Reminder to all of our Patriot families that tomorrow, August 22, is Picture Day for all students!
For all IJHS families interested in ordering lunches for the children, just a reminder to use this document to help navigate the process online: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/443109/Lunch_Ordering_2019-2020__pdf___1_.pdf
For all of our 6th graders and new students to the district, we have a special opportunity tomorrow during our Open School event. Please join us from 12:30-2:00pm at Independence Junior High School for a brief introduction of our school and opportunity to move into your locker!
Summer Parent Newsletter was sent today via email. Please check your inboxes or spam/junk folders. It will come from a domain called mailchimp. Don't see it in your inbox? Click here to view it in your browser: https://mailchi.mp/128dce91840b/welcome-to-a-new-school-year
Independence Volleyball Tryout dates and times are confirmed!
Boys: 8/22 from 7-7:45 AM & 8/23 from 3-4:30 PM
Girls: 8/22 from 3-4:30 PM & 8/23 from 7-7:45 AM
Please make sure you have a current physical before trying out.
IJHS is excited to welcome all of our newest Patriots to our Open School event next Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 12:30 - 2:00p! This event is for all 6th graders and any new students to the district only.
Congratulations to our Girls on the Run ladies in their 5K race this past Sunday in Chicago! Great effort all year long! A big thank you to Ms. Bunnell and Mrs. MacFarlane for making it all possible!
Just a reminder our 2019-2020 school times have changed! For next year, our student school day is 7:55 - 2:43pm. On PLC days, our students will be dismissed at 1:15pm.
Don't forget to register for the 2019-2020 school year! Even if you have a returning student, you must still register your child(ren) for the new school year. It is important to register in a timely manner so we can plan for staffing for the 2019-2020 school year. Parents/Guardians who have more than one student in the district will need to register each child independently. However, our student management system (School Insight) will store in its system all previously submitted data that is shared (i.e. contacts, address, etc.). It is strongly recommended that a computer or tablet with a full keyboard is used when registering. If you have any questions or are in need of technical support, please email Mark Hupp at mhupp@palos128.org.
IJHS Spring MAP scores are coming home today with your child. If you need an additional copy, please contact the main office.
Thank you to our students, staff, and PFA for helping make our end of year celebration so much fun!
Congratulations to Quinn Richards, the Math Bowl MVP for grades 5-8! We are so proud of all our students at today's competition! Thank you coaches!
Congratulations to our students who competed in the regional Math Bowl today! Great work and effort was put into preparing for today's competition. A special congratulations to the 5/6th grade team for their 4th place finish!
Then and now, the class of 2015! It was fantastic having our graduates back for one more night together!
Looking forward to seeing the Independence graduating class of 2015 this Tuesday, April 16 from 6:00-8:00p for a class reunion!
IJHS proudly presents their spring play, "The Addams Family" this weekend! Come out and catch a show, Friday and Saturday night at 7:00p, and celebrate the efforts of our students!
Looking forward to our Fine Arts Night at IJHS tomorrow night from 5-7p capped off with performances by our band and choir!
IJHS is looking for girls to join @gotrchicago! Girls learn about themselves, explore new ideas, cultivate empathy and strengthen connections. Through running girls learn team building, to create a support system, stand up for themselves and others and decision making. Girls will prepare for a celebratory Girls on the Run 5K event at the end of the program. This non-competitive event fosters goal setting and a sense of confidence through accomplishment to last a lifetime. Contact Ms. Bunnell or Mrs. MacFarlane with any questions. Hurry, registration ends 2/14! www.gotrchicago.org/Register-Now
IJHS cheer helping mentor some of our 5th graders and future cheerleaders at tonight’s game!
Reminder that IJHS plays their make up basketball game today against Hamlin at 3:30 and 4:30 (2/4).
Reminder to all students that we are kicking off Pasta for Patients tomorrow to support LLS by duct taping Mr. Kirk to a wall! One ticket = one piece of tape, tickets are $1 each.
Congratulations to our Poms team on their second place finish at the Eisenhower Junior High competition! We are so proud of your hard word!
The IJHS boys' basketball game is still on for this afternoon at home against Worth. Go Patriots!
Tomorrow is our Patriot Band Pancake breakfast at IJHS from 8:00 - 11:00a! Hoping everyone can join us for a hearty breakfast and to support our band.
So proud of our Patriot band and choir on an outstanding performance during their Winter Concert!
Independence is looking for feedback regarding our lunch program. Please take a moment to complete the brief survey that can be accessed at https://s.surveyplanet.com/3aJFAx85C
IJHS Parent Teacher Conferences are Monday, Nov. 19 from 10:00 - 8:00p and Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 8:00 - 12:00. Please see the link: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/256844/Parent_Teacher_Conferences_Map__2018.pdf for more information.
Reminder to all of our parents that report cards will be made available electronically this afternoon. Report cards can be accessed through the parent portal on TeacherEase. If there are any questions, please contact the IJHS main office.
So proud of our IJHS student leaders who represented our school at our Student Leadership Senate! Thank you to our amazing staff for organizing this event!
IJHS students in STEM class demonstrate their skills as they test out their Rube Goldberg machine!
IJHS recognizes our community's veterans and honor them for their service in our whole school assembly last Friday, Nov. 9.
Thank you to all of our 8th grade Patriots for all the memories! Best of luck in the conference tournament!
IJHS Parent Teacher Conferences are Monday, Nov. 19 from 10:00 - 8:00p and Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 8:00 - 12:00. Please see the link: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/256844/Parent_Teacher_Conferences_Map__2018.pdf for more information.
The first trimester ends today, Nov. 9! Report cards will be made available electronically through School Insight on Friday, Nov. 16.
Please come out and support our Lady Patriots in their final home basketball game of the season on Monday, Nov. 12! We will be honoring our 8th graders and their parents prior to the start of the 8th grade game.
Independence Junior High School students competed at the IESA state speech contest on Nov. 2. Thirteen students showcased their talents and brought home 24 first place awards and four second place awards along with nine Judges’ Choice Winners! Congratulations Patriots!
IJHS will be hosting a breakfast and assembly to recognize and honor all family members who have served in the Armed Services on Friday, Nov. 9 from 9:00 - 10:00a. RSVP forms can be found in the IJHS main office and need to be turned in by Nov. 2.
Our National Junior Honor Society is sponsoring a school dance on Friday, Nov. 2 from 3:00 - 4:00p to raise money in the fight against breast cancer. Admission is $3 and concessions will be on sale.
Congratulations to IJHS Patriots, Isabella Gonzalez, Brooke Spass, and Maddie Palcu for their First Place essays in the Palos Heights Fire Department's, Fire Prevention Essay! We are so incredibly proud of their accomplishments!
IJHS Students celebrate Unity Day through four stations aimed at bringing closer as a community. These four stations were led by our student House Council members! Thank you to everyone for making today happen!
This week is Red Ribbon Week at IJHS
Tuesday is Sports Day, Wear your favorite team shirt. Wednesday is Unity Day, Wear orange.
Thursday is Dwarfism Awareness Day, Wear green.
Friday is Red, White and Blue day– 8th wear red. 7th wear white. 6th wear blue.
We want to wish our IJHS Patriot Band the best, and hope for sunnier weather, this afternoon as they participate in the Shepard High School Homecoming Parade! The parade lasts from about 3:30 - 4:30.
Sixth graders in Mrs. Gabriel's class skype with a classroom from Pennsylvania as they participate in @globalreadaloud discussing "Refugee"
IJHS Picture retakes are this Thursday, Oct. 4 for any students needing/requesting a retake.
It was brought to our attention that the lunch ordering website was not showing up on the school app. The website directing families to the online ordering platform can now be accessed using the link in our "News" section of the IJHS website.
Clarification re: online lunch ordering - the online platform is currently open to families for ordering. Beginning Oct. 1, students will not be able to purchase lunches
Mrs. Meskimen and Ms. Szydelko lead 7th graders in a discussion with author @_ACoops_ about her novel "Sticks and Stones" and activities related to positive peer relationships!
Next week our lunch ordering goes online! A guide to accessing the online platform can be found at: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/223187/Lunch_Ordering_2018-2019__pdf_.pdf . Orders must be made two days in advance to guarantee confirmation.
Congrats to our boys and girls volleyball teams on their wins tonight @palos128 and to our 8th grade athletes and their parents!
Join us for a community event on Thursday, Sept. 20th at 6:00p in the IJHS gym for a presentation from Rachel's Challenge! In partnership with District 128 PFA, this program helps young adults focus on their purpose in life towards one of compassion and kindness.
CORRECTION - for tomorrow’s final home game, the girls play first then boys, so we will be recognizing our 8th grade girls before the 3:30 game and the 8th grade boys before the 4:30 game.
Monday is our last home volleyball game of the season! We'd like to honor all of our 8th grade athletes and their parents before the boys' game at 3:30 and girls' game at 4:30. Hope to see everyone there!
Beginning on October 1, lunches will only be able to be purchased online. A guide to how to purchase lunches can be found at the following link:https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/223187/Lunch_Ordering_2018-2019__pdf_.pdf
MAP testing begins Tuesday, Sept. 11 for all 6th graders and new students. Testing will be performed in ELA and math classes
IJHS Parents can now access daily announcements on our website by clicking on this link: http://www.palos128.org/o/ijhs/documents and locating the Daily Announcements Folder.
IJHS is thrilled to celebrate our students' grandparents at our annual Grandparents Day Celebration on Friday, Sept. 7 from 9:00 - 10:30a!
We are excited to welcome all our families to our Open House event, tonight from 6:00 - 7:30!
Grandparent Day forms went home this week; please have your child return these forms if his/her grandparent(s) are able to attend. If your child needs an additional form, please contact the main office.
All students will receive their school issued iPads this week during their orientation. The schedule will be: Wednesday - 8th grade; Thursday - 7th grade; Friday - 6th grade. If a student is absent they will receive their orientation next week.
This year, student lunches are now provided by Buona Beef! Each day students have a variety of options to choose from at a great price. See link below for our daily menu:
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/211923/2018-2019_Lunch_Menu.docx
Bus information is getting mailed out Friday, Aug. 3 to all registered families who require bus transportation. Any questions please call the IJHS office.
IJHS Supply Lists are available under student documents found when you "Explore" our site. To assist families you can also use this link: http://palosheightsil.apptegy.us/o/ijhs/browse/30744
We are eagerly anticipating the kick off to the new school year! Just a reminder to all incoming 6th graders that orientation is Thursday, Aug. 16th from 12:30 - 2:00p.