West Homer Elementary

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.

Dear Orca Families,

October is filled with exciting opportunities for learning and connection! We are thrilled to host our first-ever Career Fair on October 1st 5:00 - 6:30pm. Students will have the chance to explore different careers, learn from community members, and imagine the many possibilities ahead of them. I want to thank all the participating businesses and professionals in advance for supporting this event.

We also look forward to welcoming families for Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 29th and 30th. These conversations are an important opportunity to celebrate your child’s progress, share goals, and strengthen the partnership between home and school.

This year, our schoolwide focus is “Challenge Your Brain.” We are encouraging all students to engage daily in classroom activities even if they are difficult so they can build stamina and grit and develop a growth mindset—the understanding that abilities can grow through effort, practice, and perseverance. At home, you can support this mindset by praising effort and strategies, encouraging your child to try again, asking, “What did you learn?” and treating mistakes as valuable opportunities to grow.

Thank you for partnering with us to encourage curiosity, confidence, and perseverance in every child. Together, we can help our students embrace challenges and discover what they are capable of achieving!

With appreciation,

Eric Waltenbaugh

1st- XC Running Club after school

Career Fair 5pm in the gym

2nd-Japanese Club after school

5th- Diamond Art Club after school

Soccer after school

6th- XC Running Club after school

7th- Diamond Art Club last day

Soccer last day

PTO Meeting 6pm Late Quarterly Meeting

8th- Orca Fun Run! 3/4th starts at 3pm, 5/6th race starts immediately after

Last Day for XC Running Club

9th- Quarter 1 Assembly @ 1:55pm

Japanese Club after school

12-15th- Family P.E. Week

12th- 3/4th Basketball begins Mon & Wed 3-4pm

13th- 5/6th Basketball begins Tu/Th/Fr 3-4pm

14th- Gear Swap @ 4:30pm

16th- No School! End of 1st Quarter

22nd- Bball game vs Chapman @ 3:30pm

23rd- Early Release @ 1:20pm

Lunch & Play 3/4th lunch 11:20 followed by recess, 5/6th lunch 11:50 recess prior

28th- Picture Retakes 9:30-10:30

Halloween Parade 2pm

29-30th- Parent Teacher Conferences No School

Boooooook Fair! 7-3:30pm

Family PE Week is BACK!! This was so much fun last year. Be on the lookout for your student's P.E. schedule in your Remind messages.

Have a treat from the bake sale after the race! We are needing donated bake sale items for this PTO fundraiser. If you are able please sign up here:

If you would like to run an after school club please reach out to Mr. Waltenbaugh at EWaltenbaugh@kpbsd.org

Tis the season for pulling out your winter gear and seeing if it still fits. Bring your gently used winter gear to swap or donate!

We have partnered with SPARC for an after school gym time on early release Fridays! This is open to WHE and Big Fireweed kids only. We need 3 volunteers to help run the gym time and keep kids using equipment and their bodies safely. Please reach out to Liza in the office if you are available to volunteer! We want to keep offering these types of activities, but they rely on help from you. We couldn't do this with out all of you! Thank you volunteers!

Retakes will be from 9:30-10:30am

Add pic of Grady and say to be on the lookout for new swag with this design

PTO swag contest winner is Grady Corcoran! Be on the lookout for West Homer Elementary gear with this new design!

AK STAR results are a necessary component of making data-informed decisions for students,

families, teachers, administrators, district leadership, and policy makers:

• For our students and families, assessment results can help determine strengths and

challenges, and how to utilize both to continue academic growth.

• For our teachers and school administrators, assessment results can help evaluate progress,

find areas for improvement, and focus on what students need most.

• For our policymakers and district leadership, assessment results can ensure resources are

allocated to the most vital areas of need.

The student results from these tests are now available, and teachers at your school can help

you understand the report if you have questions. In addition, the Department of Education &

Early Development (DEED) has published a Family Guide for your use. Click here for the

Family Guide to Student Reports. The Family Guide can be found on DEED’s assessment

webpage (education.alaska.gov/assessments), along with other resources.

Your student’s Individual Score Report (ISR) is accessible in PowerSchool. To access your

child’s assessment reports in the parent portal of Power School, log in and click the “Test

Scores” link in the left navigation pane. You will then see the available test result PDF file

links. You will also be able to print the reports if desired.

The next school board meeting is on Oct 5th in Seward at 6pm. You can go in person or testify on Zoom. Our district faces a continual budget deficit and possible consolidations. Let your voice be heard. Here is a link to the meeting