Welcome Back to School 2022-23
Welcome back students! School starts on Wednesday, August 10th. School hours are 8:40am- 1:17pm.

How to Enroll
Current District Students: Contact your current school office and ask for a transfer appointment with your counselor.
New District Students: Contact Independence High School at 257-5100 to schedule an enrollment appointment.

Campus News
Check here to see Parent Square posts and school information from the Independence High campus .

Counseling Corner
Here you can connect with one of the school counselors or access resources. Mrs. Martinez is available to answer academic, ASVAB, college, financial aid, or transcript questions as well as assist students with connections for social-emotional wellness. Ms. Camargo provides support in small groups and in social-emotional areas.

Information for Families
Find forms and other important information here–from Work Permits to Health and Safety Protocols to other district materials. This area is updated as needed so please check back often.
DISTRICT OFFICE QUICK LINKS
DISTRICT QUICK LINKS
Food Services
Departments
Aries Login
Transportation
District Office


Principals Message
Welcome to IHS – Home of the Panthers!
Our vision is to…Teach thinking, reasoning and how to foster creativity and innovation in all our students.
We continually strive for… Engagement, Empathy and Empowerment!
We believe all students have potential, are valued individuals, and are unique in their personalities. We respect their individuality, encourage creative thinking, and strive to provide the safest, least disruptive learning environment. Our commitment is to help our students complete the requirements for a high school diploma, acquire basic job-related skills, develop an appreciation of the importance of lifelong learning, and develop effective social skills. We are committed to providing an enriched curriculum with high expectations for all students which emphasizes the skills, concepts, and processes necessary for the technological and cultural challenges of the 21st century.
Independence High School operates on a quarter system so students are able to earn credits at a faster pace than a traditional high school. We tailor our program to individual student goals. Some of our students return to their former high schools their senior year. Others choose to stay at Independence to graduate on time or even early.
Every student joins an Advisory group when they enter IHS. This is a tightly knit cohort of about 12 to 16 learners who work with the same teacher/advisor every Monday throughout their time at IHS. This provides the space to build a family atmosphere and allows advisors to understand the learner’s interests and needs, which leads to authentically personalized learning for the student.
We are committed to Project-Based Learning:
The project-based learning vision is designed upon 4 foundational principles:
-Engages students through critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
-Immerse students in Real World Skills (Professional/Soft Skills).
-Active participants in the Common Core-aligned learning process.
-Supports different learning styles.
Within their framework, there are 10 distinguishers that guide the relevant, real-world, project-based learning curriculum and outcomes:
-Learning in and about the Real World -School Culture
-Personalization -Leadership
-Authentic Assessment -Parent/Family Engagement
-School Organization -Career/School-College Partnership
-Advisory Structure -Professional Development
As Principal, my door is always open, and I welcome your input. Please feel free to stop in, call, or email me to discuss any concerns, suggestions, or ideas to help make this a successful school year.
Sincerely,
Butch Wagner, Co-Principal Educational Options
Our Staff
Staff | Name | Phone | Position | Department | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mrs. Case | 209-257-5141 | mecase@acusd.org | Administrative Assistant for Independence High and Community School | To request a transcript, please go to the "Contact Us" page or email Mrs. Case. | |
Mrs. Farrar | 209-257-5100 | lisa.farrar@acusd.org | Teacher | Ag/Stem, Art, Graphic Design, Edgenuity | |
Mr. Garbarini | 209-257-5100 | chris.garbarini@acusd.org | Teacher | History, Govt/Econ | |
Mr. Krier | 209-257-5100 | miles.krier@acusd.org | Teacher | Math, Physical Education and Edgenuity | |
Ms. Weaver | 209-257-5100 | misty.weaver@acusd.org | Teacher | English | |
Mrs. Martinez | 209-257-5153 | lmartinez@acusd.org | Counselor | ||
Mr. Wagner | 209-257-5100 | bwagner@acusd.org | Principal | ||
Mrs. Hayes | 209-257-5100 | ahayes@acusd.org | Teacher | Special Education | |
Ms. Camargo | 209-257-5100 | anabel.camargo@acusd.org | Counselor | SEL |
Independence High Bell Schedule for 2022-23
Period 1: 8:40am – 9:32am
Period 2: 9:35am – 10:22am
Period 3: 10:25am – 11:12am
Lunch: 11:12am – 11:37am
Period 4: 11:40am – 12:27pm
Period 5: 12:30pm – 1:17pm
*Students are released at 11:30 on minimum days