Independence High School
10/14/2024
Principal's Update
Sixer Community,
Welcome back! I hope everyone was able to enjoy some downtime during the October Break. This week we will be 25% through the school year and 50% through our first Semester.
Parents,
Please take a moment to provide us with feedback through the Panorama Survey. We use this survey to help identify our growth areas and the metrics are used for our district LCAP plan and the CA Accountability Dashboard under local indicators.
- Navigate to anonymous survey link: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/eastsideunion/family/survey
- Select school name from a drop down menu.
- Start survey & select preferred language from drop down menu
What's Happening This Week
SIXER Shoutout
A Sixer Shoutout to Myles Pagaduan for being nominated as Athlete of the Week for the Bay Area News Group last week! We are proud of you! ~Dr. LaMontagne, MTSS Implementation
A Sixer Shoutout to Joshua Avalos for exemplifying the values of a Sixer. Josh, you’ve been working extremely hard this year, but most of all, you are kind and helpful. I appreciate all that you do for others. ~Dr. LaMontagne, MTSS Implementation
Our SIXER Values in Action
Through focus group research, the following classroom engagement strategies were defined by IHS students as helpful or supportive in their success in the classroom. For the past two years, we’ve asked our current students how they feel about these strategies. Here’s what they had to say!
Percentage identified as Absolutely necessary for student engagement or important for student engagement:
Step-by-step explanations: 80%
Teacher check-Ins for understanding of material: 79.8%
The opportunity for revisions or retakes: 79.1%
Teachers providing examples of student work: 77%
Time to process new material: 76.9%
Check out all of the strategies that students rated HERE!
IHS Counseling Corner
Save the Date: IHS College Information Night:
IHS Counseling will be hosting IHS College Information Night next Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 5:30-6:30pm in the Learning Center (Student Union). Come get information about the four year college systems, community college, how to support your student and more! The presentation will be given in three languages: English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. We hope to see you there!
College Access Support:
IHS Counseling is supported by two College Access Programs: 10,000 Degrees and Destination College Advising Corps (DCAC). Both programs are intended to support students in the college process and assist students in their post-secondary goals. Working alongside IHS Counselors, Mr. Garcia (10,000 Degrees Fellow) and Ms. Navarro (DACA College Advisor), are available for students and parents who would like additional support and information about college.
College Application Workshops:
It is officially college application season for seniors planning to apply to four-year colleges. Many colleges are hosting application workshops via Zoom. IHS Counseling will also be holding in person workshops to help students through the application process. Be sure to check the calendar on the IHS Counseling website for all the up-to-date workshops and information!
Upcoming Dates:
Oct. 14: College Monday | Wear college apparel
Oct. 17: San Jose State University & CSU Apply Application Workshop | 8:30-9:15am | The Learning Center
Oct. 17: University of San Francisco & Common App Workshop | 3-4pm | The Learning Center
Oct. 17: St. Mary’s College & Common App Workshop | 4-5pm | Zoom
Oct. 18: Freshman Counseling Lesson through PE 1 class
Oct. 22: IHS College Information Night | 5:30-6:30pm | The Learning Center
Oct. 25: Sophomore Counseling Lesson through PE 2 class
Counselor Caseload:
Please make note of your student’s counselor.
Ms. Pham: Last Names A-Chi | 408.928.9680 | phamm@esuhsd.org
Mr. Hennessey: Last Names Chj-Hd | 408.928.9563 | hennesseym@esuhsd.org
Ms. Fernandez: Last Names He-Maq | 408.928.9574 | fernandezf@esuhsd.org
Ms. Huynh: Last Names Mar-Par | 408.928.9567 | huynhtt@esuhsd.org
Ms. Marquez: Last Names Pas-Sq | 408.928.9568 | marquezl@esuhsd.org
Ms. Liang: Last Names Sr-Z | 408.928.9546 | liangb@esuhsd.org
Athletics Updates
“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
Announcements:
Winter Sports (Basketball/Soccer/Wrestling) are closer than they appear (11/4/24).
On-campus Athletic Physicals will take place on 10/18/24 at 3:30 in M-34 ($25 cash).
Athletes/families should begin the clearing process through Athletic Clearance. More details on our website. Submit profile by 10/28/24.
In order to participate in a sport, you must be registered through www.athleticclearance.com. You can visit our website to learn how to navigate the registration site.
All athletes must have a current physical on file in Athletic Clearance (dated after 6/1/24).
Go6ers!
Week of 10/14/24
Fall Sports
Sixer Football:
10/18/24 @ Overfelt JV @ 4:30 | V @ 7:15
Coach Braun (braunj@esuhsd.org)
Sixer Golf (girls):
10/15//24 vs Willow Glen @ San Jose Municipal GC @ 3:45
10/16/24 vs Willow Glen @ Santa Teresa GC @ 3:45
Coach Richard Lee (rlee@fusdk12.net)
Sixer Volleyball (girls):
10/14/24 vs Overfelt JV 5:30 | V 7pm
10/15/24 vs Mt. Pleasant JV 5:30 | V 7pm
10/17/24 @ Overfelt JV 5:30 | V 7pm
Coach Kenny (leilani.buckner10@gmail.com)
Sixer Cross Country (boys & girls):
10/17/24 @ Montgomery Hill Park @ 4pm
Coach Kevin (ckwang91@gmail.com)
Sixer Tennis (girls):
10/15/24 BVAL ST Division Tournament @ Independence 12pm
10/17/24 @ Sobrato @ 4pm
10/18/24 BVAL ST Division Tournament @ Independence 12pm
Coach Scott (rl20ii@yahoo.com)
Sixer Water Polo (boys & girls):
10/15/24 @ Lincoln Girls @ 6pm | Boys @ 5pm
Coach Martinez (rodriguez.adrian1821@gmail.com)
Sixer Girls’ Flag Football:
10/15/24 @ Andrew Hill @ 7pm
10/17/24 @ Branham @ 7pm
Coach Baker (bakerl@esuhsd.org)
Winter Sports
Sixer Basketball (b):
Sixer Basketball (g):
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)
Visit Sixer Athletics for up to date information about athletics! Follow us on Instagram: @indyathletics
Visit GoFan.co to purchase tickets
Activities Updates
Attention ALL Sixers Students!
If you haven’t already done so, please download the MINGA app on your phone to access your Digital Student ID. This is a REQUIREMENT to get into ALL home sports games that require a ticket for FREE and will be required for check-in at dances and other school events.
No phone? No problem..MINGA is accessible on your chromebook via ARMS.
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:
And, your class account for important information specific to your grade level:
Safety & Attendance
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 9 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!
September is Attendance Awareness Month.
Did you know.... Absences can be a sign that a teen is losing interest, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.
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
Parent and Community Specialist Corner
**Please join us for this ELAC Parent meeting on Wednesday, October 16 @ 6:00 pm in the Student Union.
What is ELAC? The English Language Advisory Committee, ELAC, is established to promote a meaningful connection with the parents of English learner students (EL) at the school site. The purpose of the ELAC is to advise the principal and school staff on programs and services for English learners and the School Site Council on the development of the Single School Plan for Student Achievement.Please take a moment to provide us with feedback through the Panorama Survey. We use this survey to help identify our growth areas and the metrics are used for our district LCAP plan and the CA Accountability Dashboard under local indicators.
Navigate to anonymous survey link: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/eastsideunion/family/survey
Select school name from a drop down menu.
Start survey & select preferred language from drop down menu
Or scan the QR CODE
The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program is hosting two engaging and informative evenings, packed with tips on talking to teens about vaping, cannabis, and tobacco. They are available in both English and Spanish!
Thursday, October 24 | 6-7:30 PM
1290 Ridder Park San Jose, CA 95131
(English: Oak Grove Room | Spanish: Milpitas Room)
Registration: sccoe.to/parentsRP
Tuesday, October 29 | 6-7:30 PM
South County Annex Gilroy, CA 95020
(English: Conference Room | Spanish: Multi-Purpose Room)
Registration: sccoe.to/parentSCA
Please refer to the flyer below for information on upcoming parent meetings.
For any questions or concerns please contact your Parent & Community Involvement Specialists (PCIS) Ms. Ha phamha@esuhsd.org 408.928.9598 or Ms. Maggie rodriguezm@esuhsd.org 408.928.9541.
Parents: For technology access please see the flyer below. As a reminder your student can share the pairing code for CANVAS.
Please refer to the academic calendar 2024-2025 to support you in the planning of any holiday vacations. As a reminder, vacations are not excuse absences in session days.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Sacred Heart Community Service
Second Harvest Food Bank nearest Food pickup
● 988 Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Get Help - Behavioral Health Services - County of Santa Clara (sccgov.org); informational flyer for mental health teams (attached)
● Black Youth & Suicide: A guide on suicide risk and mental health support for Black youth in Santa Clara County
● LGBTQ Youth Space (ages 13-25): https://youthspace.org/
● allcove: https://allcove.org/centers/palo-alto/
● Downtown Youth Wellness Center (ages 12-25) – flyer attached; Programs – Alum Rock Counseling Center (alumrockcc.org)
● Santa Clara County Office of Education - Department of Youth Health & Wellness
● Headspace for Teens: https://www.headspace.com/teens
● Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org
For any questions or concerns, please get in touch with Ms. Ha phamha@esuhsd.org 408.928.9598 or Ms. Maggie rodriguezm@esuhsd.org 408.928.9541.
Mental Health & Wellness Corner
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.
Welcome Intern Team!
This week, the 2024-25 Social Work Intern Cohort joined the Wellness Center.
Community Resources & Events
Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis Hotline
If you or your student need mental health crisis support outside of school hours, you may call 988 to request support from the Santa Clara County Mobile Crisis Response Team. If your phone number does not begin with a 408, 669 or 650 area code, please call 800-704-0900 and press 1.
Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis Hotline
Downtown Youth Wellness Center
Address: 725 East Santa Clara Street, Suite 105, San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: 408-961-4645
Email: dywc@hhs.sccgov.org
The Downtown Youth Wellness Center is a Behavioral Health program dedicated to promoting a safe, supportive, and youth-focused environment that provides short term Behavioral Health services, focused on prevention and early intervention for youth ages 12-25. Services include same day access to brief behavioral health support, peer support, workshops, well-being groups, social and educational activities, linkage to services/case management (including medical and longer-term behavioral health services), life skills development, education and career planning, independent living skills, and other related care. The DYWC is a partnership between the Behavioral Health Services Department and Alum Rock Counseling Center.
The DYWC is excited to continue to be part of the community that serves the youth in our community. In an ongoing effort to meet the needs of the youth, the DYWC has shifted the hours of operation to Monday through Friday from 10am-7pm.
Where students find their Passion, Purpose, and Path.
Resource Links
School Vision
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