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Calendar Changes for the 2018-2019 School Year
Superintendent Jeff Rose recently recommended a change to the district's 2018-2019 School Year Calendar. At its August meeting, the Fulton County Board of Education voted to approve that recommendation.
This school year, November 6, 2018 has been changed from a regular school day, to a teacher work day. March 8, 2019 has been changed from a teacher work day, to a regular school day.
The decision alleviates safety concerns raised by some parents and staff, allows for additional staff training on safety protocols, and maintains instructional time for our students. Additionally, the Fulton County school board has expressed interest in addressing a long-term solution through the legislative process by removing schools as polling places.
The revised calendar is posted at this link. In addition, the district is re-printing the calendar and distributing the new version to families to eliminate any confusion.
West Nile Virus Health Alert
We want to share information with our school communities about the West Nile Virus (WNV). We are in the peak of mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. Our local health officials are concerned about the West Nile virus and other illnesses spread by mosquitos because we are already seeing an increased number of cases that have been reported across the state. According to health officials, as a result of the heavy rain we have had this year, it has created a lot of standing water and thus the number of mosquitos have increased. Additionally, the Fulton County Board of Health has detected high mosquito activity through their mosquito surveillance and control program. In light of these concerns, we are sharing the following information to stress the importance of protecting yourself and your family against West Nile, especially those at greater risk for serious illness such as the elderly; those with compromised immune systems; people with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease; and people who have received organ transplants.
West Nile is a virus most commonly spread to people by infected mosquito bites. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not have symptoms. However, 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. West Nile virus can cause febrile illness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).
You can reduce your risk of WNV by adhering to the following preventive measures:
- Drain – containers after every rain, get rid of unnecessary containers. Help reduce the number of mosquitoes by utilizing the Tip-N-Toss principles on all standing water: empty standing water from containers such as flower pots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, cans and bottles, discarded/old tires, children's toys, tarps, gutters and birdbaths.
- DEET- use the appropriate mosquito/insect repellent when you go outdoors which includes repellents containing DEET that are EPA-registered with 20%-30% DEET.
- Dress - wear light-weight long sleeves, pants and socks during the day when many mosquitoes are most active especially if you work or will be outside for long periods of time. Mosquitos tend to bite during the day.
- Doors, windows and screens – make sure doors, windows and screens are in good condition and fit tightly to prevent mosquitos from coming inside and keep doors closed.
- Use Mosquito Dunks (a larvicide used to kill mosquito larvae) to control mosquitos in areas with standing water and in containers that cannot be dumped.
- Treatment and care – if you think a family member might have West Nile virus disease, please consult a healthcare provider for evaluation and diagnosis immediately.
Fulton County Residents may call Fulton County's Board of Health MOSQUITO HOTLINE at 404-613- 1303 to report mosquito-related issues to the Environmental Health Department.
Additionally, public health will be focusing on preventing mosquito-transmitted infections by spraying, applying larvicide, mosquito trapping and surveillance in targeted areas and will be initiating a door-to-door educational campaign in some surrounding neighborhoods.
Remember, the most effective way to avoid West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites: protect yourself by avoiding mosquitos and using the Tip-N-Toss principles.
Our goal is to help keep students and the school communities healthy by sharing important health information. To learn more about West Nile virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control Prevention website on West Nile virus: https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html.
Resources:
Centers for Disease Control Prevention: West Nile Virus Update
Fulton County Board of Health – West Nile Update
Fulton County Schools – Student Health Services
Mosquito Control Tips: http://www.fultonschools.org/en/divisions/ops/security/Pages/Student-Health-Services.aspx
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Thank you to everyone who attended this year's
Open House!
(Click here for additional photos.)
Congratulations and Best of Luck to the Graduating Class of 2018!
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May 17, 2018
Roswell River Landing
(Click on the photo above for highlights of the day.)
Vanguard Award
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Congratulations to Ms. Ashley Ellis (pictured with IHS Vanguard team members Ms. Sara Allegood and Ms. Gaganjot Singh), recipient of the Most Valuable Vanguardian Award for the Northwest Learning Community at the recent Vancademy Awards Ceremony. Nominees were selected based on criteria representing their most significant impact on their school through coaching. Vanguard coaches work with their peer teachers, METIs, technology specialists and the school administration to deliver the best curriculum practices which include transformative technology.
Second Annual Opportunity Fair
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Thank you to all the participating businesses, schools and branches of the military that made the event a huge success!
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Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony February 16, 2018
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Mrs. Tabatha Taylor, IHS Principal, Ms. Julia Bernath, District 7 Board Member, Ms. Katha Stuart, District 1 Board Member and Dr. Clifford Jones, Area Superintendent, cut the ribbon and formally dedicate the new location of Independence High School.
(Click here to view photos of the event.)
Independence is Beating the Odds!
Independence High School is "Beating the Odds." On December 21, 2017, GOSA, Georgia Office of Student Achievement, released the 2017 Beating the Odds results. Beating the Odds is a statistical analysis that compares a school's actual performance on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) with the performance of schools with similar characteristics across the state. Schools that perform higher than similar schools are considered "Beating the Odds." This is a great designation. It shows the wonderful things that are happening at IHS! Click here to learn more.
We are honored to have our hard work and dedication on behalf of our students recognized by Dr. Rose.
Mr. Ahmad Eidizadeh, IHS Math teacher and faculty advisor of the Habitat for Humanity Club, recently attended a Habitat workshop in south Georgia and had the opportunity to meet President and Mrs. Carter.
Congratulations to Mrs. Taylor
Recipient of the Northwest Learning Community's
Inspire, Lead, Achieve Award for September!
Mrs. Taylor was honored for leading Independence HS with compassion and integrity, as well as for the accomplishments achieved under her guidance. With Mrs. Taylor at the helm, IHS was named a Georgia Top Quartile Performer for student growth and progress, a 2016-2017 Beating the Odds School and received the highest rating for progress in achievement gap closure on the College and Career Readiness Index.
Congratulations,
Alpharetta Police Athletic League !
Pictured above: Mrs. Gwendolyn Harris, IHS Assistant Principal, and Ms. Veronica Carew of Alpharetta PAL
Independence High School's Partner in Education, the Alpharetta Police Athletic League, received the 2017 Partnership of the Year Award from The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce at their monthly meeting on May 31, 2017.