Legacy matters to the Heritage School District.
Now 30 years into the consolidation of the Homer and ABL school districts,
the Heritage District is taking the steps forward to recognize their
students and their heritage.
In September, the board of education approved the development of three
projects focused on recognizing the work of that legacy annually.
“Heritage CUSD #8 just had its 30th anniversary as a Unit district
combining Homer and Allerton-Broadlands-Longview together back in
1989-90,” Superintendent Tom Davis said. “I think with the pandemic,
it’s also good to take time to look back at the history which goes
back a 100-plus years for the schools separately and then coming together
as communities.”
Kristi Sanders, the principal of Heritage Elementary and Junior High
schools has worked on restoring and updating the display of Homer High
School graduation pictures that were deteriorating in their case.
“Some of those pictures go back 100 years,” Davis said.
“It’s just so amazing to see some of the names that I know of farmers
in the area or people that have lived in Homer for five
generations. It’s amazing to see those names mentioned, or pulled up
over and over again,” Homer native Cindy Happ said. “It’s a long
standing community with a lot of families that come back over and over,
which is incredible.”
The district is planning a new photo display for the school located in Homer.
Patti Knott, a guidance counselor at Heritage High School, has been
working on refreshing the academic awards display and developing
military recognition plaques that will be maintained by the National
Honors Society. Graduates who have served in the United States Armed Services
will have their name placed on a plaque in the high school hallway.
“We just want to do something that shows how grateful we are to the
military and all of their sacrifices,” Knott said.
The National Honor Society is also selling bricks to be displayed in
the high school memorial commons area for $40 apiece. Students will
be able to walk in the picnic area, looking at the names of their
family members or role models.
The same idea was applied to the newly-formed Heritage Hall of Fame.
Homer graduate Cindy Happ took the helm of the project after a fall
visit from author Jessica Jenkins, who graduated from Heritage in
2003.
“I know that there are other graduates that have gone on to do big
things, great and important things in the world, why don’t we know
about that?” Happ asked. “And at the high school, why don’t we have
any program to acknowledge them?”
Happ began researching alumni recognition programs at different high
schools. She got acquainted with one in Ohio, but it was the help of
Unity High School Principal Phil Morrison that she felt like she could
accomplish what was needed.
Morrison, who has helped eight other schools develop a Hall of Fame,
gave Happ documents to share with alumni, the board of education and
the inductees and advise on a student liaison and ceremonies.
Happ also hopes that with enough nominees, the Heritage District will
be able to honor graduates from each of the communities served, just
as Unity does.
When she presented to the board in September, she felt like the seven
members were excited about the proposal that includes honoring
graduates who have contributed to their profession or community since
graduation.
Happ believes that the opportunity for students to see what graduates
have accomplished will also help them see where education can take
them.
“Students can go on to accomplish amazing things, academic,
professional or even military achievement,” Happ said. “I know that
they can. I know that they have.
“It would be great to see what our kids have gone on to do,”she said. “I just
think it would be amazing to see physical evidence of that, and to
give those students the honor that they deserve for working so hard.”
The district is currently seeking nominees for the Hall of Fame Class
of 2021. With the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unclear if the ceremony
will be in the spring with the Academic Awards Ceremony or in the fall
as a way to welcome the community back to open doors in the school.
Happ has access to an alumni directory, that’s currently about 200
strong, with the help of music director Justin Lee.
“There’s people who want to know what is going on and who love this
school as much as I do,” Happ said.
The following are links to the forms to nominate Heritage graduates
for all of the Legacy Projects:
Hall of Fame-Military Memorial-Display Bricks Information: https://5il.co/mrg8
Heritage HOF Form: https://5il.co/mrg9
Criteria for Heritage Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame https://5il.co/msdj
Heritage Military Memorial Form: https://5il.co/mrga
Brick Order Form: https://5il.co/mrqy
