Nov. 21, 2017        e-Newsletter

WE ARE THANKFUL!

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November is the time to be thankful, to remember and to embrace those who enrich our lives.


Here at Independence, we are thankful for each and every one of you, our community members, who make our school so special. We are thankful that we have the opportunity to inspire your children to become independent, intellectually curious individuals every day. We are thankful that we can support and nurture them as they learn to learn and learn to lead.

 

Thanksgiving is a special day to count our blessings and all things for which we are grateful and to also enjoy the company of family and good friends.

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

 

With spirit,

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REMINDER

 

My BackPack access closure

Parent and student access to My BackPack will be closed from next Monday, Nov. 27 until Friday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m., so that teachers can work on report cards.

40 Things to Love about Independence
Independence will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary throughout the 2017-18 school year. As part of that celebration, we will highlight, in chronological order, 40 points of pride for our students, our families and the Independence community as a whole.

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8. Grandparents' Day
At Independence, we deeply value the role that grandparents and special friends play in our children's lives. So, it should come as no surprise that Grandparents' Day holds a dear place both in our hearts and on our fall calendar. This annual tradition falls the week of Thanksgiving, and what better time to celebrate and give thanks for such beloved members of our students' families? Refreshments in the Fasick Gallery, classroom visits and musical performances in the Gore Auditorium highlight the day.

 

The Annual IPA Holiday Festival

 

Sunday, December 3, from noon-3 p.m.

Independence Gym

 

Come out and enjoy a day full of holiday fun!

 

Secret Santa Gift Shop · Photos with Santa · Holiday Crafts · Holiday Market · Scholastic Book Fair · Independence Apparel · Lunch, Baked Goods and More!

 

For full details, please click here!

 

Click here if you would like to volunteer, either with setting up the gym on Friday, Dec. 1 or the day of the event.

 
 
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Click on the graphic above later this week to see our hosts, correspondents and crew, as well as some very special guests, share what they're thankful for this Thanksgiving!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

 

11/21 - End of Trimester 1

 

11/22-24 - Thanksgiving Holiday (school and Extended Day closed)

11/27 - In-service day (school closed, Extended Day open)

 

11/29 - Cyber Security Parent Presentation at 7 p.m. (Gore Auditorium)


11/30 - Third-grade field trip to "Twas the Night Before Christmas" (and McDonald's)

 

12/3 - IPA Holiday Festival from noon-3 p.m. (gym)


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

 

Click here for the full 2017-18 school calendar.

 

 returns for the 2017-18 school year! Registration for our next session on Monday, Dec. 11 is now available. If you're interested in this FREE program, please click the logo above for details. 

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

 

THE INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL BLOG

 

Click the "Indy Insights" logo above for a collection of useful ideas, guidance and resources by members of our faculty, administration and staff. 

 

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

LEARNING ABOUT THE LENAPE

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As part of their social studies curriculum, the Kindergarten classes learned about the Native Americans who once lived in this area, gleaning a lot of information on the Lenape tribe. A field trip to Ashland Nature Center on Nov. 13 served as an integral part of the learning process.

 

Students discovered how Native Americans survived off the land using the animals, plants, water and Earth around them. Our kindergartners also observed and handled various Native American tools and artifacts and spent time in the longhouse dwelling. The children truly enjoyed choosing a Native American name, as well as learning and playing Native American games.

 

The students then took what they learned at Ashland and used pictures, stories and artifacts to compare their lives today to times of the past. They further enriched their understanding of the concepts by creating their own artwork and anecdotes, which went on display in the Native American Museum on Nov. 15 in the Fasick Gallery.


That same day, the Kindergarten students and their teachers hosted a Powwow, also in the gallery, to culminate their experience. This celebration highlighted many of the things learned about Native Americans, including customary songs, traditions and clothing. The Running Arrow and Golden Eagle Tribes demonstrated a great understanding of the similarities and differences between the Native Americans and the children of today.

 

For a full gallery of the museum and Powwow, please click here.

 

MAKING THE CONNECTION

 

David Wilson, Professional Engineer with Silver Run Electric, presented to our eighth-grade students on Nov. 16 about the Artificial Island Project, a group of electric grid upgrades his company is handling in Delaware.

 

Mr. Wilson emphasized the importance of the electric grid's sustainability, the work done to eliminate or reduce environmental impact - in addition to protecting wetlands and wildlife - and the innovative technologies that the company will use on the project.

 

This insightful talk helped our students understand the application of interconnected science (Earth, life and physical) and allowed them to see the various STEM fields that are involved in this enormous process. We are grateful to Mr. Wilson for stopping by!

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COLONIAL TIMES 

 

On Nov. 17, the fourth-grade classes visited Old New Castle, where they toured the Read House and observed how wealthy colonists lived, took a walking tour of the town and participated in a trial in an actual colonial court house. All of these activities enabled the students to experience life in colonial America.

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IPA GIFT CARD FUNDRAISER

 

The annual Gift Card Fundraiser is now open! This program allows families to purchase a wide selection of gift cards at face value, and a portion of each gift card goes directly to our school. If every family purchased just $100 in gift cards to their favorite restaurants or retail stores, the IPA could make $2,500 or more! You can use your gift cards for your own holiday shopping or to give as gifts to family, friends, teachers, employees, etc.

 

PLEASE NOTE: There is a FIRM DEADLINE of next Tuesday, Nov. 28 for ordering. You can pick up your gift cards at the Marketplace table at the IPA Holiday Festival on Sunday, Dec. 3, or in the Development Office the following week.

 

TWO WAYS TO ORDER:

  • Send in the order form to the Development Office, with check made out to the IPA; OR...
  • Order online and send check made out to the IPA to the Development Office. Ordering online allows you to see all the products available and the amount the school makes from your purchase.

ORDERING ONLINE: Go to www.shopwithscrip.com. Enter the code DFFBDC785581 to register. Create a user name (suggest your first and last name), and the password is tisfamily. For questions, call Barb Woodland at 302-229-2832.

 

Shop at amazonsmile & support Independence

 

When you shop at AmazonSmile by clicking the logo above, Amazon will donate 0.5% of qualified purchases to our school.

 

Upon clicking the link and logging in with your regular Amazon account, "Independence School Inc." will automatically be selected as your charity, and you will receive a confirmation email.

 

It's that simple!

 

Have you checked out our official Alumni page? You can keep up with all the latest news on our talented graduates. If you have your own alumni submission, please email Tanya Godsey, Alumni Relations Coordinator.

The Independence School

1300 Paper Mill Road | Newark, DE 19711

302-239-0330 | welcome@tisde.org