Happy Monday,

Congratulations to everyone who participated in our Homecoming Festivities last week.

We are two weeks from the end of the second marking period, and this is our final week for the Panorama Survey. If you haven't taken it yet, please use the following link.

1. Navigate to the anonymous survey link:
   surveys.panoramaed.com/eastsideunion/family
   
   

2. Select Independence from the dropdown menu
   
   

3. Start the survey & select your preferred language from the drop-down menu.

Tyson Amir has partnered with ESUHSD once more to work with our students in preparation for the MLK Writing and Art Contests.

Promo Video:

https://youtu.be/-dyVA1aKqbg

Google Sign Up Form:

https://forms.gle/9TXfQyT7F7RCjRZi7

Friday morning our band was formally invited to participate in the London New Year's Day Parade on January 1, 2024. There was a delightful ceremony where our students performed, were formally invited, and accepted. If you know any band members (or Mr. Ponticelli), please congratulate them on this honor.

Student Shoutout

Soufyan Abouahmed is great at encouraging his peers. He shows compassion and empathy for his fellow classmates. I am really proud of him. His contribution to our SIXERs community is outstanding! Way to go Soufyan! ~ Mrs. Roberts, PE Teacher

Staff Shoutout

Miss Daisy Carillo is doing an extraordinary job because she goes above and beyond to make sure her lessons are engaging, inclusive and challenging. She is a great addition to our school and department. ~Ms. Dulce Salazar, World Languages Teacher

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 online or for in person assistance on the applications!

Here are two that are coming up! Please mark your calendars -

* 11/1 - The California Student Aid Commission will be informing students about how to get started with their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) & Dream Act Application. They will also give step-by-step tutorial about how to apply for CA financial aid and grants. This webinar will also feature a question and answer section where applicants can ask any question regarding financial aid.

Event information:

What: Cash for College Webinar

When: Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 4 pm to 5:30 pm

Where: Online: Zoom - tinyurl.com/cash4college1101

* 11/3 - In house @IHS 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 ...

* 10/24 - 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

* 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. 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 our girls’ volleyball and tennis teams! Both teams are champions of the BVAL West Valley Division.

Week of 10/24/2022

Tuesday, 10/25/2022

Sixer Tennis (g) @ BVAL Tournament

Sixer Volleyball (g) vs James Lick JV @ 5:30 | V 7:00pm

Friday, 10/28/2022

Sixer Football @ Silver Creek JV @ 4:30pm | Varsity @ 7pm

Saturday, 10/29/2022

Sixer Volleyball (g) CCS Playoffs - TBA

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

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 Respectful

How do our students show self-respect?

• “One way I can show respect to myself is to be self aware; know when to stop, take a break, etc.” ~Lily Tran, Freshman

• “I can show respect to myself by setting boundaries.” ~Luis Hernandez Zarate, Freshman

• “A way to show respect to yourself is by taking care of yourself inside and out. That can mean physically and mentally. Always take time and care to make sure that you are doing okay.” Kaylie Braga, Senior

How do our students show respect for others?

• I can respect my classmates by giving them their personal space and peace. With teachers, I can pay attention and not disrupt class.” ~Winnie Wong, Sophomore

• I show respect to my fellow classmates by listening to them and helping them with their work when needed. ~Anonymous, Senior

View our School-Wide lesson on what it means to be a Respectful 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.

In celebration of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 2, 2022 we invite you to participate in our “ofrenda” / Altar by submitting names of loved ones who have passed. Once again our Latino Student Union will be creating our Dia de Los Muertos “ofrenda” / altar in dedication for all loved ones who have passed throughout the years. You are invited to submit the names of your loved ones to be included in the “ofrenda”/Altar by using the google form link (Click HERE) or by emailing me, Maggie Rodriguez at rodriguezm@esuhsd.org by Friday October 28, 2022.

To learn more about Dia de los Muertos please visit the following link: (Click HERE)

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

Community updates:

SJSU's Healthy Development Community Clinic (HDCC)

Where to Find Information

• Information about HDCC can be found on our website.

• Check out the calendar (updated periodically with new events and services)

• Check out reminders and information on instagram @sjsuhealthydev

Some highlights for October

Youth Screenings

Offering hearing screenings, speech screenings and services, and mental health screenings. Interested families can email us at healthydev@sjsu.edu.

Family Support

• Parent Talks - Each Wednesday at 12pm (in person and via Zoom), we have an opportunity for caregivers to come together, share their experiences, and gain new insights and skills. The first one is this week! (See attached flyer)

• Advocating for Your Child with an IEP (Tuesday, October 25, 4:30pm)

• Family Nutrition and Healthy Habits (Wednesday, October 26, 3:15pm)

Teen Support

Several teen workshops and opportunities to learn skills to support mental health and wellness. This month, we focus on having tough conversations with friends on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 3:45pm.

Sign Up for Workshops & More Information

If you would like more information or would like to let us know you are interested in attending an event, you can let us know through these forms (select your preferred language!).

HDCC Workshop Interesting Form

HDCC Formulario de Interés de Talleres

HDCC Mẫu Đơn Về Các Hội Thảo

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

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