Homer Elementary

K–5 Winter Benchmark Assessments

Over the next two weeks, our K–5 students will be participating in important assessments that help us understand their learning and guide our instruction. These assessments are one way we measure growth, identify strengths, and determine the best supports for each student.

MAP Growth (Grades 3–5)
📅 December 1–5
📝 Reading & Math
🔬 5th grade will also take Science

AIMSweb Benchmarking (K–5)
📅 December 8–12
📝 Reading & Math

These data points help us strengthen instruction, place students in appropriate interventions, and ensure we are meeting each learner where they are.

💡 How Families Can Support
Small things make a big difference! You can help your child feel confident and prepared by:
✔️ Ensuring they get a full night of sleep and a healthy breakfast
✔️ Encouraging them to do their best, knowing this is just one way to show what they know
✔️ Making sure they arrive at school on time
✔️ Keeping mornings calm, predictable, and positive

Thank you for your partnership in helping every child grow, learn, and reach their full potential. We are proud of our students and excited to see all they accomplish! 🌟

Winter Weather is Coming!

Are you ready to receive messages from school?

Cancellations, late starts, and early dismissals due to weather will be broadcast on the Sioux City TV stations, posted on Facebook and the webpage, and text messaged and phone call messaged through School Messenger.

If you have not signed up for the text alerts, you can participate in this free service just by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our school’s short code number, 67587.
You can also opt out of these messages at any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop”.

Recess:
❄️ The weather is quickly changing! ❄️

As the weather chills and soon the snow begins to fly, your child will need snowpants, boots, winter coat, gloves, and a hat to play in the snow. Children will be going outside for recess if the real feel temperature is above 0°.

✨ Every Knight, Every Minute, Every Day!

We are excited to continue building on the success of our Character Counts program! In November, students in preschool through fifth grade focused on three important character traits: Responsibility, Dependability, and Honesty. These qualities play a key role in creating a trustworthy, safe, and supportive school environment, and we look forward to seeing our students practice them throughout the month.

Each week, teachers will nominate one student from their class who best models the featured trait. These students will be recognized during our Friday morning assembly for demonstrating outstanding character, leadership, and positive behavior.

Each selected student receives a special bag tag highlighting the trait they excelled in, along with a personalized message from their teacher acknowledging their efforts. These tags can be displayed on students’ backpacks as a lasting reminder of the great character they show each day. In addition, recognized students are invited to enjoy a VIP lunch with Mrs. Schmidt, celebrating their leadership and positive contributions to our school community.

When you are here for the holiday concerts, I encourage you to take a moment to check out our Character Counts display! Posters and photos of our recognized students are proudly showcased near the elementary bathrooms, so be sure to stop by and celebrate their accomplishments.

We are incredibly proud of our students for embracing these meaningful traits and contributing to a school community built on respect, responsibility, and kindness. Let’s continue making this a year full of character and pride!

2nd Quarter

Hello November! I hope you are all enjoying the cooler temperatures, I know I am! During our guidance classes, we are utilizing the Second Step Elementary program, a research-based social-emotional learning initiative designed to enhance children's social-emotional competencies. The skills and concepts taught through Second Step aim to benefit children in both their academic and personal lives. Please find and click on your child’s grade level below to see the themes that your child will be exploring during our sessions, as well as ways you can support these skills at home. As always, please feel free to reach out to me anytime at veronicaschmidt@homerknights.org

Kindergarten: Unit 2: Emotion Management

First: Unit 2: Emotion Management

Second: Unit 2: Emotion Management

Third: Unit 2: Emotion Management

Fourth: Unit 2: Emotion Management

Fifth: Unit 2: Emotion Management

Our elementary enrichment students put on their engineer hats this week! They explored what it means to be environmental engineers by designing and building dams and levees to protect a model town from flooding. With creativity, teamwork, and lots of problem-solving, they learned how real engineers keep communities safe. A special thanks to Kaylyn Kelley from the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District for guiding our young engineers through this hands-on learning experience!

3rd-5th Grade Representatives

Our Student Council worked hard in November spreading kindness throughout our school, and they’re keeping that momentum going! This month, they will help decorate our Holiday Hallway, adding fun and festive touches for everyone to enjoy.

They will also be busy supporting our annual Cardinal Food Drive by helping count, sort, and organize all the donated items. Their leadership and teamwork are making a real difference for our school and our community.

Great job, Student Council—keep shining!

TeamMates of Homer Facebook Group

What is Nebraska SMART?

Nebraska SMART, operated by the Nebraska State Colleges, employs teacher education candidates attending Chadron, Peru, and Wayne State Colleges as Tutors to provide free online tutoring services for K-12 students across rural Nebraska. Tutoring takes place through an online platform with audio and video where students and Tutors can use a shared whiteboard. Below are links to Nebraska SMARTS website, Facebook, Instagram, and X.