Sign ups for Talent Show Auditions are now open to Students & Staff

Talent Show Audition Sign Ups

“Geana Kalaw stepped into 2 roles on stage during the Fall play with very little time and performed!” ~Ms. Robin Edwards

“A huge shout-out is in order for my large 4th period Spanish 2 class. All thirty- three students have CONSISTENTLY arrived on time throughout the semester. This is an outstanding track record! Thank you for being exceptional role models! Go Sixers!” ~Ms. Daccarett, World Language Teacher

“Herr Lynch is extraordinary due to his wealth of experience and profound understanding of both the subject matter and the diverse needs of students. His ability to build meaningful relationships with students creates a supportive and nurturing environment, where each individual feels valued and encouraged to take risks in their learning. Herr Lynch approaches challenges with wisdom and patience, skillfully guiding students through difficult concepts while fostering critical thinking and independence. His passion for education is contagious, motivating colleagues and students alike to strive for excellence.” ~Sra. Alvarez, World Language Instructional Team Leader

A Sixer Shoutout to over 100 students who came to Saturday school this past Saturday! Great work clearing absences and studying for your classes!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Marking period 2 grades are an important indicator of student progress. If your student is receiving A’s, B’s, and C’s, they are on track and do not require additional screening from our staff at this time. If your student is receiving a D or F in one or more classes, our staff will continue to communicate with students and families through grade updates on Canvas. We want students to understand that our outreach is not negative. This engagement is supportive.

We want all students to feel supported in their educational journey here at Independence!

How do we identify students in need of additional support? The Early Warning Systems Report is a report that surfaces students in jeopardy of not graduating. Our staff works together to connect with students and guardians to provide additional outreach and support. Outreach might look like:

• A prioritized list of assignments for a specific class

• 1:1 discussion with a counselor about afternoon routine and study habits

• 1:1 discussion with a student advisor about attendance

• Review of specialized plans (504s or IEPs)

• CARE Referral for outside services.

What can you do as a parent or guardian

to become engaged in your student’s progress?

1) Set up your parent Canvas account so you can access your student’s grades and communicate with their teachers. Follow the instructions HERE.

2) Become an OBSERVER on Canvas to see your student’s grades. Learn how HERE!

3) Visit the IHS Counseling Website with your student to view parent resources and lessons about good study habits and keys to success in high school!

View our “Letter to Parents and Guardians” in your native language HERE.

We are ENGAGED. We Are Sixers!

College Application Crunch:

Our community based organizations are hosting a College Application Crunch next Monday, November 25 from 9am-2pm at W.C. Overfelt High School Library. Come get last minute assistance on filling out your four year college applications.

College Application Open Workshops:

IHS Counseling, 10,000 Degrees and DCAC will be hosting open workshops for students who need help with their college applications. Come by the Learning Center to get all your questions answered. Remember, University of California (UC) & California State University (CSU) application deadline is Monday, December 2 at 11:59PM.

Upcoming Dates:

Nov. 18: College Monday | Wear College Apparel

Nov. 20-21: Junior Classroom Lesson through English 3 class

Nov. 21: College Application Workshop | 8:30-9:15am & 3:15-4pm | The Learning Center

Dec. 2: College Monday | Wear College Apparel

Dec. 2: University of California (UC) & California State University (CSU) Application Deadline

Dec. 6: Senior Classroom Lesson through Am. Government/Economics Class

Counselor Caseload:

Counselors are located in the Learning Center (Student Union). Counselors are available for student walk-ins before and after school and during break and lunch. Parents are encouraged to make an appointment with your student’s counselor.

• Ms. Pham: Last Names A-Chi
• 408.928.9680 | phamm@esuhsd.org
• Hours: 8:30am-4pm
• Mr. Hennessey: Last Names Chj-Hd
  
• 408.928.9563 | hennesseym@esuhsd.org
  
• Hours: 8am-3:30pm
  
• Ms. Fernandez: Last Names He-Maq
  
• 408.928.9574 | fernandezf@esuhsd.org
  
• Hours: 8:30am-4pm
  
• Ms. Huynh: Last Names Mar-Par
  
• 408.928.9567 | huynhtt@esuhsd.org
  
• Hours: 8:15-3:45pm
  
• Ms. Marquez: Last Names Pas-Sq
  
• 408.928.9568 | marquezl@esuhsd.org
  
• Hours: 8:30am-4pm
  
• Ms. Liang: Last Names Sr-Z
  
• 408.928.9546 | liangb@esuhsd.org
  
• Hours: 8:15-3:45pm

College Access Support (located in D-208 & the Learning Center):

• 10,000 Degrees

• Anthony Garcia |415.578.4380 | anthony.garcia@10000degrees.org

• Available in person Wednesday & Thursday

• Book appointment here

• Destination College Advising Program (DCAC)

• Daniela Navarro | 510.332.3723 | danielan@berkeley.edu

• Available in person Monday-Friday

• Book appointment here

“Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way..”

• Satchel Paige

“Success is not final failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

• W. Churchill

Week of 11/18/24

Winter Sports

Sixer Basketball (b): Coach Gajardo (lj_gajardo@yahoo.com)

11/21/24 CCS Sportsmanship Game @ Live Oak 7pm (Varsity only)

Sixer Basketball (g): Coach Buckener (leilani.buckner@gmail.com)

Sixer Soccer (b): Coach Mendez (fmendez888@gmail.com)

Sixer Soccer (g): Coach Kimball (mskimball1997@gmail.com)

Sixer Wrestling: Coach Thompson (njakeg1209@yahoo.com)

Spring Sports

Sixer Badminton: Coach Allen Trinh (atrinh1219@gmail.com)

Sixer Baseball: Coach Fernandes (fernandesp@esuhsd.org)

Sixer Golf: Coach Bartholomew (bartholomewr@esuhsd.org)

Sixer Softball:

Sixer Swim:Coach Martinez (rodriguez.adrian1821@gmail.com)

Sixer Tennis: Coach James (jesse316james@yahoo.com)

Sixer Track and Field

Sixer Volleyball: Coach Nguyen (ng.kenneth02@gmail.com)

Fall Sports

Sixer Football: Coach Braun (braunj@esuhsd.org)

Sixer Golf (girls): Coach Richard Lee (rlee@fusdk12.net)

Sixer Volleyball (girls): Coach Kenny (leilani.buckner10@gmail.com)

Sixer Cross Country (boys & girls): Coach Kevin (ckwang91@gmail.com)

Sixer Tennis (girls): Coach Scott (rl20ii@yahoo.com)

Sixer Water Polo (boys & girls): Coach Martinez (rodriguez.adrian1821@gmail.com)

Sixer Girls’ Flag Football: Coach Baker (bakerl@esuhsd.org)

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

Visit GoFan.co to purchase tickets

HEY SIXERS!

It's time for our annual Talent Show! Sign-up to sing, dance, crack a joke, act, or PERFORM in general! We want to see your best talent! The talent show is open to ANYONE, including teachers, staff, alumni, and, of course, STUDENTS!

Click Link to Sign Up: Talent Show Audition Sign Ups

ASB will not provide lighting, music, or a microphone at tryouts SO MAKE SURE TO BRING YOUR OWN MATERIALS!

Your tryout performance DOES NOT have to be perfect; we simply want to ensure commitment and a well-rounded show! Please know that even though we cannot accept all acts, we appreciate your courage to try out as it can be very scary and vulnerable to put yourself out there. Be proud of yourself no matter what happens!

Seniors! Check out the special Senior Button in this Newsletter for all things relevant to you and graduation!

School Pictures

It's not too late to order school pictures! You can do so by going to mylifetouch.com click on the button that says Start Using Student ID Enter the city, state and school name, followed by entering the first name, last name and the student ID. The name entered needs to exactly as it appears on the ID card and in the school's data base. All packages will be shipped to the home address, for additional support please call customer service at 1.800.736.4753 Images are only available for 11months after picture day.

Follow us on Instagram:

Stay up to date on all student activities and events at IHS - be sure to follow your ASB accounts:

• https://www.instagram.com/indyactivities/

• https://www.instagram.com/indyathletics/

• https://www.instagram.com/indyperformingarts/

And, your class account for important information specific to your grade level:

• https://www.instagram.com/ihs_co2027/

• https://www.instagram.com/ihsco2026/

• https://www.instagram.com/ihs.co2025/

We are a CLOSED Campus!

This is a friendly reminder to students and parents that we are a closed campus. Students should not be leaving the school grounds during school hours, particularly during break and lunch for safety reasons. The Public Library and Overfelt Gardens are off limits.

Students should not be hanging out in the parking lots during passing periods, break and or lunch. Staff members will ask the students to go back to the main campus.

NO DOORDASH!

Doordash is not allowed. We are a closed campus and we do not want strangers driving onto our campus and delivering food to minors. Students may not walk off campus to get a delivery either. This is a safety issue!

Parents, please do not send food deliveries to your student. ALL students may eat for free at break and lunch.

Dress and Attire

The expectations for clothing are clean, covered and appropriate. This means no clothing that displays explicit or derogatory language, no drug or alcohol references, no sexually explicit images or nudity, and no gang references or symbols.

Any clothing or accessory item that the Administration deems a safety issue will be addressed with the student and we will work with them to find a solution.

Parents, Cookies is a marijuana reference. Cookies clothing or accessories are not permitted. Parents, please partner with us on this!

Saturday School!

Come to Saturday School this year and recover an unexcused absence or an excused illness absence. A teacher will be there to help you with your academics. Use the time to study or work on missing assignments. Our next Saturday School is 12/14/24 at 8:45am in the Student Union. We will feed you! Please plan to stay until 12:45pm. Please see Ms. Goltzer or Ms. Andrade in C05 for questions or concerns. Use the form to sign up!

https://forms.gle/YLYgSvMsCKkrNba48

Attendance Matters!

The C-05 office will continue to focus on attendance as we continue to strive towards our mission: Students Engaged in the Classroom. We would like to continue to remind SIXERs the importance of being on time, all day, every day, and that there is a correlation between attendance, grades and graduation. Avoid the truancy process!

Students who are consistently tardy or absent will meet with Ms. Goltzer and/or one of our Parent Community Involvement Specialists or a Student Advisor. We may request a parent meeting as well.

Parents, if you need to report a student’s tardiness or absence, please do so as soon as possible. The Attendance Office is in the Student Union. If you would like to phone instead, use the following phone numbers based on your student’s last name:

Attendance Staff

Short Term Independent Studies

Jennifer Andrade - 408.928.9521

Student last names A - L

Diana Castillo - 408.928.9552

Student last names M-Z

Thao Pham - 408.928.9542

Say Something

Students and Parents,

Our highest priority is safety. If you witness or experience something that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or that could potentially become a safety issue, please report it. You can do so anonymously. We have a link to the SAY SOMETHING app on our Independence website. Please give the Administration as much information as possible so that we may investigate the issue. You do not have to use your name. I am providing the link here as well. Let’s work together to keep our campus and community safe!

https://www.p3campus.com/tipform.aspx?ID=3000

**Please join us for this ELAC Parent meeting on Wednesday, November 20th @ 6:00 pm in the Student Union.

As the holidays draw near, please be sure to notify the attendance office as soon as possible if you intend to extend your vacation beyond the school schedule.

Student last names A - L

Diana Castillo - 408.928.9552

Student last names M-Z

Thao Pham - 408.928.9542

Please refer to the flyer below for information on upcoming parent meetings.

Services offered at the Wellness Center

The Mental Health and Wellness team includes social workers, interns, and community based organizations (CBO’s) that work together to provide mental health support to IHS students. The Wellness Center team offers referrals to community resources, group counseling, short term individual counseling, crisis intervention and education about mental health and wellness. Visit us in room D-01 to learn more!

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. A social worker, intern or other school staff member will follow up with the student.

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

Calming Space: The Calming Space is designed to be a place 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 minutes in the Calming Space; if they need more time, a wellness center staff member will check in to discuss additional resources and support. Students who visit the calming space during regular class time are expected to check in with Ms. Johnson, our Wellness Center Clerk, when they arrive and before they return to class. We also ask that students keep their electronics put away and that they do not engage in side conversations with other students.