newsletter april 27 r1

Inside this issue:

Testing Info 2-3 SIC Nomination Form 4

8th Grade Social 5 Monarch Butterfly 6-7

Summer Advantage 8-9 Guidance Middle Yrs. 10-11

Substitutes Needed 12 Summer School Info 13

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 [email protected].

April 27, 2015

Dates to Remember:

Gold Week

Tues 4/28 St. Govt. Mtg. Rm 812 7:45-8:15 AM ACT Writing & ELA

Wed 4/29 ACT Reading

Thurs 4/30 ACT Math Fri 5/1 ACT Make Ups Relay for Life 7 PM Chapin High School

The Buzz at Irmo Middle School

Creating successful students for the challenges of tomorrow

Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal

[email protected] https://twitter.com/IMS_Principal

ACT Testing This Week

7th Grade

8th Grade

ACT Aspire Test Dates Testing Time in Minutes

Writing Tue., April 28 30

English Tue., April 28 35

Reading Wed., April 29 60

Mathematics Thur., April 30 60

Make-up Through May 13

SCPASS

Science Thur., May 7 Not timed

Social Studies Fri., May 8 Not timed

Makeup Through May 15

ACT Aspire Test Dates Testing Time in Minutes






SCPASS




The Buzz at Irmo Middle

Page 2 The Buzz at Irmo Middle

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 stu-dents 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 ques-tions. 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 suc-ceeding, 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 Assess-ment 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

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 commu-nication 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.

ACT Aspire Test Dates Testing Time






SCPASS




ACT Aspire Test Dates Testing Time

in Minutes






SCPASS






Information For Families

About Assessment in Grades 3-8 With assistance from ACT, the EOC has devel-

oped a resource for school districts and schools to use to in-

form students and parents of students in grades 3-8 about up-

coming 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 edu-

cating 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

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

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 encour-

age all students to begin bringing an approved calculator to school daily. If your student can-

not 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 curric-

ulum 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 col-

lege. 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 pur-

chasing 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 ([email protected]).

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

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/



THE TIME HAS ARRIVED

8TH GRADE SOCIAL!!



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 gen-

eral 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 auditori-um - this screening will be the first time this film has been shown in South Car-

olina! 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 busi-

ness will consider supporting this event at any level! Sponsors will be pro-

vided 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 with a $100 Sponsorship

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



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 sci-

ence project with an international scope to tie into their schools magnet theme, they investigated many possibilities. Around the same time, nation-

al 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 research-

ing 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 facili-

ties, local plant nurseries and schools in the community to encourage citizens to plant milkweed for Mon-

archs 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 [email protected].



April 2015 IMSAn International Academic Magnet Creating Successful Students for Tomorrow's Challenges



Staff NeedsStaff NeedsStaff 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 ori-

entation 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. *****************************************************************************************************************


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, par-

ents, and families so everyone can plan for their summer vacations. We are very confi-

dent 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 Prin-

cipal for Instruction at 476-3663.

The Middle School Summer School Program is designed for students in grades 6, 7, and 8 who have not mas-

tered the course standards in English, Social Studies, Math, or Science. This program is streamlined to con-

centrate 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.


newsletter april 27 r1

Documents

grade act

act reading

principal act

act math

act writing ela

irmo middle school

grade students

school district