Vision: 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.

Mission: 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

Community. This word resonated with me throughout our West Homer Elementary Talent Show Thursday night and speaks to the power of our learning community. Red Asselin and our Parent – Teacher Organization had the idea to shift the show to entirely student produced. They spent countless hours with a student planning committee and performers to put on the show. Community. Sound and lights, run by students, emcees – performed by students, decorating, advertising, done by students, and of course the talent – students.

Music, dance, painting, poetry, drama, comedy, magic, and even a presentation on coding…the talents of our children are vast, and I don’t think there was anyone who attended who was not surprised and delighted in one way or another by what they learned about the kids.

Older students hug, high five, and congratulate younger performers every time they step off stage after their act is over recognizing the courage it took them to step on the stage. Community. The entire crowd cheers for each and every act no matter how polished. Community. Parents sit side by side at cafeteria tables enjoying the amazing diverse talents of Homer children. Community. It is in moments like these that divisions dissolve and we are able to be present with each other. Families see other kids in a different light. Community. Every time we put on an event like this, without fail, I hear adults sharing with each other something like, “Wow, I never knew your son/daughter could _____________(insert amazing talent/skill).” Community.

In addition to high quality instruction in math, reading, and writing, our school serves an important additional purpose…bringing us together. And this is one of many events that helps us achieve our mission of building strong connections among community, families, staff and students in a safe, healthy, nurturing environment that challenges each student.

And let’s not forget where the funds from this event go – making sure every student at West Homer Elementary goes home with a yearbook at no cost so they can all equally celebrate and remember their shared experience this year. Community.

Eric Waltenbaugh, Principal West Homer Elementary

As you may know, the legislature recently voted to uphold the governor's veto of SB 140 a bi-partisan education funding bill with broad support that would have provided among other items the first significant increase in public education funding in a decade. This means we will likely not know what our funding will be for several more months.

KPBSD is currently facing a $13 million dollar budget shortfall, and the district has to submit a balanced budget to the school board reflecting these cuts. If no additional state funding is passed in the coming months, our school will see cuts that have a direct impact on your child.

I encourage each of you to get informed on the budget and on how future legislation may impact your student and our local school. I would be happy to meet with you if you would like to discuss ways to advocate for our school.

Any WHE student may submit 1 design.

Submit designs by April 11th to the front office.

Designs must include:

- 8 1/2 x 11 paper

- West Homer Elementary

- 2023-2024

- some form of an Orca

- artist name on the back of the design not the front

The school will vote on the designs. First place = front cover, second place = back cover.

Big thanks to everyone for coming to our 3rd quarter assembly celebration! We had a fantastic turnout. In case you missed it, here are some highlights: the 4th graders rocked a musical performance, and the 5th and 6th graders wowed us with dance performances. Plus, we recognized the top five students from each grade for their outstanding growth in Math!

And just before we wrapped up, to open up our gallery walk featuring student artwork depicting Arctic and Antarctic landscapes along our hallways. Our Student Council also shared their reflections on 'I saw, I think, and I wonder,' along with the heartfelt fan letters they wrote to one of the artists.

Please take the time to complete the surveys below. They can be filled out at any point in the year and as many times as you would like! We value your compliments and constructive feedback!

April 1st through 30th-Parent Input forms will be available at the office/link below (forms will not be accepted after the 30th).

April 1-Student registration will be open. Please make sure you register and update your PowerSchool information.

April 5-ADF+G Assembly: Moose & Bear Awareness in the gym

April 8-Last day of Chess Club

April 8-No Volleyball Club Practice

April 12-Early Release

April 12-6th grade step up @HMS

April 15-Site Council Meeting 4pm-5pm in the Library

April 17-PTO Meeting 4:40 in the Library

April 21-Hosting McNeil vs WHE Volleyball Game

April 24-Spring Concert Rehearsal

April 24-Hosting McNeil vs WHE Volleyball Game

April 25-Spring Concert @HHS

April 26-5th Grade Field Trip

On Monday April 8th (IF “track” free of ice), we will begin the Mileage Club. It will continue through Friday May 3rd.

The Mileage Club provides an opportunity for students to walk or run for fitness. The Mileage Club will be held each morning recess and lunch recess as student/staff coverage allows. The walking/running course will be outside on school grounds and is a building wide program.

Each student is free to walk/run as little or as much as he/she desires during the recess time. Awards will be given. For each 5 miles (20 laps), the student will receive a toe token to place on his/her shoes.

A big shout out to our incredible school nurse Laura! With a heart of gold, she consistently goes above and beyond her job description to support our students every single day. An essential member of our education team, we are incredibly grateful for her dedication and compassionate care. Thank you for all that you do! 🩺💖

Regular attendance at school is a vital part of student success. Parents/guardians are expected to call or email the school by 9:00 am whenever their child will be absent.

• Excused Absence- a parent has notified the school that their child is or will be absent from school.
• Unexcused Absence- a parent has not notified the school that their child is or will be absent from school.
• A student is considered absent from a class period once they are 15 minutes late.
• 7:30 Doors are open
• 8:00 Learning Begins
• 8:05 Student is considered tardy
• 9:00 Student is considered late

When a student will be absent from school for 5 consecutive days or more, a prearranged absence form must be completed and submitted to the office in advance of the absence. The student is expected to be responsible for completing this form and following up with his or her teachers about missing work once he or she is back from the absence.

If a student will be absent more than 10 consecutive days, the parent is required to meet with the principal to discuss the absence and determine next steps.

A letter will be mailed home once a student has reached 10 days absent in a semester, and then every 5 days absent after that.

Open Enrollment begins April 1st for the 2024-2025 school year sign up here: Student Registration – Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (kpbsd.org)

Add funds to your child's lunch account here

Home | Kenai Peninsula Borough SD (revtrak.net)

Check your child's grades and see if you owe any course fees in PowerSchool here

PowerSchool Portal Selection – Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (kpbsd.org)

Are you interested in volunteering at West Homer Elementary School? Complete the KPBSD volunteer application at this link Volunteer in a KPBSD school – Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. Once you are approved, reach out to the office and we can find a way for you to help!

Our child-led talent show was fantastic! We had a wonderful turnout and incredible support from our families. From the MC to the ticket takers, ushers, and backstage helpers, everyone contributed to making it a success. And of course, the talent displayed by our students was truly amazing. It was such an enjoyable experience

Drama Club is led by Sarah Brewer for 5th & 6th grade only. It will begin February 29 and run through April 11. The Club will meet on Thursdays from 3:00 - 4:30pm

Chess club is back again this year. Andy Haas will be teaching Chess Club in the Art Room on Mondays and Thursdays. Students can do one of both days. Chess Club will begin on Monday, October 2 and will run through Thursday April 8th. There will be no chess club on school vacation days, but there will be Chess Club on early release days from 1:30-2:30pm

Megumi Beams will be running another session of Japanese Club this fall for all interested students on Fridays from 3:00pm -4:00pm. Starting January 19th and run through May 10th, 2024.

Susan Darr is coaching our afterschool Volleyball Club on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-4pm. Starting March 25th and run through May 1st. Games and scrimmages will be announced as they become finalized throughout the Month.

Last week our students celebrated "Meet your neighbor kindness week" They complimented others on their personality, they met 3 new people and on Wednesday we wished Mr. Rogers a happy birthday by dressing like him. Our kindness corner is filled with wonderful notes from all the students and haikus were created and read at lunch time. Our students truly appreciate what it means to be kind to one another.

If interested in free/reduced meals, please apply online (http://mealapp.kpbsd.org/ ). Families need to reapply every year. If you would like to add money to your child's lunch account, you can bring cash/check (made out to SNS), sign in and add money through PowerSchool SIS (Lunch Planner), or you can set up an account and pay online- https://kpbsd.revtrak.net/paul-banks-es/.

Breakfast is $2.50 (free if your child is approved for free/reduced meals)

Lunch is $3.50 (or $.40 for students who qualify for reduced meal pricing).

Alaska Japanese Club would like to say thank you to students who participated in our drumming performance and to parents and supporters who helped us display a beautiful float and march with us for the Homer Winter Carnival Parade.

A big thank you to Gary Lyon for driving our float and participating in a float project with Nathan Main. Thank you to Charles Anderson for creating a 50-gallon Taiko drum from a water barrel. He also provided a trailer. Thank you also to Dick Dunn for building a Taiko stand and cutting bulk woods to have students make Japanese drum sticks, Bill Bechtel for sanding them, Amy Russel and Gary Lyon for heavy plastic garden tubs, City of Homer for some 50-gallon barrels and Cathy Stingley for displaying decorations. She also held a peace banner with Mari Botkin and Keeley Dabney. We also thank Donna and George Hall for being our volunteer photographers, Sheila Sabillo, Andon Brothers, Vanessa Albertson and Lexie Sweeney for displaying decorations, Sarah Brewer, Maura Jones, Andrew Redmond, Dave Ronchetto, and Kelly Smith for each of them holding 5 different flags which were the U.S.A National flag, Alaska State flag, Japanese flag, City of Homer and Town of Teshio in Hokkaido in Japan flags. We thank Debbie Smith for making 15 uniforms and headbands, Emma Bowman and Marge Dunn for making signs and paper origami stars and cranes, Genevieve Winrod for graphic designs, Donna Hall and Lisa Asselin for being our financial advisors, Lisa Asselin for snack and hand warmer donations , South Peninsula Hospital for a microphone and a speaker, and City of Homer for 5 flags, Homer United Methodist Church, The Homer Book Store, The Classic Cook, Bear Creek Winery, Ptarmigan Arts, Fire Weed Gallery, Nomar, The Wild Honey, Latitude 59, The Bubble’s and Two Sisters Bakery for accepting our donation boxes, South Peninsula Hospital, Sherry Thompson, Genevieve Winrod, Torie Gutschow, Stanley Shikuma, Barbara Vantine, Tiffany Tamaribuchi, George Remington and Donald Lee Johenning and our community for monetary donations.

We appreciate that Mayor Ken Castner came to say hi to us before the parade started. He always welcomes us and has been supporting us since we started to have Alaska Japanese Club in this community.

Sharing your hearts brought us to win a prize “Best Performing Art” from Homer Winter Carnival Parade in 2024 and the place for Japan-Alaska Sister City-Town Pride FESTA hosted by Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage. At FESTA, online event, there were 24 pieces submitted from Japan and Alaskan residents including my submission, Kevin Co's and a resident from Teshio, our sister city in Hokkaido in Japan. The submission from a resident in Teshio Town got 1st place. My submission regarding the Alaksa Japanese Club was selected 3rd place and Kevin Co also received a prize.

We will keep drumming and singing to share our appreciation with our supporters. Your support will keep us drumming and singing for special events such as the Jubilee Youth Performing Art Show hosted by HCOA on Friday, April 19th and the 40th Anniversary celebration for the relationship between Teshio in Hokkaido, Japan and City of Homer in Alaska, United States in May. We appreciate donations toward Alaska Japanese Club to purchase some Japanese Taiko drums and uniforms for our performance. There are donation boxes in businesses around town and you may donate online at GoFundMe.

Alaska Japanese Club also will celebrate this second year of Japanese class, especially for 6th graders and some teachers who are going to move to other schools next year. We appreciate that Sarah Sims Sensei who is an amazing local pottery artist and an instructor is showing us how to make chopstick holders to give to our sister city, Teshio in Hokkaido in Japan as gifts. We are also making Ramen noodle bowls for students in Alaska Japanese Club for their own use for our celebration in May.

We appreciate your generosity, kindness and your support.

Megumi Beams

Sister City Liaison/ Interpreter

Japanese International Exchange Coordinator/ Instructor

START EARNING FOR OUR SCHOOL with Box Tops

Use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipts for participating products. West Homer Elementary will automatically earn cash with every Box Tops product you buy.

https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/

• KPBSD appreciates our volunteers who make a difference every day in our schools! New and returning volunteers: begin your confidential, online application here: Volunteer in a KPBSD school.
• We encourage and appreciate family members' involvement in their child's education. You are welcome to volunteer in your child's classroom, field trips, and afterschool activities.
• Additionally, we invite family members to join their child for lunch. Prior to your visit, kindly check in with the school office.

Thank you for your support in creating a positive and engaging learning environment for our students