Greetings, Falcon Families!
We had another amazing week last week! We celebrated our seniors in multiple programs, honoring their hard work and their families’ dedication to their success. We also hosted a variety of local agencies in our quad for Red Ribbon Week, and provided games and trivia to engage students in conversations about staying drug-free!
We are incredibly proud of our Falcon Marching Band and Colorguard team - this past Saturday, they earned High Auxiliary, High Percussion, and won first place in their division! They also were awarded the Grand Marshall’s Trophy - marking them as the tournament favorite overall! Congratulations - and best of luck as they compete at Frontier this upcoming Saturday!
This past weekend, the Independence High School Speech and Debate Team proudly represented the Falcons at the 44th Annual John Chamberlin High School Invitational, hosted by the University of the Pacific. Twenty of our talented competitors showcased their hard work, skill, and poise against schools from across the state.
In Student Congress, the following Falcons advanced to the final rounds, demonstrating excellence in argumentation, leadership, and collaboration: Andellyn McQuilliams, Leslie Bertram, Valeria Carrillo, Amari Johnson, Jaeley Mealy, Adelynn Solis, Emma Puga, Isabella Rodriguez, Katelyn Villegas-Rodriguez, Kadence Yoder, and Leyla Gonzalez, resulting in 10 awards!
In Duo Interpretation, Andellyn McQuilliams and Leslie Bertram impressed the judges and advanced to the final round, ultimately placing 5th with their excerpt from the play Chicago.
In Original Prose and Poetry, Kadence Yoder also reached the final round, placing 6th with a moving and original performance.
We are incredibly proud of all our Falcons who competed with Responsibility, Integrity, Service, and Excellence, embodying our school's spirit and the RISE values that define us. Let’s continue to cheer on our Speech and Debate Falcons as they prepare for their next tournament.
Progress report grades open next week, so please make sure your student is staying on top of his/her work! If your student needs some additional help in math or science, we have an excellent after-school tutoring program that runs from 4:15pm to 5:15pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with a bus provided for students needing later transportation.
Another valuable resource that’s available to students at school and at home is Tutor.com. This website provides 24/7 live, online tutoring services to students in any subject. Tutoring can be via text or video chat, and all tutors are highly trained professionals that can support students with any needs they might have. This includes reviewing concepts, homework assistance, essay analysis, and study help for upcoming tests. Find more information on Kern High’s Digital Resource page.
Interested in more ways to get involved at IHS? Looking for some additional resources? Our Parent and Family Center is here to help! Find out how to become an “observer” on Canvas to track your student’s academic progress.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 661.834.8001 - we appreciate all you do!
Sincerely,
Guillermo Alvarado, Ed.D.
Principal, Independence High School
