 pm
Oct. 28 - 1st Day of XC Ski Practice
Oct. 28 - Early Release - Students Leave at 1:45 pm
Oct. 29 - Parent Teacher Conferences - NO SCHOOL
Oct. 30 - Parent Teacher Conferences - NO SCHOOL
Oct. 31 - Volleyball vs Seward - 4:00, 5:00 & 6:30 pm
Nov. 3 - Site Council Meeting - in Library - 3:45 pm
Nov. 6 - Blood Drive - 8:00 am
The Use of Security Camera in Schools
KPBSD Now Accepts Online Payments
RevTrak is the online payment system that will allow parents/students/community members to make payments for student activities, class fees, food service and other items or to make donations. A 3.61% transaction fee is added, which is the cost of the service and not a source of revenue for the district.
There are 3 ways to access RevTrak:
- Through KPBSD website
- Through PowerSchool
- Through “online payments” icon on KPBSD mobile app
http://bit.ly/kpbsdonlinepayments
The KPBSD website link will take you to the web store.
Green Dot Training is Coming to HHS
Students leaders who have volunteered to be part of this program will participate in a 2 day training. These students will then help present this information to other students during FOL. This program will be totally voluntary this year.
College Fair
The fair will be held on Oct 20 at the Soldotna Sports Center. There will be 50 or more colleges, military representatives and technical schools represented. Students will be able to have face-to-face conversations and get valuable information. HHS will be sending busses of juniors and seniors to this. Students must ride the bus only unless accompanied by parents. Students will need a permission slip which can be found on the HHS homepage. Please sign it and have your student return it to the counseling office.
Our Football Team is Peaking at the Right Time!
Coach Fraley talks to Zack Mckenna.
Michael Swoboda dives for a pass.
Teddy Croft throws under pressure!
Photos provided by Betsy Wolf
Counselor Corner
Hopefully all sophomore and junior parents are aware of PSAT testing in October. To allow for optimum testing conditions, we will be holding it at KBC in the upstairs of the main college building. Testing will start at 8:30 am and be over before noon. Students will be excused from their morning classes to take the test. Cost is $20 (checks should be made out to HHS) and given to Mrs. Graham or Mrs. Hampson. Please be sure to indicate if your student will be testing on Oct. 14 or Oct. 28. If we find there is space, sophomores will be welcome or they may choose to test in the spring, giving them more class time to improve their skills. Either date will be in preparation for taking the test junior year when it serves as an entry point for the National Merit Competition.
There will be FOL times to work on test prep. Students who are opted out of FOL may attend as well. We have copies of previous tests for any students who took PSAT last year and that information can be very helpful for preparing.
Please call the counseling office with any questions you may have.
Cross Country Pride
Two of our seniors showing off their school pride in Kodiak
Freshman Power!
Homer Mariners helping to build new trails in Kodiak.
Sports Scores
9/4 Homer 40 - Seward 6 (WIN)
9/12 Homer 30 - Thunder Mountain 34
9/18 Homer 66 - Redington 0 (WIN)
9/26 Homer 48 - Valdez 18 (WIN)
Volleyball
9/10 Homer 1- ACS 3
9/11 Homer 0 - Grace 3
9/12 Homer 3 - Houston 2 (WIN)
9/18 Homer 0 - Kodiak 3
9/19 Homer 0 - Kodiak 3
9/22 Homer 2 - Nikiski 3
9/26 Homer 3 - Seward 1 (WIN)
Cross-Country Running
9/11
- 1st Place - Boys Seward Invitational
- 2nd Place - Girls Seward Invitational
9/15
- 1st Place - Girls Boroughs
- 1st Place - Boys Boroughs
9/19
- 1st Place - Boys Homer Time Trials
- 1st Place - Girls Homer Time Trials
9/26
- Region Champs - Girls
- Region Champs - Boys
Girls XCR Runners are Region Champs (2nd Year in a Row)
Boys XC Runners are Region Champs (Broke Grace Christian's 11 year Reign)
We Want You to Follow HHS on Facebook!
We want to be able to give you instant up-to-date information about what is going on at school. This can include emergencies, sports scores and dates and times of events. To stay tuned to what is going on at Homer High, "like" us on Facebook. The address is www.facebook.com/homerhs. Join close to 600 other people who have liked HHS on Facebook and the over 2000 people who view our Facebook posts.
Visit the Homer High School Website
Are you wondering when sports teams have home games? Do you have a senior who needs paperwork for their senior service project ? Do you want to see agendas and minutes from our site council meetings? Check out our school website to find answers to these and other questions.
The address is http://homerhighschool.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/wpmu/.
You can access PowerSchool from our website and weekly activities as well. There are lots of great links and valuable information about Homer High School. If you have suggestions for things you would like to see on our website, please talk to Mr. Waclawski.
Homer High School
Email: dwaclawski@kpbsd.org
Website: http://homerhighschool.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/wpmu/
Location: 600 E Fairview Ave, Homer, AK
Phone: 907-235-4600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/homerhs