Homewood City Schools Newsletter

July 24, 2024

Homewood Families,

The 2024-2025 school year is almost here! This is always an exciting time, full of opportunities for fresh starts and new beginnings. Throughout the summer, our dedicated faculty and staff have been hard at work, preparing for a year packed with new adventures and unforgettable experiences to empower our students.

On August 8, our students step into their new classrooms and will be greeted by extraordinary staff and exciting academic challenges that will help them grow throughout the school year. I can't wait to witness the achievements and progress our students will make this year.

By working together, I know this will be a year filled with endless possibilities and memorable experiences for all our students. We can't wait to welcome everyone back on Thursday, August 8.

To ensure a smooth start to the school year, please take a moment to review the important information and reminders below.

Looking forward to a fantastic school year ahead!
Dr. Justin Hefner
HCS Superintendent

Orientations & Meet the Teacher

Elementary Class Lists & Meet the Teacher

Elementary Class Lists will be sent out digitally on August 2 at 3 pm.

*Registration must be completed by Friday, July 26, to guarantee placement on the class list announcement on August 2.

Elementary Meet the Teacher will be on August 5.

Kindergarten: 10 am - noon (families will sign up for a time slot)

1st - 5th grades: 1 - 3 pm

Middle School Orientation & Schedule Pickup

6th Grade Parent Orientation:

Thursday, August 1st - 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Details: This session is identical to the meeting that was held on May 7. If you attended the May session, you do not need to attend again, but parents are welcome to do so.

New Family Orientation:

Friday, August 2nd - 8:15 - 9:15 am
Details: This session is for families new to Homewood City Schools (grades 6-8). New students will take a tour of the building, receive their class schedules, and access their lockers.

Schedule Pickup and Locker Setup:

Friday, August 2nd
Details: Students in grades 6-8 can come to HMS to pick up schedules, set up lockers, and drop off school supplies. Students should come to the school during the times listed in the staggered schedule below, which based on students’ last names:

Last Names A - G 9:30 - 10:15
Last Names H - M 10:30 - 11:15
Last Names N - S 11:30 - 12:15
Last Names T - Z 12:30 - 1:15

HHS: orientation for 9th graders will be Monday, August 5, from 8:30 am - 11:00 am. There will be a parent information meeting from 10 am - 11 am in the auditorium.

School Computers for the 2024-2025 School Year

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HCS will transition to a 1 to 1 computer program for all students in grades K-8 this school year. This means that every student in these grades will be assigned a Chromebook to use during the school day, and students in 5th-8th grades will be allowed to take the device home each day.

For 5th-8th graders, this is a change from our previous policy of allowing students to bring their own devices (BYOD). We believe that providing a consistent and reliable device for all students will enhance their learning experience, ensure equitable access to technology, and strengthen our cybersecurity posture by allowing us to manage and secure devices consistently.

Students at the high school still have the option to bring their own device this year, but this will phase out over the next two years until all students have a school-owned device.

Medication Policy Update and Form

Please review the updated Medication Policy and complete the authorization form if your student will need to take medication at school this year. Please contact your school nurse with any questions.

Link to the Medication Policy

Link to the Authorization Form

Open House - Save the Date

Elementary - August 13 at 6 pm

Homewood High - August 20 at 6 pm

Homewood Middle - August 27 at 6 pm

HHS & HMS - Student Fees

All school and course fees will be assessed to the students on August 6 for Homewood Middle School and August 16 for Homewood High School.

After these dates, parents will be able to login to the PowerSchool Parent Portal to view and pay fees through eFund for Parents.

Please be aware that the PowerSchool App does not allow for payment of fees. This must be done via a web browser by visiting https://homewoodcs.powerschool.com/public/home.html

Elementary Football Nights

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Homewood Athletics and the Homewood Athletic Foundation will host Elementary Nights at Waldrop Stadium where our students are invited on the field to help cheer on the Patriots during the runout at the start of the football game. Elementary students will get into the game for free with a paying adult. Be sure to save the date for your school’s night at Waldrop Stadium:

Oct 4: Hall-Kent Night

Oct. 18 : Edgewood Night

Nov. 1: Shades Cahaba Night

YMCA Afterschool Childcare: Registration Deadline Coming Soon

Registration for the YMCA Afterschool program is currently open for the 2024-2025 school year. The program will be on-site at each Homewood Elementary School and Homewood Middle School and is open each day from school dismissal until 6 p.m. Registration will close on July 31. For more information or to register for the YMCA’s afterschool program, please click here.

Coming Soon - Parent Square

Homewood City Schools will be using Parent Square to communicate with our families this year. From district newsletters to school news to emergency notifications, families will be able to control how they receive information - email, text, push notifications, and phone calls. More information regarding Parent Square will be sent out before the start of school.

School Meals Update

It’s true what they say – breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Homewood’s School Breakfast Program provides a complete, nutritious meal at a great price. Visit LINQconnect.com or download the LINQconnect app to check out our school breakfast and lunch menus. We welcome in students to enjoy school breakfast with us and visit with their classmates before school each day.

If your child receives free or reduced-priced meals at school: 2024-25 meal benefit applications are now available! Please complete a new application before September 18, 2024 to avoid loss of benefits. If your child is directly certified to receive free meals at school, you will receive an e-mailed notification to confirm the benefit. Students who are not directly certified will need to submit a 2024-25 application to be approved. Electronic applications are available online at LINQconnect.com. Paper applications are available for print on the district website or you may pick one up at your child’s school or the Board of Education.

2024-25 Prices:

Elementary: Breakfast: $1.75 / Lunch: $3.00

Middle/High: Breakfast: $2.00 / Lunch: $3.25

Guest: Breakfast: $3.25 / Lunch: $5.00

We encourage parents to pay ahead into their child’s lunch account to avoid negative balances. Questions? Please email efowler@homewood.k12.al.us or call 205-877-4547.

Connect With Us

Throughout the school year, be sure to use the hashtag #WeAreHWD or tag our schools on Instagram as we celebrate this school year together.

Homewood City Schools: @homewoodcityschools

Homewood High School: @homewood_high

Homewood Middle School: @homewood_middle

Edgewood Elementary: @edgewoodelem

Hall-Kent Elementary: @hkelemschool

Shades Cahaba Elementary: @shadescahaba

2024-2025 School Calendar

We can’t wait to see all of our students back on Thursday, August 8! Click here to view the 2024-2025 School Calendar.

Annual Notification: School Provided or Sponsored Mental Health Services

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