We are gearing up for the 2026-2027 school year, and we can’t wait for a new year of celebrating and growing together as an Independence school community! We have gathered links to important information and resources designed to help you get this year off to an excellent start. REMEMBER, our first day of school is Monday, August 24. (IPS and IHS start dates are staggered - see calendar below).
Our teachers and staff are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to welcome students back to our learning environment. Our custodial staff has done an outstanding job all summer making sure our rooms are shiny, spotless, and ready for our learners!
STAY CONNECTED
Visit our website, download our APP, and follow us on social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn) for the most updated information on the beginning of the new school year!
ONLINE CALENDAR
The online calendar contains important dates including building events and performances. All dates are subject to change, so check back periodically and watch your school's e-newsletters that the principal sends out regularly for updates. Events will continue to be added throughout the next few weeks.
BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS
Completing our Back to School Forms on FinalForms is the first step to an excellent school year! Remember, all these forms need to be up to date for the new school year.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Independence Primary School
School supply pickup (pre-ordered only) - items will be available for pick up during the Back to School Blast on Thursday, August 20, 2026, 5-7 p.m.
Independence Middle School
School supply pickup (pre-ordered only) - items will be available for pick up on Locker Load Days.
Independence High School
Teachers will share with students the first week of school
DISTRICT CALENDAR
Click here to download at-a-glance digital PDFs of the District calendar.
DAILY BELL SCHEDULES
Independence Primary School (Grades PreK - 4)
8:30 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Independence Middle School (Grades 5-8)
7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Independence High School (Grades 9-12)
7:40 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.
SCHOOL FEES
Click here to pay school fees.
For complete instructions, please click here.
LUNCH MENUS
Click here to visit our Food Services Department to access your student’s lunchroom transactions through LinqConnect and view lunch menus at My School Menus.
TECHNOLOGY
We are 1:1 technology devices for kindergarten through 12th grade. Fifth and ninth graders will get a new device to use for the time they spend in that building (5-8 and 9-12). Kindergarten through second grade devices are in carts and remain in the building. Third and fourth graders are assigned devices in the first week or two of the school year but will only bring them home as needed.
For those students who will take their devices home nightly, they will need to be charged for the next school day.
HANDBOOKS
Click here to view your building’s handbook.
DOCUMENTS & FORMS
Click here to find all the forms and links you need for back to school.
TRANSPORTATION
You will be able to access your child's bus information in a couple of convenient ways this year using an app called Ride K-12 or the Ride K-12 website. Here are instructions (Web Directions) (App Directions) for downloading the new app, which will give you your child's bus information. This system will also allow you to communicate with the transportation department and allow us to communicate with you (ex. g., the bus is running late). You will use your child's school ID number to find their information. If you do not see bus information for your child, it is because you did not respond to the email that was sent in June, which gave everyone until July 1 to sign up for busing. If this is the case, please email fkane@independence.k12.oh.us, and we will add your child to a bus so they can begin riding on September 1. Please check your information right before school starts for any changes.
REPORT AN ABSENCE IN SCHOOLMESSENGER SAFEARRIVAL
You can report your child’s absence in advance using any of these three convenient methods:
SM Home Mobile App: Using your mobile device, download and install the SM Home app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The first time you use the app, select “Sign Up” to create your account. Select “Attendance”, then “Report an Absence”.
SafeArrival website: home.schoolmessenger.com. The first time you use the website, select “Sign Up” to create your account. Then select “Attendance” and “Report an Absence”.
Toll-Free Phone Number: Call 1-888-906-3890 and follow the prompts to report an absence using the automated system.
These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can report absences for future dates at any time.
Same day notifications can only be received until 9:30 a.m. After 9:30 a.m., or for absences longer than two days, you will need to call in to the building.
If you have not reported your child’s absence before the start of the school day, either in SafeArrival or by calling the building, SafeArrival will automatically contact you through multiple communication methods until a reason is provided. If the system cannot reach you, our school office will follow up. Failure to report the reason will result in an unexcused absence.
IMPORTANT DATES
Independence Primary School
Thursday, August 20 - IPS School & Playground
Open House 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Meet, greet, and drop off school supplies! Pick up your 1st Day School Supplies supply box if you ordered one. See you then!
Back to School Blast 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Please note - The building will remain open during the Back to School Blast, but teachers may or may not be in classrooms beyond 6 p.m.
Monday, August 24 - Students Last Names A-L First Day of School (Grades K-4)
Tuesday, August 25 - Students Last Names M-Z First Day of School (Grades K-4)
Wednesday, August 26 - Grades 1-4 ONLY, ALL students attend together. Kindergarten students have an extended soft opening - see details below:
Kindergarten Soft Opening Schedule:
Monday, August 24 - Kindergarten Group A (Last Names A-L)
Tuesday, August 25 - Kindergarten Group B (Last Names M-Z)
Wednesday, August 26 - Kindergarten Group A (Last Names A-L)
Thursday, August 27 - Kindergarten Group B (Last Names M-Z)
Friday, August 28 - ALL Kindergarten students will attend together.
Wednesday, September 2 - ALL Preschool First Day of School
Independence Middle School
August 13 - Schedules will be released via ProgressBook (If all past and current school fees are paid)
August 19 - 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Locker Load Day 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Pick up your 1st Day School Supplies supply box if you ordered one!
August 20- 5th Grade WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) Orientation 9 a.m. - Noon
August 20 - 5th Grade Locker Load Day Noon - 1 p.m.
Pick up your 1st Day School Supplies supply box if you ordered one!
August 21 - All schedules will be released via ProgressBook
August 24 - First day of school
August 27 - Open House 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Independence High School
August 13 - Schedules will be released via ProgressBook
August 19 - First Day for All CVCC Students
August 24 - First Day for Freshmen Only (Freshmen Festival)
August 25 - First day for students - Grades 10-12
August 26 - Open House (5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.) and Senior Parent Meeting (5 p.m.)
Fall Sports Picture Day
Tuesday, August 11 - IHS Gym
2:00 - IHS Football
2:20 - IHS Varsity Cheer
2:35 - IHS JV Cheer
2:45 - IMS Cheer
2:50 - IMS Girls/Boys Cross Country
3:00 - IHS Girls/Boys Cross Country
3:10 - IHS Tennis
3:15 - IHS Girls/Boys Golf
3:30 - 7th/8th IMS Volleyball
3:40 - IHS Girls/Boys Soccer
4:00 - IMS Football
4:20 - Band
4:40 - IHS JV/Varsity Volleyball
First Day of School Signs
Be sure to print your First Day of School photo signs and share your photos with us!
BUILDING/DISTRICT EMAILS
To ensure you receive emails from your child's grade level and school, we use the primary and secondary email addresses listed in your FinalForms account. If you would like additional family members or caregivers to receive these communications, please contact the school office with their names and email addresses. We will be happy to add them to the distribution list.
Thank you for your cooperation!