Independence Middle School

¡Olé! 👗👔🕶️ Our Spanish classes recently brought language learning to life with a fun and creative fashion show! Students showcased clothing, styles, and accessories while practicing their Spanish speaking skills and vocabulary in an engaging, hands-on way. From confidently describing outfits to modeling their creativity, students had a blast learning through real-world experiences.

Passport stamped: IMS bound ✈️🧳💙💛

Today our 4th graders officially began their journey to middle school with a special travel-themed visit to IMS, led by their very own student tour guides! Students explored the building, experienced what middle school lunch is like, participated in team-building activities, and cooled off with some delicious Kona Ice along the way. 🍧

From new classrooms to new friendships, today was all about helping our future 5th graders feel excited, confident, and ready for the adventure ahead. We cannot wait to welcome this amazing group to IMS next year

Tomorrow- 5/21

Good luck to Brooklyn Porowski and Piper Breslaw at the state Power of the Pen tournament! The writers and their parents travelled to Ashland University for the competition. The writers are competing against 250 writers from across the state!
Good luck, IMS Blue Devils!

Our Level Up PBIS winners earned a special treat today -Starbucks delivered right to IMS! Thanks to DoorDash and a personal delivery from Principal Mueller, these Blue Devils were celebrated for showing positive behavior, leadership, and what it means to level up each day. We are proud of you — keep up the great work! 💙💛

Eighth graders at IMS made awesome food to film time lapse videos in family and consumer science today!

Career kits from the Career Center brought true hands-on engagement to IMS today! Our 5th graders explored more than 10 careers, from firefighting to vet tech to engineering, and had so much fun learning about future possibilities. A huge thank you to Mrs. Barbiaux for helping make this experience possible for our students!

On Monday, we welcomed our future IMS students for 4th Grade Music Day! 🎶 A huge thank you to Mr. Greene, Mrs. Obrovac, and our amazing high school musicians for giving our 4th graders a glimpse of all they have to look forward to in middle school music. From band to choir and everything in between, it was awesome to see the excitement and energy throughout the day. We can’t wait to see these future Blue Devils continue their musical journey at IMS!

What an incredible evening at our Spring Choral Concert! From the Treble Makers opening the night to our combined 7th/8th grade choir performance, our students truly shined on stage. Their talent, confidence, and hard work were on full display, and we could not be more proud of them. A very special thank you to Mrs. Obrovac for her dedication, passion, and all of the time and effort she pours into our choir program each and every day. Thank you for creating such a memorable night for our students and families! 🎶👏

This week, in 8th Grade Science, students took time to review the proper vocabulary and steps to complete an experiment. They were able to come up with their own question & hypothesis to test…& had some fun trying to blow the biggest bubble!

Huge thank you to our amazing PTO for treating our staff to the BEST dirty soda bar today! 🥤✨ From the fun flavors to the little details, it was such a thoughtful way to make our staff feel appreciated and celebrated. We are so grateful for all you do for IMS and the joy you bring to our building. Thank you for always spoiling us! 💙

Thank you again to our amazing PTO for always making our staff feel so appreciated and celebrated! A thoughtful surprise gift followed by some hilarious piñata fun made our Wednesday even better. We are so grateful for all you do to support and spoil our IMS staff! 💙

A huge THANK YOU to our incredible PTO for providing such an amazing lunch for our staff today. We truly appreciate all the time, effort, and care you put into making us feel valued. It did not go unnoticed—and it was delicious! We are so grateful for your continued support of our IMS family!

Teacher Appreciation Week is off to a muy delicioso start! We kicked things off this morning with breakfast, and it was the perfect way to celebrate the incredible staff who make IMS such a special place every single day. We are so thankful for our amazing team—their dedication, energy, and heart do not go unnoticed. This week is all about YOU, and we can’t wait for all the fun ahead

For those residents who were unable to attend yesterday's tours, we want to share a look inside Independence Middle School and highlight key areas of concern discussed during the visit:

Stop #1: Main Entrance & Security

Our current entrance does not include a secured vestibule, limiting our ability to properly screen and monitor visitors before they enter the building.

Stop #2: Cracks in Floors & Walls

Cracking throughout parts of the building, including areas built just 20 years ago, reflects the facility’s aging condition and may point to underlying structural concerns.

Stop #3: Windows & Classroom Spaces

Original single-pane windows from 1961 are still in use. They are inefficient, difficult to repair, and make it challenging to maintain consistent indoor temperatures.

Stop #4: Courtyard Pipe Issue

A cracked sanitary pipe beneath the courtyard and building requires ongoing maintenance every 5–6 months. Repairs would be costly and highly disruptive.

Stop #5: Home Economics Room

This classroom is outdated, with aging equipment and limited resources, reflecting the need for modern, functional learning spaces.
Stop #6: Gym Roof & Water Leaks
Active leaks in the gym have caused visible damage and raise concerns about long-term structural integrity and interior conditions.

Stop #7: Air Handling Units

Aging HVAC systems struggle to properly circulate air and bring in fresh air, impacting efficiency and overall indoor air quality.

These stops highlight ongoing challenges within the IMS facility. We are committed to keeping our community informed as we continue planning for the future of our schools.

More details: https://aptg.co/nxL_MQ

Enrollment in Independence Local Schools has fluctuated over time. In the 1980s and early 1990s, total enrollment was at its lowest point, reaching 671 students. Enrollment increased through the late 1990s and 2000s, peaking at over 1,100 students. In recent years, enrollment has remained around 1,000 students.

Stop by our Primary and Middle School from 2–4 PM today!

We welcomed a special visitor who attended fourth grade here during the building’s very first year in 1956. He returned to walk the halls and relive cherished memories.

As you walk through today, you’ll see spaces that have served generations of students over many decades. This is an opportunity to reflect on our district’s history and observe the current condition of our facilities.

Join us TOMORROW, Sunday, May 3 from 2-4 at IPS and IMS for building tours. Bring your neighbors...bring your questions!

Happy National Principals Day to Mrs. Haley Mueller! Mrs. Mueller’s leadership, positivity, and dedication make a lasting impact on our middle school students and staff. She works tirelessly to create a supportive environment where students can grow, connect, and succeed.

Thank you, Mrs. Mueller, for everything you do for IMS. We are grateful for you! 💙💛