Mariner Update Family Edition

Mariner brothers and sisters, our gifts are meant to be shared and used to benefit others; essentially, the purpose of receiving a gift is to give it away to others in service and love.

I love our school. Do you love your school?!

Mariner Focus: Belonging, Leading, Succeeding, by remembering that we belong to one another!

Dear Mariner Family,

At IHCS, we know that when people feel seen, valued, and celebrated for who they are, our community becomes stronger, more connected, and more successful. Cultural celebrations such as Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, and others are not just moments on a calendar—they are meaningful opportunities to honor history, elevate voices, and recognize the contributions that shape our school, our community, and our world.

These celebrations deepen understanding, build empathy, and most importantly, strengthen our shared sense of belonging. When students see themselves reflected in what they learn and how we celebrate, they grow in confidence. When students learn about others, they grow in respect. Together, these experiences empower students to lead with curiosity, connect with purpose, and succeed with pride.

As we approach Black History Month, we want to share the excitement and inspiration generated from a recent District African American Parent Advisory Committee Meeting held at Clearwater Elementary School. African American parents from across the district came together to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and to collaboratively plan experiences they hope to see at school sites during Black History Month and beyond. The energy in the room reflected a powerful commitment to partnership, voice, and shared leadership—reminding us of what is possible when schools and families work together.

During this gathering, parents received a special video message from Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, who shared a powerful reminder: Black History Month is for everyone. He spoke about belonging as a “longing to be”—a longing to belong to one another. He reminded us that learning about the beauty of each culture guides us back to one another, helping us see the brilliance within every culture and within every individual.

That message speaks directly to who we are at IHCS. Belonging is not passive—it is something we actively build through learning, listening, celebrating, and leading together. When students feel they belong, they step forward as leaders. When they see leadership modeled through unity and respect, they succeed—not only academically, but as people.

As we continue this important work, we look forward to celebrating Black History Month and all cultural celebrations with intention, pride, and purpose. Together, we will continue to create a school community where belonging leads to leadership, leadership leads to success, and success is shared by all.

Together, we are stronger.

With gratitude and purpose,

Our Dedicated Admin Team
Mrs. Barry, Assistant Principal
Mr. Castro, Assistant Principal
Mr. Candelaria, Principal

District African American Parent Advisory Committee Meeting held at Clearwater Elementary School, on Dr. King’s birthday, Thursday, January 15th.

We are grateful to Mr. and Mrs. White and their students, Anita and Anthony; Mrs. Townsend and her son, Freddy; Mrs. Martinez; Mrs. Rodriguez; our COFA, Mrs. Maria Mojica; Ms. Green Jordan and her grandson, Aiden; and Mrs. Montgomery and Mrs. Mora for their collaboration, support, and shared commitment to belonging, leadership, and success.

NFL Football and 4th Grade Learning at IHCS:

We are excited to celebrate a fourth-grade class that is piloting NFeLementary this year! NFeLementary is a dynamic, project-based learning curriculum that taps into the excitement of the NFL season to bring learning to life in meaningful and engaging ways. Below, you’ll learn more about the experiences students have enjoyed in Ms. Multhaupt’s class as they learn, collaborate, and grow through this innovative approach. Students couldn’t wait to return from winter break to jump right back into their projects, teamwork, and cheering on their selected teams. Go Mariners!