Announcments
SACS solar eclipse plans
This total solar eclipse – the first to touch Indiana since the 1869 and the last to touch Fort Wayne until 2099 - will arc across Indiana from southwest to northeast. All areas of Indiana will experience 90-100% totality. However, only places within the 115-mile-wide path of totality e.g., Bloomington, Indianapolis, Muncie, will see a total solar eclipse lasting between three and four minutes. Here in Fort Wayne, the moon will start to cover the sun at approximately 1:53 p.m. and will reach it’s maximum eclipse (99.8%) around 3:10 p.m. The moon will have completely moved off the sun by 4:24 p.m.
The Great North American Eclipse is a valuable, rare opportunity for students to witness and learn about the universe. We are excited to safely share this celestial learning event with your child. You are encouraged to visit Indiana Department of Education’s website for further eclipse information and resources.
Our choice to implement an eLearning Day (asynchronous) stems from various considerations. Originally slated to mark the return to school after Spring Break, it has become evident that we are encountering staffing challenges, compounded by a severe shortage of substitutes available to work that day. Moreover, our ongoing bus driver shortage may exacerbate the situation. Considering both the convenience of our families and the uncertainty surrounding our ability to adequately staff our schools for a meaningful and productive day, it is crucial that we take proactive measures by announcing April 8 as an eLearning Day with ample notice.
By declaring April 8 as an eLearning Day, we hope to allow our community to fully experience and appreciate the solar eclipse phenomenon without losing our opportunity to utilize the event as an educational tool, enriching the learning experience for our students. Lastly, by using one of our three state allotted eLearning Days, it eliminates the need to extend the school calendar year.
In advance of the total solar eclipse in Spring 2024, SACS would like to advise you that SACS will shift to an eLearning Day. Instead of having classroom teachers assign work, all Homestead students will complete a solar eclipse module. All students can access the solar eclipse module in their Class of 2024, 2025, 2026, or 2027 class that is found under "Subjects" in Canvas.
vaccine requirement for class of 2025
Attention class of 2025: A 2nd Meningitis MCV4 vaccine is required for Senior year. All vaccines must be up to date with the nurses’ office by the first day of school and students not up to date will be unable to attend school beginning September 4th, 2024.
Seniors: What are Your Post-Secondary plans?
We are asking that EVERY senior click on the link below to share post-graduation plans (military, collegiate, workforce, etc.). In order to be included in Academic Awards Night (May 15), we ask that you also complete the survey with any scholarships and/or community awards you have been offered.
homestead prom
Homestead's Prom will be at the Grand Wayne Center from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 4. The Theme is The Roaring Twenties. Tickets will go on sale during all lunches starting Monday, April 22. Tickets will be $30 from April 22 through April 26 and then increase to $35 the week of April 29. Tickets will be $40 at the door on the night of Prom. Please be sure to put your ticket in a safe spot as Student Government cannot refund you for a lost ticket or replace a lost or forgotten ticket.
Prom is for juniors and seniors. Freshmen and sophomores are only allowed to attend prom if they are the guest of (and accompanied by) a junior or senior. If your guest is from another school, you must complete this Prom Guest Form and return it to HHS. Juniors and seniors can also bring a guest who has graduated as long as he or she is younger than 21 years old. Completed guest forms must be delivered in-person to the Discipline Office by 3 p.m. Friday, April 26, 2024. No late forms will be accepted.
Spring Arts Week
Spring Arts Week will take place April 22-24th in the new Art Wing in the front of the building. Pieces will be displayed in the first floor hallway, classroom windows, small studios, and some in art classrooms. The gallery will be open for viewing from 7:15-3:15. The gallery will also be open during Coffee House which will be hosted by the National Honors Society from 6:00-8:30 pm on April 24th. As well as the gallery, there will be live musical performances by students, refreshments, baked goods, and artwork for sale. Parents and guests are welcome to tour the gallery by entering Door 33 or 34 off of Homestead Road to see the fine work created by students at Homestead throughout the year!
Summer Courses
The Free Summer Classes for High School Students program is back for the 2024 summer. Interested students’ first step is to use the QR code or URL on the attached flyer to fill out the linked the form. Students who fill out the form are not committing to anything yet, and are also not guaranteed to be registered for classes. The form simply collects some required information from the student, including their courses of interest and also provides some information regarding classes and expectations for the summer term. Once students fill out the form, we will work through the requests in the order they are received and respond via email. Be aware that our team works with 65+ high schools, so the volume of requests may cause a delay in our response.
2 IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW…
Only current high school students, graduating classes of 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027 are eligible for this funding. Current 8th/rising 9th graders are not.
Funding is NOT guaranteed. We will do everything we can to help as many students as possible, but there is a chance that funding will run out. If necessary, and when possible, priority will be given to upperclassmen.
National School Lunch Hero Day
Happy School Lunch Hero Day! On May 3th, prepare to celebrate the heroes who make lunches possible here at Homestead High School.
Be sure when you are walking through the lunch lines on Friday, May 3th to thank your lunch heroes for everything that they do for Homestead. Also, get creative and make some cards, crafts, and drawings for our lovely lunch staff with this link! https://schoolnutrition.org/resource/slhd23-student-activities/
Japan travel opportunity: SPRING 2026
We’re going to Japan in the spring of 2026, and you’re invited!
We are excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner. Please use this link to register for the March 7th information session to be considered for this opportunity: https://bit.ly/3woKTZX
In this information session, we’ll talk about:
· How this opportunity will benefit you/your student
· What we’ll see and do in Japan
· Everything that’s included in this experience
· How your child can earn academic credit
· How we’re keeping this trip safe and affordable
· How to enroll on this trip during EF’s risk-free enrollment period
There are limited spots available, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!
For more information or details, contact Mrs. Brown at 260-431-2331
Greece travel opportunity: SUmmer 2025
In December, the next travel opportunity was announced, and they are traveling to Greece! This trip is being planned with EF Tours, an education travel partner. There will be an informational meeting for those interested on April 18. The session will talk about the trip events, travel logistics, payments, earning trip credits, and how to enroll. They will meet in the Grey Box at 6:00pm. There are limited spots, so contact Mrs. Nancy Bogdonanwicz at nbogdonanwicz@sacs.k12.in.us as soon as possible if you are interested.
woodside fun run and 5k
On Saturday, May 18, Woodside is hosting a 1-mile run and a 5-kilometer run. Both events are open to all ages and fitness levels, so feel free to walk the mile or 5K with friends, family, or co-workers. This would be a great way to promote wellness and unity amongst staff and school families. The Fun Run (1 mile) is $5 per person and starts at 9AM. The 5 kilometer runs costs $15 and starts at 9:30AM. Those participating in the 5K will also get a T-shirt. The proceeds from this event will fund a new projector for the band room and risers for the choir room. Registration for the runs ends April 30th, so make sure the scan the QR code on the flyer to the right!
Environmental Club Debit club
The Environmental Center (EC) is an amazing piece of SACS land utilized by many of our Science teachers here at Homestead. The Environmental Center is composed of almost 30 acres of woods with 10 wood-chipped trails with a pond, wetlands, and cabin. The original cabin burned down so Mr. Douglas Waldman’s ecology classes fundraised and hand-built the current cabin during class under the watchful eyes of experts in their appointed fields. Due to his commitment to both his students and preserving nature, the cabin was dedicated in 1984 and named after the man, the myth, the living legend, Wally.
Students in the Environmental Science classes, clubs, or anyone willing to walk the distance can use the EC to fully absorb nature and what it has to offer. People can also rent out the cabin for activities. SACS is able to maintain the upkeep of the Environmental Center thanks to several dedicated teachers and financial donations. Sadly, it can be expensive to mulch the trails and keep the log cabin in fully functioning order. If you are interested in helping SACS keep this learning goldmine that no other district offers within the state of Indiana, consider getting the Homestead Debit Card from Midwest America. Every time this card is swiped, a small donation is made that goes directly toward the upkeep of this treasured piece of land. This is a great way to support the EC, but also students and Homestead as a whole. Feel free to email Ms. Merkling at smerkling@sacs.k12.in.us for more questions!
Aerial View of the Environmental Center
Boardwalks that were paid for from funds raised funds from the Midwest Debit Card purchases and built by Mrs. Merkling, Mr. Jaeger, and Homestead students.
Drivers Education
The class for Driver Education at Homestead began on January 22, 2024. Students will receive a CDE form during the first week of class. The CDE form is what a student takes to a local BMV to get their learner's permit. During the second week of class students will also pick a drive time for the summer of 2024. The cost of the driving portion is $315. A student must be 15 years old before January 22 in order to start this class. For more information including date sessions, please click the arrow icon in the upper right corner of the document to the right.
