Happy Monday,

This week we celebrate Homecoming with our community. Current students are busy creating new memories as we honor our alumni. This will be a busy spirit week on campus, but we are only three weeks from the end of the second marking period. Hence, time management and self-care are important for students participating in Homecoming activities.

Student Shoutouts

Joseline Ramirez is an active participant in class activities and she diligently works on class assignments. ~Mrs. Gomez, English Teacher

Karina Montelongo Reyes shows up every day with the best attitude, ready to learn!! I love how she asks when she needs help. Karina rocks! ~Ms. Ross, English Teacher

Staff Shoutout

Sr. Miguel Gomez- Zavala is just plain AWESOME. He is helpful, never says NO if I ask him for his assistance. He is very respectful and honorable, he treats everyone with the utmost respect. I have never seen him upset, regardless of what is happening in his life, he always has a big, warm smile that automatically puts everyone at ease. He is a great asset to the World Language Department and I hope to have him be part of the SIXER family for thirty more years=). ~ Sra. Álvarez, World Languages Instructional Team Leader

It is the beginning of Attendance awareness month and we want to stress that attendance does matter. On time. All day. Every day.

Did you know…

• 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence

• Late arrival interrupts student’s learning

• Late arrival interrupts the learning of others

Saturday School

Our next Saturday School is scheduled for Oct. 22nd. Saturday School is a way students can recover a FULL day of absence. This is to clarify that it will not excuse tardies.

You may sign up by clicking the following link:

https://tinyurl.com/SaturdaySchoolatIHS

Student Parking Permits

This is a friendly reminder that if students are driving their car to school they must fill out a student parking permit application.

The student parking permit application will be completed online. Once the form has been submitted, please bring your driver's license, current motor vehicle registration, and proof of auto insurance to C-05 to receive your parking permit.

The online application can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUdLoXqaupme8lYk5rdzpOl3hWnfXKSbJGF9PsL4WqSiYNjA/viewform

Closed Campus

A friendly reminder to parents and students, that we are a closed campus and students should not be leaving the school grounds during school hours–particularly break and lunch for safety reasons.

The public library off of Educational Parkway as well as Overfelt Gardens is considered off campus and students should not be visiting these locations during school hours.

The IHS Attendance Office is located in N-01

Attendance Secretary

Naicila Vidal - 408.928.9521

Student last name A - L

Diana Castillo - 408.928.9552

Student last name M-Z

Thao Pham - 408.928.9542

IHS Counseling Corner Website: www.tinyurl.com/ihcounseling

Counseling Office located in N 02

* Applications for FAFSA (fafsa.gov) & CADAA (https://dream.csac.ca.gov) open October 1st!

* AB 469 - ALL Senior Students must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aide) or the CADAA (California Dream Act Application) and submit on or before March 2nd - Please attend any Cash 4 College Workshops for in person assistance on the applications! Here is one coming up! Please mark your calendars -

* 11/3 - IMPORTANT! Financial Aid: Cash 4 College Workshop (All Senior Parents & Students invited!) From 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm in the IHS Library - PLEASE ATTEND!

* Parents & Students: After School Workshops & in class grade level presentations: Coming Up ...

* 10/19 & 10/20 - 10th Grade Presentations in PE 2 classes

* 10/19 - USF & Common App/Recommendation Letters: I-Cafe (N 02) 7th period * 10/19 - SJSU/Cal State Apply Zoom Workshop: 5:30-6:30 pm

* 10/24 - Sonoma State Presentation: 7th period in the I-Cafe (N02)

* 10/25 - UC PIQs #2: 5 Questions to ask yourself: I-Cafe (N 02) 1st & 7th periods

* 11/3 - IMPORTANT! Financial Aid: Cash 4 College Workshop (All Senior Parents & Students invited!) From 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm in the IHS Library

* Upcoming teacher office hours & extra help will take place on November 3 & December 1st from 8:30 - 9:30 am.

* Our Head Counselor Mrs. Pham is out on maternity leave (Congratulations Ms. Pham!). Based on the student's last name, students can reach out to the following counselors for assistance in N 02.

A's = Ms. Fernandez & Mr. Hennessey

B's = Ms. Huynh & Ms. Liang

C's = Mr. Ly & Mrs. Marquez

* Together with counseling, Mr. Anthony Garcia (garciaa@esuhsd.org) is our 10,000 Degrees Fellow who assists, supports, and guides our students with financial aid, college, questions and much much more! www.10000degrees.org

* In Office Counselor Hours:

Mr. Thompson Ly: 8:45 am - 4:15 pm

Mr. Mark Hennessey: 8 am - 3:30 pm

Ms. Flor Fernandez: 9 am - 4:30 pm

Ms. Thuy Huynh: 8:15 am - 4 pm

Mrs. Lissenia Marquez: 8:30 am - 4 pm

Ms. Bonnie Liang: 8:15 am - 3:45 pm

Mr. Anthony Garcia: 9 am - 4 pm Tuesdays - Thursdays (10,000 deg.)

Ms. Dalia Cuenca: 8 am - 3:30 pm Mondays & Tuesdays (USF Intern)

Ms. Erin Serrano 8 - 3:30 pm Tuesdays & Thursdays (USF Intern)

Announcements

Winter Sports (basketball, soccer, wrestling) will begin on 10/31/2022. All winter athletes are expected to be registered on Athletic Clearance by 10/24/2022. Visit our website to learn more.

Sixer Study Hall Monday/Wednesday (3:45-4:45) in the school library. All are welcome. Contact Coach Carson w/ questions carsona@esuhsd.org

Shout Out

Congratulations to sophomore Valerie Scott (Sixer Tennis) for winning the BVAL West Valley Singles Championship. She did not drop a set over the 3 day event.

Congratulations to sophomore Ashely Pang (Sixer Golf) for finishing in the top 16 of the BVAL (26 schools). Ashely will compete in the singles tournament at Santa Teresa Golf Course on Monday, 10/17 (12:52 tee time).

Congratulations to both Ashely and Valerie for being named Athlete of the Week for the week of 10/10/2022.

Week of 10/17/2022

Monday, 10/17/2022

BVAL Golf Tournament @ Santa Teresa GC

Tuesday, 10/18/2022

Sixer Tennis (g) @ Gilroy HS 4pm

Sixer Water Polo vs Westmont Boys @ 5:00pm | Girls 6:00pm

Sixer Volleyball (g) @ Mt. Pleasant HS JV @ 5:30 | V 7:00pm

Wednesday,10/19/2022

Sixer Cross Country @ Montgomery Hill Park @ 4pm

Sixer Volleyball (g) @ Live Oak JV @ 5:30pm | Varsity @ 7pm

Thursday, 10/20/2022

Sixer Tennis (g) @ Del Mar @ 4pm

Sixer Water Polo vs Mt. Pleasant Girls @ 6pm

Sixer Football **Homecoming** vs Branham JV @ 4:30pm | Varsity @ 7pm

Saturday, 10/21/2022

Sixer Volleyball (g) Varsity Spikefest II - TBA

Visit Sixer Athletics for up to date information about athletics! Follow us on Instagram: @indyathletics

NEXT WEEK IS Homecoming!!!

We kick-off the week with Spirit! Monday is Rhyme Without Reason Day. So choose a buddy to dress up with as an unlikely rhyme… Like Santa & Fanta. OR Tree & Bee. MAYBE Ghost & Toast or Shoe &...... well you get the picture! Come pose with your partner for a picture at Senior Stage! Check out the flyer for more Spirit Day themes to dress to impress!

Thursday is the Homecoming Football Game versus Branham High School. But first, bring some cash and join us for Tailgate following the 6th period. Meet in the Shadows for the annual Club Marketplace Tailgater, where student organizations will be selling their goods and services. Get married by the Drama Club, a Tarot Reading from the Junior Class, buy Chips and Candy from Mabuhay, smash a pie in the face of a CLUB Dancer, and so much more!!!

Thursday Night Football: After Tailgater, we head to the football field, joining Cheer and Band, to watch the Sixers brutalize the Branham Bruins! Oh - and we’ll be featuring two Food Trucks at the game! Tea-Up will be pumping out the boba tea and Road Dawgs will be grilling up some delicious hot dogs and sausages! Go SIXERS!

Due to the weekday circumstance, we will be shying away from HOCO Festivities during the game. However, we expect our fan section to be packed with pink people, as Mr. Yenchik, Ms MC, and the VP's of ASB Athletics are actively creating a PINK OUT night for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Remember, all students can attend for free!!!

Friday: Due to an odd set of circumstances, the HOCO Rally takes place after the football game, but no worries! If there is anything that we are good at, it's rolling with the punches! Pay close attention to the special rally schedule. The Homecoming Rally will be a Black-light Rally!

Saturday: The Homecoming Dance, Through the Looking Glass, is an outdoor event, including photobooths, food trucks, games, music and dancing, taking place in Memorial Grove on Saturday, October 22nd. Much of this event would not be possible without the participation of Mr. Ellison and the Construction Club!

Next week, dance tickets jump to $15. Encourage your students to purchase their Homecoming Tickets, during lunch at Senior Stage and Afterschool at the Bank. Tickets are going fast. As I type this email, ticket #789 is currently leaving the Bank! We only have 1000 to sell! There are no sales at the door.

Thank you to all our Class Advisors (Maria Dones, Thuy Huynh, Cece Dang, Ryan Taylor, Abby Carson, Meghan Adams, Sarah Anderson, and Huan Lee) - they have been All Stars these past few weeks!

Yearbook SALES ARE ON!

Yearbooks are priced according to a sliding scale, so purchasing earlier guarantees a better price. Right now, the yearbook is at its lowest cost, $65! Act now, price will increase, soon!

Students and parents/guardians can order a yearbook at the school bank (A-06), or visit www.yearbookordercenter.com (enter code 6072) to purchase online. In addition, the YOC offers packages for purchasing advertisement pages to honor graduating seniors and promote local businesses.

Student Picture Orders Have Arrived!

For students, parents/guardians who ordered school pictures, your photos have arrived. Please send your student to the A06 Bank to pick them up!

Make Your Senior Portrait Reservation

Senior Portraits will be taken at Now and Forever Studios in Los Gatos. Act soon to secure a reservation and plan for travel to the event. Contact the studio via phone to make your sitting reservation, now: (408) 354-8660. Online Reservations may be made starting in November @ www.nowandforeverstudio.com

These are not the ID card/ transcript photos. These are the optional, formal pictures that are often sent to relatives and passed out to friends and staff during the graduating year. Senior portraits include a formal and a graduation photo - all attire will be provided by the photographer. There is no pressure to purchase photos, but there is a "sitting fee." If students sit for a photo, then the studio will provide IHS a copy to publish in the yearbook.

Graduation Gear

Coming in November, all seniors will meet in assembly with Herff Jones, our graduation vendor. There they will learn about purchasing graduation cap & gown kits, formal invitations, 2023 apparel, and commemorative jewelry and accessories. Students will be provided with ordering forms and the option to purchase these items, onsite, for a much cheaper rate than online. More details to follow soon.

We Are Engaged

How do our students stay engaged in school and learning?

• I will participate more in my classes and raise my hand more because it makes other people want to raise their hand even if they’re the only one.

• I try to participate in class and help my group mates get things done. I don’t like leadership roles, but if necessary, I will engage in it so that we know what we can do and get it done. I also want to talk to others more and be friendly.

• Joining clubs and introducing clubs to more and new people to help them engage with things they like.

• I will engage with the community by participating in clubs and helping others with classwork they are having trouble with.

• I will continue to keep playing sports, which will help me get more involved with kids in my school.

Our students are aware of how their own engagement in and out of the classroom can motivate others to be engaged too! We are Engaged! We are Sixers!

View our School-Wide lesson on what it means to be an Engaged Sixer HERE.

A multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) is a proactive and preventative framework that integrates data and instruction to maximize student achievement and support students social, emotional, and behavior needs from a strengths-based perspective.

Student voice is an important part of the narrative data we collect to inform decisions made around school improvement and high quality instruction. One way we collect student voice is through school-wide lessons carried out in 4th period classes.

This Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 6:00 pm in the I-Cafe (N/02), we will be hosting our first ELAC Parent Meeting. The English Learner Advisory Committee, ELAC, is established to promote a meaningful connection with the parents of English learner students (EL) at the school site. The purpose of the ELAC is to advise the principal and school staff on programs and services for English learners and the School Site Council on the development of the Single School Plan for Student Achievement.

Please refer to the flyer below.

CANVAS: Please refer this video https://vimeo.com/105957000 for assistance in created a CANVAS account and link your students ‘Pairing Code”

Community updates:

The Mental Health and Wellness Center is located in Room D-05.

We are open from 8:30 am - 3:45 pm every school day.

Office Closures: Wednesday, 10/19/22, we will be closed from 8:30 am until the start of 7th period (2:13 pm) for our monthly social work meeting, Wellness Wednesday, and Care Team meeting. If you need support from an adult, please go to C-05, N-1, or N-2 for assistance.

Calming Center Updates

We are very happy to announce that the calming space has been reopened and is welcoming students. Things might look a little different than before so come check it out to see the changes! Don’t worry it is still just as relaxing as before.

How do I submit a referral?

Students, parents, teachers, and community members may submit a referral for any student at Independence by visiting the link below and filling out a Care Team referral form. A social worker or intern will follow up with the student.

Care Team Referral form: https://forms.doc-tracking.com/48252/48252/2416

Wellness Center Groups: All of our groups provided by our Community Based Agencies are now running! Our groups include Ujima’s Life Skills group, Art Therapy, New Hope for Youth, Art of Yoga, City Peace Project, City of San Jose Female Intervention Team, and YWCA Teens Ending Abuse (TEA) Club. Please see a social worker in D05 for more information.

Wellness Wednesday: We came with questions and you brought the answers! Students lined up last week to participate in our mental health trivia game. Every student who participated was given candy and a stress toy. Our stress toys were so popular that the entire box of 70+ squishies was empty by the end of lunch. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to participate! Make sure to keep an eye out for us next week!

To Be Honest Mental Health Survey: To Be Honest is a local mental health education program for adolescents and young adults ages 14-25 in Santa Clara County. They want to learn more about what mental health resources and support you need! If you are interested in sharing more about the mental health resources would help you and your peers, please fill out a survey here: tinyurl.com/mhsurvey22 To learn more about To Be Honest, visit ToBeHonest.Today

Calming Space: The Calming Space is designed as a space for students who are experiencing stress in class and need a short break to self-regulate. Before students visit the Calming Space, we ask that they check in with their teacher and request a pass. Students may spend 15-20 minutes in the Calming Space; if they need more time, a wellness center staff member will check in to discuss additional resources and support. We ask that students always check in with an adult when they arrive and before they leave the Calming Space, keep their phones away, and that they try at least one station in the space. We have an exercise station, an art station, a reading/writing corner, and a kinesthetic area. Stop by to take a look!

Wellness Center Instagram @indywellness76

Parents and Guardians,

Please use the following directions to take the Panorama Survey. Students and staff will have separate links.

As we begin the 2022-23 school year, we need your feedback to ensure that schools continue to provide inclusive, high-quality, rigorous, and safe learning experiences for all students. This email includes a link to a survey for you to share your opinions about what is going well and what could improve.

Directions for Survey-Taking:

To submit the survey online, please visit the website listed below by October 28th. You may use a computer, tablet, or smartphone to access the online survey.

Your survey link

http://surveys.panoramaed.com/eastsideunion/family

If you have more than one child enrolled in the same school and or at different schools, please fill out one survey for each child, as your answers may vary.

All survey responses are anonymous. Panorama Education is managing the survey process to ensure data privacy and security.

By taking this survey, you will be helping us to better support you, your students, and the whole school community. Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your voice and for being a valued partner.