7/27/23

Dear IVA High Students and Families: 

We hope you are having a wonderful summer. We wanted to reach out to you because we miss you... and to tell you what we have been up to since we last saw you in June. 

At IVA High, our summer vacation is not only a time to relax and rejuvenate, it is also a time for us to reflect on last year in order to best prepare for this school year. On June 21st, all of the teachers and staff met to review student and staff surveys and student test results. We set personal and professional goals for the 2023-2024 school year. 

In a few weeks, we will meet with each teacher, individually and in a group setting, to discuss their student learning goals and project ideas that have been simmering on their minds. We are intentional about incorporating student passions and voice, meeting the academic and emotional needs of our students, and connecting them with our authentic community partners to deepen the learning experiences. Ultimately we are intentional about preparing our students for college, career, and life. Learning at IVA High is challenging, yet engaging and fun. This takes a lot of collaboration and preparation, and we are making it happen better than ever!

We are so excited for this school year. I am confident it will be incredible. Thanks for taking this learning journey with us. Keep reading to see what our students have been up to this summer. They are so incredible!

With gratitude,

Summer Sanders

Head of School

Class of 2023 Graduation

Congratulations to our Class of 2023! Our memorable graduation ceremony highlighted the individuality, culture, and tenacity of our graduating seniors. The ceremony included:

• A beautiful vocal performance of La Vie en Rose by graduate Diego Padilla
• African drumming and dancing performed by graduate Amir Rayne and Dembrebrah West African Drum and Dance Ensemble
• Speeches given by our graduates: Cassidy Villegas (Triton Award), Nancy Gonzalez (Empower Speech), Amir Rayne (Salutatorian Award), and James MacPherson (Valedictorian Award)
• Teachers and staff spoke about each individual graduate to share the accomplishments and impact.

Seven IVA High alumni will be attending California State Universities which include CSU Dominguez Hills and CSU Long Beach. One alumna will be attending UC Santa Cruz. Ten alumni are attending community colleges such as LBCC and Mt. Sac to pursue an associate degree, trade school, or earn credits to transfer to a four year university. We are so proud of our graduated seniors, and we can't wait to hear about their future endeavors and successes! For additional photos of graduation, please visit this link.

Campus Updates

New Student Orientation

We are so excited to welcome our new students and families to the IVA High community! At New Student Orientation, new students will gather together to start establishing connections with each other, engage in team building activities, and get a taste of what learning in classrooms looks like! The students will be welcomed and led by faculty and members of our student leadership team.

New Student Orientation will take place on Monday, August 28th from 9am-12pm. We look forward to having your student on campus! 

First Day of the 2023-2024 School Year

We hope you and your student have been having a good start to the summer break! Our front office will be closed for the month of July and will reopen the first week of August. Hours are 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Our first day of school for the 2023-2024 school year is Tuesday, August 29th! If you have any questions or need to get a hold of our front office, please email info@ivahigh.org or call (562) 283-4456. Our staff will be checking and responding to voicemails and emails. 

Community Involvement

IVA High Student Internships

In collaboration with a EXP Futures and Scholar's Collective, a handful of our current students are participating in internships where they are obtaining knowledge about a variety of fields and gaining transferable skills to use in the future. 

"In short, I move around with different departments and learn the ins and outs of what they do. I also help with the planning and organization of events." - EXP Intern and IVA High Alumna,  Amir R.

EXP Future Interns

At EXP Futures, IVA High alumna Amir is interning at the EXP office where she assists the CEO's executive operations department and the marketing department. In addition, she helps to facilitate staff meetings and gives feedback to the event planning team. IVA High alumnus and CSULB student James is interning at Peacock Piper, a law office in DTLB. Israel, another IVA High alumnus, is participating in an internship at Total Transportation Services in Carson. Lastly, rising senior Elissa is interning at the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority. We can't wait to hear about their experiences and skills they learned throughout their internship placement.

Scholar's Collective Interns

Current IVA High students Amani, Ethan, and Aubrey are interning at Scholar's Collective, a local nonprofit that provides tutoring and after school programs to children in Long Beach. Our students are working with the children enrolled in the summer program while learning additional skills related to their internship focus.

• Amani (art internship) is installing a mural on one the walls at Scholar's Collective site.
• Ethan (tech internship) is maintaining and learning how to update their PC's and 3D printer.
• Lastly, Aubrey (childcare internship) is planning activities with their staff for the summer program kids to participate in. 

We are so proud of all of our IVA High interns, and we are grateful to our community partners who gave them the opportunity to work and learn with them!

Enrollment Update

IVA High is currently enrolling students going into 9th through 12th grade for next school year! Spread the word, invite your friends and family to learn more. If a friend or family member you recommend completes enrollment, you will receive a small gift card! 

There is still time to enroll for the fall! Families can access our application on our website.

Private tours are available! Please email info@ivahigh.org if interested in enrollment or a tour.