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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
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TO OUR PARTNERS IN EDUCATION...
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS CLASSES VISIT CNN CENTER
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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
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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.
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MEDIA CENTER NEWS
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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!
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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
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Upcoming Events:
Interact Club
Meetings—Fridays
during the lunch period
INTERACT CLUB 2017-2018
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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
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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
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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/