Husky Howl

Hello Homer Huskies! We are quickly approaching the end of the first semester of the school year! Try and finish strong by being at school every day and getting your work done on time! The last day of the semester is December 20. All work for all classes must be turned in before winter break (some teachers may have different deadlines!). Report cards will be emailed after winter break. School resumes for quarter 3 on January 7th.

I ask that you take a moment to please provide us with feedback! There are QR codes right below this section you can use to provide feedback on me (Principal Redmond), a teacher, or our school as a whole! You can fill these out as often and whenever you want to!

End of Quarter 2 Important Dates!!!

• Last day of Q2- Friday, December 20
• All Q1 work must be completed and turned in before you leave school on 12/20
• Report Cards emailed after winter break

Please take a few moments to follow HMS on Facebook and Instagram (@hmsalaska), as we keep these very up to date with pictures and announcements about what is happening at HMS. You can also check out our school website (https://kpbsd.org/schools/homer-middle/), although it is updated far less often. You can also join our HMS Public Google Calendar to help you keep up to date too (Google Calendar Link Click Here) As always, if you need anything at all during the school year, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can email me at mredmond@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or call the office at 907-235-5700.

-Principal Redmond

DECEMBER EVENTS

December 3-4 (during advisory)- Intermural basketball (see below for details on what this is)

December 9-12- MAP testing (special schedule all week see below)

December 9- Band and Choir Concert 7 pm @ HHS

December 13- Early Release @ 2:20

December 14- Borough Basketball tournament (we are hosting!)

December 16-20 Winter Spirit Week and fun events every day! (see below for days)

December 17- December Assembly

December 20- Winter Dance 6-8 pm

We will be running an intermural basketball tournament during advisory this week! Students can sign up to participate outside of Mr. Krekling's office by end of day today (Monday). Any students not participating are allowed to come watch the games in the gym or stay in advisory for study hall. Students must not have any Ds or Fs to participate in the games and to watch the games.

We will follow a special bell schedule during the week of MAP testing. Please see the photo below.

Also, student Council is sponsoring an ice cream treat for anyone who has perfect attendance all week during MAP testing! This will happen during lunch on Friday!

Earn points for your advisory by participating!

• Monday, December 16- Christmas Tree Day (dress in green or try to look like a Christmas tree)
• Tuesday, December 17- Movie Marathon Day- (Dress like your Favorite Christmas Movie)
• Wednesday, December 18- Slay Bells Ring are you Glistening Day (wear your fanciest outfit)
• Thursday, December 19- Candy Cane Day (Dress in red and white)
• Friday, December 20- Ugly Sweater Day

Fill out the form at this link to give a staff member a shout out in our next newsletter! You must enter your name and email to complete the form, but when shout outs are included in the newsletter, they will be anonymous.

https://forms.gle/FnSrYzRN1LrXjTHu8

The below sports all will start up the day we come back to school in January! Start thinking about which one you will be joining! Parents, if you are interested in being able to volunteer with one of these sports, please get your KPBSD volunteer application started now!

• Volleyball
• Nordic Ski
• Wrestling

All students (new and returning) are required to have registration paperwork completed every school year. You can complete your child's paperwork at this link https://forms.kpbsd.org/. If your child is a returning student, nothing is required to be completed in person. If your child is a new student, you will need to drop off a copy of their birth certificate and physical form.

There is also a $25 band/choir fee and a $10 art fee for each student. If you have not paid these fees yet you may do so by sending cash/check to school or logging into PowerSchool to pay online with a credit card.

The use of electronic devices, such as cell phones, bluetooth headphones, smart watches, etc., not provided by the school for student use, is not allowed in school by students. If students bring these items to school, they must turn them off when entering the building and leave them off and out of sight until the last bell rings. The school is limited in resources and will not assist in searching for lost electronics. The only exception to this rule is if a teacher gives permission for a student to use a device for a specific activity in class.

• All students are warned of this rule explicitly at the beginning of the school year.
• 1st offense- Device is taken away and given to the office. Student may get device back at the end of the school day.
• 2nd offense (and each offense thereafter)- Device is taken away and given to the office. A parent or guardian will be called and the parent/guardian or designee must pick up the device.

Regular attendance at school is a vital part of student success. Parents/guardians are expected to call or email the school by 9:30 am whenever their child will be absent.

Phone Number: 907-235-5700

Email: tshafer@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

• Excused Absence- a parent has notified the school that their child is or will be absent from school.
• Unexcused Absence- a parent has not notified the school that their child is or will be absent from school.
• A student is considered absent from a class period once they are 15 minutes late.

When a student will be absent from school for 5 consecutive days or more, a prearranged absence form must be completed and submitted to the office in advance of the absence. The student is expected to be responsible for completing this form and following up with his or her teachers about missing work once he or she is back from the absence.

If a student will be absent more than 10 consecutive days, the parent is required to meet with the principal to discuss the absence and determine next steps.

If you need info about bussing, please contact Apple Bus at 907.235.0124.

Students are required to have a bus note if they need to get off the bus at a different stop than usual. Parents/guardians must do the following by 2:00 PM to request a bus note for their child.

• Step 1: Call First Student at 907-235-0124 to find out the bus number and bus stop name you are requesting for the bus pass. You also need to verify that there will be space on the bus for the bus pass to be accepted by the driver.

• Step 2: Call or email the HMS secretary before 2 PM to request the bus pass and provide all info needed. (bus number, stop name, destination contact name and phone number, dates for pass).

See our full student handbook here. A reminder that the signature page must be turned in to the office for a student to be permitted to attend the dance. https://kpbsd.org/schools/homer-middle/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Homer-Middle-School-Handbook-2024-2025.docx-3.pdf

Have you updated your registration for this year yet? If not please do so here https://forms.kpbsd.org/guardian/login?returnUrl=%2Fguardian .

Add funds to your child's lunch account here https://kpbsd.revtrak.net/

Check your child's grades and see if you still owe any course fees in PowerSchool here https://kpbsd.org/students-parents/powerschool/

Are you interested in volunteering at Homer Middle School? Complete the KPBSD volunteer application at this link https://kpbsd.org/departments/assistant-superintendent/instructional-services/hr/volunteer/. Once you are approved, reach out to the office and we can find a way for you to help!

Please take the time to complete the surveys below. They can be filled out at any point in the year and as many times as you would like! We value your compliments and constructive feedback!

• Morning tutoring- 8:00-8:30 am every day in the library

• Morning library- 8:30-8:50 am every day the library is open for work time

• Enrichment- set up a time to meet with a teacher in advance

• Enrichment- the library is open every day to work on class work

• Advisory- most Tuesdays will be study hall. Study hall time may be available other days in advisory as well.

• After school tutoring- Monday-Thursdays 3:50-5:00 in Ms. Booz or Mr. Olson's classroom.

• Work on school work when I am at home!