Homer High-Lights

The Importance of Attendance

COVID taught us many valuable lessons, one of which is the significant impact of in-person learning. Most students perform better and gain more knowledge when they attend face-to-face classes with a teacher.

KPBSD Policy on Attendance
According to KPBSD policy, if a student misses more than 15 days in a semester, a plan must be developed, and the student may risk losing credit. We understand that absences can result from valid reasons, such as educational trips, housing or transportation challenges, severe illness, or major medical issues.

How We Address Attendance at HHS
At HHS, we take proactive steps to support students who are approaching the 15-day absence threshold. When a student nears 10 days of absences, we reach out by phone or letter to notify families. If absences approach 15 days, we work with the student to create a plan that ensures they stay on track.

How Parents Can Help
As a parent, you can play a crucial role in supporting regular attendance. Encourage your child to attend school every day and emphasize its importance. While family trips are meaningful, try to plan them during scheduled school breaks whenever possible. Keep the 15-day limit in mind—if your child is nearing this threshold, consider postponing travel to avoid further absences.

For extended trips, ensure your child completes a Pre-Arranged Absence Form beforehand.

Working Together
We understand that life can bring unexpected events, from once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to family emergencies. If challenges arise, please communicate with us. We’re here to support your child’s success at HHS, and attendance is a key part of that journey.

Douglas Waclawski

Principal

907-235-4600

dwaclawski@kpbsd.org

• Dec. 3 - Site Council - Library - 4:10 pm
• Dec. 4 - Basketball & Cheer practice officially starts
• Dec. 5 - Hockey vs Palmer - KBA - 7:00 pm
• Dec. 10 - HHS Winter Band & Choir Concert - HHS Theater - 7:00 pm
• Dec. 10 - Hockey vs SOHI - KBA - 7:00 pm
• Dec. 13 - Hockey vs Kodiak - KBA - TBA
• Dec. 13 - Early Release - Student leave at 2:20 pm
• Dec. 14 - Hockey vs Kodiak - KBA - TBSA
• Dec. 18 - Candlelight, Carols & Deserts - HHS Theater - 7:00 pm
• Dec. 21 - Basketball Alumni Games - Gym - 6:00 & 7:30 pm
• Winter Break 12/21 to 1/6/25
• Jan. 7 - School Resumes

My AP World History class completed its annual Columbian Exchange Cookbook Project this morning. They worked together to explain the historical context behind the Columbian Exchange, and explain the main impacts of it. From there, each student was responsible for selecting a recipe and tracing the origins of each ingredient. They were ultimately asked to develop an argument that showed how much their recipe was impacted by the Columbian Exchange.

Students presented their findings today, and were asked to bring in either a few ingredients of their dish, or the whole dish to share with the class.

Mr. Parsley

Hello Mariners,

This is Caitlyn Rogers, Mariner Logbook managing editor. We are grateful for the increase in school spirit and want to offer a special price for the first week in December. Until December 8, you can purchase a yearbook for $5 off with this special discount code: #December24. That means you can buy a yearbook for $80 from December 1 – 8. To get this discount, purchase yearbooks with the special code and with cash or check to the front office.

We’re busy creating an amazing book. Thank you for your support!

#FindYourSummit #2025 #HomerAK #HHSMariners

Do you need Senior Service hours? If so, I will post service opportunities in the newsletter each month. If you have questions, come see me in B-102.

Senior Service Opportunities

• Little Fireweed is looking for volunteers to help with shoveling snow over the winter months. If you are interested you can reach out to Kyle at kdarbonne@kpbsd.org.

• Share the Spirit is looking for volunteers to help with the food drive from December 20-23. Helping areas include sorting cans, packing baskets, and helping distribute baskets.
• Paul Banks is looking for volunteers who would want to come in during the school day and help out in the classrooms, during recess, and at lunch. If you are interested in any of these opportunities you can reach out to the Principal, Sean Campbell, SCampbell@KPBSD.k12.ak.us.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities you can reach out to me at jraymond@kpbsd.org.

Jonathan Raymond

Thank you, Mayor Peter Micciche, the KPB Assembly and KPB Assembly Member Kelly Cooper, for recognizing our State Championship Football Team. Each player was presented with a copy of the proclamation approved by the assembly.

HHS School Counselors

Sue Rennolds – Class of 2026 srennolds@kpbsd.k12.ak.us ~ (907) 235-4691

Paul Story – Classes of ’25, ’27, and ‘28 pstory@kpbsd.k12.ak.us ~ (907) 235-4685

Live Homework Help

This free (and underutilized!) resource is available to Alaskans M-F 8am-2am, and Sat/Sun 12pm-2am. https://lam.alaska.gov/sled/homework . You’d be amazed at the individualized help you can access in any high school subject. Give it a try!

Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) – free college credits and summer experience

RAHI is a long-standing (since 1983), free, six week pre-college summer program for rural (Homer counts as rural.) and Alaska Native 11th and 12th graders. Students earn an average of nine college credits and learn how to thrive academically by experiencing life on campus, building self-confidence, and developing a statewide community to carry with them through their lives. See flyer and these stats for more info, and go to https://www.uaf.edu/rahi/ to apply by the March 1st deadline.

Financial Aid Update

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now ready for seniors and their families to file to access funds, including the Alaska Performance Scholarship, for the 2025-2026 school year.

The KPBSD Scholarship Database continues adding new awards and contests each week. Here are just a few of the recent additions.

Seniors

• Homer Foundation Scholarships – apply for up to 20 local scholarships totaling at least $55,000 with ONE application!!!
• AVTEC and KPC (CTE only) full-tuition awards

Juniors (and Seniors)

• Horatio Alger Association - The HAA Foundation has national awards primarily for juniors (Seniors can also apply for other awards depending on what school they plan to attend, and there is a CTE-specific award coming out March 15, 2025.). A 2023 HHS graduate and a member of the current HHS graduating class of 2025 both won a $25,000 national award after applying in their junior year, so there’s precedent!

Grades 9-12

• Sons of the American Revolution Knight Essay Contest – State and National awards ranging from $100 to $6,000 for winning original essays associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the U.S. Constitution.

Spring Semester schedules (hopefully) available in PowerSchool

Assuming I.T. has fixed the problem in PowerSchool by the time of publication, you can see what classes you’re scheduled to take starting January by logging in and following the directions below.

• Click “My Schedule” under Scheduling on the left side, then the “Matrix View” tab.

Shop your Mariners Sideline Store

THE PURPOSE of the Homer High School Mariner Booster Club, Inc. is to provide support for all organized sports/activities at HHS. We strive to achieve this goal through Fundraising, Event Planning, and Volunteerism.

Want to learn more or get involved? Join us for our monthly meeting on the 2nd Monday of every month (except December)! 6:30p in B109.

Follow us on social media:

Booster Club Facebook Page Booster Club Instagram

Thank you boosters for donating a 15 passenger van to Homer High School. With the difficulty finding bus drivers this van should help all teams get transportation to away events. We want to thank the hard work and dedication of all the Booster Club members for making this happen.

We also want to give a special thank you to Lynden Transport for shipping the van to Homer for free and to Alyeska Tire of Homer for donating the studded tires. We couldn't do this without the support from the Homer Community and Businesses.

Two years ago our teachers, students and parents from our Site Council got together and helped write the Mariner Way. This is what we think it means to be a Mariner and what we want to aspire to. We hope that when people think of Homer High School, they will say we are living the Mariner Way.

We are the Mariners, a special blend of toughness, compassion, grit and integrity. We understand we are part of something bigger than ourselves and endeavor to be better every day. We show sportsmanship, help out community and strive for academic excellence. This is the Mariner Way.

At Homer High, we like to reward students for doing the right thing, showing good character or just going the extra mile. Here are a few of the students who have earned a "Mariner Way" positive referral in the last month.

Each Year the Homer High Student Council puts on a school-wide food drive. Classes compete to see how many cans they can raise. HHS has collected close to 3000 cans, but normally collects 1500 to 2000 cans per year. This year it is more important to help out if possible. It looks like need in the Homer community is up by over 50% and food costs are rising. Remind your child to bring cans and pitch in what you can. It all helps.

Homer High school is proud to have partnered with Share the Spirit for more than 20 years and we are glad to give back to the community. Please help us, help those in need.

Information from Share the Spirit Secretary (and HHS Alum) Emmy Olson-Drye (2023)

• 273 Christmas Dinner Baskets Given away (Food and gifts for families with children, Food for families without children)
• 299 Children and teens received donations
• 843 Adults received donations

More Share the Spirit Information:

Requests for assistance are expected to be 50% more than last year, if not higher. This is primarily due to the combination of low prices at the dock for fishermen and high prices at the grocer. STS is planning a load-in that will likely overflow into the Green Room (exceptionally unusual), but also potentially onto the Green Room vestibule and porch (for cool and cold storage). Anecdotally, this will be the first time in my experience of Share the Spirit that such need has forced expansion to these spaces.

This picture was taken at the Lancer Smith Wrestling Tournament in Wasilla. This is the biggest wrestling tournament of the year with all divisions wrestling together. The girls placed 9th and the boys placed 12th.

Email: dwaclawski@kpbsd.org
Website: http://homerhighschool.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/wpmu/
Location: 600 E Fairview Ave, Homer, AK, USA
Phone: 907-235-4600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/homerhs