Aug. 19, 2020
Dear Independence High School Families,
We continue to prepare for the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. I want to make sure that you have some important dates in mind as the first day of school approaches. As I detailed in the last update, we will have many additional rules and guidelines in place to ensure a safe return to school. We will discuss these new rules in our Freshmen Orientation, Monday, Aug. 31, 7 pm, and our IHS Open House, Tuesday, Sept. 1, also at 7 pm. Both will be held virtually through the use of Zoom and Google Meet. As a way of ensuring that all of our students understand these new expectations, we will have a staggered, or 'soft' opening to our school year.
Freshmen Orientation & IHS Open House
On Monday, Aug. 31, at 7 pm, we welcome all incoming freshmen and their parents to join us online to discuss the upcoming school year. In addition to COVID 19 rules and guidelines, students and parents will receive information regarding freshmen classes, clubs & extracurricular opportunities, conventional school policies, and an introduction to all of the staff that will work to ensure that each student has a positive high school experience.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, again at 7 pm, we will host an online IHS Open House. Parents and students will receive a link to join the introduction, which will review all of the new rules and guidelines related to COVID 19. Once this is complete, parents will be able to join their student's teachers in a Google Meet. The order of these online Meets will follow in accordance with our daily bell schedule. Parents will receive invitations from teachers to join these Meets at the appropriate times. First period Meets will begin at approximately 7:30 and 9th period Meets should conclude by approximately 9:00.
CVCC Update
Our students that attend Cuyahoga Valley Career Center started school yesterday. These students may stop in at the IHS Main Office tomorrow morning, between 10:30 & 11:30 to pick up their Chromebook. Students will also be able to stop in on Friday, during the same timeframe, to pick up. Any CVCC student that cannot pick up a Chromebook during these times is encouraged to contact the High School Main Office to arrange a time that will be convenient.
Student Schedules
Student schedules will be available on Progressbook starting next Wednesday, Aug. 26. Schedule Review Days will be Thursday, Aug. 27, Monday, Aug 31, and Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 10 am to 2 pm. Students that need to conference with their counselor or change a class may do so during this time. Students that need to do so are encouraged to make an appointment with their counselor, as we will limit the number of students in the office to one per counselor. Students waiting will be asked to wait outside of the school (weather permitting). Please understand that classes will only be changed for pertinent reasons; we have worked diligently to balance the number of students in each class due to the guidelines from the County Health Department.
'Soft Start"
As previously mentioned, we will implement a 'soft' or staggered start to the beginning of the school year to ensure that each student has a solid understanding of the new rules and expectations that have been established. While upperclassmen will only report one day the first week, our freshmen, we believe, will benefit from attending each day. Our schedule will be as follows:
Wednesday, Sept. 2 - Seniors and Freshmen (report all day)
Thursday, Sept. 3 - Juniors and Freshmen
Friday, Sept. 4 - Sophomores and Freshmen
Monday, Sept. 7 - Labor Day - no school
Tuesday, Sept. 8 - all students (9-12) report to school
District Reopening Plan
Food Services Update
As we begin the 2020 – 2021 school year under the State of Ohio restrictions that address COVID-19 the students will be served box lunches. We will be able to best protect the students with this process through controlled distribution. Students in grades 2 through 12 will order their lunch on a Google form on their Chromebook every morning. Menus will be online at www.independence.k12.oh.us or parents may download the app named My School Menus. Menus will be available to view one week ahead. We encourage parents to view the menu and discuss the choices with their child so that they can select the best choice for them.
Middle School and High School students will be served their lunches in the cafeteria. It is important to note that there will be NO CASH TRANSACTIONS, all money must be deposited on the student’s account. An account may be set up online at www.independence.k12.oh.us. There is a link to EZ Pay for meal money deposits.
Transportation Update
Students that use school provided transportation will be assigned seats on their designated bus. All students will be required to wear a mask while on the bus. Students will be seated one per seat except for siblings who will be seated together. The students must stay in their assigned seat for the duration of the trip to and from school. Parents will be notified if their child has difficulty adjusting to the new rules, and the parents may have to arrange alternative transportation if non-compliance continues. All school transportation vehicles will be wiped down after morning and afternoon runs.
Beginning September 2nd, the CVCC students’ bus will leave the High School at approximately 7:33 am for morning classes and 11:00 am for afternoon classes. Parents of students that attend CVCC must notify Francine Kane @ (216) 642-5853 if their student needs to be transported home from the high school. The Service Manager will hold the bus until they arrive at the high school.
We hope you understand our commitment to provide our community’s families the best experience under the circumstances within the rules. Please understand we are all adjusting to this together, so understand that we will perfect our processes as we progress. We invite you to visit www.independence.k12.oh.us regularly for all updates.
Athletic Update
All contact sports (cross country, soccer and football) will continue with the fall sports season as previously planned. Volleyball will also begin play as previously planned. We will be playing our rivalry game versus Heights on Friday, Aug. 28. We will also be celebrating Senior Night and Homecoming at this game. Homecoming voting has begun, a Spirit Week (Aug. 24 - 28) has been planned and a parade will take place this Sunday night (7 pm) to kick off Homecoming Spirit Week.
Follow our Fall Teams on Twitter
Cheerleading: @cheer_ihs
Cross Country: @FieldIHS
Boys Golf: @IndyGolf2
Girls Golf: @IHSGirlsGolf20
Football: @GO_IHSFootball
Boys Soccer: @BlueDevilUnited
Girls Soccer: @IHSGirlsSoccer2
Athletics: @IndyBlueDevils
Booster Club: @Indy_Boosters
Please contact Mrs. McGhee (amcghee@independence.k12.oh.us) if you have any questions regarding athletics.
Important Dates
Aug. 20 & 21 - CVCC Chromebook pick up - 10:30 - 11:30, IHS Main Office
Aug. 24 - 27, 9 am - 1 pm - Student Parking Passes will be sold in the IHS Office
Aug. 27, Aug. 31 & Sept. 1 - Schedule Review Days - 10 am - 2 pm
Monday, Aug. 31 - Freshmen Orientation 7:00 (Virtual)
Tuesday, Sept. 1 - IHS Open House, 7:00 (Virtual)
Soft Start Schedule
Wednesday, Sept. 2 - first day of school, Seniors and Freshmen only
Thursday, Sept. 3 - Juniors & Freshmen only
Friday, Sept. 4 - Sophomores & Freshmen only
Monday, Sept. 7 - Labor Day - no school
Tuesday, Sept. 8 - all students attend (9-12)
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the opening of school, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling the IHS Main Office, contacting your student's counselor or emailing me at jhogue@independence.k12.oh.us. We continue to work to make this the best year possible for all of our students. If there is anything we can do to assist you in this, please let us know.
Respectfully,
Mr. James Hogue, Principal
