Inside this issue:

SIC Nomination 2-3Summer Math 4-5End of Year Sch. 5Prom/Café News 6YrBook/End of Year Sch 7

Irmo Middle School6051 Wescott RoadColumbia, SC 29212(803) 476-3600

www.lexrich5.org/imsSchool Hours:8:20 a.m.-3:35 p.m.

If you have any news youwould like to see in theBuzz, email Allison Redickat 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 StaffRecently during Teacher Appreciation Week at IrmoMiddle, we decided to show each teacher and staff memberhow much we really appreciate all that they do for childrenon a daily basis by treating them to the culinary skills ofPrincipal Robert Jackson and Mr. Floyd Geiger. Followingthe last day of standardized testing, we treated each staffmember a lunch filled with all the fixins of a "Famously HOT"South Carolina spring cookout. Thanks to the help of ourPTSO, we were able to feed the entire staff and showthem how much we appreciate all that they do for our chil-dren. We wanted to take a moment and share with yousome images from this very special day. In addition, wewanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU to ourSchool Improvement Council and our PTSO for their continued support of school. Theyundoubtedly go to great lengths to make teaching and learning at IMS truly unique.**********************************************************************************************************

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 atW.C. Hawkins Stadium immediately after school, Monday, May 19th. Please wearshorts, t-shirt, and cleats (if you have them). Practice will be from 4-6PM. Pleasehave your parents pick you up in the parking lot between St. Andrews Road andthe scoreboard. We are looking forward to seeing all 8th grade students.**********************************************************************************************************

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 ourfirst ever dance recital entitled "Dance From AroundThe World." During the recital, students performedsome truly incredible selections amazing our stu-dents, staff, and visitors. We would like to com-mend all of our students in our dance program aswell as our instructor (Ms. Ashley Evans) for puttingon a truly amazing show. We are so proud of them.In case you missed it, our evening performance willbe held on Wednesday May 21st (7:00pm) at theHarbison Theater. Don't miss it! Please come outand support our wonderful artists and their instructor (Ms. Evans).**********************************************************************************************************

Library Books. All library books are to be returned to the Media Center onor before Monday, May 19th. Payment for any lost or missing books may bepaid in the Media Center.**********************************************************************************************************

NYC Trip March 24-27, 2015. Parents meeting on 5-27-14 at6:30 pm in the café. 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. Hehas lived in the Irmo area all of his life and has a vested interest in the schools and community. He hasserved as a past president for the Irmo Middle School SIC. Since his current 2 year term on the IrmoHigh SIC is ending at the end of this school year, he would like to continue serving on the council foranother 2 year term. Dan is an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, serves on the Board ofManagers for the Newberry College Alumni Association and is the Director of the Division of TechnicalServices, Training and Community Relations at the SC Human Affairs Commission. His son is a risingjunior 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 Councilfor the 2014-2015 school year. My daughter is graduating from IHS this year and my son is in the 10thgrade. I’ve been involved with the PTO’s at Irmo Elementary, Crossroads Middle, Irmo Middle andIrmo High School for the last 12 years. I’ve served as president, vice president, secretary, and held manyother positions on the PTO boards. I served on the SIC for one year at Irmo Elementary School and forone 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 manyyears serving as a volunteer and mentor in District 5, I feel I can bring valuable knowledge and insight tothe School Improvement Council. Thank you for your consideration.

Marlene B. Al-Barwani- My family and I have been blessed to work with caring and supportiveDistrict 5 teachers and staff for the last nine years while I served as a classroom volunteer, SIC chair andPAGE 5 board member. In these roles I have been able to promote enhanced educational opportunitiesfor 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 theircondition 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. Therequirement to work together is especially important at the high school level because of the demands ourchildren face in preparing for college and adult life. It is my desire to help with this process by workingwith the SIC to develop strategies that meet the support needs of all of our students and the families andteachers that assist them every day and during these difficult times. I welcome the opportunity to serveyou and the Irmo High community as a member of the 2014-2015 School Improvement Council. Thankyou in advance for your consideration!

Jan Faber- My husband and I have two children - a daughter going into 11th grade at Irmo HighSchool, and a son entering 9th grade at Spring Hill. We are thrilled that each of our children had choicesfor their high school education that excited them! I have been involved with PTO’s and SIC’s for sev-eral years now, most recently PTSO President and SIC representative at Irmo Middle School. I’vealso volunteered many hours with the middle and high school bands, and believe that parent involvementhelps both the school and the student achieve greater success. While I do have a Business Marketingdegree, 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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Tabitha Keeler- My husband John and I are business owners here in the Columbia area. This comingFall both of our sons will be at Irmo High. Our oldest son is a rising 11th grader and our youngest willbe in the 9th grade this fall. I have previously served on the SIC at Nursery Road Elementary and IrmoMiddle School. I have served as chairperson for both councils. I would like the opportunity to serveagain 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 9th grader), and a new parent to ourBoxer mix of 14 weeks old Spruce. I am the Practice Manager of three physician practices at LexingtonMedical Center. I have been a part of the Mom Squad at Irmo High School for six years supporting mysons in their athletic activity, while serving as President, Vice-President of Youth Ministry and DramaMinistry of our Church. My son Eric has involved himself in Student Government and the improvementof his school for the student body and I find it a responsibility that I involve myself as a parent of theSchool Improvement Council to be a voice and an ear of concerned matters. So please elect me, TammyLittles, 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 fourchildren (a junior at DFHS Stem program, sophomore at Irmo who plays soccer, a 7th grader at IMS, anda 5th grader at Nursery Road. Kara has served as PTA president at Nursery Road. She has served on adistrict textbook adoption committee, and attends monthly District Advisory Committee meetings. Karais 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 inTeaching 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 andPooja, who are in the Honors College of University of South Carolina. Her youngest daughter, Neha, is arising senior at Irmo High School. Her husband, Manoj, is a Professor at the Moore School of Businessin the University of South Carolina. Maya has been active in volunteering in the various PTA functionsof Irmo High School, Irmo Middle School, Crossroads Middle School and Nursery Road ElementarySchool. 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 2014SC Grappling Championships on Saturday, May 3rd at the Tri-CityLeisure Center in West Columbia with over 25 mixed martials artsschools competing. He competed in two divisions GI (jacket) and NOGI and won 1st place in both divisions!!!

Neal’s team also won 1st place overall.

Congratulations Neal. Another fine IMS community representation!!!

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Page 5 The Buzz at Irmo Middle

IMS 2014 PromTHE TIME HAS ARRIVED!

8TH GRADE SOCIAL!!8th Grade Social is for IMS students ONLY. The theme isMasquerade 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 d’eouvres, dessert & drink will be served with a jamming D.J.Attire: Dress your best, NO BLUE JEANS! Dresses can be strapless or spaghetti strap, butMUST BE FINGERTIP LENGTH.Tickets: Will be sold during 8th Grade lunches, starting April, 28th—May 26th, (every Monday& Friday).Permission forms: Must be turned in and any outstanding debts, (Id’s, library books, cafeteria), mustbe paid before you can purchase a ticket!

Entry: You will not be able to enter the 8th Grade Social without a ticket and school ID.

Don’t forget to purchase your tickets!! SEE YOU AT THE SOCIAL!!**************************************************************************************************************************************

Important Message from Student Nutrition ServicesIssue: Negative Cafeteria Account Balances

Beginning May 1, 2014, students with negative bal-ances will not be allowed to charge a regular lunch forthe remainder of the 2013-14 school year. Studentswill still be able to get a sandwich with milk if they donot have enough money in their accounts for a regularlunch. 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 needanother 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 principaland the district office each week. Report cards will be held after June 6th for those studentswho have negative accounts that have not been paid in full. Additionally, in order to purchasetickets 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, AssistantManager at 803-476-3608.

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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 the2013-14 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 andother fun and academic activities. We've worked extremely hard to keep the book affordable for allstudents 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 contactDeborah 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 February12 -14). We already made-up one day (February 17). The bill passed bythe 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-upday. Therefore, June 6, 2014 is now a school day in Lex5. The remaining two inclement weather dayswere 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. June3rd 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 29th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ELA (1), Science

May 30th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ELA (2), Science

June 2nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Math, Social Studies

June 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Math, Social Studies

June 4th . . . . . .Half-Day for Students . . . Exploratory Classes (Special Schedule)

June 5th . . . . . .Half-Day for Students . . . Make-up Exams (Special Schedule)

June 6th . . . . . .Half-Day for Students . . . Make-up Exams (Special Schedule)

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