Independence High School
6/2/2025
Principal's Update
Sixer Community,
Wednesday, 6/4/25, is the last day of the 24-25 school year and the start of our summer break. That Evening at 5 pm we will be recognizing the graduating class of 2025 at the SJSU Event Center. Graduation information is below, including a link for the YouTube Livestream. For the rest of our students, we are concluding our finals and celebrations of learning, and concluding another 180 days as SIXERs. The grades earned this week will be mailed out as well as imported to transcripts. Every grade of a D or higher earns 5 credits toward graduation, and grades of a C or higher in college prep classes help earn A-G Eligibility for the Spartan East Side Promise.
We would also like to thank all the teachers and support staff who have helped to keep the 637 student planted plants currently on campus watered. Mr. Abraham, Mr. Aquino, Ms. Baker, Ms. Battrell, Ms. Bihag, Mr. Bischofberger, Mr. Brandt , Ms. Deng, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Flournoy, Ms. Garcia, Mr. Glassford, Mr. Graham, Ms. Grover, Mr. Herrera, Mr. Ho, Ms. Holleman, Ms. Huynh, Ms. Ingelfinger, Ms. Jain, Ms. Kavanaugh, Mr. Kudsi, Ms. Larese, Ms. Love Meniado-Wink, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Murugan, Mr. Na, Mr. D. Nguyen, Mr. M. Nguyen, Mr. Peoples, Mr. Poole, Mr. Pryor, Ms. Ruiz , Ms. Shea, Mr. Singh, Ms. Westlake, Ms. Williams, Mr. G Gomez Zavala, Mr. Zuniga. You have shown that TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Summer School information is linked below.
Seniors and Senior Parents, graduation information is linked in the Senior Section below. Lastly, seniors, remember that your East Side Union Student Email address will expire after you graduate. This is a good time to start copying any files you may have to a personal account.
Thank you all for such a successful year.
The 25-26 School year starts on Thursday, August 7th, 2025.
What's Happening this week
Senior Book Drop-Off will take place from Monday, May 27 through Tuesday, June 3, between 8:30 AM and 12:20 PM at the IHS Bookroom.
Mon. June 2nd: Senior Pool Party
11:00am - 3:00pm @ IHS Pool - doors close @ 1:00pm (No Ins & Outs)
Click link: Pool Party Rules
Tues. June 3rd: Senior Check Out Day (Grad Ticket Pick Up)
9:00am - 1:00pm @ Student Union
Wed. June 4th: Graduation Day & Last Day of School
9:30am - 11:00am: Grad Practice @ IHS Gym
3:30pm: Senior Check-in time @ SJSU Event Center
4:00pm: Doors Open for Guests @SJSU Event Center
5:00pm: Graduation Ceremony begins - Please BE ON TIME!
SIXER Shoutouts
“Ms. Leslie Gregori– Thank you for bringing the brightest, most positive attitude to class every single day! Your energy made AP Lit not only fun but something to look forward to—even when we were drowning in essays. You’ve made my final year unforgettable, and I’ll truly miss your warmth and enthusiasm after 'we' graduate. Thank you for being an extraordinary teacher and role model in my senior year! FIGHTING!” ~ Huyen Ha, Senior
Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony
6/4/25 at the SJSU Event Center @ 5:00 PM
Doors open for the public @ 4 PM
Seniors arrive @ 3:30 PM
290 S 7th St, San Jose, CA 95112
Each Graduating Senior is eligible to claim up to 8 tickets which need to be picked up on Tuesday, 6/3/25 by 1PM, when they return all school materials and complete the Senior Survey.
For a full schedule of Senior activities and additional details, please see the document attached below.
Graduation Livestream
Class of 2025 Graduation
Wednesday, Jun 4, 2025, 05:00 PM
290 S 7th St, San Jose, CA 95112
3 WAYS TO ORDER YOUR CAP & GOWN: (LINE 6 on Order Form)
- Buy cap, gown, & tassel. You get to decorate them and keep them.
- Borrow a sibling's or older friend's gown. Buy cap & tassel only, and you get to decorate and keep cap & tassel.
- Borrow cap and gown from the school. You may not alter or decorate them, and cap & gown must be returned immediately after the ceremony.
Click here to view the full Product Catalog.
Click here to visit our website.
Questions?
Call the Grad Company office at (925) 736 0679 or Mike Rabago cell (925) 876 7731.
Our SIXER Values in Action
Congratulations to the entire Sixer community on an outstanding year of learning, growth, and connection! Guided by the values of being Spirited, Innovative, eXtraordinary, Engaged, and Respectful, our students and staff have truly exemplified what it means to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
This year, our classrooms have been alive with innovation—whether through project-based learning, technology integration, or creative problem-solving, instruction has centered on student voice and real-world application. Teachers continue to inspire curiosity and confidence, helping students discover new strengths every day.
Outside the classroom, we focus on our commitment to community. Through service projects, cultural celebrations, and student-led initiatives, and school-wide lessons, our school works to build a culture where students feel supported in their educational journey,
At Independence High School, we proudly stand by our mission: Where students find their passion, purpose, and path. As we celebrate this year’s achievements, we look forward to the future—one where our students continue to grow and positively impact our community by being Spirited, Innovative, eXtraordinary, Engaged, and Respectful.
We Are Sixers
Summer School Information
Please use the link below to visit our Summer School Website
IHS Counseling Corner
Counselor Contact & Availability:
Counselors are located in the Learning Center (Student Union). Counselors are available for student walk-ins before and after school and during break and lunch. Parents are encouraged to make an appointment with your student’s counselor.
- Ms. Pham: Last Names A-Chi
- 408.928.9680 | phamm@esuhsd.org
- Hours: 8:30am-4pm
- Mr. Hennessey: Last Names Chj-Hd
- 408.928.9563 | hennesseym@esuhsd.org
- Hours: 8am-3:30pm
- Ms. Fernandez: Last Names He-Maq
- 408.928.9574 | fernandezf@esuhsd.org
- Hours: 8:30am-4pm
- Ms. Huynh: Last Names Mar-Par
- 408.928.9567 | huynhtt@esuhsd.org
- Hours: 8:15-3:45pm
- Ms. Marquez: Last Names Pas-Sq
- 408.928.9568 | marquezl@esuhsd.org
- Hours: 8:30am-4pm
- Ms. Liang: Last Names Sr-Z
- 408.928.9546 | liangb@esuhsd.org
- Hours: 8:15-3:45pm
College Access Support (located in D-208 & the Learning Center):
10,000 Degrees
Anthony Garcia |415.578.4380 | anthony.garcia@10000degrees.org
Available in person Wednesday & Thursday
Destination College Advising Program (DCAC)
Daniela Navarro | 510.332.3723 | danielan@berkeley.edu
Available in person Monday-Friday
Athletics Updates
“Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just illusions.”
M. Jordan
Summer Season: 6/7/25 - 7/27/25
Dead Week (good time for family vacations): 7//28/25 - 8/3/25
Fall Conditioning: 8/4/25 - 8/7/25
First day of Fall Practice: 8/8/25
**All athletes must be cleared through Athletic Clearance by 8/8/25**
All athletic physicals must be dated after 6/7/25
Fall Sports
Sixer Football: Coach Braun (braunj@esuhsd.org)
Sixer Golf (girls): Coach Richard Lee (rlee@fusdk12.net)
Sixer Volleyball (girls): Coach Kenny (leilani.buckner10@gmail.com)
Sixer Cross Country (boys & girls): Coach Kevin (ckwang91@gmail.com)
Sixer Tennis (girls): Coach Scott (rl20ii@yahoo.com)
Sixer Water Polo (boys & girls): Coach Martinez (rodriguez.adrian1821@gmail.com)
Sixer Girls’ Flag Football: Coach Baker (bakerl@esuhsd.org)
Winter Sports
Sixer Basketball (b): Coach Gajardo (lj_gajardo@yahoo.com)
Sixer Basketball (g): Coach Buckner (leilani.buckner10@gmail.com)
Sixer Soccer (b): Coach Mendez (fmendez888@gmail.com)
Sixer Soccer (g): Coach Kimball (mskimball1997@gmail.com)
Sixer Wrestling: Coach Thompson (njakeg1209@yahoo.com)
Spring Sports
Sixer Badminton: Coach Allen Trinh (atrinh1219@gmail.com)
Sixer Baseball: Coach Fernandes (fernandesp@esuhsd.org)
Sixer Golf: Coach Bartholomew (bartholomewr@esuhsd.org)
Sixer Softball: Coach Quezada (jorge.quezada@evc.edu)
Sixer Swim:Coach Martinez (rodriguez.adrian1821@gmail.com)
Sixer Tennis: Coach James (jesse316james@yahoo.com)
Sixer Track and Field: Coach Manav (ihs76ers.xc.tf@gmail.com)
Sixer Volleyball: Coach Buckner (leilani.buckner10@gmail.com)
Visit Sixer Athletics for up to date information about athletics! Follow us on Instagram: @indyathletics
Visit GoFan.co to purchase tickets
Activities Updates
No idea what to pursue after high school? Want to learn more about different careers, resume-building, and the college process?The “AIM (Advise, Inspire, Motivate): Pathways to Our Future” Conference, run by District 4 Youth Advisory Council, is open to ALL YOUTH ages 13-18 and their families! On June 13th, 9:30AM to 1:30PM at Martin Luther King Library, we will be holding workshops centered around brag sheet-building, applying to college, how to create a LinkedIn account, alongside a career panel featuring speakers from five different sectors (civic engagement, EMS, music, medicine, writing, and more). Additionally, we’re excited to host County Supervisor Betty Duong as our keynote speaker. Attendees will enjoy networking opportunities, advice from seasoned leaders, and a chance to win Airpods if they attend! The best part is that organizations, families, and schools are invited. Students, teams, and families will have the experience to be immersed into the greatness of our San José community. Attendees must RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/D4AIM25
Attention ALL Sixers Students!
If you haven’t already done so, please download the MINGA app on your phone to access your Digital Student ID. This is a REQUIREMENT to get into ALL home sports games that require a ticket for FREE and will be required for check-in at dances and other school events.
No phone? No problem..MINGA is accessible on your chromebook via ARMS.
Seniors! Check out the special Senior Button in this Newsletter for all things relevant to you and graduation!
Follow us on Instagram:
Stay up to date on all student activities and events at IHS - be sure to follow your ASB accounts:
And, your class account for important information specific to your grade level:
Safety & Attendance
We are a CLOSED Campus!
This is a friendly reminder to students and parents that we are a closed campus. Students should not be leaving the school grounds during school hours, particularly during break and lunch for safety reasons. The Public Library and Overfelt Gardens are off limits.
Students should not be hanging out in the parking lots during passing periods, break and or lunch. Staff members will ask the students to go back to the main campus.
NO DOORDASH!
Doordash is not allowed. We are a closed campus and we do not want strangers driving onto our campus and delivering food to minors. Students may not walk off campus to get a delivery either. This is a safety issue!
Parents, please do not send food deliveries to your student. ALL students may eat for free at break and lunch.
Dress and Attire
The expectations for clothing are clean, covered and appropriate. This means no clothing that displays explicit or derogatory language, no drug or alcohol references, no sexually explicit images or nudity, and no gang references or symbols.
Any clothing or accessory item that the Administration deems a safety issue will be addressed with the student and we will work with them to find a solution.
Parents, Cookies is a marijuana reference. Cookies clothing or accessories are not permitted. Parents, please partner with us on this!
Saturday School!
Come to Saturday School this year and recover an unexcused absence or an excused illness absence. A teacher will be there to help you with your academics. Use the time to study or work on missing assignments. We have concluded our Saturday School sessions for this school year. We will feed you! Please plan to stay until 12:45pm. Please see Ms. Goltzer or Ms. Andrade in C05 for questions or concerns. Use the form to sign up!
https://forms.gle/YLYgSvMsCKkrNba48
Attendance Matters!
The C-05 office will continue to focus on attendance as we continue to strive towards our mission: Students Engaged in the Classroom. We would like to continue to remind SIXERs the importance of being on time, all day, every day, and that there is a correlation between attendance, grades and graduation. Avoid the truancy process!
Students who are consistently tardy or absent will meet with Ms. Goltzer and/or one of our Parent Community Involvement Specialists or a Student Advisor. We may request a parent meeting as well.
Parents, if you need to report a student’s tardiness or absence, please do so as soon as possible. The Attendance Office is in the Student Union. If you would like to phone instead, use the following phone numbers based on your student’s last name:
Attendance Staff
Short Term Independent Studies
Jennifer Andrade - 408.928.9521
Student last names A - L
Diana Castillo - 408.928.9552
Student last names M-Z
Thao Pham - 408.928.9542
Say Something
Students and Parents,
Our highest priority is safety. If you witness or experience something that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or that could potentially become a safety issue, please report it. You can do so anonymously. We have a link to the SAY SOMETHING app on our Independence website. Please give the Administration as much information as possible so that we may investigate the issue. You do not have to use your name. I am providing the link here as well. Let’s work together to keep our campus and community safe!
https://www.p3campus.com/tipform.aspx?ID=3000
Parent and Community Specialist Corner
As we wrap up the school year, here are a few important reminders:
Seniors: You're in the final stretch! Finals are this week, so stay focused and finish strong. If you have any questions about your grades, be sure to talk to your teachers as soon as possible. The Senior “F” list will be finalized this Friday. Also, start gathering your books and Chromebooks now—you'll need to return all school items before receiving your graduation tickets.
To all other students: You're almost at the finish line—keep pushing! Finals are next week, so stay focused and finish strong. Be sure to check in with your counselor to make sure you're on track to graduate. If you're not, now is the time to make a graduation plan. If you're returning to Independence next year, hold on to your Chromebook and keep it in a safe place at home. However, please return all school-issued books before the end of the year.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Sacred Heart Community Service
Second Harvest Food Bank nearest Food pickup
● 988 Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Get Help - Behavioral Health Services - County of Santa Clara (sccgov.org); informational flyer for mental health teams (attached)
● Black Youth & Suicide: A guide on suicide risk and mental health support for Black youth in Santa Clara County
● LGBTQ Youth Space (ages 13-25): https://youthspace.org/
● allcove: https://allcove.org/centers/palo-alto/
● Downtown Youth Wellness Center (ages 12-25) – flyer attached; Programs – Alum Rock Counseling Center (alumrockcc.org)
● Santa Clara County Office of Education - Department of Youth Health & Wellness
● Headspace for Teens: https://www.headspace.com/teens
● Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org
For any questions or concerns, please get in touch with Ms. Ha phamha@esuhsd.org 408.928.9598 or Ms. Maggie rodriguezm@esuhsd.org 408.928.9541.
Mental Health & Wellness Corner
Services offered at the Wellness Center
The Mental Health and Wellness team includes social workers, interns, and community based organizations (CBO’s) that work together to provide mental health support to IHS students. The Wellness Center team offers referrals to community resources, group counseling, short term individual counseling, crisis intervention and education about mental health and wellness. Visit us in room D-01 to learn more!
How do I submit a referral?
Students, parents, teachers, and community members may submit a referral for any student at Independence by visiting the link below and filling out a Care Team referral. A social worker, intern or other school staff member will follow up with the student.
Care Team Referral form: https://forms.doc-tracking.com/48252/48252/2416
Calming Space: The Calming Space is designed to be a place for students who are experiencing stress in class and need a short break to self-regulate. Before students visit the Calming Space, we ask that they check in with their teacher and request a pass. Students may spend 15 minutes in the Calming Space; if they need more time, a wellness center staff member will check in to discuss additional resources and support. Students who visit the calming space during regular class time are expected to check in with Ms. Johnson, our Wellness Center Clerk, when they arrive and before they return to class. We also ask that students keep their electronics put away and that they do not engage in side conversations with other students.
Daybreak Health - Online Therapy
We are thrilled to share that we have partnered with Daybreak Health, a school-based mental health company, to provide 1:1 teletherapy services to ESUHSD students with qualified clinicians.
When kids are mentally healthy, they can think clearly, pay better attention, and learn new skills. These evidence-based teletherapy programs have proven to positively impact academic outcomes like behavioral improvements, better grades, and higher attendance.
If you have a student who you think could benefit from virtual mental health support click here to make a referral, or reach out to your social worker for more information. #mentalhealthmatters
Community Resources & Events
Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis Hotline
If you or your student need mental health crisis support outside of school hours, you may call 988 to request support from the Santa Clara County Mobile Crisis Response Team. If your phone number does not begin with a 408, 669 or 650 area code, please call 800-704-0900 and press 1.
Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis Hotline
Downtown Youth Wellness Center
Address: 725 East Santa Clara Street, Suite 105, San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: 408-961-4645
Email: dywc@hhs.sccgov.org
The Downtown Youth Wellness Center is a Behavioral Health program dedicated to promoting a safe, supportive, and youth-focused environment that provides short term Behavioral Health services, focused on prevention and early intervention for youth ages 12-25. Services include same day access to brief behavioral health support, peer support, workshops, well-being groups, social and educational activities, linkage to services/case management (including medical and longer-term behavioral health services), life skills development, education and career planning, independent living skills, and other related care. The DYWC is a partnership between the Behavioral Health Services Department and Alum Rock Counseling Center.
The DYWC is excited to continue to be part of the community that serves the youth in our community. In an ongoing effort to meet the needs of the youth, the DYWC has shifted the hours of operation to Monday through Friday from 10am-7pm.
Where students find their Passion, Purpose, and Path.
Resource Links
School Vision
Contact us
Email: bergbj@esuhsd.org
Website: https://independence.esuhsd.org/index.html
Location: 617 North Jackson Avenue, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: 4089289500
Twitter: @IndependenceHS