April 24, 2018 e-Newsletter
Happy 40th, Indy!
The annual Founders' Day assembly highlighted Independence's milestone 40th birthday festivities on April 20. On a day celebrating all Indy students, past and present, Sydney Kenton (Class of 2015) kicked things off with a stirring rendition of "God Bless America." The eighth-grade Patriot Club later joined our Early Childhood I and II students on the Gore Auditorium stage to sing Happy Birthday to Independence, while kindergarten and third grade led the audience in additional musical numbers throughout the program.
The assembly also featured beautiful reflections from State of Delaware Representative Michael Ramone and his wife, Lisa, who are the proud parents of three Independence graduates – Brittany ('00), Ross ('02) and Nicholas ('06). Following Mr. Ramone's remarks, he introduced David B. McBride, President Pro Tempore of the Delaware Senate, to help present Mrs. Vicky Yatzus, Head of School, with a General Assembly Tribute from the State of Delaware recognizing Independence's 40 years.
Additional special guests in attendance for Founders' Day included members of our Board of Trustees and faculty emeriti, all of whom took great interest as the following honors were presented:
Board Presidents' Scholarship – Amelia Gattuso (grade 7) and Veer Pahwa (grade 6)
Andrew N. Yatzus Scholarship – Juliet Procope (grade 5)
Courage Scholarship – Jae-June Jang (grade 7)
Margaret C. and William H. Cantwell Award for Musical Excellence – Heidi Li and Mia Lu (both grade 7)
Anne G. Hurt Memorial Scholarship – Anna Schneider and Gautam Wadhwa (both grade 7)
Young Writer's Scholarship – Charlotte Julian and Trent Woodland (both grade 3)
Jack DiMaio Memorial Scholarship – Andrew Ou and Sophia Walch (both grade 5)
Teresa Roach Scholarship – Sophie Crain (grade 4)
Marsh Wiltbank Uebler Scholarship – Claudia Koch and Grant Schneider (both grade 4)
In addition, the Outstanding Alumni, Rising Star Alumni and Founders' Awards were all presented for the first time this year. Each of the two new alumni awards recognizes an Independence alumnus or alumna who demonstrates outstanding achievement, leadership or innovation in a particular field, whether in his or her profession or through volunteer activities or personal dedication to a cause. The Outstanding Alumni recipient must have graduated from Independence 20 or more years ago, while the Rising Star Alumni recipient must have graduated within the last 20 years.
The Founders' Award, meanwhile, is granted to extraordinary individuals who have left a lasting, positive and fundamental impact on our school through their service, dedication and generosity. Any member of the Independence Community can receive the award, not just alumni.
This year's recipients are as follows:
Outstanding Alumni Award – Mr. Alexander Mackler ('97)
Rising Star Alumni Award – Mrs. Kiersten (Jones) Schwendeman ('03)
Founders' Award – Mr. Ross Fasick (posthumous)
Prior to the assembly, students indulged in the sweetest part of Founders' Day – CUPCAKES!!
Click here for a complete Founders' Day gallery.
ON OUR WEBSITE
- 40th Anniversary Auction & Gala
(photo gallery) - Indy impresses at Math League State Invitationals
- Second Indy Quiz Bowl team headed to nationals
- Indy hosts area schools for "Latin Day"
- STEMfest 2018 (photo gallery)
- Student Government Association represented at Middle School Diversity Conference
- Official "Indy LIVE!" archive page
- Official "My Indy Story" video page
Last week, we celebrated National Volunteer Week, and tomorrow (April 25), we recognize Administrative Professionals Day! Thanks for everything that you do for both our school and our students!
REMINDERS
Summer at Independence Day Camp discount
In celebration of Independence's 40th Anniversary, we are happy to announce a 20% discount on Day Camp only, for all rising Early Childhood I (3 years old), ECII (4 years) and Kindergarten (5 years) students whose registrations are submitted between April 15-May 15, 2018. Register online at www.SummerAtIndependence.org, and we will apply the discount when we approve the registration.
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.
CAPPING IT OFF
On April 16, a dozen members of the Class of 2018 – as selected by their peers – presented their Capstone Projects throughout three sessions in front of parents, faculty, administration, and fellow students. As part of this multifaceted, student-directed, long-term investigative project, each eighth grader researched a topic of particular interest to him or her, wrote a formal paper following Modern Language Association format, created a product or artifact that demonstrated gained knowledge, and delivered an oral presentation utilizing digital slides. For the third straight year, many students completed one to three hours of field work as part of the research process.
While only 12 students presented on this night, 70 Capstone Projects were on display in the rotunda and middle school wing, with nearly every eighth grader available to answer questions and provide demonstrations. Following their experiences at the Capstone Event, the students will write a reflective essay.
Piloted six years ago by the English Department, the Capstone Project is designed to encourage students to think critically and to practice skills that will be needed in high school, college, and beyond: written and oral communication, public speaking, researching, media literacy, planning, pacing, and organizing.
For a Capstone Project gallery, please click here.
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All-School Dress-down Day
This Thursday, April 26
Donate $1 or more to wear sweatpants, jeans, school-appropriate t-shirts and sweatshirts
(no yoga pants or hoodies)
Funds raised will be used to have a live DJ at May Fair on Saturday, May 5.
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Independence's oldest tradition continues!
Saturday, May 5 from noon-4 p.m.
Advance tickets and "Play All Day" Bands are available now by clicking here!
To volunteer, please click here. To donate to the Bake Sale, please click here.
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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.
25. TEDxYouth@ IndependenceSchool
Now in its third year, TEDxYouth@IndependenceSchool is a free event for Indy middle school students that features talks from live speakers on a diverse variety of topics, as well as breakout sessions and hands-on activities led by Indy alumni and local leadership groups. The event carries a different theme each spring, including "Pay it Forward" in 2017 and "Motivating Change" during its inaugural edition two years ago.
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TEDxYouth@IndependenceSchool, our FREE event for Independence middle school students in grades 6-8, returns for its third year this Sunday, April 29, from 2-4 p.m. in the Gore Auditorium. This year's event carries the theme of "Inspire to Create," and it will include TED-type talks, as well as breakout sessions with hands-on activities led by Indy alumni and the Blue Hen Leadership Program. Online registration is available by clicking here. Please note that attendance is limited to 100 students. Those interested in speaking at this year's event can apply by clicking here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
4/19-25 - DAIS Middle School Art Show from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Sanford School)
4/25 - Seventh-grade field trip to Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale, Pa. -- postponed to Friday, 5/25
4/26 - "Night at the Blue Rocks" at 6:35 p.m., featuring pregame performance of "God Bless America" by third grade (Frawley Stadium)
4/27 - In-service day (school closed, Extended Day open)
4/27 - Trimester 3 Midpoint
4/29 - TEDxYouth @IndependenceSchool from 2-4 p.m. (Gore Auditorium) -- click here to register or to apply to speak
4/30-5/4 & 5/7 - ERBs for grades 1-7
5/5 - "May Fair" from noon-4 p.m. -- click here for advance ticket sales
Click here for the full 2017-18 school calendar.
Click here for the 2018-19 Calendar at a Glance.
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Registration for our final session of the 2017-18 school year on Tuesday, May 15 will be available soon. 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 spring 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.
THE LIVING CONSTITUTION
Ms. Palmer's seventh-grade social studies students were challenged to become constitutional scholars with a new project entitled "The Living Constitution." They worked collaboratively to create an informative exhibit about the principles of the Constitution.
Each group tackled one of the seven principles – popular sovereignty, limited government, checks and balances, separation of powers, federalism, republicanism and individual rights. Students were required to cite the location of their chosen principle in the Constitution, define and explain the significance of the principle and connect it to a current or historical event.
The students' research also included analyzing primary source documents that related to the seven principles in order to see the Constitution in action. Students acted as historians who must consider the source of each document, when it was created and its content to determine how it relates to the principles.
The projects are currently on display in the rotunda. Click here to see!
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THIRD GRADERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Mrs. Grothaus' third-grade students recently completed a service project inspired by their reading unit entitled "Making a Difference." As part of the project, they worked in pairs or trios to research a nonprofit organization that gives back to our community, whether locally or globally.
The students were asked to find out its history, describe its mission and services, and brainstorm some ways that they could help that organization. AMVETS, Faithful Friends Animal Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Save the Children, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Sunday Breakfast Mission and Warrior Dog Foundation made up the list of organizations chosen.
This unique learning experience included the students' first use of Google Slides to create their presentations for an audience of parents and members of Indy's administration. The third graders demonstrated exceptional poise and their growing confidence as public speakers.
Independence fosters a sense of community and encourages its students to become strong leaders and good citizens who can make a difference in the lives of others. This project certainly helped these young learners to continue traveling down that path.
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A DAY AT THE DENTIST
On April 19, Early Childhood I visited with Dr. Cathy Harris at Wild Smiles Dentistry for Kids. During the field trip, the students enjoyed seeing the office's jungle décor while learning about which foods are good for their teeth (milk and cheese) and which ones are not (fruit snacks and cotton candy). Additionally, they discovered that snails have thousands of teeth, more than any other animal! The students have been practicing their dental skills in their classroom's dramatic play area using information and vocabulary gained from the trip.
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WE DID IT!
With the help of 139 Independence Community members, we surpassed our $30,000 paddle raise goal so that we can purchase two outdoor scoreboards for our athletic fields!
We are proud of our community and so grateful to everyone who contributed. We cannot wait to get the scoreboards ready to go for the fall sports season!
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"ADOPT-A-BOOK" RUNS UNTIL SATURDAY, MAY 5
The "Adopt-A-Book" program is a wonderful way to say an end-of-year thank you to your student's favorite teacher, to celebrate your graduate, or to honor a loved one "in memoriam" while supporting Independence's Founders' Library and the IPA.
When you "Adopt-A-Book," a dedication is attached to the inside front cover of the book, which allows your tribute to be seen by everyone who borrows it.
- Click here to browse the "Adopt-A-Book" gallery for photos of book covers, with prices and color-coded reading level
- Click here for the list of books offered, with reading levels and prices
- Click here for the "Adopt-A-Book" order form, with bookplate dedications
HOW TO ADOPT BOOKS
- In the library until Saturday, May 5
- At May Fair on Saturday, May 5 from noon-4 p.m.
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2018 Summer at Independence registration is live!
Please click on the logo 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!
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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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