Junior/Senior High

The Agricultural Education department is comprised of classroom learning, supervised agricultural experiences, and involvement in FFA. These three components provide students with the opportunity to learn both in the classroom and have real-world experiences. The agricultural education curriculum begins in 7th grade as a nine-week exploratory course and expands a framework of knowledge through the following course offerings.

• 8th Grade Exploratory
• Intro to Agriculture
• Study of Animals
• Plant Science
• Ag Business
• Horticulture
• Ag Issues & Perceptions
• Ag Leadership
• Ag Co-Op

Diverse opportunities for learning may include a student planning and organizing production in the greenhouse, working for a local ag business, or visiting a local livestock/crop producer to examine the decisions he/she makes on a daily basis. Students will develop leadership skills through the classroom and experiences through the National FFA Organization. The agriculture industry is constantly evolving and expanding.

The comprehensive goal of the visual arts program is to facilitate, support, and inspire the growth of every student as a young artist and as a creative learner. Students will use higher-order thinking skills during their study of the elements of art and principles of design. Students will gain knowledge of artistic tools, materials, and techniques for producing art while mastering specific concepts and techniques.

Independence offers the following courses to students interested in business and wanting to establish a solid foundation in the field. It is encouraged to complete all business courses prior to graduation.

• Introduction to Business
• Marketing
• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship

Students choosing to participate in business courses will be exposed to a variety of topics such as business structures, competition, taxation, management, marketing techniques, basic financial accounting principles, and the fundamentals of starting a business. These students can expect to read and write on a daily basis, perform basic math tasks, work in teams, problem solve, complete and present projects, and utilize spreadsheets and other computer applications.

Computer Technology classes are available for those students in high school (grades 9-12). All freshmen students are required to take Computer Skills 9, which focuses on introducing students to the Windows Operating System. Here students will work on keyboarding as well as be introduced to Microsoft products that are available on the computers. After taking Computer Skills 9, students will have the opportunity to participate in other classes (listed below) that offer new and unique experiences where students can work on advancing their skills with computers.

• Computer Skills 9 (required for all 9th graders)
• PowerPoint Galore!
• Computer Applications
• Computer Graphics
• Desktop Publishing
• Web Page Design

During these classes, students will have opportunities to help keep the informational televisions updated with new visuals and information screens. These are currently located on Main Street, the Jr/Sr High gym (jumbotron), and the Iowa Hall of Pride.

School counselors are educational specialists who are certified or licensed professionals with a master's degree or higher in school counseling. Counselors help all students address developmental needs. Acting as the student's advocate, the role of a school counselor is to provide and deliver a comprehensive school counseling program that meets the standards and benchmarks designated by the American School Counseling Association. A comprehensive program encourages all students' academic, career, and social/emotional development, and helps all students in maximizing their achievement (American School Counselor Association).

For transcripts, please contact Susan Johnson and include your graduation year and contact information.

2023-2024 JSH Course Guide

Official ACT Website

U.S Department of Education: Plan for College Website

The English Language Arts department work together to provide effective instruction in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. One central component of a great school system is a clear set of expectations or standards. The Iowa Core represents our academic standards. The English Language Arts Program addresses various areas of the Iowa Core Standards. At the junior high level, reading and language arts are taken as two separate classes to further enhance and improve skill levels. The junior high reading and language arts teams work collaboratively to align instruction. English 9 and 10 are required for all students and then they must choose four additional credits from several electives to complete.

• Integrated Skills
• Introduction to Composition
• Oral Communications
• American Literature
• World Literature
• Advanced Composition
• College Research & Writing
• Individualized Study of Books
• Creating Fictional Forms
• Writing for Today

Iowa Core Standards for ELA

Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) provides students the opportunity to explore and prepare for careers in culinary, nutrition, education, early childhood, fashion design, interior design, textiles, tourism and hospitality, food science, social services, and many human services-related careers. FCS engages students in topics/areas relevant to their entire lives such as parenting, family relationships, communication skills, nutrition, food preparation, finances and management, fashion design, textiles, food science, consumerism, and many others. The following courses are all part of our exceptionally strong FCS program here at ICSD!

• FCS Exploratory (7th & 8th grades)
• Culinary Techniques I, II & III
• Parenting
• Child Development
• Home Design
• Fashion & Fabrics I, II & III
• Real Living
• Personal Finance

(Applied Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing, including Transportation, Distribution, Logistics, Architecture, and Construction)

The Independence Junior/Senior High School Industrial Technology Education Department is a multi-faceted program dedicated to helping all students gain the 21st-century skills necessary for success. Students participating in this program will have the opportunity to utilize hands-on experiences that will develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We offer opportunities to explore career-based courses in the areas of transportation, engineering, communication, manufacturing, and construction technologies. Students may also take advantage of dual-enrollment coursework through the department while earning Hawkeye Community College credit.

The Internship & Work Experience Program is designed to give high school students the chance to explore various local career opportunities and occupations in the community.

A student is expected to obtain 35 hours of experience over the course of a 9-week term at a location/company of their choice, usually done during the course of the school day. The students are responsible for tracking their own hours, corresponding what they are learning, and keeping good relations in both the workplace and with their coordinator. The program helps students develop important job skills, work habits, attitudes, and realistic expectations of careers and industries by observing and participating in them firsthand. Through these experiences, students develop necessary social and personal skills essential for living and working as productive members of the community.

The math department works together to provide students with a solid mathematics education. One central component of a great school system is a clear set of expectations or standards. The Iowa Core represents our academic standards. Students will study mathematics across a broad spectrum from foundational mathematics skills to real-world applications. Numerical skills and quantitative reasoning remain crucial as students progress from the Junior High setting to the Senior High setting. Algebraic reasoning, functional relationships and graphing, as well as geometric logic, are important to our curriculum areas but they are also the basis for technical subjects, the sciences, and STEM careers. In a data-rich world, statistics and probability offer powerful ways of drawing conclusions from data and dealing with future possibilities. Mathematics will be used to creatively analyze real-world situations. The courses offered by the math department at Independence Junior Senior High include:

• Pre-Algebra
• Algebra I & II
• Geometry
• Consumer Math
• Trigonometry
• Precalculus

The mission of the Independence Community School District’s media centers is to:

• provide access to an information-rich learning environment
• ensure that students and staff have the skills and resources needed to become effective, creative, and collaborative users of information
• promote reading for pleasure and life-long learning

JSH Library Search

Studying music has a wealth of benefits for all students. Music is shown to be beneficial to students for success in school and life. Our music program exposes students to a variety of musical activities that develop rhythmic, pitch, and artistic abilities. Elementary students have the opportunity to sing, dance, play instruments, act, and listen to great music. The elementary students perform at different events including a winter and spring program. All of this is essential for preparing students to perform in band or choir at the secondary level. Independence is proud to offer students the opportunity to be involved in the following:

• Marching Band
• Jazz Band
• Honor Band
• Concert Band
• Pep Band
• Jazz Choir
• Concert Choir
• Musicals

Visit the Band Website

Physical education provides the opportunity to teach students about movement, strategies, teamwork, problem-solving, and health-related fitness. Each of these areas is addressed in the National Association for Sport and Physical Education’s (NASPE) standards and is important to teaching the whole student. Exposing students to various physical activities, sports, and methods of fitness can better provide enjoyment of physical activity, as well as build social, psychomotor, and cognitive skills. Physical education offers many benefits for students and has shown to be beneficial for all individuals in various areas including society, school, and social life. Physical education at the elementary level covers loco-motor movements relating to hopping, skipping, jumping, side sliding, galloping, leaping, walking, and running. Students are taught skills that they can use for the rest of their lives to stay active and live a healthy lifestyle. Physical education at the high school level offers two different forms of instruction. Students have the opportunity to participate in traditional physical education or performance physical education. Both of these physical education programs incorporate weight lifting, cardiovascular movement, and individual/team activities.

The science department works together to provide students with a solid scientific education. One central component of a great school system is a clear set of expectations or standards. The Iowa Core represents our academic standards. Students will study science across a broad spectrum, from basic science to real-world applications. The science standards at Independence Junior/Senior High School reflect our state’s, and district’s, emphasis on giving all students the real-world knowledge and skills needed to be ready for college or the workforce, regardless of the career paths they choose. The 7th and 8th grade science classes offer an integrated approach that includes topics about Life, Earth, Physical, and Engineering. High school students are required to complete physical science, biology, and one elective course for graduation. All science courses at Independence Junior/Senior High School are intended to develop critical thinking skills through inquiry-based lessons. Coursework is designed to link science phenomena to real-world applications.

Iowa Core Standards for Science

In social studies classes, students will analyze essential geographic, economic, historical, governmental, and behavioral facts and principles in the context of the past, present, and future. One central component of a great school system is a clear set of expectations or standards. The Iowa Core represents our academic standards. Required courses include the following:

• World Geography (7th grade)
• American History (8-10th grades)
• Government (11th grade)
• Economics (11th grade)

Students also have the option to complete any of the following electives:

• Contemporary Issues
• Iowa History
• Modern U.S. History
• Psychology
• Sociology
• World Geography
• World History

Iowa Core Standards for Social Studies

Special education is a broad term that describes the education of students who have intellectual, physical, behavioral, or emotional disabilities. The Independence Community School District’s special education programs consist of specially designed instruction, aligned with the Iowa Core, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. The wide range of services includes

• Early Childhood Special Education
• Co-taught & Pull-out Classes
• Consultation
• Collaboration
• Special Class Services
• Transition
• Alternative Placement Services

Special education teachers work collaboratively with general education teachers to ensure the best education for all students.

Special Education Delivery Plan

Spanish is offered to any 9-12th grade student at Independence Junior/Senior High School. Spanish is a rigorous course study, and our program actively promotes using the Spanish language in real-life situations. Spanish I-IV are offered and students planning to take all four levels of Spanish are encouraged to schedule appropriately, as many colleges suggest engaging in additional foreign language learning, even if all four high school courses have been completed. Students study Spanish language structure, oral competency, writing, and situational use of the language. Higher-order thinking skills are utilized by students who select these elective courses to enhance their college preparation skills.

The Junior/Senior High has nearly 700 students and requires a large number of support staff. The staff commit themselves to serving students every day making working and learning at JSH enjoyable.