Mission: The learning community of West Homer Elementary inspires and supports all students to be lifelong learners with the courage and confidence to make positive contributions to the world.

Vision: The mission of West Homer Elementary School is to build strong connections among community, families, staff, and students in a safe, healthy, nurturing environment that challenges each student

I very much enjoyed seeing so many of you in the hallways the first week of school, and I greatly appreciated the conversations with those of you who were able to join me for coffee in the mornings. One of our goals this year is to build on the increased family engagement we have seen over the past year and we are well on our way.

There are so many ways to get involved and become an active part of our school community. Whether it's volunteering in the classroom, participating in school events, or joining our parent-teacher association, there are many ways to contribute and make a difference.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Our doors are always open, and we look forward to working together to create a wonderful experience for your child.

I am excited to see you all at Open House Wednesday at 5:00pm in the gym. If you are new to our West Homer Community, please join us in the Library at 4:15pm for an introduction to our school and a question and answer session.

Eric Waltenbaugh, Principal

Huge thanks to the Homer Elks Lodge for this $2,500 donation to our student lunch program to support students who cannot afford lunch, and additionally almost $4,000 to support our 4th grade overnight marine biology field trip across the bay!

• September 2nd: Labor Day, No School
• September 3rd: First Day of Soccer (3:00 - 4:00pm)
• September 4th: First Day of Cross-Country Running (3:00 - 4:00pm)
• OPEN HOUSE! New to West Homer Families: 4:15pm in the library
  
• ALL Families 5:00pm presentation in the gym followed by classroom visits.
• September 6th: First Day of Japanese Club (3:00 - 4:00pm)
• September 9th: First day of Chess Club (3:00 - 4:00pm)
• September 13th: Picture Day!
• September 13th: Early Release Dismissal will be at 1:20pm.
• September 15th-20th: MAP Testing

Hopefully, by now you are connected to the school and your child's classroom via Remind. If you are not receiving messages or having any issues, please drop in to the office and we can help.

• Soccer T/TH 3:00 -4:00pm (STARTS September 3rd)
• Cross Country Running M/W 3:00 - 4:00pm (STARTS September 4th)
• Chess M/F 3:00 - 4:00pm (STARTS September 9th)
• Japanese Club Fridays 3:00 - 4:00pm (STARTS September 6th)

*All permission slips can be picked up at the Front Office*

September 1-7th is Childhood Injury Prevention Week

I am so happy to see everyone back at school! I hope you all had a wonderful summer.

If you haven’t had a chance to look at it, take a moment and check out the CDC website at cdc.gov. The CDC has information on keeping children safe, safe medication storage, drowning prevention, concussion prevention, childhood illness, environmental health, the list goes on and on. It is a great resource. Connectsafely.org is an excellent resource for internet safety and children.

I enjoy seeing the children walking and riding their bikes to school. Bicycle helmets can make the difference between an ouch and a life altering situation. As the mornings are getting darker, reflective materials and lights on bikes make your child more visible to drivers. Some drivers are busy staring at their phone so anything you can do to make your child visible is recommended. Please remind your child to keep their head up and be aware of their surroundings when crossing the road.

We are a couple weeks into school, and I have seen a variety of illnesses come through the nurse’s office. We all know someone with “that cold”-the one that seems to be lingering for weeks. To decrease the exposure to bacterial and viral “bugs”, encourage your child to get lots of rest and wash their hands frequently. If your child has had a fever >100 degrees in the last 24 hours, vomited or had diarrhea during the day, or they have a persistent cough, they need to stay home from school and rest.

Here at school, things are happening! Cross country running, soccer, chess, and Japanese Club have started! Don’t forget to check out the SPARC, Homer Public Library, and Community Schools for other programs for children.

Your School Nurse

Laura Peek, RN

West Homer Elementary

Fireweed Academy 3rd-6th

Even if you don't think you qualify, still apply as it may result in federal dollars for our school.

Our family handbook HERE is a helpful way to guide you through any questions you may have.

West Homer PTO is for everyone!

You are invited to join us in being part of the PTO. We spend the year building community here at West by celebrating staff and students, fundraising, and hosting community events. All these activities remind us how much we can invest in our schools and the people who make West Homer a place to learn and building connections. Some of the things the PTO is involved with is The Penny Wars, Lunch and Play with Caregivers, Community Coffee once a quarter, the Talent Show, Staff Appreciation, End of Year BBQ, and much more!

We will be at the Open House to share information about how to be involved!

The Safe School Helpline is provided to allow students, parents and community members the ability to confidentially submit report threats of violence, suicide, bullying or illegal activity that impact KPBSD schools, students, or staff. This service provides users the opportunity to leave a message or speak with a live crisis counselor for immediate needs. The helpline is administered by an independent, outside company. All communications remain private, confidential, and anonymous.

Four Ways to Report to the Safe School Helpline:

Call: 1-800-418-6423 or 1-800-4-1-VOICE (Ext. 359)

Text: TIPS to 614-426-0240

Online: SafeSchoolHelpline.com

Mobile App: Download FREE on the App Store or Google Play

Your message will be communicated with school officials. All information will remain anonymous to encourage the reporting of all safety concerns. Your report will be assigned a case number, which you may use later to confirm that your report was received.

*The Safe School Helpline does not replace 911. Please call 911 if you know an emergency is actively occurring.