April 20, 2015

The Buzz at Irmo Middle School

Irmo Middle School

6051 Wescott Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3600

Creating successful students for the challenges of tomorrow

www.lexrich5.org/ims
School Hours:
8:20 a.m.3:35 p.m.

Inside this issue:

ACT ASPIRE
Butterfly Project
Honor Roll
Substitutes Needed
Camp Burnt Gin
Summer School Info

rsjackso@lexrich5.org

2-3
4-5
6-7
8
9
9

Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal

https://twitter.com/IMS_Principal

APRIL iAM HONEST

Sahara C

Alexandria B-W Reggie S

Dontravious J Kelvin A

Makenzie M Sylvester T

Danielle W

Grant L

Nykia M

Caitlin B

Haley B

Atashanay E

Terrence H

Jordan T

Anthony L

Corinne S

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Job Shadowing
a great time to explore the world of work.

Dates to Remember:
Black Week
Tues 4/21

St. Govt. Mtg. Rm 812

7:45-8:15 AM
Wed 4/22
Lunch & Learn:
Thinking Globally
Thurs 4/23
2BIB 6-7:30 PM IMS

If you have news for the

Buzz, email Allison Redick
at aredick@lexrich5.org.

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 introduce a student to a particular job by a one-on-one
pairing of a student with an employee in a work environment. 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: This Friday is the last day!
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 transportation.
Students are 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.
Students 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 observer, not a worker.
Students are not permitted to shadow teachers at Irmo Middle school.
Any school work missed as a result of being absent for shadowing is the responsibility of the student.
If interested, please have your student contact Allison Redick, Career Specialist to pick
up a packet or go to our IMS Website under the Guidance Department/Career
Specialist to print a packet or contact Allison Redick @ 476-3668 or email:
aredick@lexrich5.org.

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Standardized Testing Info for Irmo Middle Parents:

Dear Parent / Guardian,
The SC Department of Education has been actively working with ACT, Inc., to plan for the
spring 2015 statewide administration of ACT Aspire, The ACT, and the WorkKeys tests.
As communicated earlier through previous blog entries, newsletters, etc...The SC Department of Education
has let us know that, starting this school year, an assessment called ACT Aspire must be administered to students in grades 3 through 8. ACT Aspire includes tests in writing, English, reading, and mathematics.
The reading and mathematics assessment test items include multiple choice and constructed response questions. Students will write an essay based on a writing prompt for the tests writing component. The English
section includes only multiple choice questions.
These ACT Aspire assessments will give us important information that will allow us to determine not only
how your students are progressing at their current grade level, but also how they are progressing toward
future college and career readiness by helping your students teacher understand where your student is succeeding, as well as where your student needs extra help. The ACT Aspire test results will also be used for
school, school district, state and federal accountability purposes.
In addition to ACT Aspire assessments, students in grades 4 through 8 will still take the SC Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS) in science and social studies.
SCPASS, which contains multiple-choice items only, measures the progress of fourth- through eighth-grade
students toward the states academic standards in science and social studies. Each student can receive a
score of Exemplary, Met or Not Met in each area tested.
Exemplary: Student demonstrated exemplary performance in meeting the grade level standard.
Met: The student met the grade level standard.
Not Met: The student did not meet the grade level standard.
For your information, the schedules and time allotted for each test appear below. Please put these testing
days on your familys calendar. It is very important for all students to be at school and on time because all
test sessions are mandatory. Students who are absent or tardy on test days will have to make up the tests.
Grades 6 & 7

Grade 8

ACT Aspire

Test Dates

Writing

Tue., April 28

English

Testing Time
in Minutes

ACT Aspire

Test Dates

Testing Time
in Minutes

30

Writing

Tue., April 28

30

Tue., April 28

35

English

Tue., April 28

35

Reading

Wed., April 29

60

Reading

Wed., April 29

60

Mathematics

Thur., April 30

60

Mathematics

Thur., April 30

65

Make-up

Through May 13

Make-up

Through May 13

SCPASS

SCPASS

Science

Thur., May 7

Not timed

Science

Thur., May 7

Not timed

Social Studies

Fri., May 8

Not timed

Social Studies

Fri., May 8

Not timed

Makeup

Through May 15

Makeup

Through May 15

Help us make your child feel confident and comfortable as your child takes ACT Aspire and SCPASS testing.
Be sure your child goes to bed early, gets a good nights sleep, eats a good breakfast, and arrives at school on
time. Please note that students are not allowed to have cell phones, tablets or any other electronic communication devices on their person. We prefer that students not bring them into the testing room. However, if
they bring a device, it must be turned off and stored in a designated location in the classroom.

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Information For Families

About Assessment in Grades 3-8
With assistance from ACT, the EOC has developed a resource for school districts and schools to use to inform students and parents of students in grades 3-8 about upcoming changes in assessment. Although ACT has developed a
letter and materials to educate families about ACT Aspire, this
additional resource also includes a schedule for testing in South
Carolina and reminds families that students will also be taking
SCPASS in Science and Social Studies. We hope this will provide an additional tool to assist districts in educating students and their families about these important changes in testing.
For additional family-friendly information about overall changes in testing, visit the EOC website.
Additional Resources:
SC Department of Education Assessment Information
ACT Aspire Resources
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In April, students will take the new ACT Aspire standardized test. This year, all students
will be permitted to use an approved calculator for the math portion of the test. We encourage all students to begin bringing an approved calculator to school daily. If your student cannot obtain a calculator, please alert his or her math teacher as soon as possible.
Scientific and graphing calculators are preferred, due to the advanced nature of the 7th and 8th grade curriculum and standards. Most scientific and graphing calculators are approved.
The calculators most familiar to students at IMS are TI-83 & TI-84 graphing calculators. A graphing calculator
is an investment that a student can use year after year - in middle school, high school, and throughout college. Many families already have a graphing calculator from parents, older siblings, or family members who
have recently taken high school or college courses. Check with friends, neighbors, and family prior to purchasing a new one! We are asking that calculators be brought to school every day so that students become
more familiar with the functions. The following calculators cannot be used:

Calculators with built-in or downloaded computer algebra system functionality

Handheld, tablet, or laptop computers (this includes Chromebooks)
Electronic writing pads or pen-input devices
Calculators built into cell phones or any other electronic communication devices
Calculators with a typewriter keypad (letter keys in QWERTY format).

If you would like to donate a calculator or batteries, please bring them to our front office. Thank you for
helping our students prepare for their academic success. We appreciate your support!
If you have any questions, please contact our math department chair, Mrs. Kelly Thacker
(kthacker@lexrich5.org).
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Bi-Lo Hometown Educational Awards: Save money for yourself & raise money
for IMS by scanning your Bi-Lo card. The IMS code is 54883. Register and learn more
at http://www.hometowneducationalrewards.com/

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7th Graders at Irmo Middle School need your help to raise awareness of the devastating
decline of Monarch Butterflies internationally, and how the school is working together
with community partners to help save this species!
Through a partnership with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF), Irmo Middle School (IMS) is
presenting a two-day screening of the film, Flight of the Butterflies, to raise public awareness of the
Monarchs plight. They will invite other students in Lexington/ Richland School District 5, as well as the general public.
This film is an interconnected scientific adventure story that spans not only thousands
of miles, but generations. Its about the remarkable Monarch butterfly migration, the
most incredible migration on Earth, and the determined scientist who spent 40 years
trying to discover exactly where the butterflies mysteriously disappeared when they
flew south for winter.
The film will be shown on May 15th & 29th in Irmo High Schools new auditorium - this screening will be the first time this film has been shown in South Carolina! IMS students will make a presentation before the film on their project,
and each attendee will have the opportunity to take home a packet of milkweed
seeds to create habitat for Monarchs in their own backyard.
Sponsors are needed to help offset the costs for rights to show the film, as
well as the costs for the packets of milkweed seeds. We hope your business will consider supporting this event at any level! Sponsors will be provided with tickets and thanked publicly at the event and on SCWF & IMS
websites and through statewide social media.
Funds are being funneled through the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, and proceeds will benefit wildlife habitat
conservation programs in Irmo and surrounding areas. Please see next page for more details about the partnership.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Yes, I will support Irmo Middle Schools project by sponsoring this event!
$100 minimum donation

Check Enclosed OR Credit Card Payable Online at www.scwf.org

Sponsor Contact Information:
Business Name: _________________________________________________________
Contact Name/Title: _____________________________________________________
Email: __________________________________ Phone: ________________________
Please make check payable and return to:
South Carolina Wildlife Federation 215 Pickens Street Columbia, SC 29205

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Please consider sponsoring Irmo Middle Schools

presentation of Flight of the Butterflies to help us
spread the word about Monarch population decline, and
what we can all do to make a difference!
Background of IMS Monarchs & Milkweed Project:
When 7th graders at Irmo Middle School were tasked with choosing a science project with an international scope to tie into their schools magnet
theme, they investigated many possibilities. Around the same time, national news media started running stories about the drastic decline in Monarch
Butterflies migrating to Mexico. The 97% decline in population is mostly
due to loss of critical habitat the milkweed on which Monarchs depend
for a caterpillar food source.
Over the past year, students have been studying this species and researching the threats and conservation practices. They began tagging Monarchs
during the 2014 fall migration to aid in international research efforts. Students have been growing milkweed
indoors, and have plans to install a acre milkweed garden on the school grounds this spring. They also
made a presentation to Irmo Town Council, and received a commitment from the Town to plant milkweed
on town property throughout our community. Student-created posters are being distributed to town facilities, local plant nurseries and schools in the community to encourage citizens to plant milkweed for Monarchs in their own yard.
For more details about the IMS Monarchs & Milkweed Project see:
www.lexrich5.org/webpages/wgreen/monarchs.cfm
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is a non-profit organization who works with local partners to
conserve and restore South Carolinas wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy.
SCWF has been consulting on the wildlife habitat enhancement project at IMS since its inception and we are happy to
help them bring this inspiring and educational film to their community.
Questions? Please contact SCWF Director of Education,
Sara Green, at (803) 609-4778 or sara@scwf.org.

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At Irmo Middle School, the expectation is that all students maximize their
potential and demonstrate that through their academic performance. We
are pleased to announce those two hundred twenty-two students who have
earned outstanding recognition through the "A" and "AB" Honor Rolls for
the 3rd Quarter. The "A Honor Roll" includes students making all A's for
the 3rd Quarter. The "AB Honor Roll" includes students making all A's and
B's for the 3rd Quarter. In addition to the names that are on this released
list, thirteen additional students whose names could not be released due to
media release requests also made the A or AB honor roll. The students who
are being recognized via this media release are as follows:
"A" HONOR ROLL (46)
Isaiah Allgeyer, Emma Bassett, Karis Bland, Jackson Bosworth, Dakota Bruccoli, Emma Bryant, Esra Buckson,
Angel Camarena, Kendall DeLong, Emmanuel Dreher, Matthew Dudley, Jazmin Dunlap, William Edenton, Becan Floyd, Kelli Grooms, Cathrine Hall, Emma Harper, Esha Hegde, Lauren Henderson, Claire Henke,
Audrey Johnson, Abby Jones, Preston Long, Anthony Mack, Zachary Mosley, Marielle Muro-Buckingham,
Zachary Paschal, Kesha Patel, Kathryn Pierce, Zachary Raouf, William Salter, Mark Sheldon, Tanvi Singh,
Gavin Singletary, Corinne Smith, Devon Solet, Benjamin Tidwell, Trinh Tran, Nieky Wang, Sean Wright, Arianna Yoder, Ya Ting Zheng,
"AB" HONOR ROLL (174)
Grace Allen, Monica Avera, Katherine Bannister, Ryan Barker, Chase Batten, Andrew Beaty, Chloe Bebbington, Breana Belton, Carter Berube, Dallas Bess, Mary Blitch, Caitlin Boisture, Taliana Boler, Autumn Boykin,
Alexandra Boynton-Williams, Jackson Brazell, Jacob Briggs, Connor Bronco, MacKenna Bryant, Adam Busbee,
Elijah Caligiuri, Casey Chavis, Grace Chong, Megan Cipolla, Brooke Clyburn, Shawn Conner, Sahara Cook,
Henry Cooper, Philip Daniel, A'Nya Davis, Saurin Desai, Andrew Dewar, Katelyn Dill, Glenn Dillon, Taylor
Donohue-Wix, Andrew Downs, Madeline Duffie, Kourtney Dunlap, Jocelyn Dussault, Victory Egot, Zaria Eison, Atashanay Eskridge, Hayden Felkel, Madeleine Felkel, Gabrielle Gadson, Brendan Gall, Akyra Garrett,
Shania Gaston, Jalen Gibson, Kenton Graham, Tyreek Graham, Calvin Guyette, Cole Haase, Zemirah Haire,
Zirah Hajjaj, Adriann Halbisen, Onyx Hall, Terrance Hardnett, Da'Marcus Hare, Danielle Harrell, Andrea
Hartman, Jayla Hayes, Nolan Hempy, Daequan Herbert, Brandon Hiatt, Julie Hilliard, Mackenzie Hoffman,
Maxwell Holland, John Holliday, My'Anna Holmes, Diamond Housey, James Ingles, Brandon James, Jasmine
Jefferson, Jordan Johnson, Kiara Johnson, Lydia Johnson, Shaniece Jones, Meaghan Keenan, Charles King, Savannah Kitchens, Madeleine Knowles, Dylan Kobus, Anna Koon, Elizabeth Lane, Simya Levine, Matthew Lin,
Grant Lindsay, Katie Little, Indya Locke, Rachel Lofurno, Samuel Loquist, Emma Madsen, Presley Markham,
Jarell McCray, Tyler McCray, Jailah McDaniels, Makenzie McFadden, Erin Medlock, Dara Meissner, Theanphilus Middleton, Kenona Miller, Robert Minder, James Minick, Andreneikki Mobley, Caleb Montgomery, Trinity
Morgan, Caitlyn Murphy, Jalen Murray, Liana Negron, Kenneth Newmyer, Dana Nicholas, Olivia Nix, Emily
Olivieri, Noah Overcash, Darius Owens, Graham Owiriwa, Avi Patel, Paul Daniel Pena, Halle Peniston, Noah
Perez, Ariana Pinder, Nathaniel Poynor, Alissa Pressley, Bryson Rhodes, Amari Rice, Kynsley Robbs, Megan
Roberts, Wyatt Robinson, Christian Romleski, Savannah Rubeiz, Shakyrah Rush, Cody Russell, Logan Sawyer,
Juliana Scott, Logan Shealy, Dylan Slavich, Jackson Smith, Mitchell Smith, Tyler Smith, Victoria Smith, Victoriana Smith, Walker Smith, Jenna Stallings, Philip Staton, Rachel Stephens, Benjamin Stinson, Corvarse Stringer,
Tatyana Strother, Reid Taylor, Sylvester Tran, Brandon Tucker, Josefina Vega, Ehrial Wagstaff, Jaquan Washington, Cameron Watson, Katherine Weber, Alexis Westbrook, Sequoia Wicker, Brice Wiley, Ebony Williams, Trista Lynn Winfree, Courtney Woods, Chancellor Yarborough, William Zheng,
We would like to congratulate these 220 students along with their parents and teachers for their accomplishments and encourage them to continue their pursuits toward high academic recognition.

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Staff Needs
Nurses Needed: Fall 2015
School District 5 of Lexington/Richland Counties is looking to hire several
nurses to substitute in our health rooms as needed and to assist with our
vision , hearing and BP screenings for the Fall of 2015.
All interested nurses please complete the online application on the district
website. Notify Dyan McDowell that you have completed the application
(476-8145). Once references are completed online Dyan will set up an orientation with Mrs. Richards, the nursing supervisor, they will also set up a
time to stop by Human Resources to complete W2 paperwork, etc. (Nurses
you will NOT have to wait for HR to hold a scheduled orientation, this
means that you will be available to sub in a much more timely manner)
Please contact Kathy Jackson, IMS school nurse at 476-3609, if you have any questions or concerns!!! We
look forward to meeting and working with you!!!
How to apply:
D5 website www.lexrich5.org
Departments
Office of Human Resources
Application Procedures
Support Application Procedure
Click on the link to applitrack.com to fill out an application.
Somewhere around step four in the application process you will see a tab labeled Position Title
Check Nurse-Temp (Substitute) to be only a substitute in our district.
Check School Nurse to be considered for an interview should there be an opening in our district.
Or, you may check both.
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Summer Residential Camp

Camp Burnt Gin is a residential camp, operated by DHEC, for children and youth
with special health care needs.
Campers must be 7-15 years old to qualify for the child sessions, 16-20 years old for
the teen sessions and 21-25years old for the young adult session.
Applications are available on the web site : campburntgin@dhec.sc.gov or you can call Marie Aimone, Camp
Director at 803-898-0874 for further information.
ALL APPLICATIONS are due to DHEC by MARCH 1. (Acceptances will be notified by May 31).
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Summer School 2015 @ Irmo Middle!

The following dates have been approved for students who will be attending Summer
School 2015 at Irmo Middle. 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 476-3663.
The Middle School Summer School Program is designed for students in grades 6, 7, and 8 who have not mastered the course standards in English, Social Studies, Math, or Science. This program is streamlined to concentrate on academic mastery.
Who attends summer school?
Rising 7th and 8th grade students who have failed either one or two academic subjects. Those students who
have failed three or more classes are ineligible to attend summer school and may be retained in their current grade.
Out of district students cannot enroll in this program.
Where will summer school be held?
Summer School will be held at Irmo Middle Rising 7th 8th 9th graders.
What are the dates for summer school?
Current 6th, 7th and 8th graders will take courses offered only on the following dates:
June 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30
What times will students attend?
Students will attend from 8:30am 1:30pm. There will be no afternoon sessions.
How much will summer school cost?
The tuition is projected to be $50.00 and may be paid with cash, money order, cashier's check, Master Card,
Visa, Discover or American Express card. No personal checks will be accepted.
How will my student get to summer school?
Parents are responsible for transportation arrangements (to and from summer school).
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.