Post on 13-Jul-2020
Dear Stakeholders,
Recently, I had the opportunity
to present at the National
Alternative Education
Association Conference in
Dallas, TX. I was honored to
present alongside Mr. LaKenji
Hastings, FCS Assessment
Specialist and loved being able
to do a little bragging about
Independence to a group of
colleagues from across the
country. An unexpected benefit
of preparing for this event was
that it gave me a reason to
focus on the details, the many
things we do here every day
that make our school so special.
Studying the data allowed me
to share that we have a
wonderfully diverse student
population and the lowest
Student/Teacher Ratio for a
north Fulton County public
school. We are a Georgia Top
Quartile Performer for Student
Growth and Progress (2015,
2016) and received the highest
rating for progress in
Achievement Gap Closure on
the College and Career Ready
Index (2015, 2016). We
received a 4 out of 5 rating for
maintaining a safe and
substance-free learning
environment on the Georgia
School Climate Survey (2015,
2016) and were recognized by
the Greater North Fulton
Chamber of Commerce for
having our community partners
named as the School-Business
Partnerships of the Year (2016-
2017). Our most recent
accolade came when we were
named a 2016-2017 Beating the
Odds School, having a higher
CCRPI than similar schools
serving similar students in the
state (Georgia Department of
Education).
These accomplishments are
made possible by faculty and
staff who are committed to
helping each student achieve
his/her educational goals and
by encouraging our students to
remain focused on graduation.
Another component of our
success is the support we
receive from the Fulton County
Board of Education.
March 13-17 has been
designated as School Board
Appreciation Week, and I
would like to take this
opportunity to thank all the
Board members for the work
they do, not only on behalf of
Independence High School’s
students, but those attending
all the other schools in Fulton
County as well. Our special
thanks go out to Ms. Katie
Reeves, our district’s
representative, for her belief in
our mission and her
unwavering support of our
students.
I am excited to begin this
fourth mini-semester with you
and your students as we
continue to strive for “Success
for All Students.”
Sincerely,
Tabatha Taylor, Principal
“One Vision, One Mission,
One Goal: Success For All
Students”
CTE &
Science
2
Staff
Highlights
3
Math 3
Student
Services
4
Student
Recognition
5
Graduates’
Reflections
6
AP Approach 7
Extra-
curricular
8
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 March , 2017
P A G E 2
Gwinnett
Technical College
Career and Technical Education
I N D E P E N D E N C E I N S I G H T S
February was National Career and
Technical Education month with the
2017 theme of, “Celebrate Today,
Own Tomorrow.” In recognition of
this event, Dr. Steven Robinson and
Ms. Ashley Ellis hosted guest
speakers who spoke to their students
about entrepreneurship and personal
finance.
We would like to thank Mr. Daryl
Battles of Camp of Champions,
Inc. and Mr. Jamal Cornelious of
Delta Credit Union for giving their
time and sharing their expertise to
benefit our students as they plan for
their futures.
Dr. Robinson, Yulissa,
Ms. T. Ellis and
Mr. Battles
Mr. Jamal Cornelious
During CTE Month, IHS students had the
opportunity to visit Georgia Gwinnett College
in Lawrenceville, GA. GGC opened its doors in
2006 as the first four-year college founded in
Georgia in more than 100 years, and the first
four-year, public college created in the U.S. in the
21st century. Georgia Gwinnett College is a
member of the University System of Georgia and
currently offers 15 majors with more than 40
areas of concentration.
Dr. Robinson with CTE students at
Georgia Gwinnett College
C
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Science Space Can be a “Charmin” Place
In order to visualize the vastness of space in a
more manageable setting, students in
Ms. Erica Carrillo’s Earth Systems A
classes built scale models of the solar
system...using rolls of toilet paper. This STEM
activity allowed the students to map out the
planets and asteroid belt using a table of
distances provided by Ms. Sara Allegood.
They found that the project required 100
sheets of paper and stretched almost 42 feet in
length.
Staff Highlights
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 7 , I S S U E 3
Speaking honestly, Mathematics is not often described as “all fun and games;” however, that was the case
recently in Ms. Anna Holub-Standish’s Advanced Mathematics Decision Making class. Her students were
finishing a unit on Probability and Ms. Holub-Standish employed a carnival games project to reinforce the concept of Expected Value.
Students needed to calculate the theoretical probability of winning games and use that information to manage a game booth. Students were
tasked with preparing reports, one element of which was Experimental Probability and designing a carnival game. Class members then
played the games to collect data to support or negate the hypothesis.
The Independence administration,
faculty and staff are proud of our
school , our students and the unique
opportunities we are able to offer to
those who are seeking a non-
traditional setting in which to achieve
their educational goals. While our
school has been serving this
community for 25 years, we are not
as well known as one might expect. It
is especially exciting, then, to be able
to shine a spotlight on Independence
at state and national conferences ,
opportunities recently presented to
Principal Tabatha Taylor and
Ms. Singh, Chairperson of the
Science Department. Ms. Singh
was asked to present the topic,
“Personalize Learning Using Data
Driven Assessments” at the Georgia
Science Teachers Association
Conference in Stone Mountain, GA in
February. The session shared
instructional strategies, assessment,
technology and presentation tools
to personalize learning.
Our Principal, Mrs. Taylor, was
invited to speak at the 23rd Annual
Conference on Alternative Education
in Dallas, TX, March 8-11. She
partnered
with
Mr. LaKenji
Hastings,
FCS
Assessment
Specialist on
the topic of,
“Alternative
Education
Leadership:
What’s Growth Got To Do With It?”
Mr. John Chase Campbell, IHS Art
Teacher, is among those FCS
teachers whose art work will be on
exhibit at the Aviation Community
Cultural Center Contemporary Gallery
March 31, 2017 to April 28, 2017. The
Center is located at 3900 Aviation
Circle, NW Atlanta, GA 30336. The
public is invited to attend the opening
reception on Friday, March 31, 2017
6:30pm to 8:00pm. The show,
“Beyond the Glass Ceiling”, will allow
viewers a glimpse into the professional
and artistic minds of the educators
Fulton County Schools employ to
groom and guide the skills of the
students who study under them;
offering the students hope and the will
to strive
“beyond the
glass ceiling”
artistically.
For more information visit the website
http://www.fultonarts.org/index.php/art-centers/aviation-community-cultural-
center or contact at
Tisha.smith@fultoncountyga.gov. If there are any questions, call 404.612.8603.
Ms. Gaganjot Singh
Mathematics
Title: A Moment Pastel on Painted Paper Artist J. Chase Campbell © 2014 Physically or digital reproduction without permission of owner is strictly prohibited.
P A GE 4
News From
The Office of Student Services welcomed more than
30 visitors to the “Spotlight on Independence” event in February. It was a
morning set aside to share with students, staff members and interested
parents from other area high schools an overview of what makes IHS unique
and sets us apart from the traditional educational setting. The mini-semester
format and its benefits were detailed along
with the attendance policy and the application process. Visitors heard personal
testimonies from student ambassadors and were given a tour of the facility,
culminating in a question and answer session.
To learn more about Independence and what it has to offer, please visit our website at
www.independencehighschool.org.
Independence in the Spotlight
Dates to Remember
April 3—7—Spring Break
May 19—Graduating Seniors’ Rehearsal
and Cook-Out
May 23—1:00 p.m.—Graduation
Ceremony
May 25—Last Day of School
Lunch and Learn Events
March 2—Georgia Highlands College
March 30—Valdosta State University
April 13—U.S. Army
April 27—Gwinnett Technical College
Post Secondary Acceptances
Yemi Mabiaku—Western Carolina University
Octavius Johnson—U.S. Naval Reserves
Matanel Rabinowitz—U.S. Marine Corps
Jennifer Murphy—College of Coastal Georgia and East
Georgia State College
Christopher Partin—American InterContinental University
IHS Student Services
(@IHS_SS) | Twitter
Young Women’s Empowerment Group
New to Independence this year, the YWEG will be meeting monthly
during the lunch period. This is a peer mentoring group whose goal
is to instill and support confidence and self-esteem in its participants.
Please see Ms. Burrell for more information.
V O L U M E 7 , I S S U E 3 P A G E 5
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Congratulations to the Mini-Semester III Star Students! Nominated by their
teachers for academic success, dedication to their studies and admirable
character, these shining stars were joined by family and friends during a
ceremony and reception in their honor on February 28:
Holly Burks
Johana Cebrales
Jetta Childs
Colin Davis
Lauren Diehl
Jocelyn Hernandez
Javier Jimenez
Megan Martinez
Alex Montepeque
Edwin Ortiz
Jokevia Parks
Anilut Renteria
Elexius Sam
Andrea Samaniego (2)
Brandon Scott
Quantina Simms
Independence Graduates’
Reflections “My experience at Independence
was wonderful”
Peter, 2017
“ I’ve had a great experience
with all the teachers and
staff. Everyone was helpful
and encouraging.”
Shirley, 2017
“My experience at Independence
High School was great. I learned to
value school a lot. As well, I
learned how to become more inde-
pendent. The teachers here were
great. I can say that they all helped
me grow as a person.”
Guadalupe, 2017
P A GE 6
“Life-Changing
Experience.”
Dylan, 2017
“My time at
Independence was a one
-time life experience.
I’m very thankful to
those teachers who did
everything to help me
comprehend the
material I was being
taught. I’m glad I can
take the new tools I’ve
learned here into my
daily life!.”
Jocelyn, 2017
“While attending Independence,
you quickly realize everybody
(Staff-wise) is all on the same
page and all the students there
are people with lives outside of
school just trying to make it
through.”
Colton, 2017
“One of the best experiences I’ve
had because the people here are
more real than my old school”
Diante, 2017
“Independence HS has
taught me so much about
being independent and
knowing what is needed
for a successful future.”
Matthew, 2017 “I love it!” Samuel, 2017
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 PAGE 7
Two Easy Ways to Support IHS
If you do your grocery shopping at Publix, please pick up a Publix Partners card in our Main Office and have it
scanned at check-out each time you visit the store. Publix will donate a percentage of those sales back to the
school.
If you happen to be a Kroger customer, please register your Kroger Plus card online at the Kroger website
and indicate that you would like the Community Rewards points to go to Independence HS. This must be
done annually.
Thank You!
The AP Approach
As the world continues to change, our students must be prepared to become life-long learners. As we work to incorporate
Personalized Learning, we strive to create independent thinkers who take responsibility for their learning and utilize the
necessary tools to accomplish their goals.
American Association for Curriculum Development
Student Engagement: Key to Personalized Learning
by Larry Ferrlazo
"Understanding the world as it is" means being realistic. And if we're realistic, we'll know that even when a particular
instructional method has been studied under controlled conditions, found to be effective, and labeled "best practice," none of
that matters if students won't do the work. Teachers in the real world recognize that although personalization has the potential
to improve learning, our first job in applying any approach is to engage students in the learning process. And engagement is not
about baiting a hook. It's about helping students find their spark and make their own fire.
Researchers have identified four key elements that help develop this kind of student engagement (Ryan & Deci, 2000):
Autonomy is the amount of power students have to determine what they're doing and how they're doing it. Typically,
the more autonomy students have, the higher their level of intrinsic motivation.
Competence, or self-efficacy, occurs when a student has the necessary skills to complete the assigned task successfully.
"Growth mindset" notwithstanding, our students are not endowed with magical powers they can substitute for an
adequate skill set. They won't be energized by banging their heads against a wall if they have no hope of breaking through.
Relatedness is created when students' actions result in developing closer relationships with those whom they like and/
or respect. In the classroom context, this is often about achieving high-quality relationships with teachers, as well as
connecting with their classmates.
Relevance means that students perceive the things we ask them to do as being in their own self -interest. Do the learning
activities relate to topics that students are genuinely curious about? Do students believe that accomplishing the task or
reaching the learning target will help them achieve a short-term or long-term goal?
As we strive to create personalized-learning environments for our students, it's essential that we keep these four elements of
intrinsic motivation in mind.
*Stay tuned for more about Personalized Learning!
Gwendolyn Harris
Assistant Principal
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 5
Congratulations to Our Honorees!
Ms. Kerry Shorr, ELA Teacher and Department Chairperson, is
the Independence High School Teacher of the Year
and
Ms. Detra Miles-Burrell, Graduation Coach, is the IHS
Support Professional of the Year.
It is the policy of the Fulton County School System not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability in any employment practice, educational program, or any other program, activity, or service. If you wish to make a complaint or request accommodation or modification due to discrimination in any program, activity, or service, contact Chief Compliance Officer, Ron Wade, 6201 Powers Ferry Rd, Atlanta, Georgia 30339, or phone 470-254-3600. TTY 1-800-255-013
Extracurricular News
Interact Club Recognized
at Relay for Life
The IHS Interact Club received an award for
being the Top Team Per Capita at the North
Fulton Relay for Life Kick-Off Event on
January 24, 2017. Club members raised $692
to donate to the cause. This recognition was
based on the ratio of the number of
participants to the amount of money raised.
Habitat for Humanity
This summer, Mr. Ahmad
Eidizadeh, IHS Math teacher
and faculty sponsor of the Habitat for
Humanity Club, will be participating in an
overseas trip with Global Village, the
international branch of Habitat for
Humanity. What will make this trip
unique is that Francis Cronley, a
December graduate of Independence, will be
joining the team going to Thailand. Mr. Eidizadeh
shared, “Francis was the president of the H for H
last year and did some volunteer work with me for
a local project in North Georgia. When I told him
about the international segment of Habitat for
Humanity and a build that we were doing in
Thailand, he did not hesitate and decided to join
the build. This will be my 6th overseas trip with
Global Village , but I have never had a student as
incredibly dedicated to a cause as is Francis. He
will be the first student from Habitat Club who has
participated in a Global Village build. I am really
proud of Francis for giving a great deal of time and
effort toward a cause as worthy as Habitat for
Humanity.”
Ongoing/Upcoming Projects:
Clothing Drive for American Kidney
Services
May 13—North Fulton Relay for Life
April 15—LifeSouth Blood Drive
May 15—Pennies for Patients