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Homewood City Schools
Information & Updates from Homewood City Schools
February 6, 2025
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Parents and Guardians,
As we step into February, I am pleased to share that 2025 is off to a fantastic start in our schools!
Our students have returned with enthusiasm, and our dedicated teachers and staff are working hard to ensure a productive and engaging learning environment. It has been wonderful to see the energy in our classrooms, the excitement for new opportunities, and the strong sense of community among our students and families.
As we continue through the semester, we remain committed to supporting every student’s success. There are many great accomplishments to celebrate in this newsletter and many great ways for you to engage with your schools.
Thank you for your continued support of our schools!
Dr. Justin Hefner
Superintendent
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2025-2026 Teachers of the Year
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The Alabama Teacher of the Year Program seeks annually to honor and recognize excellence in the teaching profession by identifying outstanding Alabama teachers at local, district, and state levels.
We are thrilled to announce the Teacher of the Year winners from each of our schools! These five individuals embody the dedication and skill of the incredible teachers across our district.
- Dr. Katie Thomas, Kindergarten, Edgewood Elementary
- Ashley Chance, 4th Grade, Hall-Kent Elementary
- Mandie Gibbs, Special Education, Shades Cahaba Elementary
- Zach Vorenkamp, 7th Grade Social Studies, Homewood Middle
- Leslie Anastasia, English, Homewood High School
We are proud to announce that Dr. Katie Thomas has been selected as the Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Leslie Anastasia has been named the Secondary Teacher of the Year for our district!
Please join us in congratulating these exceptional educators and thanking them for their dedication to maintaining our high standard of excellence in the classroom.
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Thank you HCS School Board
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January was School Board Appreciation Month. We're so thankful for our fantastic board members. They each play a pivotal role in helping our district continue to help all students maximize their unique potential.
HCS Board Members (as pictured; left to right):
- Sheetal Cordry
- Judy Pruitt
- Stephanie Mays
- Justin Russell
- David Thompson
Our schools did a fantastic job celebrating and honoring our board members through creative posters and signs, letters of thanks, and special artwork.
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Don't miss a fun weekend of basketball at Homewood High School! Both varsity teams won their area championships and move on to their sub regional games. The girls play Huffman Friday night at 6 pm, and the boys play Mountain Brook on Saturday night at 6 pm. Both games will be at HHS! Be sure to buy your tickets early, wear red, and get loud!
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2025-2026 Course Registration
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Elementary: We encourage all Homewood families who plan to send their child to Kindergarten next year to complete our Kindergarten Information Form linked here!
Middle: Current 6th & 7th grade parents please plan to attend the Course Selection Parent Meeting on Thursday, February 20th at 6 pm in the HMS Cafeteria.
8th Grade: Parents should save the date for 8th Grade Parent Night on March 18th at 6 pm in the HHS Auditorium.
High School: Power Scheduler will open next week and close on February 19th for all 9th-11th grade students. Counselors and students will meet the end of February to review selections and four-year plans. More information forthcoming!
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The Great Kindness Challenge
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Last week, Homewood Middle School participated in the Great Kindness Challenge. The week was focused on creating a culture of kindness throughout the school. The locker decorating contest was a highlight, and showcased the thoughtfulness and creativity of HMS students!
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Long-Range Facilities Planning Update
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On January 23rd, 2025, Hoar Project Management (HPM) hosted a community meeting to discuss our ongoing facilities assessment. During the meeting, HPM presented their research and findings on several key topics, including:
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Current enrollment and school capacity: This included data on current student numbers and the capacity of each school building as related to its programming needs.
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Current and projected system repairs: HPM outlined necessary repairs and upgrades to school facilities, both in the near future and long term.
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Community task force considerations: Initial feedback and ideas from the community task force were shared and discussed.
Community members actively participated in the meeting, asking questions and providing valuable input about HCS facilities and student needs.
HCS and HPM are still in the planning process. There are no concrete plans or proposals for any specific changes to our facilities at this time. As we progress through the planning process, HCS may hold another town hall meeting or offer zoom sessions. We will communicate any future meetings on the website and through ParentSquare.
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Homewood Middle Basketball Teams Win Metro
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A huge congratulations to the HMS 8th grade girls basketball team and the HMS 7th grade boys basketball team for winning their Metro tournaments! We're thankful for our fantastic coaches, supportive parents, and dedicated athletes. Go Patriots!
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Emma Brooke Levering Awarded Gatorade Player of the Year 2024-2025
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Emma Brooke Levering has been awarded the Gatorade Player of the year 2024-2025. The Gatorade Player of the year is the most elite award in high school sports, and EB has won it for the second year in a row.
She is recognized for her athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. We are so proud of you, EB!
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HWD Boys Win State Indoor Track Title
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Homewood's Indoor Track teams competed in the State Championship on February 1st, 2025. We're proud of all of the hard-work of these amazing athletes!
A huge congratulations to our Boys team for winning the 2025 6A Indoor Track State Championship! Congratulations to Colvin Bussey for winning State in both the 400 and 800, and Tomon Felton for winning the Long Jump. Unbelievable job!
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HHS Show Choir Shows Out in First Competition of the Season
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For the first time in Homewood Show Choir History, all three groups placed 1st in their division at the same competition! These performers are in for a fun and special season. Please see the awards by group below and don't miss the Homewood Showcase at HHS on March 6th at 7 pm!
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The Network: Grand Champion, Best Overall Effect, Best Choreography, Best Vocals
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Continuum: Best Overall Effect, Best Choreography, 1st Place - Middle Mixed
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Nexus: Best Overall Effect, Best Choreography, 1st Place - Unisex Division
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Don't miss Shades Cahaba's Winter Festival on February 22nd from 12-4 pm!
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Make plans to attend Edgewood's Spring Festival on April 12th from 3-7 pm!
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Throughout the school year, be sure to use the hashtag #WeAreHWD or tag our schools on Instagram as we celebrate this school year together.
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The mission of Homewood City Schools is to educate and empower all students to maximize their unique potential.
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