Homer High-Lights

Welcome to a new school year! Although it might seem early to hear this on August 1st, the first day of school is just around the corner on August 21st.

As we embark on this new school year, each of us brings unique hopes and aspirations. Some of you are eager to explore technical careers, some are focused on achieving good grades, and others are looking forward to making memories with friends, with learning as a bonus. Whatever your goals may be, the entire staff at Homer High School is dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming environment where everyone can thrive. This commitment will be the standard by which we measure our success at the end of the year.

To elaborate, Homer High School is dedicated to providing:

• A safe place for every student
• A strong and balanced curriculum
• A positive learning culture
• A sense of belonging for each child

As the principal of HHS, I am committed to making these four elements a reality. Our goal is to educate the whole child, which encompasses much more than just the basics of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. We are not perfect, and if we fall short in any of these areas, I encourage you to let me know. Your feedback is vital to our continuous improvement.

I am looking forward to a great year and am excited to get started. If you have concerns or suggestions please schedule a time to meet with me by calling 235-4600 or send me an e-mail at dwaclawski@kpbsd.k12.ak.us.

Douglas Waclawski

Principal

907-235-4600

dwaclawski@kpbsd.org

We want every parent to know that Homer High School will be using the Remind App for classroom communications, emergencies and school updates. Make sure that you opt-into allowing HHS to send you text messages.

This seems to be the quickest and most efficient way to communicate. We will do out best to honor and respect your phone and limit the messages we send you.

If you already have a remind account, make sure you allow us to contact your via text and you are ready to go. You can opt-in to our school using the code: hhs-25. If you haven't set up your account yet, the directions are below. (Click on the picture to increase the size for viewing)

If you haven't set up the Remind App yet, follow the instructions below:

Welcome to the 2024-25 school year! It's hard to believe the new school year is nearly here, as it feels like summer just began. I hope you have enjoyed your summer and that your child/children are recharged, ready to learn, and eager to challenge themselves. To help you prepare, here are some important dates, deadlines, and tasks for parents and students to complete before the first day of school on Wednesday, August 21st.

Registration & Paperwork

Please register your child for the new school year. This is required for all students.

https://kpbsd.org/students-parents/student-registration/

Remember to fill out the following forms:

• One-to-one Chromebook program permission form
• Hanover Climate Survey Form

Schedule Pick Up

• Seniors Schedules Pick Up – Aug. 9th
• Juniors Schedules Pick Up – Aug. 12h
• Sophomores Schedules Pick Up – Aug. 13th
• Freshmen Orientation / Open House – Aug. 19 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Freshman Orientation / Open House

Freshman are required to attend the Freshmen Orientation on Monday, August 19, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. This is their jumpstart to great school year. At this event, you will be able to:

• Pick Up Your Class Schedule
• Receive Free HHS Swag!
• Find Lockers and Classrooms
• Attend Presentations & Introduction to HHS
• Participate in Simulated School Schedule
• Meet Teachers
• Parents Attend Informative Presentations

Fall Sports Information (Practice Start Dates)

• Football, Cheer, Cross-country Running: July 31
• Volleyball, Swim: Aug 7
• Wrestling: Oct 2

Coach Contact Information

*Head Football Coach

• Justin Zank
• jzank@kpbsd.org
• Cell: (907)-399-8401

*Head Swim Coach

• Kane Graham
• KGraham@KPBSD.k12.ak.us

*Head Volleyball Coach

• Ian Overson
• ijqnoverson@gmail.com

· Head Cross Country Running Coach

• Bob Ostrom
• bobostrom@gmail.com

· Head Cheer Coach

• Michelle Thornton
• mkeinak@gmail.com

• TBD

Sports Physicals

It can be hard to schedule physicals this time of year. Here are some options for obtaining a sports physical for your child before practice starts:

• Homer Medical Center - (907) 235-8586
• SVT - (907) 226-2228
• Ninilchik Community Clinic (In Homer) - (907) 206-2730
• Back To Action PT - 907-235-1872

Calendar of Events

• Aug. 9: Senior schedule pick up day 9:00-3:00
• Aug. 12: Junior schedule pick up day 9:00-3:00
• Aug. 13: Sophomore schedule pick up day 9:00-3:00
• Aug. 19: 6:00 pm Freshmen / New Student Orientation & Open House
• Aug. 21: First day of School

I want to thank all the all parents who provided feedback to help develop a new cellphone policy. It is very apparent that parents think cellphones are a problem and that they should not be in the classroom. It is a little less clear about what we should do with cellphones overall. (See Carts below:)

Because of your input, HHS is going to use our old policy and the district policy, but provide more detailed descriptions of what this will look like and provide context for everyone involved. We are not banning cellphones, but we are gong to try to keep them out of the classroom in a reasonable and consistent way. The part of the district policy that HHS is focusing on includes:

The section below is quoted from KPBSD BP 5138

Personal electronic devices shall not be turned on or used in any way:

• during instructional time, unless under the direct supervision of the classroom teacher and with the teacher’s approval.
• during other school sponsored and supervised group activities during the school day (for example, student assemblies, awards, or other public ceremonies, etc.)
• when their use is otherwise prohibited by school personnel

The research on the negative effects of cell phones on teenagers is growing and becoming more definitive. While the school cannot control cell phone use outside of school, we will do what we can to protect the classroom environment to ensure a rich and positive learning environment.

Here is a great article on the "Case for Phone Free Schools" if you want to read more about this issue. https://www.afterbabel.com/p/phone-free-schools

Thanks for your input and suggestions throughout this process.

Cell phones must not be used or left on during class time. Students should have phones turned off and in their locker. Cell phones may be used with permission from the classroom teacher for instructional purposes only. The cell phone policy is as follows:

• Students may not have cell phones/ear buds and or Bluetooth/wireless headsets in the classroom/instructional time during the school day.
• Classrooms will have a designated spot in the classroom/library for all students to place their cell phones when they enter the room.
• Cell phones are expected to stay in this location throughout the entirety of the class period and may not go with the student during restroom breaks.
• Students may collect their cell phone when the class has ended and they leave that classroom/library.
• HHS is not responsible for any cell phone that may be mistakenly taken out of the designated location in a classroom.
• Cell phones may be used during passing periods and at lunch.

Discipline

1st Offense:

• The teacher may take the phone and return it to the student at the end of the period and/or other classroom consequences

2nd Offense:

• Cell phone will be given to the office and the student may pick it up at the end of the day

3rd Offense:

• Cell phone will be given to the office and the parent must pick it up
• The student may lose phone privileges for 1 week and the phone and will be checked into the office when the student comes to school

Additional Offenses:

• Cell phone will be given to the office and the parent must pick it up
• Students will have to check the phone into the office for up to the remainder of the quarter or two weeks, whichever is longer

Note: If a student refuses to turn the cell phone to the office it is considered insubordination and it may result in a suspension.

The administration will make the final determination regarding the use of student cell phones. (Please see the KPBSD Cell Phone Policy attached at the end of this document.)

Here is the new bell schedule for the 2024-25 school year.

The most significant change is the addition of an advisory class on Mondays and Fridays. Based on feedback from students, parents, and teachers, we made this adjustment. Students and parents expressed the desire to keep our FOL period for class work, make-up time, and providing students with flexibility for alternative learning. Teachers indicated that 45 minutes was too long for an advisory period.

We aim to use advisory time to meet with each student and support their success in school and their life goals. Advisory teachers will go out of their way to help each student not only pass their classes but also prepare for life after school.

• July 31 - First Practice for Football, Cheerleading & Cross Country Running
• Aug. 9: Senior schedule pick up day 9:00-3:00
• Aug. 12: Junior schedule pick up day 9:00-3:00
• Aug. 13: Sophomore schedule pick up day 9:00-3:00
• Aug. 19: Freshmen / New Student Orientation & Open House 6:00 - 8:00 pm
• Aug. 21: First Day of School
• August 24: Volleyball Jamboree 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

We will have a new eligibility process at HHS. All the ASAA and KPSAA rules are the same, but here is how it will work at HHS for the 2024-25 school year.

Quarter/Semester Eligibility:

The Final Quarter / Semester Grades will determine quarter eligibility (Report Card Grade Checks)

• Incompletes are given to students if they are not able to complete their work by the end of the quarter due to circumstances out of their control
• Incomplete classes must be completed within two weeks of the end of the quarter
• A student with an incomplete is not eligible to participate in sports until they have finished all work and have been issued a grade by their teacher (It may take the teacher a day or two to process late work and enter grades)

Mid Quarter Eligibility:

*The E1, E2, etc. grade is the grade used for mid quarter eligibility

• There are no incompletes
• All work must be handed in by Friday at 4:00 pm prior to the eligibility check
• Work missed for sports or school activities the week prior will not be used toward eligibility
• Students will be notified if they are ineligible

• If the student is failing any classes at the 2nd grade check, they are ineligible for the rest of the grade check period

We are looking for parents who would like to participate on the Site Council this year. We have 4 parent positions open. If you are interested, please call 907-235-4600 and let Kristin Metz know you are interested. The last day to get your name on the ballot is August 21,2024 or the first day of school.

Site Council meetings are scheduled on the first Tuesday of the month at 4:10 pm in the library. The purpose of the Site Council is to advise the principal on policy, rules and culture of the school. This is also a great way for you to express your views on what is going on and what you would like to see change.

If we have the same or fewer candidates than we have open positions, there is no need for a vote. If we have more candidates than open positions, an online google form will be sent home to parents for a vote.

It looks like we are going to have a lot to work on this year. We need need parents input and this is a great way to be helpful the HHS.

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.

Many of the HHS Sports Teams finished their season after the end of the school year and they excelled.

Girls track finished 2nd at the State Track & Filed Championships for the third year in a row. Girls soccer placed 5th at state and boys soccer earned a berth at the state tournament.

Here are some individual achievements from the 2024 Spring Sports Season:

* 1st Place State – 300m Hurdles – Gracie Miotke

* 1st Place State – 4 x 800 relay – Girls Track & Field

* 1st Place State – 4 X 400 relay – Girls Track & Field

* Region 3 Champions – Girls Track & Field

* State Runner-Up Girls Track

Other ASAA Competitions:

* State Command Performance – William Bradshaw – Musical Theater

* State Command Performance – Dayus Geysbeek – Musical Theater

* State Command Performance – Clark Milstead – Trombone

* 1st Place State – Emma Grimes - Ceramics

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