April 25, 2016

The Buzz at Irmo Middle School

Irmo Middle School

6051 Wescott Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3600
www.lexrich5.org/ims
School Hours:
8:20 a.m.3:35 p.m.

Creating successful students for the challenges of tomorrow

rsjackso@lexrich5.org

Inside this issue:

PULSERA
2-3
Health Careers Academy
3
8th Grade Social
4
Summer School Info
4
D5 Dance Marathon
5
Teen Space Party
6
Teen Advisory Board
7
Standardize Testing
8
SC Pass Essentials
9-12
SC Youth Diabetes
13

EQUIP
Annual Report

14
15-21

Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal

https://twitter.com/IMS_Principal

CREW Relay for Life Results

Overall Challenge Point winners:
6th: Farrell's Ambassadors
7th: Jensen's Team Fusion
8th: Lee's Diversity United

Fight Song winners:

6th: Herring's The Swarm
7th: V. William's Bristles
8th: Green's The G Crew

Silver Saves Lives Challenge winners:

6th: Moore's Academic Seeds of Learning,
7th: Cisco's Allies
8th: Hardy's Pancake

3rd Qtr Boxtop winners:

6th: Farrell - Ambassadors
7th: Jensen - Team Fusion
8th: Tie
Fuseler's Legos &
Cooley's Ooley-Cay's
Ohana

Door Decorating winners:

6th: Farrell's Ambassadors
7th: Blackburn's DNA
8th: Gordon's G-Force
Dates to Remember:

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Tues 4/26
G40 Mtg. 7:45-8:10
Media Center
SCREADY TestELA Day 1
Wed 4/27
SCREADY TestELA Day 2
Thurs 4/27
SCREADY testMath
Fri 4/28
FCA Mtg. 7:40-8:10
AM Room 904
IGrow Garden Party
and Book Launch
SCREADY Make Up
testing begins
Orchestra trip
Bands of Irmo

Parents, if your child has "as needed" medicine(s) in the Health Room,
you may begin picking it up between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00
p.m. Please be reminded that we can not send medications home with
your student: a parent or guardian MUST pick it up. Any medications
NOT picked up by the last day of school will be discarded. If you have
any questions please call Nurse Jackson at 476-3609 or 476-3730.

Nurses Note:

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Dear Parents,
In 2014, the SC General Assembly passed legislation requiring the SC
Education Oversight Committee (EOC) to recommend a model education accountability system that meets both federal and state requirements.
The committee and staff are asking for your help in distributing the following survey to parents
in your districts. The online survey should only take a few minutes, and it will provide valuable
feedback to the EOC as well as the SC General Assembly. The survey will close on April 28.
Link to the Survey: http://survey-na.researchnow.com/wix/p1197448052.aspx?src=98&group=4
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Book Launch
&

Garden Party
If you have news for the
Buzz, email Allison Redick
at aredick@lexrich5.org.

4/29/16, 6 8:00pm
Interested volunteers contact:
Elizabeth Crocker ecrocker@lexrich5.org or Annette Farrell afarrell@lexrich5.org

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The World Language students and teachers at Irmo Middle School are planning a spectacular school-wide project to align with our International Academic Magnet and Expeditionary Learning design principle of Service and Compassion. It is called the Pulsera Project
and many of you may be familiar with the project from last year. If not, we are sure you
are asking, what exactly is the Pulsera Project?
The Pulsera Project began in 2009 when 13 college friends were searching for adventure
during their winter break. They had been to Costa Rica (just north of Nicaragua) in previous years, but suspected that Nicaragua, the second poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere could be a window to another world; one of profound natural beauty, famously friendly people, and deep economic poverty.
Everyone in the crew wanted to surf, hike and explore the country, but also wanted to help in any way they
could while experiencing the rich human culture normally hidden from tourists.
The Nicaraguan adventure soon became more than the friends had ever imagined when they discovered a shelter for former street kids on a farm in the foothills of Managua, the capital city. They visited the farm many
times and were always welcomed like long-lost friends. When the time came to return to the states, the young
Nicaraguan people gave them pulseras (beautiful, colorful woven bracelets) as going away presents, and this inspired the founding of the Pulsera Project.
When the group returned home, they brought with them lots of pulseras and the inspiring story of the shelter
youths and their art. It wasn't long before the friends began selling the pulseras at their school and began this
amazing adventure! We want to do something big at Irmo Middle that not only shapes our school, but helps to
make the world a better place to live. So...check this out!
May 2nd-6th - Pulsera bracelets from Nicaragua are sold during all lunches in the cafeteria by our World Language students. They will be assisted by parent volunteers, and IMS faculty and staff.
ALL money goes directly back to this non-profit organization. Please help us change the world, one pulsera at a
time!!
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Health Careers Academy for Rising 9th Graders. Mid Carolina is now recruiting for the 2016-2017 Health Careers
Academy. The application deadline is May 30, 2016. The Health Careers Academy will be held at Midlands Technical
College Airport Campus one Tuesday night a month from 5:30pm-8:30pm.
The SC AHEC Health Careers Program works to increase the number of students entering the health professions in SC The
Health Careers Program (HCP) is designed to develop academically proficient and self-confident future
health care professionals.
The South Carolina AHEC Health Careers Academy is a health career exploration experience. Activities
demonstrating the use of communications, math and science make up the curriculum specifically designed
for future health professions students of SC. Academy Fellows are selected to participate in four years of
programming in sessions filled with activities that promote academic success, career development and
personal growth. One-on-one mentoring and parental involvement are major components of the Academy. Completion of
the South Carolina AHEC Health Careers Academy prepares participants for the academic challenge of pre-health training
programs. For an application or more information, contact

Allison Redick, Career Specialist

aredick@lexrich5.org or (803)476-3668

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8TH GRADE SOCIAL

Friday, May 13
7 - 10:00pm, IMS Cafeteria
IMS students ONLY. $10.00 per person (No Refunds).
Theme is Masquerade Under the Stars
Hors devours, dessert and drinks will be served along with a jamming D.J.

The attire is dress your best, NO BLUE JEANS! Dresses can be strapless or spaghetti strap, but MUST BE FINGERTIP LENGTH.

Tickets will be sold during 8th Grade Lunches, starting May 2 May13th
Permission forms must be turned in and any outstanding Id debts must be paid before a student can purchase a ticket.
th
Students will not be able to enter the 8 Grade Social without a ticket and school ID.
Dont forget to purchase your tickets!!
Contact Windy Jones @ 803-476-3658 - any questions or interested in being a chaperone.

SEE YOU AT THE SOCIAL!!

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2015-16 Summer School Information

The following dates have been approved for students who will be attending Summer
School 2016 at Irmo Middle School. We are sharing this information early with students, parents, and families so everyone can plan for their summer vacations. We are
very confident that our interactions and interventions throughout the year will minimize and/or eliminate the need for summer school for most (if not all of our students).
If you need any information about summer school, please contact Mr. Glenn Hutto,
Assistant Principal for Instruction at (803)476-3663.
The Middle School Summer School Program is designed for current 6th, 7th and 8th grade students who attend
or are zoned for Irmo Middle School and have not mastered the course standards in English, Social Studies,
Math, or Science. This program is streamlined to concentrate on academic mastery.
A. Who attends summer school?
1. Rising 7th and 8th grade students who have failed either one or two academic subjects.
2. Those students who have failed three or more classes are ineligible to attend summer school and may be retained in their current grade.
3. Out of district students cannot enroll in this program.
B. Where will summer school be held? At Irmo Middle School for rising 7th, 8th and 9th graders.
C. What are the dates for summer school? Current 6th, 7th and 8th graders will take courses offered only on
the following dates:
Week 1:

June 13, 14, 15, 16

Monday-Thursday

Week 2:

June 20, 21, 22, 23

Monday-Thursday

Week 3:

June 27, 28

Monday-Tuesday

D. What times will students attend?

Students will attend from 8:30am 1:30pm. There will be no afternoon sessions.
E. How will my student get to summer school? Parents are responsible for transportation arrangements (to and
from summer school).
F. How do I register my child for summer school? Registration packets will be available in the spring on our
website and in the main office at the school.

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Spring standardized testing season is upon us. Irmo Middle School will administer SC
READY, SCPASS and EOCEP assessments to all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders on the following dates:
Tuesday, April 26th- ELA Session 1
Wednesday, April 27th- ELA Session 2
Thursday, April 28th- Mathematics
Wednesday, May 11th- Science
Thursday, May 12th - Social Studies
Monday, May 16th - EOC, English 1 Honors Only
Tuesday, May 17th - EOC English 1 Honors Only
Wednesday, May 18th - EOC Algebra 1 Honors Only
Thursday, May 19th - EOC Algebra 1 Honors Only
Parents and/or guardians, there are several steps you can take to help maximize your childs performance on
these exams:
1. Make sure your student is present for each day of testing. Schedule all appointments outside the testing window. If it is absolutely necessary, schedule afternoon appointments as we will test each morning.
2. Take away their mobile devices, gaming systems and/or TV to eliminate distractions. Students need 8 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night to perform at optimum level.
3. Each morning, make sure your student eats a healthy breakfast.
4. Ensure your student reports to school early (8:00am).
5. Make sure that all 6th graders bring their Chromebooks to school fully charged on testing dates, as their assessments will be administered online.
6. Talk with your child about all three exams (SCREADY, SCPASS, and EOC) to help reduce test anxiety, encourage your child to focus and put forth their best effort when encountering difficult questions on the
test and remember to praise your child when he or she performs well on assessments such as the EOC, which
provides instant feedback.
Students, here are a few steps you can take to enhance your performance during testing:
1. Arrive early on test day.
2. Be comfortable but alert.
3. Stay relaxed and confident. When nerves take over, remember to take several slow, deep breaths and relax.
4. Try to answer questions in a strategic order; that is, answer the easy questions first to build confidence and
tackle the difficult questions last.
5. Leave mobile devices at home or shut them off completely once you enter the campus.
6. A final step for students is to review their tests after completion, making sure they did not forget to answer
any questions, miss-mark any answers, or made any other type of careless mistake.
These few simple steps could help Irmo Middle School students earn exemplary results. For more information
about testing you may contact Sheila Inabinet (Guidance Director, 476-3670) or Glenn Hutto (Assistant Principal
for Instruction, 476-3612). Additionally, you can visit the South Carolina Department of Education website for
additional information.

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South Carolina Youth Diabetes Association (SCYDA) is pleased to announce that camp applications are now available online at: www.campsweetescape.com. We offer two summer
camping opportunities in 2016: 1) CSE-Midlands in Batesburg from June 4 - 8 and 2) CSEUpstate in Marietta, SC from July 16 - 20. Camp Sweet Escape promotes healthy diabetic
habits, independence, and a support network, all of which can make all of our jobs more rewarding. Whats better than watching a child grow and mature in a healthy, self-sufficient
way? We encourage everyone who is interested to apply early while space is still available!
At SCYDA, we feel that children with diabetes need ongoing support for the best outcomes and dont think this
should stop after Camp is over. Therefore, we are also busy with several other advocacy projects, including
our goal of providing a Diabetes Emergency Supply Kit (D.E.S.K) to all South Carolina public schools, maintaining
the current opportunity for free continuing education credits for schools nurses (co-sponsored by SC AHEC),
and supporting diabetes education for foster parents and SC Department of Social Services caseworkers.
As a previous public school nurse in the Lancaster County School District, I know first-hand how crazy busy
your job is. Although I apologize for requesting you add something else to it, I feel you understand how vital it is
to help students with diabetes learn to better care for themselves.
I think we have a mutual goal: we want all children to grow into healthy, responsible adults that can help make
the world a better place. To accomplish our goals we really need your help. Specifically, we need your help promoting Camp Sweet Escape to students & families and your help developing new sources of funding to support
these projects. Lets work together to make this happen.
Take the lead. Please consider Dress Down for Diabetes Day in April 2016. Funds raised at your school can
be earmarked to ensure children with diabetes from your school are able to attend Camp Sweet Escape. Its
simple:
Ask your school administrator to consider a faculty (or student) Dress Down for Diabetes Day. This could be
a jean day or t-shirt day, etc.
Pick a day in April 2016 for your Dress Down for Diabetes Day.
Charge $5.00 for each faculty participant (or $1.00 per student participant). (We had an awesome bookkeeper
at the school I worked in; she would always volunteer to collect the money for this. I didnt really have to do a
thing except talk it up.)
Send the money to SCYDA with the name of any children in your school with diabetes that you would like to
financially support.
If you dont have any children with diabetes at your school, please know there are many other financially challenged children with diabetes in the state that could benefit from your efforts. Again, I know you are very busy,
but I ask that you please take the time to help these students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to
attend camp.
Thank you for all that you do for these children and families. You DO make a difference!
Warmest regards,
Traci P. Scott, RN, CDE
Cell (803) 804-4978

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