Homer Elementary

One of the most important things we can teach our kids is how to be responsible and independent. These skills grow little by little through everyday moments at home and school. The good news? You don’t need big, complicated plans—just small, consistent opportunities for your child to take ownership and make choices.

Here are a few easy ways to build responsibility at home:

• 🧺 Give small jobs. Kids love to help! Have them feed the pet, pick up toys, or set the table. These small tasks build confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

• 👕 Let them do things themselves. Even if it’s messy or takes longer, let them pour their cereal, pick their clothes, or tie their shoes. Independence takes practice!

• 💬 Offer choices. Simple decisions like “Would you like to read or draw first?” or “Do homework at the table or counter?” help them learn decision-making and accountability.

• 🧠 Encourage problem-solving. Instead of fixing everything right away, try asking, “What could you do to solve that?” or “How might you handle it next time?”

• 🏡 Include them in routines. Have them help pack their lunch, plan a meal, or make sure their backpack is ready. When kids contribute, they feel trusted and capable.

Every child develops these skills at their own pace, so celebrate effort and progress along the way! When we give our kids space to try, make mistakes, and keep going, we’re helping them grow into confident, capable, and caring young people.

Thank you for continuing to be such strong partners in your child’s education. Your support at home makes a lasting difference in their growth and success.

✨ Every Knight, Every Minute, Every Day!

We are excited to share that during the month of October; we launched our new Character Counts program that will take place this year for students in preschool through fifth grade. Each month, we will focus on specific character traits that help build a positive, respectful, and caring school community. For our first month, PK–2 students focused on Respect, while grades 3–5 have been learning and practicing Respect, Empathy, Fairness, and Kindness.

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

Each selected student will receive a special bag tag highlighting the trait they excelled in, along with a personalized message from their teacher celebrating their efforts. Students can proudly display their tags on their backpacks as a reminder of the great character they demonstrate every day!

We are so proud of our students for showing these important traits and helping to make our school a welcoming and supportive place for everyone. Let’s make this a year full of character and pride!

If your family would like to include a photo of a

Veteran in our annual Veterans Day slideshow,

please email the photo and information (name and branch of service)

to bridgetanderson@homerknights.org by Friday, November 7th.

This month, our Student Council is leading the way in celebrating gratitude and kindness! Our 3rd–5th grade members will be writing personalized notes of appreciation for our staff members, while our K–2 students will create classroom thank-you messages to share with the school.

We’re also excited to introduce our Wall of Gratitude, where students and staff can add their own messages of thanks and gratitude throughout November. It’s a wonderful way to fill our halls with positivity and appreciation!

In addition, Student Council will begin planning our upcoming Student Council Fun Night—stay tuned for more details soon!

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.

Elementary dismisses at 1:50 on the following dates:

Friday - November 7, 2025 (Professional Development)

Friday - November 14, 2025 (Professional Development)

Friday - November 21, 2025 (Professional Development)

Email: abbieuhl@homerknights.org
Website: www.homerknights.org
Location: 212 South 3rd Street, Homer, NE 68030
Phone: 7123890907
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomerKnights