1

May, 2018 Volume 8, Issue 4

791 Mimosa Boulevard Roswell, GA 30075

Phone: (470)254-7611 FAX: (470) 254-7621

www.independencehighschool.org Mrs. Tabatha Taylor, Principal

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

IHS Partners ............................ 2

CNN ......................................... 2

Student Services ...................... 3

Staff Highlights ........................ 3

Media Center ........................... 4

Student Recognition ................ 5

Interact…………..………..………...6

Certificate of Merit………………6

Opportunity Fair…………………8

Independence Insights Dear Stakeholders,

As I write this final letter bringing a close to the 2017-2018 academic year, I find myself looking back in amazement at what has been achieved by all members of the Independence family; students, parents, staff and community supporters. In August, we welcomed almost 200 students to our school and, by May 17, we will have celebrated the graduation of approximately 130 of our seniors.

We were thrilled by this fall’s End of Course Testing results issued by the Georgia Department of Education which showed that IHS Geometry students achieved the highest Student Growth Percentile in the county and that our American Literature students scored the county’s second largest increase. Independence was also recognized for improving One Full Letter Grade and Full 40 Progress Points on the College and Career Ready Performance Index. Rather than resting on our laurels, however, this recognition has inspired us to do even more for students who apply to and are accepted by Independence High School. We have adapted our daily schedule to include two additional periods to offer motivated students the opportunity to take additional classes and earn even more credits per year toward graduation. The students who are taking advantage of the 0 and/or 5th periods are seeing their dreams realized more quickly than ever before.

The loyalty of our Partners in Education has been amazing. Many of our long-standing partnerships with businesses, service organizations and houses of worship were forged during our time in Alpharetta. When we moved to Roswell in January, we were humbled by their desire to “move” with us. For them, it isn’t about the proximity to the building, but rather their dedication to our students and staff. While we have been fortunate to have maintained so many previous relationships, we have also been awe-struck by the welcome we received in our new location. We appreciate the area businesses and houses of worship who have reached out to partner with us as we re-establish ourselves in this community. Please take a look at the list of our partners on Page 2, thank them for what they do for us and give them your support when you are able.

It has been a GREAT year but, as always, I anticipate even bigger and better things to come! I hope you will all be a part of it. Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Sincerely, Tabatha Taylor, Principal

One Vision, One Mission, One Goal: Success for All Students!

CLASS

OF

2018

2

TO OUR PARTNERS IN EDUCATION...

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS CLASSES VISIT CNN CENTER

2

The IHS English Language

Arts teachers were awarded a

Target Scholarship Grant for

the 2017-2018 academic

year. The funds received

from this grant were used to

organize a field trip to CNN

Center in Atlanta for 29 ELA

students.

The educational, behind-the-

scenes tour provided the

students the opportunity to

learn the history of CNN and

what goes into running the

world’s largest news network,

from gathering the news

through the production

process.

Ms. Shorr, Ms. Legros and

Ms. Markham encouraged

interested students to

explore career opportunities

as they learned about global

news reporting.

Alpharetta 1st Baptist Church American Kidney Services

Alpharetta Police Athletic League Chick-Fil-A Windward

Greater Atlanta Hadassah Nothing Bundt Cakes Windward

Delta Community Credit Union StandUp For Kids

Hewlett Packard Enterprise The Summit Counseling Center

Northside Church Zaxby’s Alpharetta

Northside Hospital El Zarape Mexican Restaurant

Roswell Rotary Club Sandoval’s Agency, Inc. State Farm

3

News From Upcoming Events:

New Enrollees for the 2018-

2019 School Year

Mini-Semester I begins August 6, 2018. All required documents/paperwork must be completed and received in our Counseling Office between June 4—August 1, 2018. For additional information, please visit our website at www.independencehighschool.org or contact us at (470) 254-7530.

“Since attending Independence

High School, my outlook on school

has changed completely. Before, I

was unmotivated and had no plans

for my future. Now, I’m excited

for what the future holds. I can’t

thank this school and the kind staff

enough for this opportunity.”

Alyssa, 2018

“I learned more here than I did at

my home school and I was here for

only 1 year. I came and focused on

graduating. I caught up with my

credits and I’m graduating with my

class. Coming here was probably

the best decision I’ve made about

my education.” Ali, 2018

“Independence was one of the best

things that could have happened to

me education-wise. Thank you for

giving me another chance at this.”

Kenneth, 2018

Independence HS

791 Mimosa Boulevard

Roswell, GA 30075

Phone: (470) 254-7611

Office of Student

Services:

Phone: (470) 254-7530

FAX: (470) 254-7617

Parting Thoughts

from Our Grads

Faculty Highlights

Congratulations to Ms. Ashley Ellis, who received the Vanguard MVP award

for the Northwest Learning Community. Nominees for the honor were selected

based on criteria representing their most significant impact on their school

through coaching.

Vanguard coaches work with their peer teachers, METIs, technology specialists

and the school administration to deliver the best curriculum practices which

include transformative technology.

IHS Quarry Crushers

Vanguard team

members:

Ms. Sara Allegood,

Ms. Ashley Ellis,

Ms. Gaganjot Singh and

Ms. Kerry Shorr (not

pictured) at

The Vancademy Awards

ceremony on May 6.

Ms. Sara Allegood and Ms. Gaganjot Singh

“rocked” the quarry when they participated in the

Quarry Crusher Run National Series

benefitting area schools.

Participants ran down massive declines into the

earth and straight back up to the top. They

enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime look inside a

magnificent landscape that is prohibited to the

general public. Unlike any other races

nation-wide, the Quarry Crusher Run Series

allows private access into exclusive landscapes

that amaze each and every runner.

4

MEDIA CENTER NEWS

4

ONGOING CONTESTS:

Weekly Trivia—One trivia question per

week is posted in the Media Center and

on the Daily Announcements. Students

may submit their answers for the

drawing held each Friday.

Monthly Reading—Students have the

opportunity to write reviews of the books

they are reading. Completed forms are

submitted by month’s end and a drawing

is held with the winner receiving a gift

card.

***Graduating Seniors***

Please remember…

In order to receive your diploma, all

outstanding media must be returned

to the school from which you

received it. Please return all

Independence HS media and

Surface items to Ms. Allegood and

textbooks to Ms. Paulsen. Any items

you received from another Fulton

County School must be

returned to that school. Make sure

to get a receipt verifying their return.

For almost 20 years, young ladies in area high schools have

benefitted from Check It Out!, a health program addressing breast

cancer prevention and the risk factors associated with the disease. Each year, the Oncology

Department of Northside Hospital and the Greater Atlanta Hadassah, a volunteer organization

focusing on promoting issues of women’s health and family well-being, partner to provide

educational materials and a nurse/speaker for our school.

The attendees at the March event learned that one in every eight women will have some type of

breast cancer in her lifetime; that the number one risk factor in getting breast cancer is simply

being a woman; and that a mammogram is still the best test for early detection.

This year, Ms. Annie Loventhal of the Greater Atlanta Hadassah and

Ms. Susan Casella of Northside Hospital were joined in their presentation by

Ms. Debra Sharker, a breast cancer survivor who shared the personal story of her battle

with and ultimate victory over breast cancer. She explained to the students that she doesn’t

call herself a “survivor,” but rather, a “thriver” because although she has survived, she chooses

to thrive every day. She encouraged the young ladies in the audience to take ownership of their

health care, to make smart choices and to practice good habits now to reap the benefits as

they grow older.

Ms. Sharker, Ijah Alston, Ms. Casella

and Antoniesha Staten

Georgia’s Summer Reading Challenge

All students are challenged to read every day this summer for at least 15 to 30 minutes.

Parents and students are encouraged to visit the Find a Book, Georgia website and

make a Summer Reading Pledge. Then they can use the site to find book

recommendations throughout the summer, all tailored to a student’s interests and

Lexile score. (If the child’s Lexile score is not known, the site can estimate reading

level based on answers to a few simple questions.)

Suggested summer reading goals for students based on grade levels are:

K-2 - students: 10 books

3-5 - students: 8 chapter books

6-12 students: 5 fiction books and 5 non-fiction books

To learn more about the Georgia’s Summer Reading Challenge, visit: https://www.fcssummerreading.org/high-school.html or the Independence website’s Media Center page www.independencehighschool.org

Check It Out!

5

S

T

A

R

S

T

U

D

E

N

T

S

IHS Star Students are nominated by their teachers for

demonstrating academic success, leadership, positive attitudes,

responsibility and the qualities of a role model. Honorees were

joined by family and friends during a ceremony and reception in

their honor on May 8.

Congratulations to these MS IV Star Students!

Kevon

Davis

Katherine

Diehl

Destiny

Duncan

Nicole

Guzman

S’maji

Jacobs

Savannah

Kemp (2)

Edgar

Martinez (2)

Edwin

Martinez-

Granados (2)

Luis

Torres

Melissa

Trejo (2)

Sergio

Trejo

Jagayra

Vega-Pineda

Leonardo

Zapata

6

Upcoming Events:

Interact Club

Meetings—Fridays

during the lunch period

INTERACT CLUB 2017-2018

6

The American Kidney

Services clothing donation bin

is located in the rear parking lot

of our school. Please continue to

donate clothes and shoes to

support their organization and

our Interact Club.

In recognition of outstanding scholastic achievement throughout the first three years of high school, the University of Georgia annually presents the Georgia Certificate of Merit to high school juniors who are ranked in the top 5% of their class.

Congratulations to Amanda Bross, Jacqueline Longacre, Deon Mayfield, Amaya Wooten, Andrew Foster and Antonia Houze (not pictured), the 2017-2018 Independence HS Georgia Certificate of Merit recipients.

Pick up a Publix card in our Main

Office. Use it every time you shop

and money will be donated to our

school.

Kroger shoppers simply need to

register their Kroger Plus cards and list

Independence as the organization of

choice to receive Community Rewards

funds.

Easy Ways to Support IHS

2017-2018 was another fantastic year of service for Interact Club members. In total, 750 volunteer

hours were logged for local, national and international projects, with the nine graduating seniors

contributing 493 of those hours. At the final meeting of the year, Ms. Rebecca Stone of the Roswell

Rotary gave special recognition to Holly Burks, Christina Crawford and Demetrius Kimbrough for

Exceptional Interact Voluntary Work and awarded each with a gift card for their service.

Looking ahead to next year, Amaya Wooten, Luis Rios and Jose Alvarez will be attending the Rotary

Youth Leadership Academy June 2-June 6 to prepare for their roles as club officers in 2018-2019.

The following are the projects in which the club participated this year and the funds earned/donated to

each organization:

• Blood Drive – December

• Atlanta Heart Walk

• Atlanta Humane Society Walk - $300

• Clothes Drive in partnership with American Kidney Services

(Approximately $1500 raised)

• RYLA, Laws of Life Essay Contest

• Relay for Life North Fulton - $860

• Operation Oreos – Supporting our Troops $300

• Zimbabwe School Project (K-5 story books) Our

International Project $300

• Pennies for Patient $300

• Habitat for Humanity - $150

Main Projects Within the School

• Green house

• Recycling

• Student Ambassadors

7

7

Mended Wing Theatre Company

Performs at IHS

On Wednesday, May 14, Independence students were

treated to a production of Shakespeare’s Two Gentleman

of Verona, performed by Mended Wing Theatre

Company. The traveling troupe is an ensemble

comprised of seven recent graduates and current

Bachelor of Fine Arts students from the North Carolina

School of the Arts, School of Drama. This was the second time in as

many years that a group from North Carolina performed a work of

Shakespeare at Independence. In addition to wanting to share the

love of their craft with high school students, the performers also take

their shows on the road to underscore the importance of theatre in

today's society.

Independence Well-Represented in the

Laws of Life Contest

A Law of Life is a short, pithy saying or quotation that points to a core personal value or ideal. Oftentimes, a Law of Life serves as a memorable and meaningful moral compass on a person’s journey through life.

The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest, sponsored by the Georgia Rotary Clubs, asks students to select their own Law of Life, and to write about how it applies to their lives. In doing so, students reflect deeply and write from the heart about what they think matters most. The contest celebrates the students’ stories and their often profound reflections, and proudly presents significant cash awards to students and teachers.

Three IHS students were recognized for their essays and received the following awards:

Olivia Hatton-School Wide $100.00 Winner - “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.”

Brandon Scott- Honorable Mention- “The Light at The End of The Tunnel”

Simran Pandey-12th Grade $50.00 Winner- “Life takes unexpected

turns, and we don’t always have the time we think we have.”

Congratulations to these students and their teacher,

Ms. Linda Legros!

Pictured above,

Mended Wing Theatre

Ensemble with

Ms. Kerry Shorr

8

OUR GRADS’ VOICES

It is the policy of the Fulton County School System not to discriminate on the basis of race, color,

sex, religion, natural origin, age or handicap in any employment practices, educational programs or

activities.

Independence HS

791 Mimosa Boulevard

Roswell, GA 30075

Phone: (470) 254-7611

FAX: (470) 254-7621

Opportunity Fair

Close to twenty representatives from various businesses, schools and branches of

the military participated in the second annual Independence Spring Opportunity

Fair. The event provided the chance for students to secure summer employment,

learn about apprenticeships and/or begin their post-secondary careers.

“ While attending Independence

High School, I’ve learned many

new things. I have learned how

important school really is and

how my education matters.

Everyone at Independence has

been great to me and for my

success in school. Independence

is a fantastic school. I got my

senior year done and now I’m

finally graduating high school

and I’m off to college.

I graduated just to go

to school again.”

D’Aveon, 2018

“Thank you, Independence High School, for the opportunity

you gave me. I wouldn’t be graduating if it wasn’t for you. I

wouldn’t be moving on to the next phase of my life and I

wouldn’t be going to college. Nothing that I accomplish at

any point in the future would be possible without this

amazing school, teachers and staff.” Breanna, 2018

“Attending

Independence

has made me

much more

independent

than before

and made me

realize that

anything is

possible.”

Dulce, 2018

“It’s been tough getting

through high school.

However, through the great

support I have received

throughout my high school

career, as well as the unique

and delightful opportunity

given to me here at IHS, I will

get my diploma, and earlier

than expected! The support I

have received here has been

tremendous, and it’s been

wonderful to have the chance

to finish high school with

flying colors.”

Alexander, 2018

Graduating Seniors

Diplomas and Transcripts

Please remember…

In order to receive your

diploma, all outstanding media

must be returned to the school from

which you received it. Please return

all Independence HS media and

Surface items to Ms. Allegood and

textbooks to Ms. Paulsen. Any items

you received from another Fulton

County School must be returned to

that school. Make sure to get a

receipt verifying their return.

Students will pick up their

diplomas 6-8 weeks after

completing their final mini-

semester. All diplomas will be

picked up from Independence

whether students are receiving their

diploma from IHS or from their

home school.

To request a transcript, use

www.parchment.com You may also

visit our website at

www.independencehighschool.org

You may access a student tutorial for

Parchment at

www.parchment.com/studentkit/