Greetings, Falcon Families!
This past week was filled with opportunities for our students to network, collaborate, and serve their communities. On Tuesday morning, our Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students were invited to join a meeting at Frontier High School with the newly-established Central Valley Native Pacific Islander Alliance, where they learned about the many opportunities and resources offered by the organization for the local community.
More than 20 of our LISTOS (Latinos in Stride To Achieve Success) students answered a call for volunteers to help at the Lakeside School carnival on Wednesday - they worked all evening with families and students to help make the event a success!
We had several educational and enriching field trips this past week, as well. Four of our FFA students competed in the Yosemite High School Winter Ag Fabrication Contest, and 50 FFA students participated in the South Valley Section Opening and Closing Competition. Students in Project BEST were invited to Bakersfield College for an HBCU Caravan trip, and YWEL (Young Women Empowered for Leadership) attended the Fall Forum Conference at CSUB. Yesterday, our highly-ranked marching band and color guard performers competed in a competition at Selma High School.
Our 2nd-annual Trunk or Treat community event was a success, with members of our surrounding communities enjoying the creativity of our campus clubs. With themes ranging from Dia De Los Muertos (Spanish Honor Society), Zombie Medical Kit (Medical Club), to Charlie Brown Pumpkin Patch (Believers in Christ), and Hello Kitty (Yearbook), we had a variety of amazing displays!
We hosted the first round of playoffs on Tuesday, the first time we’ve hosted a playoff volleyball game in seven years! Our volleyball team won their game on Tuesday and went off to the quarterfinals of the CIF Championships in Sanger on Thursday. We are so proud of their grit and determination that made this season especially remarkable.
This past week, we celebrated the hard work and achievements of our water polo seniors (Monday), and ended the week with our senior football players, band and color guard students, cheerleaders, and cross-country runners, along with their families - at our annual Senior Night. This was a beautiful way to honor the many sacrifices our students’ parents, step-parents, and grandparents make to ensure their success.
In our ongoing efforts to assess the needs of our campus and address concerns from all stakeholders, our PBIS Tier 1 team met with a group of teachers, counselors, parents, and students to discuss the current resources available and brainstorm solutions for identified needs. We are working to streamline and strengthen our student supports and communication with families - we appreciate all of your feedback!
Reminder, if your student needs some additional help in one or more subjects, 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.
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 your support!
Sincerely,
Guillermo Alvarado, Ed.D
Principal, Independence High School
