Inside this issue:

SIC Nomination 2-3

Summer Math 4-5
End of Year Sch. 5
Prom/Caf News 6
YrBook/End of Year Sch 7
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.
If you have any news you
would like to see in the
Buzz, email Allison Redick
at aredick@lexrich5.org.
May 19 2014, Issue 34
Dates to Remember:
Black Week
Mon May 19
-Rising 8th Grade Football
Interest Mtg 4-6 PM IHS
Tues May 20
-Student Govt 7:45-8:15
Rm 713
Wed May 21
-EOC Exams
Thurs May 22
-Band Awards Ceremony
5-9 PM IMS Cafeteria
Fri May 23
-FCA 7:35-8:05 Rm 603
-EOC Exams
Mon May 26
-Memorial Day
Schools Closed
The Buzz at Irmo Middle School
Creating successful students for the challenges of tomorrow
Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal
rsjackso@lexrich5.org https://twitter.com/IMS_Principal
IMS Loves Our Teachers and Staff
Recently during Teacher Appreciation Week at Irmo
Middle, we decided to show each teacher and staff member
how much we really appreciate all that they do for children
on a daily basis by treating them to the culinary skills of
Principal Robert Jackson and Mr. Floyd Geiger. Following
the last day of standardized testing, we treated each staff
member a lunch filled with all the fixins of a "Famously HOT"
South Carolina spring cookout. Thanks to the help of our
PTSO, we were able to feed the entire staff and show
them how much we appreciate all that they do for our chil-
dren. We wanted to take a moment and share with you
some images from this very special day. In addition, we
wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU to our
School Improvement Council and our PTSO for their continued support of school. They
undoubtedly go to great lengths to make teaching and learning at IMS truly unique.
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2014 Football Interest Meeting. All rising 8th grade boys inter-
ested in playing football next year are asked to meet at the varsity Field House at
W.C. Hawkins Stadium immediately after school, Monday, May 19th. Please wear
shorts, t-shirt, and cleats (if you have them). Practice will be from 4-6PM. Please
have your parents pick you up in the parking lot between St. Andrews Road and
the scoreboard. We are looking forward to seeing all 8th grade students.
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First Ever Dance Recital at IMS a Roaring Success!
Today was absolutely an incredible day as our stu-
dents performed in an exemplary fashion during our
first ever dance recital entitled "Dance From Around
The World." During the recital, students performed
some truly incredible selections amazing our stu-
dents, staff, and visitors. We would like to com-
mend all of our students in our dance program as
well as our instructor (Ms. Ashley Evans) for putting
on a truly amazing show. We are so proud of them.
In case you missed it, our evening performance will
be held on Wednesday May 21st (7:00pm) at the
Harbison Theater. Don't miss it! Please come out
and support our wonderful artists and their instructor (Ms. Evans).
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Library Books. All library books are to be returned to the Media Center on
or before Monday, May 19
th
. Payment for any lost or missing books may be
paid in the Media Center.
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NYC Trip March 24-27, 2015. Parents meeting on 5-27-14 at
6:30 pm in the caf. More information control click
www.explorica.com/Cioffi-253.
School Improvement Council Election for IHS!
We will be filling four seats for next year. The election will be held on May 20 & 21, from 7:30 am
6pm in the Main Office. The 2014-2015 SIC Nominees for HIS are:
Dan Koon- Dan Koon is a 1977 graduate of Irmo High and a 1981 graduate of Newberry College. He
has lived in the Irmo area all of his life and has a vested interest in the schools and community. He has
served as a past president for the Irmo Middle School SIC. Since his current 2 year term on the Irmo
High SIC is ending at the end of this school year, he would like to continue serving on the council for
another 2 year term. Dan is an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, serves on the Board of
Managers for the Newberry College Alumni Association and is the Director of the Division of Technical
Services, Training and Community Relations at the SC Human Affairs Commission. His son is a rising
junior at Irmo High and his daughter is a rising 8th grader at Irmo Middle School where his wife, Jane,
serves as a Media Assistant.
Joy Rambo- My name is Joy Rambo and I would like to serve on the School Improvement Council
for the 2014-2015 school year. My daughter is graduating from IHS this year and my son is in the 10th
grade. Ive been involved with the PTOs at Irmo Elementary, Crossroads Middle, Irmo Middle and
Irmo High School for the last 12 years. Ive served as president, vice president, secretary, and held many
other positions on the PTO boards. I served on the SIC for one year at Irmo Elementary School and for
one year at Crossroads Middle School. I am committed to public education in South Carolina and be-
lieve in the great quality of education my children have received at Irmo High School. Due to my many
years serving as a volunteer and mentor in District 5, I feel I can bring valuable knowledge and insight to
the School Improvement Council. Thank you for your consideration.
Marlene B. Al-Barwani- My family and I have been blessed to work with caring and supportive
District 5 teachers and staff for the last nine years while I served as a classroom volunteer, SIC chair and
PAGE 5 board member. In these roles I have been able to promote enhanced educational opportunities
for a variety of student groups, but I have also learned that all of our students are susceptible to develop-
ing a chronic illness or other condition that may impact their academic or social performance in school.
During these times, the family and school must be able to work together to help the student manage their
condition while continuing to learn and succeed in the school environment. However, this requires sig-
nificant effort from everyone - the student, the family, the teachers, and the school administrators. The
requirement to work together is especially important at the high school level because of the demands our
children face in preparing for college and adult life. It is my desire to help with this process by working
with the SIC to develop strategies that meet the support needs of all of our students and the families and
teachers that assist them every day and during these difficult times. I welcome the opportunity to serve
you and the Irmo High community as a member of the 2014-2015 School Improvement Council. Thank
you in advance for your consideration!
Jan Faber- My husband and I have two children - a daughter going into 11th grade at Irmo High
School, and a son entering 9th grade at Spring Hill. We are thrilled that each of our children had choices
for their high school education that excited them! I have been involved with PTOs and SICs for sev-
eral years now, most recently PTSO President and SIC representative at Irmo Middle School. Ive
also volunteered many hours with the middle and high school bands, and believe that parent involvement
helps both the school and the student achieve greater success. While I do have a Business Marketing
degree, I have spent the last several years volunteering in the Irmo schools, and I look very much for-
ward to serving on the IHS SIC this coming year!
Nominees continued on next page...
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The Buzz at Irmo Middle
Tabitha Keeler- My husband John and I are business owners here in the Columbia area. This coming
Fall both of our sons will be at Irmo High. Our oldest son is a rising 11th grader and our youngest will
be in the 9th grade this fall. I have previously served on the SIC at Nursery Road Elementary and Irmo
Middle School. I have served as chairperson for both councils. I would like the opportunity to serve
again at Irmo High.
Tammy Littles- I, Tammy Littles, am the mother of three sons, Gregory(21 Coastal Carolina Uni-
versity), Geremy(18-Midlands Technical College), Eric(13- rising 9
th
grader), and a new parent to our
Boxer mix of 14 weeks old Spruce. I am the Practice Manager of three physician practices at Lexington
Medical Center. I have been a part of the Mom Squad at Irmo High School for six years supporting my
sons in their athletic activity, while serving as President, Vice-President of Youth Ministry and Drama
Ministry of our Church. My son Eric has involved himself in Student Government and the improvement
of his school for the student body and I find it a responsibility that I involve myself as a parent of the
School Improvement Council to be a voice and an ear of concerned matters. So please elect me, Tammy
Littles, as a parent of your 2014-2015 School Improvement Council.
Kara Madsen- Kara has lived in Columbia for over fifteen years. She and her husband Paul have four
children (a junior at DFHS Stem program, sophomore at Irmo who plays soccer, a 7
th
grader at IMS, and
a 5
th
grader at Nursery Road. Kara has served as PTA president at Nursery Road. She has served on a
district textbook adoption committee, and attends monthly District Advisory Committee meetings. Kara
is a personal trainer and owner of a small personal training studio in Irmo.
Maya Malhotra- Maya M. Malhotra grew up in Mumbai, India and immigrated to the USA in 1986.
She has a Masters in Accounting from the University of Mumbai, and received a Masters of Arts in
Teaching in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina in 2013. She has been a Sub-
stitute Teacher in School District 5 of Lexington Richland Counties, and worked as a Math and Lan-
guage Arts Tutor in Nursery Road Elementary School in 2013-14. She has two children, Vivek and
Pooja, who are in the Honors College of University of South Carolina. Her youngest daughter, Neha, is a
rising senior at Irmo High School. Her husband, Manoj, is a Professor at the Moore School of Business
in the University of South Carolina. Maya has been active in volunteering in the various PTA functions
of Irmo High School, Irmo Middle School, Crossroads Middle School and Nursery Road Elementary
School. She has served as a Mentor at Nursery Road Elementary and enjoys working with students.
Please contact Marilyn Johnson at 476-3011 if you have any questions.
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2014 SC State Grappling Champion, (in two divisions)!
Neal Rice, IMS 7th grader competed in his first tournament the 2014
SC Grappling Championships on Saturday, May 3rd at the Tri-City
Leisure Center in West Columbia with over 25 mixed martials arts
schools competing. He competed in two divisions GI (jacket) and NO
GI and won 1st place in both divisions!!!
Neals team also won 1st place overall.
Congratulations Neal. Another fine IMS community representation!!!
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The Buzz at Irmo Middle
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The Buzz at Irmo Middle
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The Buzz at Irmo Middle
IMS 2014 Prom
THE TIME HAS ARRIVED!
8
TH
GRADE SOCIAL!!
8
th
Grade Social is for IMS students ONLY. The theme is
Masquerade Under the Stars.
Date: Friday, May 30
,
2014 - from 7pm to 10:00pm.
Location: IMS Cafeteria
Cost: $10.00 per person (No Refunds).
Included: Hors deouvres, dessert & drink will be served with a jamming D.J.
Attire: Dress your best, NO BLUE JEANS! Dresses can be strapless or spaghetti strap, but
MUST BE FINGERTIP LENGTH.
Tickets: Will be sold during 8
th
Grade lunches, starting April, 28th

May 26th, (every Monday

& Friday).
Permission forms: Must be turned in and any outstanding debts, (Ids, library books, cafeteria), must
be paid before you can purchase a ticket!
Entry: You will not be able to enter the 8
th
Grade Social without a ticket and school ID.
Dont forget to purchase your tickets!! SEE YOU AT THE SOCIAL!!
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Important Message from Student Nutrition Services
Issue: Negative Cafeteria Account Balances
Beginning May 1, 2014, students with negative bal-
ances will not be allowed to charge a regular lunch for
the remainder of the 2013-14 school year. Students
will still be able to get a sandwich with milk if they do
not have enough money in their accounts for a regular
lunch. The student lunch account will still be charged
$2.00.
Payments: Personal checks will still be taken through the end of the school year. We are ask-
ing that all parents will negative accounts bring them current before May 1st. We will be send-
ing home account slips with students on Friday April 25th. If you don't receive yours or need
another copy, please contact our cafeteria office at 476-3608.
Interventions: After May 1st, a list of students who still owe money will be sent to the principal
and the district office each week. Report cards will be held after June 6th for those students
who have negative accounts that have not been paid in full. Additionally, in order to purchase
tickets to the 8th grade social, all cafeteria accounts must be paid in full.
If you have any questions that need answering, please contact Mrs. Keela Davis, Assistant
Manager at 803-476-3608.
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The Buzz at Irmo Middle
Time to Purchase an Irmo Middle School Yearbook
This has been a wonderful year of memory making for your chil-
dren. Help preserve these memories through the purchase of the
2013-14 IMS yearbook. A very limited number has been ordered,
and it is filled with individual pictures, as well as pictures for events, sports, performing arts, clubs and
other fun and academic activities. We've worked extremely hard to keep the book affordable for all
students and families. This year, the cost is only 45.00 and they are going fast. So buy your copy now.
Make checks payable to Irmo Middle School. If you need any additional information, please contact
Deborah Ware or Erin Fuseler.
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Revised End-of-Year Schedule
At Monday night's School Board Meeting, the trustees approved our dis-
trict plan for inclement weather make-up days.
We had a total of four inclement weather days (January 29 and February
12 -14). We already made-up one day (February 17). The bill passed by
the SC legislature and signed by the Governor requires that all sched-
uled make-up days be used before any days can be forgiven. June 6th is the only remaining make-up
day. Therefore, June 6, 2014 is now a school day in Lex5. The remaining two inclement weather days
were forgiven and will not be made-up.
Extending the school year by one day, requires that the half day schedule shift one day as well. June
3rd will now be a full school day. June 4th, 5th, and 6th will are the half days.
The exam schedule for the last week of school is as follows:
May 29
th
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ELA (1), Science
May 30
th
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ELA (2), Science
June 2
nd
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Math, Social Studies
June 3
rd
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Math, Social Studies
June 4
th
. . . . . .Half-Day for Students . . . Exploratory Classes (Special Schedule)
June 5
th
. . . . . .Half-Day for Students . . . Make-up Exams (Special Schedule)
June 6
th
. . . . . .Half-Day for Students . . . Make-up Exams (Special Schedule)
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The Buzz at Irmo Middle