Independence High School
8/26/2024
Principal's Update
Sixer Community,
Going into our fourth week, and our first spirit week, we have had to make several adjustments to our master schedule. This has resulted in the changing of several of our sections and subsequently schedule changes for some students. This is done to helps balance students throughout our classes and preventing any courses from having contractually excessive numbers.
The IHS Students are part of a great community. Our students learn and engage in the world in meaningful and productive ways. Below are several examples of how IHS students positively impact our world, on and off campus.
As we approach the end of the marking period, check Canvas to see your most recent grades or monitor your student's grades.
Student ID cards should arrive in two weeks to be distributed. Make-up Picture Day is October 1.
Back to School Night is Wednesday, 9/4.
Benches constructed and installed by our Construction program.
Construction students building Pylo boxes for our PE students.
Final constructed PE Pylo boxes.
What's Happening This Week
Thurs. 8/29/24:
IHS Football vs Cupertino @ Stadium
↠ JV 4:30pm ↠ Varsity 7:00pm
Fri. 8/30/24:
Welcome Back Rally (see Assembly Bell Schedule)
Welcome Back Dance @ Student Union ↦ 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Tickets on sale during Lunch all week @ Senior Stage
Thurs. 8/29/24 | IHS Staff meeting, students and community are invited.
RSVP to attend the IHS Staff Meetings in August and September HERE.
SIXER Shoutout
Congratulations to our We Are Innovative School-Wide Lesson drawing winners: Leidi Veloza (junior), Angelo Neri (freshman), Xiomara Moreno (senior)! Thank you for participating in the We Are Innovative School-Wide Lesson!
Our SIXER Values in Action
Being eXtraordinary isn’t about being perfect. It’s about learning from mistakes and finding that pathway to keep moving forward. This week, we highlight reflections from students about times they were eXtraordinary here at IHS:
“There was a time where we were assigned a group project for US History. My group members were somewhat shy and afraid to speak in front of the class so we did multiple practice trials to overcome their fear.” ~Jiachen Tai, Senior
Actions that I take when faced with life challenges is I seek to speak with loved ones whenever it gets too hard.” ~Jairo Jesse Madariaga, Sophomore
Study and go over the test topics you struggled with during the test, you can always use your Incorrect test questions as a reference so you know what study specifically. You can always ask peers or teachers for help If something is hard for you to comprehend. Study for understanding and not just to pass this will make it easier when you move onto more complex topics or classes.” ~Annette Ibarra Flores, Sophomore
Getting help from peers, taking time to reflect on mistakes, and making changes to how you learn can provide a boost in learning and ultimately lead to success.” ~Caleb Caslib, Junior
I was borderline failing math 3 even though I was trying my hardest on my own so I decided to funnel even more energy and time into math and cut back a little on extracurriculars to study more and use external tools like Paper tutor to grasp concepts and I managed to pass math 3 with an A- second semester compared to my C first semester.” ~Kathy Vu, Junior
If you missed the “We Are eXtraordinary” school-wide lesson, view it and engage by submitting your response HERE!
IHS Counseling Corner
Counselor Caseload:
Due to personnel changes, there has been a shift in counselor caseload. Please make note of your student’s counselor as it may have changed.
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
“Just try new things. Don’t be afraid. Step out of your comfort zones and SOAR.”
M. Obama
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 8/26/24
Fall Sports
Sixer Football:
Thurs 8/28/24: Football vs Cupertino @ Indy Stadium - JV 4:30pm Varsity 7:00pm
Coach Braun (braunj@esuhsd.org)
Sixer Golf (girls): Coach Richard Lee
Sixer Volleyball (girls): Coach Kenny (ng.kenneth02@gmail.com)
Sixer Cross Country (boys & girls): Coach Kevin (ckwang91@gmail.com)
Thurs 8/29/24: BVAL Scrimmage @ Montgomery Park 4pm
Sixer Tennis (girls): Coach Scott (rl20ii@yahoo.com)
Sixer Water Polo (boys & girls): Coach Martinez (rodriguez.adrian1821@gmail.com)
Sixer Girls’ Flag Football:
8/24/24 - vs Hillsdale @ 11am
Coach Baker (bakerl@esuhsd.org)
Winter Sports
Sixer Basketball (b): Coach Peralta (coachrayjay14@gmail.com)
Sixer Basketball (g): Coach Singh (singh@esuhsd.org)
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: Coach Yenchik
Sixer Swim: Coach Martinez (martinezad@esuhsd.org)
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
Check out IG for outfit inspiration:
Tickets on sale during Lunch all week @ Senior Stage
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:
And, your class account for important information specific to your grade level:
Interested in welcoming the new school year with a show stopping performance?
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.
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 N1 building. 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
Parking Permits
Students who park on campus must have a parking permit. Please register your vehicle in C-05 and get your permit. Please display it in your vehicle when you park on campus. We ask that students park in the N1 parking lot (the large parking lot in front of the N1 Administration building).
Please drive safely in our parking lots. They are regularly monitored and any unsafe driving or driving at high speeds will not be tolerated. You may be cited and asked to park on the street in the future if you participate in these behaviors. We are a busy campus and you do not want to cause an accident or injure pedestrians.
You are not permitted to “hang out” in your vehicle during the school day.
Use the following link to register your vehicle. Pick up your permit in C-05.
https://forms.gle/WYhojwBqVvRouXUGA
Parent and Community Specialist Corner
***Save the Date***
Back to School Night : Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Coffee with the Principal: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 9am via ZOOM
Parent Workshop - Info Night: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 6pm
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.
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