Homer High-Lights

It's been a bustling year, with teachers and students working their hardest. Amidst the highs and lows, it's tempting to dwell on the setbacks. However, taking a step back and viewing the year as a whole reveals a different story. We've actually had a remarkably successful year, marked by numerous achievements. Given all that we accomplished, three areas stand out.

1 - HHS is now accredited for the next 6 years.

Homer High School has had it's accreditation renewed and we are in good standing with Cognia. After a long and difficult renewal process HHS pass with high scores. The Cognia reviewers emphasized they were impressed with our FOL (Flexible Learning Opportunities) and building leadership. They suggested the we try to expand our use of data.

2 - 2023 Test Scores

The 2023 STAR test scores are finally out. They are almost a year late, but Homer High School scored above the district and state averages in all areas. We are proud of our students and how how they have worked this year. We will still dive deeper into this data and see what changes or tweaks need to happen so we can continue to improve.

3 - Our seniors are excelling

Several seniors have been accepted to some the most prestigious universities in the country. Lucas Story and Spencer Co have both been accepted to MIT and Hazel Pearson has been accepted to Columbia. Last year our seniors earned almost 2 million dollars in scholarships for post-secondary training or college. This year we don't have the total yet, but we are getting close. It will be exciting to see what is next for this years seniors.

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

Mariner Families,

As we approach the end of another school year, it's time to reflect on our achievements and plan for the future. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us assess our performance and make improvements for the coming year. To gather your thoughts, we've prepared two brief surveys, each taking less than 5 minutes to complete.

• Annual School Survey: Share your thoughts on how the school year went and your overall experience. Access the survey here: 2024 Parent Survey.
• Cellphone Usage Survey: With new research emerging on the impact of cellphone use on teens, we're eager to hear your perspective on this matter. Take the survey here: Impact of Student Cellphone Use.

Your input matters greatly to us. To show our appreciation, everyone who completes these surveys will be entered into a drawing to win one of two $25 gift certificates.

We eagerly anticipate hearing from you. Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at 907-235-4600.

Sincerely,

Douglas Waclawski

Principal

HHS

I am writing to discuss rumors and Homer Communications. There have been some crazy things posted on Homer Communications about HHS. I am not going to give them oxygen by mentioning them here. In fact, our current practice is to not participate in any online discussion unless it is dangerous or disparaging someone unjustly. Needless to say, if someone is making outrageous claims about HHS online, give us a call or come in to school. I will be glad to talk to you and show you what we actually do and when privacy doesn't prevent it, will tell you what's going on. We also provide tours during school hours. If you are interested or have questions, call 235-4600.

Photo by Chris Lott

Thank you to the Homer Marine Trades for having Homer High School host your Round Haul at our CTE Construction Shop. Over 30 people showed up and we had some great conversations. We appreciate your support and look forward to collaborating with you in the future.

Homer High School is trying to partner with the community and area businesses to build out Career and Technical Education programs. Between the loss of our CTE instructor in the middle of the schoolyear and upcoming budget cuts, it has been difficult to move our CTE program forward. Here is what HHS is trying to do:

1. New CTE Teacher - If the state passes legislation that increases school funding for next year, we will be able to hire a new CTE instructor. We are looking for input on how to structure this. In the past we have had this person teach construction, welding, auto shop, and CAD. We are considering small engine repair, Yamaha outboard engine repair and/or business classes. Other ideas are welcome, though everything will depend on funding.
2. Clinics & Classes - We are looking for professionals who have skills in welding, construction or auto repair that would be willing to help teach short units (1 day to 2 weeks) on specific skills. If you are interested, we would work with our current CTE instructor, Eric Sundhiem to make this happen.
   
3. Local Job Connections - If local CTE businesses have summer job opportunities for students, please send them to Paul Story or me at pstory@kpbsd.org or dwaclawski@kpbsd.org and we will pass them on.
   

4. Internships / Training - If you have jobs, training opportunities, internships or apprenticeships available for students, let us know by May for the start of school in August. We can try to match students who meet your requirements and hopefully create a schedule that will work for them and you. (This is for students still in high school). This doesn’t always work out, but this gives us some time to find students who would benefit from these opportunities.

5. School-To-Work Opportunities - If you have permanent work for students after they graduate, let us know and we can try to help connect students who might be interested. One idea would be for a company to offer to train or pay for training a graduating HHS student and then the student would agree to work for you for a period of time.
   

While KPBSD is not offering online classes this summer, there is a Credit Recovery option for students who have previously taken a high school level class but did not receive a passing grade. Here are the details:

When: 5/28-6/17, 9-4pm

Where: B-102, Homer High School

Students are expected to attend in person, though they may work out a modified schedule with the teachers to accommodate work and travel plans. Please let Mr. Story (pstory@kpbsd.org) or Ms. Sue (srennolds@kpbsd.org) know if you are interested and which class(es) you would like to take.

• 5/1: Senior Scholarship Awards Night 6:30 pm in Theater
• 5/2: Baseball Home Opener 3:00 & 6:00 pm at HHS
• 5/2: Softball Tournament at Jack Gist Park
• 5/3: Softball Tournament at Jack Gist park
• 5/3: Soccer vs Ketchikan 5:00 & 7:00 pm at HHS
• 5/3 Softball Tournament at Jack Gist Park
• 5/6 HHS Spring Concert
• 5/7 Site Council Meeting 4:10 at HHS Library
• 5/7 Soccer vs SOHI 1:00, 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00 pm at HHS
• 5/9 Baseball vs Palmer 3:00 & 6:00 pm at HHS
• 5/9 Soccer vs Redington 4:00 & 6:00 pm at HHS
• 5/10 Softball vs Palmer 6:00 pm at Jack Gist Park
• 5/10 Baseball vs Kodiak 4:00 at HHS
• 5/11 Soccer vs Palmer 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm at HHS
• 5/11 Baseball vs Kodiak 10:00 am at HHS
• 5/11 Softball vs Redington 12:00 & 2:00 PM at Jack Gist Park
• 5/12 Baccalaureate 3:00 at HHS Theater
• 5/13 Baseball vs SOHI 3:00 & 6:00 pm at HHS
• 5/14 Graduation 7:00 pm at HHS
• 5/16 Last Day of School
• 5/17 Region 3 Track Championships 9:00 am - 6:00 pm at HHS
• 5/18 Region 3 Track Championships 9:00 am - 6:00 pm at HHS

At the end of the day, 22 events received a Superior (I) rating, which qualifies those events and students to present/compete at ASAA State Solo/Ensemble on the 10-11 May in Anchorage at UAA, traveling after school on 9 May through 12 May. Some students qualified more than the allowed number of events at state (four maximum), so some of the selections below will not be presented. During the two days of this state event, students present pieces for adjudicators just as they did for the qualifying event. At the conclusion of each day, each adjudicator is asked to select the very best performance they saw that day to be presented as the Command Performance from their session. These Command Performances are then compiled into a Gala Concert each evening, which is always an exceptional event.

Classical Vocal Solo

William Bradshaw – Go, Lovely Rose by Roger Quilter

Brenna Cox – Voi che sapete from Le nozze di Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Dayus Geysbeek – Sempliceta a donna credit from Alcina by George Friedrich Handel

McKenzie Hansen – Into the Night by Clara Edwards

Gracie High – El majo discreto by Enrique Granados

Charity Rainwater – Die Mainacht by Johannes Brahms

Finn Stineff – The Rose of Allendale by John Ireland

Rebecca Trowbridge – Stride la vampa from Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi

Broadway Vocal Solo

William Bradshaw – Not my Father’s Son from Kinky Boots by Billy Porter and Stark Sands

Michaela Browning – Burn from Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Dayus Geysbeek – For Forever from Dear Evan Hansen by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

McKenzie Hansen – What I Did For Love from A Chorus Line by Marvin Hamlisch

Kayla Kalafut – No One Else from Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 by Dave Malloy

Clark Milstead – Being Alive from Company by Stephen Sondheim

Rai Sundheim – Sonya Alone from Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 by Dave Malloy

Rebecca Trowbridge – Flowers from Hadestown by Anais Mitchell

Broadway Duet

William Bradshaw and Rebecca Trowbridge – I’ve Never Been In Love Before from Guys and Dolls by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling

Adgel Chandler and Rai Sundheim – Sue Me from Guys and Dolls by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling

Rai Sundheim and Rebecca Trowbridge – Marry the Man Today from Guys and Dolls by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling

Classical Duet

Rebecca Trowbridge and Kayla Kalafut – The Flower Duet from Lakme by Leo Delibes

Classical Mixed Large Ensemble

Swing Choir – Dara la notte il sol by Claudio Monteverdi

Classical Treble Large Ensemble

Swing Choir – She Rises by Catherine Dalton

The roof is finally done, but there is still a lot worked that needs to be done this summer. Our building has been well used the last 40 years and is in need of serious maintenance. Here is a workup of what is scheduled for the summer of 2024:

Outside Building Staining

The wood siding on the outside of the building will be stained this summer from May 20th until it is completed. They will start on the front of the building first. The building will be open this summer, but you may have to enter from the loading dock or gym doors.

Catacombs Cleanout

The gym will be closed from May 28th thought the 29th to clean out the catacombs. There are still materials that has been stored there from when to building was first built. Items will be organized, sort to sell, given away or thrown away. We may need some volunteers to help with this project and students can get senior service hours for helping out.

Gym Floor Resurfacing

The gym will be closed from June 17th to June 24th to resurface the floor. This happens each year and COTR will have services at a different location on Jun 23rd.

Commons & Gym Lights Replacement

The gym will also be closed from July 8th to the 19th to replace the lights with energy saving LED's. COTR will be able to use the gym for their services during these dates.

Front Entrance Redesign

The rotten timbers in the front of our building will be replaced this summer. The borough is working on the final scope of the project and timeline. We will let the public know when this project will start. The building will still be open, but the public may have to enter through the gym or loading dock entrances.

Pool Deck Re-Grout

The pool deck tile needs to be re-grouted. This takes about two weeks and will be scheduled when the pool closes for normal maintenance. These dates will be posted as soon as we know them.

HHS School Counselors

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

Paul Story – Classes of ’24, ’25, ’27 pstory@kpbsd.k12.ak.us ~ (907) 235-4685

Dual credit classes

Current sophomores and juniors may elect to take a Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) class next school year for dual high school/college credit.

Classes are available for free to those who apply and qualify for the Kenai Peninsula Middle College program (Applications opened April 1st via this LINK, and students are accepted on a first-come basis.), and at the JumpStart deep discount rate for others.

Support our seniors!

This year’s HHS graduation will be held in the Alice Witte Gymnasium 7pm Tuesday, May 14

Baccalaureate – a spiritual sendoff 4pm Sunday, May 12 in the Mariner Theater

Grad Night Casino party at the Elks Club starts at 10pm Tue., May 14

Scholarship Awards Night – 6:30pm Monday, May 1 in the Mariner Theater. Students receiving a local scholarship have been notified and invited, though anyone is welcome to attend.

Last year 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.

Here is a letter from a thankful parent from our Track Workshop held last month. We want to thank the HHS coaches and athletes who put this on for area youth.

Just wanted to email you both and thank you for putting on the little kid track meet this past Saturday. It was a bummer the weather didn't work out so we could be outside, but it is what it is. I thought the high school kids did a great job of explaining the event to the kids and helping the kids out when they needed help. The long jump kids Raquel G. and Parker O. both ran with the kids if they needed some encouragement to do the events. I thought that you having two kids to shadow each group worked great also. I thought Claira B. and Hannah K. did a great job talking with them and helping them in each group. My daughter was in the 5-6 age group and I was a little worried, because they tend to run around if they are not engaged. No kid in the age group or any age group was off task or running around when they shouldn't have been. To me that was the biggest plus I saw, the kids were all engaged with activities and were actively listening to the presenters. That was really cool to see. I really hope you are planning on putting on this activity again, because my daughter really enjoyed it. As we were leaving she looked at me and said, "I was having so much fun I forgot to eat." She also talked all weekend about how she was at track practice. Finally, I thought everyone was so positive and supportive with the kids and encouraged them to try it even if the kids was kind of scared or unsure. Thank you for putting this on.

April was a busy month for art and ceramics. Five students submitted to all-state. Natalie Farren submitted her colored pencil drawing Mermaids. Rainey Sundheim submitted her water-color pencil drawing Nighthawks, Early Hours. Charlotte Fraley submitted Charlotte’s Doll House in the ceramics category. Charity Martin submitted A Nightmare Machine in ceramics and won honorable mention. Emma Grimes submitted two ceramics works Barn Owl and Trees and won first and second place in the ceramics category. To view the winners and all other entries please visit the website https://artalaska.org/

Four students also submitted to the district art show. Kay Bartel submitted her American Gothic Redesign, Addi Grimes submitted FOONAF, Charlotte Fraley received honorable mention with Café Deserted in the multi-media category, and Rainey Sundheim won first in the colored drawing category with Nighthawks, Early Hours.

Two people also submitted artwork to Jubilee at Homer Council on the Arts. Marina Co submitted her drawing Alaskan Sunrise and her collage In Our Own Worlds. Rachel Munoz submitted her collage Observing.

To stay up to date with what’s happening in art and ceramics visit and follow our Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/hhsartandceramics/

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) is interested in gathering insights to understand how well the district prepared alumni to meet goals for college and/or a career following graduation.

KPBSD has partnered with Hanover Research to conduct a brief Alumni Survey to gather valuable input. The KPBSD encourages alumni to share their experiences and opinions about the KPBSD to help us ensure that our academic and career-focused programs provide the best possible preparation for future graduates.

The survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete and will close at the end of day on Friday, May 10th, 2024. Please submit responses prior to that date.

We appreciate your participation! Please click the link to begin the survey: KPBSD’s Alumni Survey.

Thank you,

Hanover Research takes protecting your personal information seriously. We use your data for research and analysis purposes. A full disclosure of our Privacy Policy can be accessed at https://www.hanoverresearch.com/privacy-policy/ where you may learn how we collect and process your data.

Thank you,

Kari Dendurent

PS Please complete if you are a KPBSD Alumni. 😊

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