Happy Halloween,

This week ends our second marking period, concluding 2/3 of the first semester. Please follow the directions in the PCIS corner to become an observer in Canvas to monitor your student's grades. This Thursday is also Office Hours during our collaboration time, this is a good time to arrange to meet with teachers and work on missed assignments or prepare for upcoming assessments.

Student Shoutout

Mario Mejia- Near the end of class, a classmate of Mario's needed help to get to another room for tools to fix his bike. Upon my asking if he knew where it was, Mario immediately responded with action and gathered his and his classmate's things to help get to the construction class before break started. It was a really wholesome moment. ~ Mr. Taylor, Math Teacher

Staff Shoutout

Mrs. Kanoe Roberts- You embody what it means to be a SIXER! Thank you for believing in our work and understanding the importance of addressing the needs of the whole child. Without your support, we would not be able to provide services to as many students as we have. We are beyond grateful for everything you do. Thank you! ~The IHS Counseling Department

Monday, October 31st is Halloween below is a friendly reminder of the Halloween guidelines:

- No masks, canes, sticks, or weapon-like items of any kind are allowed.

- No fake blood or other substances that will spill or cause a mess will be allowed.

- Students may not wear anything suggestive or provocative in nature.

- Nothing that promotes the use of illegal substances or activities, is derogatory or disrespectful, or portrays violence.

- Students must show respect to other students by not touching, defacing, or insulting other students' costumes.

- Costumes should be fun but may not be demeaning to any ethnic group, race, religion, handicapping condition, gender, or individual student/staff member

Since October is attendance awareness month, we would like to remind SIXERs the importance of being on time, all day, every day is how there is a correlation between attendance and grades.

Did you know…

• 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence

• Late arrival interrupts student’s learning

• Late arrival interrupts the learning of others

Our goal as a site is to maintain a 95% attendance record, and we are currently have an 87.53% attendance record. One way to recoup FULL DAY absences is by attending Saturday School.

Saturday School

Our next Saturday School is scheduled for Nov. 5th. 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

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 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 ...

* 10/31 - Senior Financial Aid Presentation: Government/Econ Classes

* 11/2 - College Application Help: 2 - 3:45 pm in the N 02 I-cafe

* 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!

* 11/4 - Senior Financial Aid Presentation: Ms. Berliner's Government/Econ Classes

* 11/7 - UC PIQ Workshop in N 02 I-cafe @ 2:45 pm

* 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

Sixer JV Boys’ Basketball try-outs: 10/31 @ 4pm in small gym

Sixer Varsity Boys’ Basketball: 10/31 @ 8pm in large gym

Sixer Girls’ Basketball (All): 10/31 @ 4pm in large gym

Sixer Wrestling: 10/31 @ 4pm in wrestling room

Sixer Soccer (All): 10:31 @ 5:45 in Stadium

First Chance Spring Physicals: Wednesday, 11/9/2022 in M34 3:30-4:30

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 for qualifying and competing in the 2022 CCS Division I Playoffs. Great season for our team.

Week of 10/31/2022

Monday, 10/31/2022

Sixer Cross Country: BVAL Championships @ Montgomery Hill Park

Friday, 11/4/2022

Sixer Football vs Piedmont HIlls JV @ 4:30pm | Varsity @ 7pm

**Senior Night**

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

Final Football Game - Senior Night

Independence will host our rival, the Piedmont Hills Pirates, for the final football game of the year on Friday, November 4th. Seniors for Football, Band, and Cheer will be honored, during the event. Come and join us for the festivities! Roadhouse 48 will be serving up sliders, tater tots, and other grilled goodies. And, don’t forget to fly the colors: Red, White, and Blue - let’s fill this place with Sixer Pride!

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, on November 21st to $75.

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!

Graduation Gear

Coming 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 the option to purchase these items, onsite, for a much cheaper rate than online.

Later that week, parents/guardians and students can purchase onsite (and waive all shipping fees) at the N02 Building on Thursday (11/17) and Friday (11/18), from 8am - 5pm.

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.

We Are Spirited

So many places on campus exemplify the Sixer Spirit! Here are a few of the special places our students pointed out:

• Senior Stage: “The lunch activities that are held at senior stage are an important part of bringing together people on our campus.” ~Keyra Aguilera, Junior

• Memorial Grove: This place exemplifies our Sixer community because it offers a meet up place for club day, an asset that allows people to play football and soccer. Also, memorial grove is a cool area to hang out when it's hot due to the abundance of trees.” ~Hans Darryl Paquete, Senior

• Mental Health and Wellness Center: “It shows us how the staff care about our mental health and well being. It allows people to take a moment to themselves which is always super helpful.” ~Vanessa Villalobos, Junior

• IHS Theater: “The facilities are huge and accommodative, and I like how it is mostly student led and run, along with an effort to keep the restrooms, lockers, and other areas pristine.” ~Hannah Ng, Senior

View our School-Wide lesson on the Sixer Spirit 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.

Coffee with the Principal, Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 9:00 am via Zoom. The zoom link will be shared later in the week.

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

For any questions or concerns please contact me via email or phone rodriguezm@esuhsd.org 408.928.9541. Please ensure we have your email so you are able to receive Parent Meetings and school updates. Please complete the Parent Survey by using this link https://forms.gle/mY7aQo6c37KW5S64A to get your feedback regarding Parent Workshops.

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