August 22, 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.

Inside this issue:

PTSO Flyer
2
Back to School Checklist
3
SIC Candidates
4-5
D5 Golden Pass
6
IHS Stingfest
7
D5 Community Celebration 8
6th & 7th Bell Schedule
9
8th Grade Bell Schedule
10
Bell Schedule Notes
11
LexRich D5 calendar
12

rsjackso@lexrich5.org

Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal

https://twitter.com/IMS_Principal

Early Dismissal Cut-off is 3:00: Students WILL NOT be signed out in

the main office from 3:00-3:30 p.m. Parents arriving during this time will be
required to pick up their students in the car rider line.
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Change of Transportation: For the safety of your child, please DO NOT

call the main office to change mode of transportation home. Arrangements
should be made in advance. If an event is canceled it will be announced and
the students will have time to call the parent to make other arrangements.
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Drop-offs for Students: Please try to limit bringing forgotten items to

the main office. We are trying to instill "Ownership" and Responsibility in
our students.
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Thank you all for your support so far for the PTSO! Our organization
helps the school directly by providing volunteers to help with events,
sponsoring teacher and staff appreciation events and providing goods for
the PBIS program for the students. You can still help out in the following ways:

Dates to Remember:
Thurs 8/25
iNside iAM Open
House: Begins at 6 pm
in the Caf and visit
classrooms. Concludes
at 7:30 pm.
Fri 8/26

Stingfest Irmo High

4:30-6:30 pm.
Thu 9/1
Picture Day
Thu 9/6
Grouchos Night
Thu 10/13
Community
Celebration: Saluda
Shoals 6-9 pm

If you have news for the

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

If you have not become a membership yet, you can for only $10. 100% of that goes
directly back to students and teachers. (see PTSO flyer on page 2)
Buy a T-shirt for only $10 while supplies last (see PTSO flyer on page 2)
Do you shop at Krogers or Publix? If so, go onto
www.krogercommunityrewards.com and select Irmo Middle School or stop by Publix Customer Service and sign up for a grocery tag. This is an easy way for our
schools PTSO to earn money!
Upcoming PTSO events: 1st Tuesday of Each Month: Grouchos night. Grouchos
will give 10% of sales back to IMS PTSO and October 7th Who Am I? dance.

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IRMO MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSO

Memberships & T-Shirts
Membership:
A Family or Teacher Membership of $10.00 goes toward supporting programs sponsored by your PTSO
such as student activities, teacher appreciation, and other school programs. Please make checks payable to IMS
PTSO. Put your childs name, grade and Crew teacher on the check. If you are a teacher, just write down your
Name please.

T-Shirts:
T-shirts are going quick. If you havent purchased an IMS T-shirt, there is still time. Unfortunately at this
time we are out of black t-shirts. We have plenty Coral and Steel Gray!

Contact Information:
Student(s) 1:_________________________________ ________________ _______Grade__________
2:_________________________________ _______________________ Grade__________
3:_________________________________ ________________________Grade__________
Parent(s)/Guardian/ or Teacher Name: ____________________________________________
Email Address_______________________________________________________________
Contact Number___________________________Crew Teacher _______________________

*T-shirt sizes: Youth L and Adult S, M, L, XL Colors: Light Steel and Coral

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SIC Candidates
7 - total, presented in alphabetical order by last name

Kim Benson is the mother of Miles Benson who is in the 7th grade at IMS.

I feel that the biggest challenge that District Five of Lexington Richland County faces in the next 2-4 years are providing teachers
with the tools and resources they need to teach their students to their best abilities. I have served as PTO President at Harbison West Elementary for 4 years, PTO Event Coordinator for an additional 2 years and SIC member for 4 years via the PTO. I would describe myself as motivated, determined, organized, creative with a get-it
-done approach. I think the SIC plays an important role in moving the school forward. I like to work on projects and accomplish goals and I know all schools have short and long-term goals that a strong SIC can support. I
am also a former teacher and still have many teacher friends. After teaching High School for a short time, I
moved into teaching at a private 2-year college. Years later I transitioned into a career in HR where I continued
teaching/training adults for many years. I love the kids, but will often come down on the side of the teachers in
terms of my support and action. Once a teacher, always a teacher at heart.

Cheryl Duffie is the mother of Carleigh Duffie who is in the 8th grade at IMS. I feel the biggest challenge that
District Five of Lexington Richland County faces is becoming overcrowded. We dont have the financial means
to expand the schools to accommodate the future growth of our District. I also feel that the financial situation
within our District is a problem. I have served as PTO Vice President at Harbison West Elementary in 20142016. I would describe myself as being compassionate, an advocate, caring, helpful and thoughtful. I would like
to serve on the SIC to help make this school the best that it can be not just for my children, but for the children
that will come to this school for many years.

Lucia Jacobs is the mother of Solomon Jacobs who is in the 6th grade at IMS. I think the biggest challenge for
District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties will face in the next 2-4 years is continuing to provide challenging curriculum and opportunities for our students to get the BEST education so that they can competently compete with students locally and internationally. I have worked as a SIC member for Dutch Fork Elementary
School for two years and as homeroom mother in my childs third grade and fourth grade class. I would describe myself as a trailblazer, motivated, genuine, fearless and meticulous. I would like to serve on the IMS SIC
because I am motivated to keep the positivity of IMS moving in the forward direction. I will continue to support
to keep the positivity of IMS moving in the forward direction. I will continue to support the innovative programs
that exist at IMS, but if chosen for the SIC, I will work towards acquiring additional pioneering programs that
support all students at all levels. I am passionate about learning. I am passionate about the education of children.
I believe the thing that separates one person from the other is the knowledge they have and the passion that
they show about the things and persons that they love. Although it may take a village to raise a child, it just take
one person to make a difference.

Leanne Kea is the mother of David Kea who is in the 8th grade at IMS.

I believe the biggest challenge the

District faces in the next few years is balancing the population surge in particular areas of the District with simultaneous decrease in other areas. I have been a classroom volunteer, chaperone, various committee participation
and SIC Member as well as former Co-Chair of SIC for Seven Oaks Elementary MEDIA Magnet School. I would
describe myself as genuine, intelligent, passionate, conscientious and hilarious. I would like to serve on the IMS
SIC because I want to be involved with my childs school in a capacity that matches my skill set. I am a former
student of IMS. My child is a current student at IMS and I have three more future students of IMS. It feels like
home.

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SIC Candidates (contd), 7 - total, presented in alphabetical order by last name

Thomas Solet is the father of Olivia Solet who is in the 7th grade at IMS. I think the biggest challenge
that District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties face is continuing to create excellent environments
that attract and draw out the talents of the students. From technology to creative scheduling and focus on not just
the academic side of the equation but the emotional well-being of the children. I have been a band chaperone, Day
of Code volunteer, and speaker for the annual Career Day. I would describe myself as energetic, determined, focused, fun and tech savvy. I would like to serve on the IMS SIC to be able to participate in the ongoing process of
shaping out schools to meet the needs and challenges of the rapidly changing economy. As a not so recent transplant to South Carolina, I am very much a fan of vinegar based BBQ. Before I moved here it was only the sweet stuff
but now I cant get enough of the mustard and vinegar pulled pork from all of the great places around the city.
Bunnie Ward is the mother of Li Ward who is in the 8th grade at IMS. I think the biggest challenge that District Five of
Lexington and Richland Counties is securing adequate, consistent, sustainable funding for our District. District Five is
blessed to have more financial resources than other districts in the State. However, additional resources are necessary if we want to maintain an even improve students educational experiences and long-term success. The quality of
the teacher-student relationship is a critical factor to our childrens achievement in the classroom, and our State is
experiencing a teacher shortage. District Five must have sufficient resources to continue hiring and retaining highlymotivated and skilled teachers. Funding is also critical so the District can maintain the overall educational quality and
magnet programs, which are very beneficial to keeping students engaged and interested in learning. I have served as
SIC Chair for Harbison West Elementary for the past seven years. Since my daughter is in 5 th grade, I am transitioning
off as SIC chair this year. I secured funding for the development of the Lego Robotics Team and launched a volunteer
reading program with United Way of the Midlands. In 2015-16, our SIC teamed up with PTO to create a free summer
book distribution and reading program for all Harbison West students. SIC also developed a health and wellness initiative with school staff and recommended school website updates. In 2015, our SIC was a finalist for the Riley Award,
and we were recognized by the SC Department of Education as Volunteer Group of the Year. I have also served as a
volunteer mentor for a student at Harbison West for the past three years. I would describe myself as passionate,
committed, experienced, connected and informed. Due to my professional work and my personal role as a mother
and stepmother of five children who are attending or graduated from District Five schools, I have a lot of experience
with schools, districts and the adults responsible for our childrens education. Irmo Middle is a truly exceptional
school with committed, highly-qualified teachers, staff and school leaders. Irmo Middle is committed to student excellence and innovation. I want to use my experience and passion to support Irmo Middles efforts. I try to stay connected with the larger Irmo and Midlands communities. I am also a board member of the District Five Foundation
and am a former member of the Districts Comprehensive Health Board Advisory Committee and Elementary Technology Task Force. I am also a United Way of the Midlands board member. I am such a big believer in Irmo Middle my
husband and I provide transportation for our eighth grader since we do not live in the Irmo attendance zone. We also
plan for our 5th grader to attend Irmo in 6th grade.
Beth White is the mother of Anna White who is in the 7th grade at IMS. I believe the biggest challenge for the District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties is meeting the diverse needs of the learners and affording teachers time
to plan in response to those needs. I have been on the SIC for Irmo Elementary for 2013 through 2015. CRMS (now
CRIS) PTO and Co-Planner for Family Night Bingo for 2012 through 2013 and HIS PTSO Co-Chair Hospitality Committee
for 2015 through Present. I would describe myself as organized, optimistic, motivated, learner and leader. As a parent of a child at IMS and as an educator, serving on SIC would allow me to ensure an environment conducive for all
students to maximize their learning and to ensure the well-being of the educators who create that environment.
This school year marks the 3rd time I have had a child enter IMS. My oldest son is an IHS class of 2015 graduate, and
my middle son is a 10th grader at IHS. My family has been fortunate to be a part of the IMS family for many years. Additionally, this is my 27th year in education. Ten of those years were spent teaching middle school in SC. EducationBS degree from Winthrop, MEd from College of Charleston and EdS degree from USC.
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https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=2&b=181151&region_id=30830

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https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=2&b=180255&region_id=30830

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The International Magnet Academic@ Irmo Middle School

2016-2017 REGULAR and CREW Bell Schedules

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The International Magnet Academic@ Irmo Middle School

2016-2017 REGULAR and CREW Bell Schedules

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2016-2017 REGULAR and CREW Bell Schedules

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