Inside this issue:

New Teacher Spotlight 2

Career Corner 3-4
8th Gr. NYC Trip 5
Fall Sports 6
Walk to School Day 7-9
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 news for the
Buzz, email Allison Redick
at aredick@lexrich5.org.
Sep 15, 2014
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
Box Tops: Turn in Box Tops to your Home Room for
quarterly rewards.
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Chromebooks are coming: In order to ensure that your
student receives their device the week of Sep 22-26, you must have
submitted the Mobile Device Agreement and purchased the insurance
plan (or made payment arrangements) by Sep 17. If forms or pay-
ment for the insurance plan is received after this date, your student
will receive their device during one of the make-up distribution sessions the following week.
Parent Chromebook Orientations: We encourage all parents to attend one of
the orientation sessions scheduled for Sep 16 at 6:30 pm and Sep 25 at 5:30 and 6
pm in the cafeteria. . During these sessions, parents and students will have the opportunity
to learn more about the District's technology plan, the Chromebook device, and student
expectations and responsibilities. Questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Young or
Mrs. Major-Murphy.
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Pre-season conditioning:
Wrestling (Middle & High School Winter Sport): Interested wrestlers, please attend
pre-season conditioning 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., M-TH, Sep.15 - Oct. 15. Contact: Coach Tom
Rinehart trinehar@lexrich5.org.
C-Team Girls Basketball: All 7th & 8th grade girls interested in playing, pre-
season conditioning will start Mon, Sep 15th in the IMS gym from 4:00-5:30. Con-
tact: Coach Caitlin Vaughn caitlindvaughn@gmail.com.
B-Team, JV & Varsity conditioning & practice STARTED Mon, Sept 8 & run
through Thu, Oct 17 from 4:15-6:00 every M-Th. Contact: Coach Monica Williams
mwilliam@lexrich5.org.
Softball: Pre-season conditioning STARTED Sept 8 at 4:15 at the IHS softball field.
Contact: Coach Caitlin Vaughn caitlindvaughn@gmail.com.
Baseball - Workouts for interested Varsity, JV or B-Team players (who are not
playing a Fall sport) STARTED Mon Sep 8th from 4:15-6:00 at IHS field and held
every Mon & Wed in Sep & Oct. for players . If you are playing another sport & plan
on trying out in February please email Coach Canady: RCanady@lexrich5.org.
Pre-season conditioning:
C-Team Boys Basketball (7th, 8thWinter Sport): Tryouts will begin Mon Nov.
3 Contact: Coach Barry Lee blee@lexrich5.org.
Boys Lacrosse - (Spring Sport7th & 8th graders are eligible to play JV. ) Interested
athletes, please contact Coach David Bates coachdavidbates@gmail.com.
Dates to Remember:
Black Week
Mon 9/15
Football Parents Jerseys
Girls Basketball
Softball
Baseball
Tues 9/16
St. Govt Mtg 7:45 am
Rm 812
Parent Chromebook Mtg
6:30 Caf
C Team Volleyball @
Meadow Glen 5:30
Wed 9/17
C Team Football @
White Knoll MS 5:30
Thurs 9/18
C Team Volleyball vs.
White Knoll 5:30
Fri 9/19
FCA Mtg 7:30 am
Rm 823
8th Grade PSAT form
and money due on 9/19
Cost: $14.00
Test Date: Oct. 15
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New Teacher SpotlightMath
Miss Goeckner recently graduated from Lander University in December 2013. Miss
Goeckner earned her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and Mathematics; she
then completed her middle school certification from USC Graduate School. She com-
pleted a long term substitute position within District 5 following her graduation. In addi-
tion to teaching seventh grade Pre-Algebra and Algebra Honors at IMS, Miss Goeckner
will be one of the co-sponsors of the Beta Club. She is excited to be part of the Irmo
team this year!
Ms. Odomis a current graduate from the University of South Carolina right here in
Columbia, where she received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Middle Level Educa-
tion; she also attended Coastal Carolina University. Ms. Odom is a yellow jacket
through and through! She attended Pine Ridge Middle School and is a graduate of Irmo
High School, where she was in the teacher cadet program. She is also a volleyball coach
and has been involved in the sport since middle school. She has coached for Busbee
Creative Arts Academy for two years and has been an assistant volleyball coach with
Lake Murray Club Volleyball since 2012. She is involved in the PBIS program here at
Irmo Middle School and is really excited about teaching 7
th
pre-algebra and Math 7.
Kerra Fowler is a Native of Brooklyn, N.Y. Kerra graduated from South Carolina
State University with a Bachelor in Computer Science and a Minor in Math where she
also became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She continued her education
at Webster University and received a Dual Masters in Computer Resources Information
Management & Business. Kerra decided to follow her true passion of teaching after
working as a database administrator. Mrs. Fowler not only enjoys teaching children but
also takes pleasure in teaching adults as an adjunct and online professor. Recently re-
turning from China this summer, Kerra had the opportunity to teach adults English, walk
the Great Wall, and learn more about the Chinese culture. Kerra enjoys spending time
with her family and being involved in Toastmasters. She aspires to travel the world,
create long lasting relationships, and maintain good health.
Ms. Leeper teaches Math 7 and Pre-Algebra 7. Born and raised in Columbia, South
Carolina, Ms. Leeper earned her Bachelor's degree in elementary education from
Columbia College in 2014. Wanting to focus on math and work with children in the
middle years, she added on the certification for middle level math while completing her
bachelor's degree. In addition to teaching seventh grade math at IMS, Ms. Leeper will
also be the sponsor of the Math Counts team. She is very excited about being on the
Irmo Middle team this year!
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Welcome to the IMS Career Corner!
Allison Redick, Career Specialist
Welcome to the Irmo Middle School Career Corner! My name is Allison Redick, the Career Specialist
at Irmo Middle School. In my role as Career Specialist, I will be assisting all IMS students in career
awareness and exploration.
Who am I? Where am I Going? How do I get There? We hope with parents, teachers and
counselors, we will help students begin to explore these questions and start setting goals and looking at
their future career options. By starting this process early, students will be able to discover their inter-
ests and hopefully be lucky enough to find careers they will enjoy! Your career is all the education,
training, and jobs you have during your entire life. As a middle school student, they will need to plan for
high school and their career after high school. We want students to know it is okay to change theirs
minds as they learn more about themselves, school, and work. In fact, surveys says, that their generation
might have 8-15 careers in their lifetime. While at IMS, students will have many opportunities to start
exploring through self assessments, speakers, field trips, Career Day, Job Shadowing, activi-
ties and lessons during the year.
8
th
Graders to Tour the D5 Career for Advanced Technical Studies
During the month of October, all 8
th
graders are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to
visit the Career for Advanced Technical Studies in our District. The Center offers 16 programs of study.
Students will be led through the Center by CATE student ambassadors to see the many exciting pro-
grams being offered at the high school level at the Center. Your 8
th
grade student was given a letter
about the field trip and permission form last week by his/her Homeroom teacher. Please return the
signed permission form by Oct. 3
rd
. This experience is free for all students. Below are the assigned
dates for each team:
Monday, October 20: Team Island Navigators (8A)
Tuesday, October 21: Team Continental Drifters (8B)
Thursday, October 23: Team Antarctica (8C)
Friday, October 24: Team Africa (8D)
Career Day at IMS
November is National Career Month. The month is designed to highlight the importance of lifelong
career development and the personal empowerment of all people. It also gives us another opportunity
to show students how what they learn in school is related to the skills they will need in the workplace.
On Wednesday, November 12
th
from 8:30-11:30 AM, IMS will be hosting Career Day. All stu-
dents will have the opportunity to listen to multiple speakers from various career areas. Parents, if you
are willing to share you career experiences with our students on Career Day, we would appreciate your
participation in this program. Please contact Allison Redick at 476-3668 or email at
aredick@lexrich5.org.
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IMS Career Corner contd
Allison Redick, Career Specialist
Tips for Parents helping your child to choose a Career path:
1) Start young. Develop career awareness by discussing career opportunities when reading books
and newspapers, watching television and observing worksites.
2) Support you childs efforts to assess his or her own interests, aptitudes, values and work styles.
3) Share your job experiences. A child delights in hearing about his or her parents jobs.
4) Encourage participation in job shadowing and internship opportunities.
5) Help your child understand the value and importance of his or her academic courses for success in a
future career.
6) Advise your child that there is more than one education pathway to a good job. More than 50%
of the fastest growing jobs require an associates degree. There are a variety of routes to success: on
the job training, technical college, four year college, apprenticeships or the military.
Job Shadowing starts October 24, 2014 thru April 24, 2015.
Job Shadowing is a great time for your student to explore the world of work.
Job Shadowing gives students an opportunity to see that the skills they learn in school are related to the
skills they will need in the workplace. Job Shadowing is considered a short-term experience to intro-
duce a student to a particular job by a one-on-one pairing of a student with an employee in a work envi-
ronment. The student shadows the worker up to one day to better understand the requirements of a
particular career. All students are encouraged to participate in this activity.
Important Information about Job Shadowing:
Students and their parents/guardians will make arrangements for the student to shadow a parent/
guardian, friend, relative or another person in a career of interest at the work site to include Transpor-
tation. This Job Shadowing opportunity is offered in lieu of Take-Your-Daughter/Son To-Work Day and
Groundhog Shadowing Day. Students are only eligible to have ONE day per school year for this activity.
Job Shadowing can be completed in a couple of hours, an entire day, weekends and/or holidays. Stu-
dents provide their own lunch during shadowing, if applicable Students should demonstrate punctuality,
honesty, good grooming habits, appropriate dress and willingness to learn. Students serve as an ob-
server, not a worker. Students are not permitted to shadow teachers at Irmo Middle School or Cross-
roads Middle School. Any school work missed as a result of being absent for shadowing is the responsi-
bility of the student.
If interested, or if you need assistance for a particular career to job shadow, please have your student
contact Allison Redick, Career Specialist, 476-3668 or aredick@lexrich5.org. to pick up a packet or go
to our IMS Website under the Guidance Department/Career Specialist to print a packet.
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Irmo Fall Sports Info
www.IrmoAthletics.org
Sports online interviews and videos: www.MidlandsHSSports.com.
All teams schedules: www.IrmoAthletics.org, Athletic Office 803-476-3006.
Fall Varsity Sport Athletes Sweat Orders (Varsity only): IYJC Sweat order deadline to return to your
coach is Fri, September 19. Please thank our IYJC for offering our Varsity Athletes great sweats for a
great price! These signature sweats are fantastic!
All-Sport Passes are available for students K-12 for only $50 ($695 value). These passes provides stu-
dent admission to all athletic home events for all sports contentsfall, winter and spring excluding the.
South Carolina High School League playoffs. Passes can be purchased in the Athletic Office/Field
House. 803-476-3006.
Yellow Jacket / Booster Club membership packets are available for adults and families. Memberships
not only support our Athletic program but also provides savings for our fans. Applications may be ob-
tained online www.IrmoAthletics.org (files and links folder). Applications may be mailed to the IYJC,
address provided on form or delivered to the Athletic Office/Field House 803-476-3006.
Pre-ordered packets not yet picked up will be disbursed when you enter the parking lot (corner
Emory Lane/St Andrews Rd) in the front of Irmo High School at the Irmo vs Ridge View game (Sept
12). A Yellow Jacket Club Member will greet you with your packet and provide convenient park-
ing. Thank you for supporting our Yellow Jackets!
Athletic Physical forms, Concussion forms and IYJC Membership applications are available online:
www.IrmoAthletics.org under the files and links.
The Sting Store (spirit apparel and memorabilia) is under new management and being offered through
our Athletic Booster Club (IYJC). Be sure to shop at the Varsity Football Games for GREAT closeout
prices while they last to show your spirit and love of IRMO YELLOW JACKETS. New merchandise
will be arriving soon!
Typical Game Info: 7:30 p.m. kickoffs, General Admission $6, Reserved Section $8.
Reserved Parking Lot: Corner of St. Andrews Rd & Emory Lane for $5 until sold out! Come early to
get your convenient space. (Priority Reserved parking is included in IYJC Membership Packets).
Fri, Sept 19, Irmo Varsity Football vs Spring Valley, Kickoff 7:30 p.m. (Business Appreciation
Night) - 107.5 GAME OF THE WEEK
Fri, Sept 26, Irmo Varsity Football vs Blythewood, Kickoff 7:30 p.m. (Cluster Night)
Cluster Night -6:45 p.m. Irmo welcomes our elementary cluster school students--Irmo, Harbison West,
Leaphart, Nursery Road, Seven Oaks--and Cross Roads and Irmo Middle Schools--- to Football Cluster
Night! All of these students are invited to attend the game for only $1 admission! Go to IrmoAthlet-
ics.org for detail information. (links & files).
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