The Weekly Update #4

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.

Orca Families:

We launched right into a new semester of learning today amidst the winter storm. While the extreme weather kept us inside (windchill down to -13 degrees), it did not keep us from reconnecting with eachother and continuing on our academic journey together.

Academic Progress:

Our winter testing results are in, and we continue to be a high achieving, high growth school! The collective efforts of staff, parents, and students is showing in student outcomes across the board. (see data charts below)

Artist In Residence: Chinese brush painting with Sharlene Cline.

We begin our 2 week artist in residency program this week. (See below for more details)

School Consolidation Update:

There is no new information regarding the potential closure of Paul Banks Elementary and consolidation with West Homer. It will be important to pay attention to the school board meeting on January 12th at 6:00pm to get the latest information on how the district will be address the $7.5 million dollar budget deficit we are facing for next year. https://kpbsd.org/board/

Winter Weather:

Winter weather has arrived! Just a reminder to send your child with outdoor weather gear for the season (boots, gloves, hat, snow pants, jacket). We go outside right up until -10 degrees Fahrenheit. If you need winter gear, we have a stockpile here - just check in at the office to request. Sledding at recess will begin this week. Watch this video with your child so they are prepared if they want to particpate! Sledding Video

We are excited to welcome Sharlene Cline as our Artist in Residence this year. She led our staff in a Chinese brush painting workshop on Monday and the students began their 2 week session today. Amazing how important posture, body position, focus, and breathing are to learning this art form. Through the process students also learn the importance of acceptance of mistakes, perseverance, and maintaining a postive attitude when trying something new and unfamiliar - all crucial habits to aquire for life success.

Year after year, Mrs. Moore makes holiday magic through the Winter Performances. What a gift to us all!

Our mid year MAP testing provides us with valuable information about individual student progress and school-wide progress that helps us tailor support where it is needed most. As you can see from the following data, West Homer continues to be a High Growth, High Achievement school in all assessed areas (Reading, Language use, and Math) when compared to over 24,000 schools across the country! Each green dot represents a grade level, and every grade level is in the High Growth, High Achievment quadrant!

Jan 6- Back to school

Chess Club begins 3pm Tu/Fri

PTO Meeting canceled for weather

Artist In Schools 6th-16th

Jan 8- Battle of the Books 11:20am

Jan 12- School Board Meeting 6pm

Jan 14- D&D Club begins 3pm

Jan 15- Battle of the Books 11:20

Jan 16- Early Release 1:20

Jan 22- Battle of the Books 11:20

Jan 26- XC Ski club begins 3pm M/W

Site Council Meeting 4pm

Jan 27- Shakespeare Club begins 3-4:30pm T/Th

Jan 29- 100th Day of School

Jan 30- Lunch & Play 11:20

Chess Club begins Jan 6 @3pm in the art room. It will run Tu and Fridays until May 15

D & D begins Jan 14 @ 3pm in Mr. Crowl's room. It will run on Wed until March 4

XC Skiing begins Jan 26 @ 3pm. It will run Mon and Wed until March 4

Shakespeare Club begins Jan 27 @ 3-4:30pm. It will run until Mar 31st

Japanese Club begins Feb 6 @3pm. It will run on Fridays until May 15

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District requests input from staff, parents, and community members at the districtwide KPBSD budget meetings scheduled at the following times:

• Homer Community – Homer High Library, Tuesday, February 10 at 6pm
• Central Peninsula Community – Kenai Central High Library, Tuesday, February 17th at 6pm
• Seward Community – Seward High Library, Wednesday, February 18th at 6pm

A Zoom link will be provided for each individual meeting.

Additional information and the number to call in with questions will be posted on the Events Calendar on the KPBSD website. As new budget information becomes available, it will also be posted on the Finance page. If you have questions, please call Natalie Bates at (907) 714-8888.

There will be a .10 cent increase