Tues. Feb 4th: Schnitzelfest | 4:00pm-6:30pm |C-commons - $8

Fri. Feb 7th: Wave to Vietnam Showcase | 5:30pm -8:00pm | Theater - $10 pre-show $12 @ door

Night Market | 8:15pm - 9:15pm | Student Union

“A huge Sixer Shoutout to ALL PE Course 1- 4th period students in Ms. Roberts, Ms. Santa Cruz, and Coach Yenchik’s classes! The student union could have been bustling and loud, due to the high volume of students. However, during our school-wide lesson, Say Something, the atmosphere was remarkably silent. Understanding the appropriate moments to speak up and Say Something is a critical skill, and we take great pride in the engagement and respect demonstrated by our Sixers during this important school-wide lesson.” ~Dr. LaMontagne, MTSS Implementation

Learn more about the impact of the anonymous reporting system Say Something HERE.

IHS Student Governing Board

How can we uplift student voices to be heard at the school and district level? In decision making, we aim to bring all voices to light- staff, community, and most importantly, students.

There are different ways decision makers can use data to inform decision making:

• Satellite Data → Things like test scores, attendance rate, and graduation rate.

• Map Data → Student voice through survey data, like the Panorama Survey.

• Street Data → Your student voices in the form of group and individual interviews and collected stories.

Your representatives, students Katie Hion (senior), Adelynn Le (junior), and Davin Saini (sophomore) actively work to ensure student voices are heard at the district-level. Twice a month, they meet with Student Governing Board (SGB) representatives of East Side high schools to discuss student concerns and issues. You can even catch Katie representing students at every ESUHSD Board meeting, as the SGB Chairperson! Feel free to reach out to them at any time, as they represent your needs!

The purpose of the East Side Union High School District Student Governing Board is:

1. Provide a forum for Student Governing Board members to review and discuss upcoming agendas for the East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) Board of Trustees meetings and to meet and discuss school district and school site issues with the ESUHSD Board of Trustees’ designated liaison.

2. Advise the ESUHSD Board of Trustees on items such as, but not limited to, district policies, community/school-wide initiatives, and student activities.

3. Provide student input and opinions on upcoming points of business and/or issues.

4. Foster and develop an informed relationship between the ESUHSD Board of Trustees and the school district’s student body.

Read more about the ESUHSD Student Governing Board on the ESUHSD website.

We want our student voices to be heard!

We urge students from Independence HS and across the district to engage in the:

ESUHSD Student Governing Board Student Survey

Please fill out this student survey that the district-wide Student Governing Board has created! SGB wishes to understand the needs and concerns of students on a deeper level so they can continue to represent and work on initiatives to improve student life. This short survey will only take a few minutes and provide valuable insight.

We Are Engaged. We Are Sixers.

Cash 4 College Workshop:

IHS Counseling will be hosting a Cash 4 College Workshop this Thursday, February 6 from 3:15-6:15pm in the Student Union. Financial aid representatives will be present to assist families in filling out the financial aid application (either the FAFSA or CADAA). We encourage all seniors and their parent(s)/guardian(s) to attend. Families should bring their tax forms from the year 2023 as well as W-2 from 2023.

Scheduling Process for 2025-26 School Year

IHS Counseling will begin the scheduling process for the 2025-26 school year this Wednesday, January 15 for current students in grades 9-11. Scheduling lessons will be presented during the students' class period. During the lesson, counselors will show students how to select their courses for next year through Infinite Campus’ Academic Planner. Student access to the Academic Planner closes on January 29 at 4pm. Counselors will meet one-on-one with students in February to confirm their course selections.

For more information on the scheduling process and resources, visit the scheduling page of the counseling website at https://tinyurl.com/ihscheduling-25-26.

Please note: counselor availability during the scheduling process will be extremely limited. We ask that if you need to get a hold of us, send us an email and we will do our best to get back to you in a timely manner. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Feb. 6: Cash 4 College Workshop | 3:15-6:15pm | The Learning Center (Student Union)

Feb. 7/10: Sophomore One-on-One Meeting in PE 2 Class

Feb. 11/14: Freshman One-on-One Meeting in PE 1 Class

Counselor Contact & Availability:

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

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

• W. Churchill

Announcements:

Spring sports begin on 2/3/25, all athletes need to register at www.athleticclearance.com in order to participate.

Week of 1/27/25

Winter Sports

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

2/5/25 @ Leland JV @ 5:30 | Varsity 7:00

2/7/25 @ Silver Creekt JV @ 5:30 | Varsity 7:00

Sixer Basketball (g): Coach Buckner (leilani.buckner10@gmail.com)

2/4/25 vs Oak Grove JV @ 5:30 | Varsity 7:00

1/30/25 vs Gilroy JV @ 5:30 | Varsity 7:00

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

2/5/25 vs San Jose JV 5:00 | Varsity 7:00

2/7/25 vs James Lick V 5:00 | Varsity 7:00

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

2/4/25 vs Prospect @ 7pm

2/6/25 @ Westmont @ 7pm

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

2/5/25 @ Lincoln 6:30 pm

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

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

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 will be in February 8th. 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

As a reminder, Attendance Matters! Consistent attendance in high school is essential for academic achievement, as even missing a small amount of class time can have a notable effect on a student's learning and overall performance.

Attendance Matters. On Time. All Day. Every Day.

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.