INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL
2022-2023 Week 14 (11/14) Updates
Principal's Update
Happy Monday,
I hope everyone enjoyed their three-day weekend. Today marks 35% of the school year done, and Marking Period 2 progress reports will be mailed out soon.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the IHS Beautification Community Day this past weekend.
On Saturday, November 19th, from 9 am to 11 am, we will welcome incoming students to visit IHS and learn about our offerings. This is a great opportunity to see the campus and ask questions about our different programs.
Our school library will be closed this week as we go through an inventory and reorganization.
Just a gentle reminder that next week we will have school on Monday and Tuesday.
Sixer Shoutouts
Student Shoutout
Eli Obrero has been consistently participatory in class since the beginning of the year, and as we worked with Of Mice and Men, he really took his insightful and exceptional thoughts to a new level. He always had an interesting and eXtraordinary way of looking at the text, and he would also ask the greatest questions. I really appreciate his presence in my class, and all the discussion that he initiates and adds to, as well. He is truly eXtraordinary! ~Ms. Leslie Gregori, English Teacher
Staff Shoutout
Mr. Paul Fernandes is a SIXER through and through. He consistently provides community and culturally responsive lessons for his English classes. He helps our students honor the people of our community, most recently bringing author Charley Trujillo to campus. Meeting real life community heroes truly helps our students realize the positive impact they can make in the world! Thank you, Mr. Fernandes for all you do! ~Dr. Cristine LaMontagne, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Athletics Updates
Announcements
Sixer Boys’ Basketball will host Monta Vista High School on Thursday, 11/17/2022 @ 7pm. The Sportsmanship Game is co-hosted with the Central Coast Section. All adult tickets will be $5/all student tickets will be $3.
Sixer Study Hall Monday (3:45-4:45) in the school library. All are welcome. Contact Coach Carson w/questions carsona@esuhsd.org
Visit Sixer Athletics for up to date information about athletics! Follow us on Instagram: @indyathletics
Senior Student Corner
Graduation Gear
On Monday, November 14th, 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 a graduation catalog.
Later that week, parents/guardians and students can purchase onsite (and waive all shipping fees) on Thursday (11/17) and Friday (11/18), from 8am - 5pm. Please note, purchasing kits and memorabilia early in the year results in significant savings. Due to demand, kits cost twice as much in the Spring.
Make Your Senior Portrait Reservation
Senior Portraits will be taken at Now and Forever Studios in Los Gatos. Act fast 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. Or, visit www.nowandforeverstudio.com to make an online reservation.
These are the formal pictures that are often sent to relatives and passed out to friends and staff during the graduating year. Senior portraits are optional and 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.
Senior Prom
The Senior Prom will be held at the Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz, CA, on Saturday, April 8th, 2023. Ticket sales will begin in January. Early pricing will be approximately $75 and will include chartered bus transportation to the venue. The prom will include finger food/ dessert buffets, dj and dancing, a variety of photo booths, and 2-hours of private access to the Boarrwalk’s Arcade and Laser Tag. Although bus transportation is preferred, if desired, families may arrange for chartered transportation or drop-off. Students will not enter the event until 7 pm and will have enough time to dine at a variety of nearby restaurants in Santa Cruz (at the Wharf or in Downtown). More info to come in January.
Counseling Corner
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 NOW !
* AB 469 - ALL Senior Students must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aide) or the CADAA (California Dream Act Application) and submit it on or before March 2nd - Please attend any Cash 4 College Workshops online or for in-person assistance on the applications!
* Parents & Students: After School Workshops & in-class grade level presentations: Coming Up …
* 11/16 – 10th Grade Presentations: PE 2 Classes
* 11/17 – 10th Grade Presentations: PE 2 Classes
*11/16 – Financial Aid Zoom Support Workshop!
Would you like support completing financial aid applications like the FAFSA or CADAA? Check out this 10,000 Degrees Workshop on Wednesday, November 16th, via Zoom. Taking place from 6 pm-7:30 pm, which is perfect for parents and guardians who work during the day! Click on by and let us make financial aid easy for you! Please see the attached Flier!
*11/16 - FREE CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
All current 10th – 11th-grade students are welcome to attend West Valley for a free class this spring. Details on our concurrent enrollment process (including the steps, which require a form signed by a high school counselor) are available at https://www.westvalley.edu/high-school-students/concurrent-enrollment.html.
On Wednesday, November 16, we have a virtual event specifically designed for high school students and their parents. We look forward to seeing you there!
Date: November 16
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Zoom Link: https://wvm-edu.zoom.us/j/95821306916 (Meeting ID: 958 2130 6916)
Webpage: https://www.westvalley.edu/high-school-students/concurrent-enrollment.html
* 11/16 - In partnership with John Muir Health, Junior Achievement of Northern California is pleased to offer our November Career Speaker Series. Our guest speaker from John Muir Health will share details about their current role, their educational journey, and their unique path to career success, followed by a live Q&A with participating JA students. Attached you will find the flier, which includes the URL and QR code, where your students can sign up (takes 2-3 minutes).
Once they register, they will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link and details.
Pediatric Oncology Medicine with Dr. Karen Chao, MD
Date: Wednesday November 16, 2022
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/443737740527
* 11/16 – SJSU/Cal State Apply Workshop via Zoom 5:30-6:30 pm – Staff will go over the application step-by-step, as well as have a live Q&A. Dates, times, and registration links can be found at https://sjsu.edu/soar/events/workshops.php
* 11/17 – SJSU Financial Aid Workshop: 5:00-6:00 pm via Zoom
The SJSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is hosting a webinar as well as various support services. More information and registration can be found at https://sjsu.edu/faso/applying/how-to-apply.php
*11/18 – University of the Pacific Presentation in C Commons 9:26 am – 11:16 am
*11/18 - SJSU/Cal State Apply Workshop via Zoom 11:30-12:30 pm – Staff will go over the application step-by-step, as well as have a live Q&A. Dates, times, and registration links can be found at https://sjsu.edu/soar/events/workshops.php
*11/22 - SJSU/Cal State Apply Workshop via Zoom 5:30-6:30 pm – Staff will go over the application step-by-step, as well as have a live Q&A. Dates, times, and registration links can be found at https://sjsu.edu/soar/events/workshops.php
* 11/28 – SJSU/Cal State Apply Workshop via Zoom 5:30-6:30 pm – Staff will go over the application step-by-step, as well as have a live Q&A. Dates, times, and registration links can be found at https://sjsu.edu/soar/events/workshops.php
* As the second grading period just ended and the last six weeks of grading period three are about to begin, we want to provide you with some resources to support your students, especially as they are working on their PIQs and applications for scholarships and studying for their classes.
College and career readiness flier
General posters in English and Spanish
Postcards in English and Spanish
* Upcoming teacher office hours & extra help will take place on 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)
Activities Updates
Yearbooks are going fast! Buy Now!
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, the price will increase to $75 on December 1st.
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.
For further information, please review the Yearbook Frequesntly Asked Questions document.
Annual Talent Show Tryouts! (12/1 - 12/2)
Calling all performers (comedians, singers, dancers, musicians, extreme sports enthusiasts, etc… Tryout for the ASB’s Annual Talent Show in December. Qualifiers will perform in the Theatre to a guaranteed, sold out crowd on Friday, 1/13. Proceeds benefit the IHS Tech. Theatre Program.
Performing Arts - WinterFest Musical Concerts (12/6 - 12/7)
Safety and Attendance
As we begin the third marking period, overall attendance is an area that, as a site, we are working on since our goal is to maintain a 95% attendance record, and we are currently averaging below 90%.
The C-05 team has been diligently working with students and having parent conferences with students to address attendance and generate a plan to help support and motivate the students to be in class.
We would like to continue to remind SIXERs of the importance of being on time, all day, every day is because there is a correlation between attendance and grades.
One way to recoup a FULL DAY absence is by attending Saturday School.
Saturday School
Our next Saturday School is scheduled for Dec. 3rd. Saturday School is a way for students can recover from 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
SARB Meeting
The next SARB meeting will be Tuesday, November 22nd, at the District Office at 2 PM.
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
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
Our Sixer Values in Action
We Are eXtraordinary- Our Sixer Values in Action
On November 1st, the Latinx Student Club and the Spanish department showcased altars for the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in C-Villa. Students learn not only about the history of the holiday, but also create "ofrendas" or altars in dedication for all loved ones who have passed throughout the years. This project encourages our students to go beyond the classroom walls to learn about, connect, and honor their own family history.
Enjoy a number of the beautiful ofrendas in a short video HERE.
We are in our final marking period before grades for the semester come out. Please ask your student what eXtraordinary learning experiences they have had this semester!
View our School-Wide lesson We Are eXtraordinary 2022-2023 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, PE 1 and 2, US History, English 3, and Government/Economics classes.
Parent & Community Involvement Corner
Please join us for our ELAC Parent Group meeting on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 6:00 pm in N01.
As the holidays approach please refer to the academic calendar to support you in the planning of any holiday vacations. As a reminder, vacations are not excuse absences in session days. For further questions please contact your attendance clerk.
Community Resources
Santa Clara County Public Health Resource Fair Series
Public Health Department: 1775 Story Rd, #120 San Jose CA, 95051 (Next to Harbor Freight store). Inside the Corridor/Plaza.
Upcoming series Dates:
Friday, November 18th from 1 PM- 4 PM
Friday, December 9th from 1 PM- 4 PM
The public health department is supporting the COVID-19 recovery efforts by creating a series of resource events for the community in East San Jose by inviting the community to learn and explore the available resources. Some of the resources include health coverage for both adults & Kids, mental health & wellness, food assistance, and other resources. At the same time, we will be having vaccines available to the public at our event. Vaccines will be on a first-come, first basis to vaccinate as many people as possible. For vaccines, we will have Flu vaccines, MPOX vaccines, & COVID-19 series & boosters.
Metal Health and Wellness
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
Reporting Line
Contact us
Email: bergbj@esuhsd.org
Website: https://independence.esuhsd.org/index.html
Location: 617 North Jackson Avenue, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: 4089289500
Twitter: @IndependenceHS