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For information about Scholarships, see our Guidance Tab within this newsletter!
Academic Support and Tutoring
Classroom Teacher Support: Communicate with your teacher(s)! Ask for help! Every teacher will be willing to work with you! Students should make every effort to work with specific teachers before or after school.
National Honor Society (NHS): Free Tutoring in all subjects from our Junior and Senior National Honor Society students is available. Email your counselor to start the process of being matched with an NHS tutor.
Peer/Student Math tutors: See your math teacher for a list of student tutors and contact information. Don't forget about the Math Resource Room available during your Study Hall period.
Spanish: In this handout, students can see when Spanish teachers are available both before and after school for extra help.
Ask Rose: Ask Rose is a free math and science tutoring service for Indiana and other students in grades 6-12. Tutors are Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students who major in math, science or engineering—which means they’re more than equipped to help with just about any math or science homework problem. The program is certified by the National Tutoring Association. Click here for more information!
PSAT DAY
PSAT DAY
Tuesday, October 8th is PSAT day for sophomores and juniors. The PSAT measures base knowledge that can be used when signing up for dual credit courses. For Ivy Tech Dual Credit courses, students have to prove that they understand certain concepts in math and reading to apply for the dual credit. Normally, students have to reach a minimum score on at least 1 Knowledge Assessment (KA) to apply for the dual credit, but this can be skipped if a student reaches the minimum score on the PSAT. Each course has different requirements. For example, engineering and technology courses require a KASTEM math, while an English course requires a KAReadWrite. The minimum PSAT scores to apply for Ivy Tech dual credits are 26 in reading and 25 in writing (or a 430 total Evidence-Based Reading Writing score). The minimum math score for non-math or chemistry courses is 24.5. The minimum math score for MATH-123 & CHEM-101 is 25, while the minimum score for MATH-135, MATH-136, & MATH-137 is 27. Homestead's Course Description Guide is a great resource that shows the minimum scores required for application into each of the dual credit courses.
Freshmen will stay at home and complete e-learning. They will meet with their advisory teacher on Zoom who will help them plan their 4-year high school career. This includes taking personality assessments and planning which high school courses would be best for their diploma and post-secondary plans. The expectation is that by the end of the day, Freshmen will have a solid 4-year plan. Seniors will use the day to prepare for their future through college visits, job shadowing, college research, application letters, or by working towards completing their Graduation Pathways.
All Sophomores and Juniors will be taking the PSAT in preparation for the SAT. Sophomores and Juniors will report to school at the normal 7:40 start time and go to their advisory class. See PowerSchool for your advisory teacher's name and room number. After completing the test, students will eat lunch and attend periods 5, 6, and 7.
Grade 9:
On Tuesday, October 8th, Grade 9 students will be supported by their Advisor and working from home (eLearning) to accomplish the following:
Students will utilize the provided resources on Canvas to explore career interests.
Students will create or update their working academic course four-year plan for high school.
Students will create a Dual Enroll account with Ivy Tech Community College in preparation of the opportunity to earn free, transferable college credit during their time at HHS. Parents, please know that students will need access to their social security numbers to complete this application.
Grade 10:
October 8 is the PSAT exam (on campus at Homestead) for ALL sophomores.
Grade 10 students are expected to be at school at the normal 7:40 start time. Students will test in your Advisory teacher’s classroom. Please see your schedule in PowerSchool for your Advisory teacher’s name and classroom number. Students will still eat lunch at school on this day after completing the test, as well as have periods 5 and 7.
Grade 11:
October 8 is the PSAT exam (on campus at Homestead) for ALL juniors.
Grade 11 students are expected to be at school at the normal 7:40 start time. Students will test in your Advisory teacher’s classroom. Please see your schedule in PowerSchool for your Advisory teacher’s name and classroom number. Your PSAT exam will be followed by a state-required college and career activity that you will complete with your Advisory teacher. You will receive access to a personalized career exploration account during this presentation. Grade 11 students will eat lunch with their advisory on this day as well as attend period 7.
Grade 12:
Tuesday, October 8th is a day designated for seniors to participate in postsecondary opportunities outside of the school building. Seniors will not report to school on Tuesday, October 8th but will pursue a post-secondary activity of interest instead. While sophomores and juniors are completing PSAT testing in school on this day, seniors will be afforded the opportunity to gain information regarding their postsecondary aspirations.
Some options to consider on this day include:
● Job Shadow –Make arrangements to go to work with someone in a career of interest. The day may be split between two occupations.
● Postsecondary Visits - Make arrangements to visit, virtually or on-site, places that the student is considering attending for post-secondary training, certifications, or degrees. This includes any location where the student would be able to receive valuable information and guidance concerning their post-secondary aspirations, such as visiting businesses to learn about potential apprenticeships, traveling to a base or recruiting center to learn about enlisting in the military, traveling to a college campus to learn more about degree programs and scholarship opportunities, etc. Parents are encouraged to participate in these activities with their students. Students and their parents who wish to visit a location in person are reminded to make an appointment in advance so that the facility they will be visiting is prepared to provide information and answer questions. Use the institution’s website to locate contact information and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Students and parents may also explore post-secondary opportunities virtually, visiting websites and learning more about the career and college options they are considering.
● Other Educational Activities - Seniors may also use this day to complete other post-secondary activities, such as writing college essays, working on and completing college applications, and/or applying for scholarships. Please visit Homestead's Scholarship page for links and information regarding scholarship opportunities.
AP Exam Information
AP Exam Information
Dear AP Students and parents:
For the 2025 AP exam administration, all AP exams will be ordered and paid for this fall. With the help of their teacher, students have been creating and using their College Board accounts to join AP classrooms. This online activation process REGISTERS THEM FOR THEIR AP EXAM, thus making the registration process easier.
AP exam payments will still be handled the same way, with a form and the $99 exam payment due to Homestead High School. Once again, several exams are being paid for by the State of Indiana. Please take a look at the included AP Application for those exams marked free. Please note that a maximum of three exams per student, per year are free. Any student on free and reduced lunch will also have their exams covered by the State. Please indicate on the form at the bottom if you are on free or reduced lunch.
It is crucial that students return the attached form with payment (if required) by October 23rd, so that Homestead’s AP exam order can be submitted by the deadline set by the College Board. As stated above, students have been electronically registered for their AP exams using the new digital activation process. If payment is not received by the October 23rd deadline, students' exams may be cancelled by the AP Coordinator. College Board has informed all schools that additional fees will apply to any exams ordered after the deadline. See below for details.
*If you order an exam after the November 15 deadline, you will pay the base exam fee of $99 + a $40 late order fee. If the exam is a free exam, you will be billed by Homestead HS the late order fee of $40.
*If you decide to cancel an exam after November 15, or not sit for an exam in May, you will be charged $40. If you paid for an exam, you would receive a $59 refund, and for free exams, you will be billed by Homestead for $40.
Below is the form ALL students need to complete and submit if you plan on taking an AP exam. Please mark free exams as well. Should you have questions regarding the AP registration process, please feel free to contact Amy Hamilton, AP Coordinator at 260-431-2212 or ahamilton@sacs.k12.in.us
Courses & Details
Courses & Details
The first course is Principles of Biomedical Science(PBS). This is open to any grade level with prerequisite or current enrollment in Biology.
The second course is entitled Human Body Systems(HBS). Prerequisites include Biology I, passing grades in PBS, and finished or current enrollment in Algebra II.
The third course is the line up is Medical Interventions. Prerequisites include passing grades in HBS and finished or current enrollment in Algebra II.
The last course available is Biomedical Innovation. Prerequisites include passing grades in Medical Interventions and finished or current enrollment in Algebra II.
If you are interested in these courses, check out the resources linked below to learn more. Remember to sign up for these classes when making your 2024-25 course selections!
Biomedical Science Video, presented by Tammy Behrens, one of the teachers for this course track
PLTW Biomedical Program at Homestead
PLTW Biomedical Program at Homestead
The PLTW Biomedical Science program is a four-year course of study for highly motivated students that focuses on all aspects of both medical and biomedical careers with an inquiry-based approach. Each course counts as a science elective credit, which can apply toward the required six science credits necessary for a Core-40 diploma or above. All four courses are not required; however, each course is a prerequisite to the next one. All courses have individual research, group collaboration, and informative and interactive activities. Students going into the medical or STEM field have found these courses very helpful. 2021 Homestead graduate, Josie Gery loved how the program helped her "develop lab skills that [she] used in upper level science classes in high school and now in college."
The Spartana
The Spartana
Hello Spartans!
As we approach November, The Spartana is committed to informing students about the 2024 General Election. The Spartana staff has worked tirelessly this month to bring you the election issue! In this issue, you can learn about the presidential candidates' ideologies, how presidential fashion influences voters, and the inner workings of Homestead's student government. If politics isn't your thing, you can read about sports, celebrities, the Olympics, and the ESPY Awards. There's something for everyone!
Here's the link to the election issue:
https://www.flipsnack.com/CBC8B9FF8D6/spartana-issue-2-september-1c5r0fihp8/full-view.html
Additionally, we're thrilled to announce Spartana Games! We've launched our first election-themed crossword on our website hhsspartana.com. Check it out!
Happy reading!
Final Exam Info
FINAL EXAM REMINDER – Mandatory Attendance
Final exams are scheduled for the last 3 days of each semester.
First Semester Final Exam Dates: December 18, 19, and 20 (No Parent Excused Absences Allowed)
Second Semester Final Exam Dates: May 23, 27, and 28 (No Parent Excused Absences Allowed)
Students are expected to attend these days to take their final exams.
Parent/student vacations should be scheduled after the end of each semester…noting that the second-semester exam schedule may change due to cancellation days.
Students may NOT be parent-excused on final exam days. Students are expected to be present in school each day and for the entire day during final exams.
Any student absent during final exams will be considered unexcused and will receive a zero on exams/projects/papers/etc., regardless of the time in which they were completed. For example, a student who is required to give a presentation before a final exam day for a final grade must be in attendance for the scheduled final exam day for that class to receive credit.
To provide students with the critically important scheduled review days, and to maintain test security, no exams will be given in advance of the scheduled days.
Please make your plans accordingly. To preserve the integrity of our final exams, exceptions will not be made.
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