• Traffic stop at Homer Intemermediate/Junior High

    Dear Homer Schools Community, For those of you dropping off children this morning at Homer Junior High, you may have noticed police officers in the parking lot around 7:30 a.m.  They were conducting a traffic stop, and there were no safety concerns related to that situation.  The police handled the situation, and our buildings remained safe.   Take care and thank you for entrusting your chiild's education to us.   Blue Pride! Click Here to Get Involved New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Monday, Sep 30 2024

  • August 2, 2024 District Update

    Dear Homer Schools Community,   I hope that you are enjoying the summer weather and are finding time to relax with friends and family.  It will be September before we know it!     I am writing to provide updates that will be affect your child for the 2024 – 2025 school year related to the school day schedule.     As I shared last school year, there will be modifications to each school’s daily schedule.  I have included some frequently asked questions about these changes and specific information from each building to aid in your planning.     Q. What are the reasons for the change in start and dismissal times?   There are three primary reasons for the modification to the start and dismissal times:   -Increase student/staff contact time in all buildings -Lessen student safety concerns during dismissal at Homer Elementary and Intermediate Schools -Improve efficiency of transportation   With the completion of the latest capital project, we will have an enlarged parking lot at Homer Elementary and a new parent drop of loop at Homer Intermediate School.  These new areas allow us to get all of our busses to each site at once, greatly shortening the duration of time necessary to dismiss students, and resulting in more student/teacher contact time.   Parents picking up students at Homer Elementary will now be able to drive into the street in front of the school and into the large parking lot instead of parking on Main Street and walking students to their vehicles.   This will allow all students the ability to get to their parent by using the sidewalk and not the roadway.  At the Intermediate, the new parent loop will allow for a similar result.   Q. Do these changes impact all four schools?   All four schools have subtle changes to their schedules for the 2024 – 2025 school year.  They are listed below.   Q. Research supports that elementary aged students should start sooner than secondary aged students. Was this research considered in this decision?   It was not.  To flip the start times of the elementary and secondary schools would have caused a major disruption and inconvenience for our school families.    As stated above, the things that were considered when making this decision was an increase of time that students will be able to work with staff and to improve dismissal safety for students and their families.   Q. Who was involved in this decision? How was feedback solicited from stakeholders?   As stated above, student safety at dismissal, a lack of time to work with students, and transportation efficiency were the driving forces behind the schedule modification. These are topics that we have received a great amount of feedback on for many years from our community and staff.   As a district, it is our responsibility to improve these areas when the opportunity arises.  With the completion of the capital project, we are able to positively affect this change.   We will monitor its effectiveness as we move forward and make any necessary adjustments.   Q. Will the 2024-2025 bus runs be longer given the later dismissal times from the elementary and intermediate schools?   The total time from beginning to end of our district runs remains essentially the same from last year to the 2024-2025 school year.  Individual student times will increase or decrease depending on the runs that are created for this year’s student bus riding population.   The initial runs were shared via ParentSquare last month.  Final updates to those bus runs will be reflected in a later ParentSquare communication to be sent of August 15th.    Q. Would it be possible to get the bus runs out in July so parents can plan any before school and after school care that will be needed?   The first runs were sent out via ParentSquare in July, and the most up to date times will come out on August 15th.   Individual School Building Information   Arrival and Dismissal for Homer Elementary School   Homer Elementary School Day - 8:45-3:20 pm - Late to school is after 9:00 am   Arrival:  8:30 – Students eating breakfast  8:45 - All other walkers   Drop off will look the same as it has in previous years. Walkers enter through the Main Entrance. If your student is a walker and is having breakfast, they may arrive at school no earlier than 8:30 am. Students are not allowed to leave the cafeteria prior to 8:45 am.    Please plan accordingly, as we will not flex on this entry time.  Students arriving after 9:00 am will be considered late to school and must be signed in by a parent/guardian in the Main Office.   Dismissal: 3:10 - Cars may begin to line up in the school’s Main Parking Lot, accessed through Central Park Place. Families are not permitted to access and/or park in the school’s James Street Parking Lot. 3:20 - Walkers released 3:40 - Central Park Place is closed to all cars for bus arrival.   All cars must be out of the loop and lot by 3:40 p.m. 3:50 - Bussers released   This school year, we will no longer have our walker pickup in the front of the Elementary Building. All students - walkers and bussers - will be released from the rear of the Elementary (Cafeteria Exit #11). Please be patient as we work through these new dismissal plans. Efficiency with the new process will be built over time.     Arrival and Dismissal for Homer Intermediate School   Homer Intermediate School Day - 8:45-3:45 pm - Late to school is after 9:00 am   Arrival:  8:30 - Outside supervision available 8:45 - Students may enter the building   Bus drop offs will not change. Please do NOT pull into the main lot at the marquee. This area is only for buses due to student safety.   Drop off area for parent transport will look very different. We will be sharing a video with our new drop off area and parking lot directions before school starts. If your student is a parent drop off between 8:45 and 9:00, they will enter door # 8 by the auditorium. Follow the sidewalk past the playground and enter near the grade 3 wing. Please note- Only right-hand turns are permitted to exit the lot.   Please plan accordingly, as we will not flex on this entry time.    Students arriving after 9:00 am will be considered late to school and must be signed in by a parent/guardian in the Main Office.   Dismissal: 3:30 - Cars may begin to line up in the parent drop off lane to pick up students along the sidewalk and exit through the loop. Please note- Only right-hand turns are permitted to exit the lot. 3:40 - Walkers and bussers are released   Playground area is closed until after all buses have departed the school lot. This is for student safety.   This school year, we ask that you drop pull up all the way to drop off and pick up students. No one will be permitted to park/stand in the rows between parked cars. Efficiency with the new process will be built over time.          Arrival and Dismissal for Homer Junior High School   Homer Junior High School Day - 7:45 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.      Arrival:  7:25- Students will be allowed into the building and will report to the cafeteria.  Breakfast is  available at this time. 7:40- Students will be dismissed to go to their lockers. 7:45- The school day begins.    Drop-off will occur in the new parent parking lot.  Work continues on the new lot and more information will be sent this month to explain traffic patterns.  The main parking lot and bus loop will be closed for student drop-off in the morning.  Please plan to drop your children off by 7:40 a.m. so that they can make it to class on time.     Students who enter the building after 7:45 a.m. will be late for school and will have to sign in at the main office.     Dismissal: 2:40 - All students will be dismissed for buses and pick-up in the parent parking lot.     The main parking lot and bus loop will be closed for student pick-up in the afternoon.   Any students participating in modified sports (grades 7 & 8) will be given directions on where to report to be supervised between dismissal and the start of practices and games.        Arrival and Dismissal for Homer Senior High School     Homer Senior High School Day – 7:50 a.m. to 2:48 p.m.   Arrival: The building will open for students to enter at 7:30 am. Buses will begin dropping students at 7:35 am. Students will be able to get breakfast in the cafeteria or wait in the gymnasium upon arrival. Students will move to period 1 classes starting at 7:50.     Dismissal: Students will be dismissed from school at the end of activity period at 2:48. The Buses home will leave the high school at 2:50. Sports practices will begin at 3:15.     The upper lot has new pavement markings to provide for 2 lanes for drop-off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon. Please pull all the way forward when dropping off or picking up your students.     Parents and students leaving from the Center Street lots are asked to turn right. This will help keep traffic from interfering with school buses who exit the high school bus loop onto Route 281.     Blue Pride! Click Here to Get Involved New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Friday, Aug 02 2024

  • Capital Project Update

    Dear Homer Schools Community,     I am writing to update you on the progress of our capital project and how it will affect access to our district property as the summer progresses.   Homer Elementary School   Work continues on the front of the new and enlarged parking lot off of Central Park Place.  Crews are removing the two utility poles that are in the middle of the lot.  Once that is completed, new asphalt will complete the job along with some minor sidewalk replacement work.  Student bathrooms are being renovated and minor brick repair is being done on one portion of the building.  Lastly, the small parking lot off of James Street will be resurfaced.  While work is ongoing, we ask that people stay out of the identified construction areas to ensure individuals safety.   Intermediate/Junior High Campus   The largest amount of work to be done this summer is on the Intermediate/Junior High campus.   Because of this, we have closed all access to the site until further notice.     This includes the new playground.     Crews are replacing windows, unit ventilators, and renovating other interior spaces (JH library, JH agricultural room, student restrooms, nurse’s suite).  A great deal of site work is also being done with the parent parking lot being removed and replaced with a new parent drop off loop and newly paved lot.   The entire parking lot from the marquee to the back of the building will also be redone.     High School    The remaining work to be completed here includes student restrooms and two of the parking lots on the campus.  Beginning July 12th, both the main lot off of Center Street and the back lot behind the building near the bus garage will be milled and repaved.   We are expecting that both of these lots will be off limits until July 20th.  Please do not attempt to use these lots while they are under construction.   Our district public relations team will be providing video updates of the progress on our social media platforms. Please be on the lookout for those coming soon.   While construction can prove to be challenging to existing district activities, we are excited for the final product.  I appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we improve our district facilities for student, family and community use.  Take care and enjoy the warm weather.     Blue Pride! Click Here to Get Involved New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Wednesday, Jul 10 2024

  • Please Stay involved with Homer Schools!!

    Dear Graduating Students and Family, Congratulations on getting to this special point in your life!  We couldn't be prouder of your accomplishments and look forward to seeing all of the great things you do.  I'm writing to let you know that we would love to have you stay in touch with your alma mater by taking advantage of new ParentSquare groups that we have created.   If this is your last student in our schools or you are a departing senior, please consider joining the community and/or alumni community groups here - https://www.parentsquare.com/community_signups/8987c2f0-3725-4c43-bbff-9a4bb79354d8/new I also want to let you know that your current ParentSquare access will end June 30th.  If you have any files (think report cards) or communications that you would like to maintain, please copy them before this date. Once again, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your life story and best of luck moving forward.  You will always have a home here in Homer! Blue Pride! Click Here to Get Involved New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Tuesday, Jun 25 2024

  • End of year student attendance schedule change

    Dear Homer School Community, With the forecast of extreme heat this week, I am writing to inform you of a change in the student attendance schedule.   Tuesday, June 18, 2024 Shortened Instructional Day…Pre K - 8.  Lunch will be provided prior to dismissal times: Elementary Dismissal           Walkers at 12:05 p.m.; Bussers to follow      Intermediate Dismissal       Walkers at 12:05 p.m.; Bussers to follow Junior High Dismissal           11 a.m. High School Regents as scheduled…utilizing air conditioned spaces. Wednesday, June 19, 2024 No School…Juneteenth Thursday, June 20, 2024 Shortened Instructional Day…Pre K - 8.  Lunch will be provided prior to dismissal times: Elementary  Dismissal      Walkers at 12:05 p.m.; Bussers to follow Intermediate Dismissal      Walkers at 12:05 p.m.; Bussers to follow Junior High Dismissal           11 a.m. High School Regents as scheduled…utilizing air conditioned spaces. Friday, June 21, 2024…last day of school for students Pre K - 8 Full Day of Attendance As of today’s forecast, we will have a full day of attendance for Pre K - 8.  If the situation worsens, we will communicate any change in schedule.   Regents go as scheduled… utilizing air conditioned spaces. I appreciate your flexibility as we continue to provide a safe and memorable last week of school for children.  Take care and thank you for entrusting your child's education to us.   Blue Pride! Click Here to Get Involved New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Monday, Jun 17 2024

  • 2024-2025 School Budget Vote

    Blue Pride! Click Here to Get Involved New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Wednesday, May 22 2024

  • 2024-2025 School Budget Vote is today!!

    Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to remind you that all district residents may vote on the 2024 - 2025 District School Budget today, May 21st.  The polls opened at 7 a.m. and will remain so until 9 p.m. at the Homer Training and Education Center (HTEC).  There will be parking available in the lower lot near Copeland Avenue on the High School campus.   For all of the budget details, including who will be vying for the three available Board of Education openings, please use this link.   https://www.homercentral.org/domain/11 I hope you exercise your right to vote, and make a point to stop down to HTEC today.  While you're there, enjoy all of the wonderful art work by our talented students! Take care and thank you for entrusting your child's education to us. Blue Pride! Click Here to Get Involved New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Tuesday, May 21 2024

  • 2024 - 2025 School Start/Dismissal Times

    Dear Homer Schools Community, I hope that this communication finds you well.  I am writing to give you an update on an item of interest that will affect your child for the 2024 – 2025 school year. 2024 – 2025 School Start/Dismissal Times In an effort to better coordinate the drop off and pick up of students, we are announcing subtle changes for the 2024 – 2025 school year.  They will allow us to increase instructional time with students Pre K – 12 and improve safety for school families each afternoon at Homer Elementary School. Start Times Grades 6-12….7:45 a.m.      Junior High                                            8:00 a.m.     Senior High             Pre K – 5……...8:45 a.m.  Elementary                         8:45 a.m.  Intermediate Dismissal Grades 6-12….2:40 p.m.  Junior High                         2:50 p.m.  High School Pre K – 5……..3:35 p.m.      Elementary Walkers                        3:40 p.m.      Intermediate Bussers                        3:40 p.m.      Intermediate Walkers                         3:50 p.m.      Elementary Bussers At Homer Elementary, we will use the expanded parking lot and Central Park Place for the pick up of student “walkers” prior to the busses arriving from Homer Intermediate.  We expect these changes to greatly improve traffic flow and safety of students/families at the end of the day.  More details will be shared as we move through the spring and summer.     I wanted to inform you of the changes to give you ample time to plan for any changes to morning and afternoon routines for next fall.  Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.    Blue Pride! Click Here to Get Involved New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Thursday, May 16 2024