April 18, 2016

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.

rsjackso@lexrich5.org

Inside this issue:

Jr. Scholars
Honor Roll
Standardize Testing
SC Pass Essentials
SC Youth Diabetes
ITOLOGY

EQUIP

2
3
4
5-8
9
10

11

Dates to Remember:
Tues 4/19
G40 Mtg. 7:45-8:10
Media Center
SIC Mtg. 5:30, PTSO
6:30 Front Conf.
Room
Wed 4/20
Spring Picture Day
Thurs 4/21
Community Crew
Mtgs. 8:20-8:50am
Orchestra Spring
Concert 7 PM Irmo
High Aud.
C Team Cheerleading
Tryouts 4 PM Gym
Fri 4/22
FCA Mtg. 7:40-8:10
AM Room 904
Dance Recital:
afternoon assembly

Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal

https://twitter.com/IMS_Principal

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
**********************************************************************************************************

CREW Meetings
8:20 - 8:50 am Thursday, April 21
6th Grade - Media Center
7th Grade - Gym
8th Grade - Cafeteria
Jen Cook, Lead Magnet Teacher, jcook@lexrich5.org, 476-3735
**********************************************************************************************************

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
**********************************************************************************************************

Book Launch
&

If you have news for the

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

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

Page 22
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle

We are please to announce that the thirty-one eighth-graders identified below have
excelled academically with their performance on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude
Test (PSAT) and have earned the 2015-16 Junior Scholar distinction. In addition, we
would like to recognize and congratulate all teachers and parents who made it possible for them to achieve this honor. The student scholars are as follows:

Emma Bassett

Zachary Mosley

Rachel Stephens

Oshamar Williams

Matthew Dudley

William Nye

Cathrine Hall

Zachary Raouf

Hunter Jones

Dakota Bruccoli

Caitlyn Murphy

Thomas Neuburger

Karis Bland

Samuel Loquist

Glenn Dillon

Mark Sheldon

Henry Cooper

Wyatt Robinson

Esra Buckson

Logan Shealy

Trinh Tran

Tanvi Singh

Eric Mistoler

Nikolas Gochett

Caitlin Boisture

Jacob Briggs

Tyler Smith

Reid Taylor

Nathan Riegel

The Junior Scholars Program was developed by the South Carolina Department of Education to identify eighthgraders with exceptional academic talent and to develop strategies for inclusion into special programs. The program includes a process for screening, identifying and recognizing students with high scholastic achievement and
intellectual ability.
Eligible students include those who score 50 or higher on the PSAT (preliminary SAT) in verbal, math, or writing
or those who participated in Duke University's Talent Identification Program (TIP) during their seventh-grade
years, who met the eligibility requirements as outlined by that program and were identified and recognized by
Duke TIP.
Students who qualify as Junior Scholars receive an award of merit from the South Carolina Department of Education as well as information regarding summer academic experiences sponsored by South Carolina colleges and
universities. They can use that special recognition to bolster their applications to colleges and universities.
In honor of their scholastic achievement, School District Five and PAGE 5 (Parent Advocates for Gifted Education) will recognize all students at an awards ceremony for Junior Scholars from Irmo Middle School, Dutch Fork
Middle School, and Chapin Middle School. This event is scheduled for tonight, Thursday, April 14, 2016, at
Irmo High School Center for the Arts.
The ceremony begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. Please plan to arrive at 6:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Tami Richardson (Coordinator of Gifted Programs) at tmrichar@lexrich5.org.
We look forward to seeing you on April 14th.

Page 33
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle

At IMS, the expectation is that all students maximize their potential and demonstrate skill attainment
through their academic performance. We are pleased to announce the 256 students who have earned
outstanding recognition through the "A" and "AB" Honor Rolls for the 3rd Quarter. The "A Honor
Roll" includes 74 students making all A's for the 3rd Quarter. The "AB Honor Roll" includes 182 making all A's and B's for the 3rd Quarter. In addition to the names that are on this released list, 10 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: Isaiah Allgeyer, Kelvin Anderson, Breana Belton, Jackson Bosworth, Christian Braswell, Dakota Bruccoli, Sophie Bull, Gracie Burdette, Alaura Cakley, Caroline Culbreath, Abigail Curran, Christina Dobrowolski, Lauren
Dodds, Matthew Dudley, Jamia East, Madeleine Felkel, Isabelle Field, Addison Floyd, Devyn Gragg, Tyreek Graham, Gracelyn Grant, Morgan Grooms, Sai Gudapati, Cathrine Hall, Demuntae Harris-Morris, Claire Henke, Helen Hewitt, Simon
Holland, Carlos Iglesias, Shruti Jadhav, Janhvi Kartik, Joshua Knight, Christopher Lewis, Rivaldy Louis, Paul Matheny, Victoria May, Lawrence Miao, Alexis Miller, Zachary Mosley, Kaitlyn Nesbitt, James Ostergaard, William Ostergaard, Harrison
Pham, Laura Marie Phipps, Sierra Prince, Neha Rayala, Kaila Reid, Sydney Rhue, Kamontrey Robinson, Cody Russell, Logan
Shealy, Mark Sheldon, Tamia Simpkins, Tanvi Singh, Gavin Singletary, Rachel Stephens, Bryson Stutts, Meghna Subramanium,
Reid Taylor, Benjamin Tidwell, Curtis Tillmann, Sylvester Tran, Lindsey Vane, Meaghan Waddell, Kevin Yang, and Arianna
Yoder.
AB Honor Roll: Matthew Addison, Elizabeth Anderson, Prisca Arendash, Robert Armstrong, Ny'Asia Badger, Seth Bailey,
Katherine Bannister, Timothy Barr, Andrzej Baruk, Emily Beale, Tomiah Berry, Carter Berube, Dallas Bess, Karis Bland,
Margaret Blankenship-Brown, Mary Blankenship-Brown, Natalie Boan, Caitlin Boisture, Kenyaz Boston, Alec Bowie, Autumn Boykin, Jacob Briggs, Alena Brown, Esra Buckson, Jack Bull, Julia Bykalo, Jacob Byrne, Hanna Cargill, Hannah Chapman, Grace Chong, Megan Cipolla, Cameron Ciriello, Nicolas Colorado, Alice Constable, Charity Cook, Henry Cooper,
Caylin Cowley, James Crosland, Elijah Cumbee, Mariyah Curbeam, Uyen Dao, Summer Davidson, Kyara Davis, Victoria
Davis, Jake Debenport, James Denning, Glenn Dillon, Taylor Donohue-Wix, Carleigh Duffie, William Edenton, Colin Epting, Corinne Everling, Savannah Faust, Cierra Felder, Hayden Felkel, Michael Ferrell, Khalil Fludd, Timothy Free, Abrigail
Gadson, Brendan Gall, Akyra Garrett, Jada Garrick, Shania Gaston, Joseph Gentry, Daniel Gillespie, Mikaili Gilliard, Emmanuel Gonzalez, Kameron Green, Molly Grimes, Emma Gutshall, Zemirah Haire, Mallory Haney, Terrance Hardnett, Emma Harper, Saquoia Harris, Andrea Hartman, Elisha Heflick, Connor Hempy, Julie Hilliard, Coleman Hilton, Natalie Hinojos, Mackenzie Hughes, Serenity Hunter, Da'Corin Johnson, Danielle Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Abby Jones, Shaniece Jones,
Meredith Joyner, Audrey Keller, Fozaan Khan, Corali Kimura, William Kingsmore, Savannah Kitchens, Lindsey Knott, Jessica Kochert, Sophie Kohn, Leena Latham, Janeria Latimer, Simya Levine, Katie Little, Rachel Lofurno, Samuel Loquist, Mia
Louden, Loryn Magwood, Pablo Marquez, Justice Martin, Makayla Martin, Megan Martin, Allison Matthews, Kyla McBeth,
Kaima McCary, Tori McCray, Jailah McDaniels, Makenzie McFadden, Seneca McFarland, Dara Meissner, Isabella Mendenhall,
Emelia Miano, Mosebh Micah, Neghemi Micah, Eric Mistoler, Julexy Mota, Caitlyn Murphy, Malik Murphy, Liana Negron,
Bailey Nicholas, William Nye, Uchenna Ogbonna, Emily Olivieri, Madelyn Overcash, Darius Owens, Leslie Parker, Noah
Perez, Luke Pregler, McKenzie Priest, Zachary Raouf, Jahqui Rather, Allie Ray, William Reeves, Kristal Rej, Amari Rice,
Kynsley Robbs, Wyatt Robinson, Faith Romero, Calvary Romleski, Catherine Rooney, William Salter, Shekinah Sanders,
Matalyn Schellinger, Zachary Schellinger, Hayden Scudder, Parker Shaffer, Abigail Shirley, Emma Shirley, Dylan Slavich, Kendall Smith, Serriah Smith, Tyler Smith, Olivia Solet, Jenna Stallings, Brayden Stevens, Cory Stewart, Corvarse Stringer,
Grant Stroman, Korinna Stroud, Alexander Su, Ryan Thiret, Madeleine Thomas, Trinh Tran, Hannah Vaughan, Carly Vega,
Li Ward, Jada Washington, Devin Weathers, Jackson Wilcox, Frank Wilson, Alexander Winfree, Trista Lynn Winfree, Ollie
Wooden, Elise Yandle, and Andre Zelaski.
We would like to congratulate these 262 students along with their parents and teachers for their accomplishments. Also,
we want to encourage them to continue their scholarly pursuits toward high academic recognition and master our Habits
of Scholarship that will allow them to accomplish their college and career goals.

Page 44
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle

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.

Page 55
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle

Page 66
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle

Page 77
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle

Page 88
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle

Page 99
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle

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

Page 10
10
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle

Page 11
11
Page

TheThe
Buzz
Buzz
at Irmo
at Irmo
Middle
Middle