Feb. 6, 2018 e-Newsletter
Where Learning Meets Fun!
2018 Summer at Independence registration is now live!
Please click on the graphic above to browse our diverse variety of 2018 camp options in one of three easy ways:
- By category
- By grade level
- By week
You will also find a helpful FAQ, and you can thumb through galleries from every week of camp last year to relive the excitement and memories or simply see all the fun your child can have this year.
Don't delay on planning your child's 2018 Summer at Independence!
REMINDERS
IPA Lunch Volunteers Needed
The IPA is still in need of lunch delivery volunteers through the end of the school year. We welcome parents and grandparents to sign up and spread lunchtime cheer to our students.
Next IPA Meeting on Feb. 13
The next IPA meeting will be held next Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the Food Bank of Delaware's Newark Branch. This will be a "working" meeting for parents and their kids to lend a hand to those in need.
Children must be a minimum age of 7, and everyone must wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothes. Please RSVP to IPA President Pooja D'Souza by emailing poojavdsouza@gmail.com.
From left to right: third-place finisher Nick Zhu, champion Gautam Wadhwa and runner-up Mikul Duggal
Congratulations to seventh grader Gautam Wadhwa for placing first in the Independence Geography Bee on Feb. 1.
Gautam moves on to take the state test. If he qualifies as one of the top scorers, he will represent Independence at the Delaware Geography Bee on April 6 at University of Delaware. The state winners then receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C., to compete for college scholarships up to $50,000 at the 30th annual National Geographic Bee Championship from May 20-23.
Eighth graders Mikul Duggal and Nick Zhu finished in second and third place, respectively, in the Independence Bee. This year's other finalists were fourth grader Ryan Coyne, fifth graders Bailey Evans and Andrew Ou, sixth grader Olivia Jordan, seventh grader Marty Coyne and eighth graders Defne Elbeyli, Arjan Kahlon and Parth Rustagi, who was last year's school champion.
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
An SGA-sponsored toothbrush drive in late January collected 1,586 oral hygiene instruments to donate to the Pardada Pardadi Educational Society, a non-profit school in India that strives to educate and empower girls from poor rural areas. Special thanks to eighth grader Bridget Schutt for helping to schedule a visit from guest speaker Mary Cairns, who talked to our middle school students about her work with Pardada Pardadi. Members of Bridget's own family, including her sister, Tatum, a 2016 Independence alumna, have traveled to India to volunteer directly with the girls and the school.
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2018-19 RE-ENROLLMENT UNDERWAY
Re-enrollment contracts for 2018-19 are now posted to your "My BackPack" account. Please log in to locate the re-enrollment link and follow the instructions to submit your contracts online. You will be prompted to print a payment voucher that should accompany your re-enrollment deposit check. Contracts and deposits must be received by Thursday, March 1, 2018, to secure enrollment for next year. Please contact Donna Sentman, Admission Coordinator, at dsentman@tisde.org with any questions.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2/7 - Third-grade field trip to Alpine and Rafetto Orthodontics
2/12-13 - Eighth-grade field trip to UD STAR Campus
2/13 - IPA Meeting from 6-8 p.m. at Food Bank of Delaware's Newark Branch
2/14 - Happy Valentine's Day!
2/15 - Parent Coffee with panel of eighth-grade parents: "From Independence to High School – The Process and the Outcomes," presented by the Center for Wellness, Innovation & Learning, at 8:15 a.m. (Founders' Library)
2/16 - Presidents' Day Weekend (school closed, Extended Day open)
2/19 - Presidents' Day (school closed, Extended Day open)
Click here for the 2017-18 calendar at a glance.
Click here for the full 2017-18 school calendar.
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Registration for our next session on Tuesday, Feb. 13 is now available. If you're interested in this FREE program, please email Donna Sentman, Admission Coordinator.
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Click the logo above to visit the winter sports "Teams & Results" page, where you can stay up-to-date on all the latest news and recaps about Patriot athletics!
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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.
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Did you know that Extended Day offers a variety of special programs throughout the school year? Click here for all the details.
INDEPENDENCE VS. COLLABORATION
By Mrs. Vicky Yatzus, Head of School
As educators, we often talk about the importance of intentionally developing our students to be independent learners and independent thinkers. Even with the youngest preschool children, we focus daily on working to help them grow their abilities to be independent. But, is this focus on independence in direct opposition with one of the most important 21st-century skills – collaboration?
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TWO INDY TEAMS QUALIFY FOR FIRST LEGO LEAGUE CHAMPIONS TOURNAMENT
Two Indy Robotics teams advanced to the First State FIRST LEGO League Champions Tournament in February after strong performances at qualifying events on Jan. 27, 2018, at the Early College High School @ Delaware State University and Dec. 9, 2017, at Conrad Schools of Science.
The Tsunamis H2O, comprised of fourth graders Peter Brennan, Kabir Goyal, Colin Kipp, Jason Lentz, Aditya Rustagi, Jai Thacker and Tyler Williams, won first place for both Robot Performance and Innovative Solution. Brian Lentz and Bill Williams coach the Tsunamis, while seventh grader Ben Jordan serves as team mentor.
The Combusters, comprised of seventh graders Michael Connolly and Clare O'Dwyer and sixth graders Kate Connolly and Rai Kahlon, earned first place for Robot Programming. Kieran and Chantel Connolly coach the Combusters.
The 36-team state tournament will be held on Feb. 24 at Delaware State University in Dover.
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QUIZ BOWL TEAM TAKES THIRD
Independence's Quiz Bowl 'A' Team – eighth graders Ryan Balu, Drew Hermes, Arjan Kahlon, Ben Wei and Nick Zhu – placed third at the Manheim Township Middle School Academic Challenge on Jan. 13 at Manheim Township High School in Lancaster, Pa. Individually, four Independence competitors finished Top-10 in scoring: Nick Zhu in fifth place, seventh grader Jacob Poplawski ('B' Team) in seventh, sixth grader Nico Abbott ('C' Team) in eighth and Ben Wei in 10th.
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Click on the graphic above to see your correspondents, Maria and Reese, catch up with three members of our Class of 2015 in "The Alumni Athletes." Each student-athlete, Salesianum's Jack Leonard and Tatnall's Lauren Anshen and Brendan Balthis, captured a third-consecutive team state championship this fall!
Also, we're so excited to announce that all previous episodes of the debut season of Indy LIVE! can now be found on our official website at www.TheIndependenceSchool.org/IndyLive. Please spread the word!
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ALUMNI AND PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR "STEMFEST"
"STEMfest" returns on Thursday, April 5! Doors will open at 5:45 p.m., with a welcome presentation at 6 and activities from the Michigan Tech MindTrekkers to follow from 6:15-8. The event is free, but pre-registration will be required. Further registration details are forthcoming.
We are looking for parent volunteers from the science, technology and engineering fields to make "STEMfest" come alive. Those interested should email Mrs. Bernadette Gilmore, Director of Academics and Curriculum. Independence alumni are welcome back to help us give students in our community a wonderful experience in STEM. Alumni volunteers should email Mrs. Godsey, Alumni Relations Coordinator.
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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 fill out the new form on the page or email Tanya Godsey, Alumni Relations Coordinator.
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