Irmo Middle School 6051 Wescott Road Columbia, SC 29212 (803) 476-3600 www.lexrich5.org/ims School Hours: 8:20 a.m.

-3:25 p.m.

The Buzz
Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal rsjackso@lexrich5.org
Week of April 8, 2013 2

at Irmo Middle School

Creating successful students for the challenges of tomorrow

https://twitter.com/IMS_Principal
Issue 22

Inside this issue: Get Connected: Career Day

IMS High School Guard 3 and Dance Team IMS Band Irmo Percussion Steppazz Career Corner Spring Picture/Order Yearbooks 4

The South Carolina Department of Education announced the recipients of the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards for the 2012-2013 school year. The South Carolina Department of Education recognized 662 schools and career centers for general performance, closing the achievement gap, or qualifying in both categories. Irmo Middle is proud to announce that we have once again been awarded the Palmetto Gold Award for Outstanding Academic Performance. The Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards program (PGS) began with the Education Accountability Act of 1998, giving recognition to schools for high levels of academic achievement and high rates of improvement. The PGS recognizes schools based on the criteria in the statewide Accountability Manual approved by the Education Oversight Committee (EOC) for both general performance and working towards closing the achievement gap. Within those two categories, a school may be awarded either the gold or silver designation. The EOC revised the criteria for Palmetto Silver General Performance this year, reducing the number of eligible schools. We would like to take a moment to congratulate students, teachers and staff, parents, and guardians for the outstanding work being done to continue the long-standing transition of excellence at Irmo Middle. The future is paved with gold as we plan to roll out the International Academic Magnet (An Expeditionary Learning School). Students will be challenged more than ever and as a result, their academic performance will be exemplary.

Irmo Middle Wins Palmetto Gold Again

Dates to Remember:
Monday, April 8 Honor Band Rehearsal 3:30-5 p.m. B-Team Baseball @ Ridgeview 6p.m. Tuesday, April 9 Student Government 7:45-8:45 a.m. JV Softball 5:30 p.m. Girls Soccer @ Ridgeview JV 5:30 p.m., Varsity 7 p.m. Mandatory Guard and Dance Team Interest Meeting 6-7 p.m. Irmos IB Interest Drop In @ IMS front lobby 6 p.m.-7:30p.m. Wednesday, April 10 Report Cards Go Home Beta Club Officers 7:35-8:20 a.m. Band Concert Festival Unity Task Force 3:30-4:30 p.m. Girls JV Soccer 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11 Beta Club 7:35-8:20 a.m. Special Olympics Spring Games Girls Soccer Varsity 5:30 p.m. B-Team Baseball @ Richland Northeast 6 p.m. See page 2 for continuation...

If you have any school or athletic news that you would like to see published in the IMS Buzz weekly newsletter, please contact Julie Taradash at Juliet@sc.rr.com.

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The Buzz at Irmo Middle School

Dates to Remember:
Continued from Page 1 Friday, April 12 Chick-Fil-A Biscuit Sale 7:30-8:30 a.m FCA 7:35-8:05 a.m. 7th Grade Field TripColumbia International Festival Girls Varsity Soccer 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13 B-Team Baseball 12 p.m. Monday, April 15 Honor Band Rehearsal 3:30-5 p.m. Guard & Dance Team Auditions @ IHS 4-6 p.m. All Week B-Team Baseball 5 p.m. JV Softball 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 Student Government 7:45-8:45 a.m. Girls Soccer JV 5:30 p.m., Varsity 7 p.m. JV Softball @ Spring Valley 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18 7th Grade Choral Festival 7:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, April 19 Girls JV Soccer End of Season TournamentFriday & Saturday FCA 7:35-8:05 a.m. 8th Grade Choral Festival 7:45 a.m.-1 p.m Career Day 8-11 a.m. JV Softball @ Lugoff Elgin 5:30 p.m.

Get Connected and Stay Connected

Our goal is to have every student, parent, and staff member follow our blog, our Facebook page, twitter feed, and register to receive regular updates from our website and free text messaging program (Remind 101). Please sign up to follow the blog and receive updates. You haveto use the links to the right of the blogpost. To sign up for the free Remind 101 program, send a free text message to the following number: (702) 6758432 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE (702) 6758432 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. In the body of the text, write @parentsa and press send. You will be automatically added to the distribution list. Get connected here:

Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/irmomiddle See what going on through our Blog: www.irmomiddleblogspot.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/irmomiddle

Career Day at Irmo Middle School

Irmo Middle School will be hosting a Career Day on Friday, April 19th from 8 AM until 11 AM. Over 40 speakers representing many different career fields will be at IMS talking to students about their exciting careers. We are truly excited to be able to extend this learning opportunity to our students. Additionally, we are extremely grateful to all the parents/community members who are volunteering their time to work with our students. If any other parents/community members want to get involved, please contact Mrs. Reddick at 476-3600.

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***For important Guard and Dance Tryout Packets, please visit website at www.irmoband.org

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The Irmo Middle School Honor Band and 8th Grade Band performed at the SCBDA Concert Festival on Wednesday, March 27 at White Knoll High School. Both groups presented fantastic stage concerts for an audience and a panel of judges, and then sight-read new music for a separate panel of judges. The students had a great time, and the were so proud of themselves when they finished! The judges were evidently proud of them, too. EVERY JUDGE AWARDED BOTH BANDS WITH STRAIGHT SUPERIOR RATINGS. THIS IS THE HIGHEST RATING POSSIBLE -- 100%!!! (IT'S LIKE A PERFECT SCORE ON THE PASS TEST.) I would like to thank Mr. Robert Jackson for being in attendance at the Honor Band performance. It was so nice to have his support, and the students felt appreciated with him being there! I would also like to thank Mrs. Lorrie Turner (CRMS), Mr. Tom Henke (CRMS) for always sending such great Band kids to IMS. And thank you to Mr. Roger Simpson (IHS) for alway lending support. Please join me in congratulating the fine young musicians of the IMS Bands for their hard work and dedication. Trey Simmons

Irmo Percussion In Concert (with USC Percussion):

April 23 - 7:00 p.m. -- The IMS and IHS Percussion Ensembles will present a concert, and the USC Percussion Ensemble (Dr. Scott Herring, Director) will be joining us. We are thrilled to have Dr. Herring and his students join us at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College. IT'S GOING TO ROCK!!! (Event free and open to the public.)

When: Saturday, April 20th @ 1pm Where: Irmo Middle School Gym Cost: $5-get a $1 discount by bringing a non-perishable food item to help support the IMS Food Pantry THEME: CELEBRATION

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IMS Career Corner Allison Redick, Career Specialist

Clemson Center for Corporate Learning will be offering Reading Skills and Speed Reading Programs for rising grades 1st - 12th. These programs boost comprehension and reading speed. Students learn the best way to read textbooks, take notes, and study for tests. For more information or to register call 1-800-978-9596. Flyers will be available in the IMS lobby. USC will offer the Carolina Masters Scholars Adventure Series, a summer academic camp for scholastically talented rising 6th- 12th graders. The courses offer an exciting array of one week courses with commuting and residential options. Starting June 2 July 14, seventeen challenging courses including Adventures in Nursing, Law, Pharmacy, Forensic Science, Web Design and Development, Medicine Ultra Sound, Vex Robotics, Writing, AviationLearn to Fly, Robot C Programming, Graphic/Digital Design, Engineering, and Computer Gaming will be offered this summer. Partial need-based scholarships are available! For more information and class descriptions, please visit: http://saeu.sc.edu/adventures/ Flyers available in the IMS lobby.

Spring Pictures at Irmo Middle

SPRING PICTURES will be taken as follows: 7th grade will be on Thursday, April 11th. 8th grade will be on Friday, April 12th. Dress to Impress! These will be the pictures that will be in the 2012-13 Stinger Yearbook! Parents, be on the look out for order forms that will be sent home with students shortly after Spring Pictures have been taken. Yearbooks are now on sale at Irmo Middle School! Buy your student's yearbook online with a credit card or PayPal at www.yearbookforever.com or at school with cash or check in IMS Front Office or Mrs. Fuseler (rm. 733). Don't wait - yearbooks are on sale for only $46.00 and are sure to go fast!