Students can arrive at School starting at 8:20am.  All car riders will be dropped off in the car line.  Please do not cut through parking spots.  Please do not get out of the vehicle to let your student out and have them be able to exit from the passenger side.  Students should arrive by 8:40am and the tardy bell rings at 8:45am.

Walkers will enter campus from the front of the building and walk around to the side door near car riders.  Bike riders will drop off their bikes in the bike rack area and walk around to the side door near car riders.  Please do not ride your bike on campus.

Yes.  Champions does before and after school care Monday-Friday.  Please visit the champions page for more information.  Wednesday through Friday we have various after school clubs.  This list changes throughout the year.  Please inquire with your teacher for more information.

School spirit wear is available for purchase from the PTO.  Please check out the PTO Page on our website.  

Dismissal is at 3PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and at 2PM on Wednesdays.  Car riders will be given cartags at the beginning of the year and replacements can be picked up from the office.  Please be sure to tell your child's teacher how your child will go home from school (car rider, walker, after school care, daycare bus).  Send a note or email BEFORE LUNCH the day of anytime there is a change to how your child will go home from school.  If you are not picking up your child, the person that does has to be on the approved list and will be asked to show government issued ID for verification.
Walker pick up area is in front of the school for grade 1-5 and at the front bus loop side door for Kindergarten.    

Parents/Guardians will need to park and pick up students from the designated waiting area.  A government issued ID will be required for pick up.

Park in a parking spot and go to the front office and let them know your child's name, teacher, and reason for leaving.  Office staff will help you check your child out.  Please note:  students cannot be checked out 30 minutes prior to dismissal (2:30PM and 1:30PM on Wednesdays).

At this time lunch with students is not permitted.

At this time bringing food to the classroom is not permitted.

All elementary level grades (K-5) will have recess daily.

No.  If you have any questions regarding your student's IEP or services at Independence Elementary, please contact [email protected]

Yes.  All students who qualify for the gifted program will receive gifted services through their assigned teacher.  

There is a 6ft fence around the playground and field.  In addition, all entry points require and employee ID badge to be scanned for entry.  The front office door is protected by a video doorbell and requires visitors to be electronically permitted into the office and again before accessing the door into the school.

Yes.  We have an Orange County Sheriff's Deputy on campus daily. 

Go to: https://ocps.samaritan.com Scroll down to Quick Links, click ADDitions Volunteers; Opportunity Search: Scroll down to opportunity type – click volunteers and type Independence in the search school box. Click Independence Elementary School. On the right opportunities will come up. Click on Become an ADDitions School Volunteer with Independence Elementary School opportunity then click sign up. If you are a returning OCPS volunteer previously registered in the system, click Login. If you are a new OCPS volunteer, click New Volunteer to register.
Returning Volunteers: You will login with the same username and password you used previously. If you are unsure of the password or username, you can click “forgot password or username” and the system will email you a link.
Once you are registered for the 2021-2022 school year you can return to the opportunity search page to sign up for additional opportunities at Independence Elementary School. Volunteer opportunities will be posted throughout the year so check back often!
Reminder: ADDitions applications must be updated each school year. Please apply/update your application early in the year. 
Volunteer Coordinator: Mrs. Hohman - [email protected]