UPCOMING EVENTS

5/11 - Spring Band & Orchestra Concert at 7 p.m. (Gore Auditorium)

5/12 - Fourth-grade Mini Society Business Session II at 1:30 p.m. (gym)

5/12 - Spring sports end

5/12 - IPA "Night at the Blue Rocks" at 7 p.m., including pre-game choral performance by third grade (Frawley Stadium)

5/18 - Parent Coffee: "Engage in Summer Reading - Learn How to Make Your Child's Summer Reading Assignments Come Alive," presented by Speech and Language Specialist Illene Courtright and the Center for Wellness, Innovation & Learning, at 8:15 a.m. (Founders' Library)

5/19 - "Stay-N-Play" for ECI-Kindergarten from 8-10:30 a.m.

5/19 - First-grade Mammal Zoo from 1:30-2 p.m. (multi-purpose room)

5/19 - Third-grade Patriotic Program at 7 p.m. (Gore Auditorium)

5/22 - Early Childhood II field trip to Delaware Museum of Natural History

5/22-25 - Eighth-grade Boston trip

5/23 - View-Ahead Day for fifth-grade students from 8:30-10 a.m.

5/26 - NO SCHOOL for eighth grade

Click here for the 2017-18 calendar at a glance.

For the full 2016-17 school calendar, click here.

Did you know that Extended Day offers a variety of special programs throughout the school year? Click here for all the details.

Click the logo above to visit the spring "Teams & Results" page, where you can stay up-to-date on all the latest news and recaps about Patriot athletics!

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY 

By Mrs. Lisa McMahon, Early Childhood II Teacher

I recently read a quote from Fred Rogers, and, as a parent and Early Childhood educator, it really encompasses how I feel about the world in which we live today and the decisions we face parenting and educating young children. In these fast-paced times, we often feel the need to accelerate every aspect of the development of our toddlers and preschoolers. We may be led to believe that they must be academically advanced, athletically superior, and artistically gifted as they enter the formal school years. We are inundated with options to help our children "get ahead."

 
READ MORE & SEE THE QUOTE

OLIVIA O'DWYER '13 NAMED
2017 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR

Olivia O'Dwyer, a 2013 Independence alumna and current senior at Archmere Academy, has been recognized this week as one of only four 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholars from Delaware and one of 161 total throughout the nation. The process began with nearly 5,100 candidates selected to apply by invitation only.

"I congratulate this year's class of Presidential Scholars for their devotion to academic excellence and their parents and teachers who have guided them along the way," U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a press release. "Today's Presidential Scholars are tomorrow's leaders, and I am confident they will continue to be shining examples as they enter the next phase of their academic careers."

Olivia will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington D.C., scheduled for June 18-20, for the National Recognition Program, and she will be presented with her medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

"I am honored to receive this award and am grateful for the strong foundation and opportunities that Independence gave me in academics and leadership," Olivia said. "Thank you to all the teachers who inspired and challenged me."

Established in 1964 by executive order of the President, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program sets out to recognize and honor those exceptional high school seniors who have distinguished themselves through their talent, academic achievement, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to both school and community.

This marks the second year in a row that an Independence graduate received the honor, following Rahul Subbaraya '12 last spring.

We'd also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the 27th annual third-grade Patriotic Program – "The United States: A Proud Nation" – will take place next Friday, May 19, at 7 p.m., in the Gore Auditorium. Admission is free.