Independence High School

2022-2023 Week 3 Updates

Principal's Update

SIXER Family,

The school year is underway, and classes are moving more into the curriculum. Canvas is our online grade book used this year to allow parents, counselors, and other staff to monitor student progress. Please create an account to help monitor your student's progress.

Working with the City of San Jose Traffic safety department, we have been able to adjust the timing of the main traffic light during arrival and dismissal times. Please be mindful not to block traffic during these times.

Please mark your calendars for Back to School Night on the evening of Wednesday, September 7th. This is a great time to meet your students' teachers and learn more about our campus offerings.

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Athletics Updates

Quote - "Coach K once asked our team to attach 'together' to every sentence. We aren't just going to play hard; we are going to play hard TOGETHER. We weren't just going to win; we were going to win TOGETHER. It emphasized we were a part of something bigger than ourselves."

- Jay Bilas

Duke University, Class of '86

High Fives - Kin Ho Tsang (Ben), Sixer Track and Field

Very late last year, Ben won CCS titles in the 110 & 300 hurdles. Ben then traveled to Clovis and placed 6th (110) and 5th (300) in the CIF State Meet. Our lone entrant in the state meet and earned enough points that Sixer Boys' Track/Field placed 30th in the state.

Monday, 8/22/2022

CCS Sportsmanship Game: Sixer Volleyball (girls) vs. Milpitas 7 pm (Varsity only)

Adults: $5. Students: $3

Friday, 8/26/2022

Sixer Football @ Los Altos JV @ 4:30pm | V @ 7pm

Visit the IHS Athletics Website for up-to-date information about athletics! Follow us on Instagram: @indyathletics.

Activities Updates

Freshmen Class Office and SGB Voting Update:

Freshmen Candidates deliver speeches to their peers tomorrow at lunch! Voting begins later this week.

Welcome Back Dance: Friday, 9/2 @ 7pm

The Welcome Back Dance is an outdoor event for all students, 9th-12th. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Student tickets are $5. Guest passes can be purchased for $15.

Make-up Student Pictures. Monday, 9/12 - all day.

ALL students must have their pictures taken for Student ID Cards, school transcript profiles, and the yearbook. If your student missed Picture Day, please ensure they attend for make-ups.

Purchasing photos is optional. Parents, guardians, and students, who want to purchase photos, must complete the picture order form sent home with students (also attached). Bring the completed form and payment back to school and deliver it directly to the photographer.

Please remember, these are legal ID's and paid for by the district, so there are rules:

- Students may not wear clothing that references drugs, alcohol, and/or sexual wording/images.

- No bared shoulders are permitted - shoulder straps must be clearly visible in the photo.

- Chests should be covered

- Obstructions, such as hoods, masks, sunglasses, some styles of colored contacts, and wigs (unless due to medical conditions), are not permitted in the photo.

Students found in violation of the clothing rules will be permitted to borrow a school-provided tank top or t-shirt for the photo.

Parent & Community Involvement Corner

If you have not yet submitted a 2022-2023 Alternate Income Form (lunch form), please do so as

soon as possible. Although all students are being provided with Free Meals at school, eligibility could provide you access to things beyond meals including, but not limited to:

Reduced/Waiver pricing for AP/SAT testing
Fee Waiver for College Applications
Scholarship
Internet Support

Please have your student submit the forms to N01. Please use the links below to access the forms in your preferred language.

English

Spanish

Vietnamese

For any questions or concerns, please contact me via email or phone at rodriguezm@esuhsd.org 408.928.9541. Please ensure we have your email, so you can 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.

MTSS

Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is an approach schools use to promote school safety and good behavior. Schools that effectively implement PBIS demonstrate:

Increased student connection to the school community.
Increased instructional time
Up to 50% reduction in office referral rates per year
Reduction in overall exclusionary discipline
More consistent attendance
Higher academic achievement
Improved overall school climate

Counseling Corner

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

Counseling Office located in N 02

1. After School Workshops & in-class grade level presentations: Coming Soon, starting in September!

2. Counselors are still working on large amounts of schedule change requests & granting when possible. We will still be working on these requests for the next couple of weeks.

3. Balancing (necessary movement of classes) will be happening soon within the next two-three weeks.

4. Parents & Students: Next teacher office hours & extra help will take place on September 1st from 8:30 - 9:30 am.

5. Our Head Counselor, Ms. Pham, is 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 & Ms. Marquez

6. Together with counseling, Mr. Anthony Garcia is our 10,000 degrees specialist who assists, supports, and guides our students with financial aid, college, questions, and much more! www.10000degrees.org

Safety and Attendance

Schools in California are funded on a system of ADA (Average Daily Attendance). When your student is absent all day for any reason, our school district cannot receive funding for your child.

Because school attendance is mandatory, multiple cases of unexcused absences are reported to the School Attendance Review Board and ultimately to the Santa Clara County District Attorney. Students who use school time to take family vacations not only take funds away from our school but can also be cited for truancy.

If you know your student will be absent, please phone or e-mail the student's Attendance Secretary to report the absence and request work from the teachers.

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 first Saturday School of the school year will be on September 10th at the i-Cafe from 8:45 to 12:45 pm. Students with one full day of unexcused/illness are free to attend. More information to come.