March 2024

View the full calendar of events at IMSA.edu.

View Spring Break Res Hall Check-out Information

IMSA Security

In the interest of following/instituting best practices for school security, the front lobby is now complete with doors to create a secured space. When entering the main entrance of the main building, we now have a controlled entrance. This project furthers IMSA Campus Safety and Security

Operations attempt to keep the community safe and follow the recommendation of the school safety audit.


The next step of this project is to connect the access system. We will notify the community when this step is in process/complete. Stay tuned.


Titans together!

Mark your calendars for SPARK's Mental Wellness Week on March 11-15, 2024. We will be hosting a whole week of different events to give students a chance to connect with resources/supports and wellness activities. We are hosting a Wellness fair in collaboration with the Counseling, Health Office, and Wellness team. Thanks to the counseling team, we have an outside private counseling practice as our guest speaker. 


We will also be raffling away self-care gift baskets. Every event you attend will give you an extra entry in the raffle. 

Adam Campos

SPARK Wellness Fair


Wednesday, March 13

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.


SPARK is excited to host a Wellness Fair to promote mental and physical well-being in collaboration with counseling, wellness, health, and SPARK teams. Resources and treats will be passed out!


Come see the guest speaker, Adam Campos, a licensed clinical social worker from Riverview Child and Family Therapy’s presentation “Supporting Healthy Ways to Manage Emotions.” He will be in the gym from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Learn clear, doable strategies that guide the development of positive mental health. The ideas support identifying and moving through challenging emotions and managing stress and tolls to increase calm and relaxation. Concepts that increase self-compassion and improve positive self-talk will also be discussed. 

March Events

March is a busy month for Student Leader elections, club chartering, and preparation for the end of the school year! 


Any students interested in applying for an elected position on the Student Council or Class Club can access the information here: 2024-2025 Leadership Position Application Document. We have consolidated the application information into a live document for student convenience. 


Additionally, the Student Council Club Chartering process will begin with the application release on Monday, March 11, 2024.

 

As we head into the Spring semester, the Senior Class Club is excited to announce the PROM location and ticket information during the mandatory after-school meeting for seniors, class of 2024, at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024.

Titan Thrift


We are busy preparing for our first Titan Thrift Prom Boutique!


The Titan Thrift Prom Boutique will be open to Seniors only from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The Boutique will offer a variety of men’s and women’s formalwear, business attire, shoes, and accessories.


On Wednesday, March 20, and Thursday, March 21, 2024, the Titan Thrift Prom Boutique and the Titan Thrift Shop will be open to all students from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Thrift Shop will offer a variety of casual clothing, household items, and giftable items. Cash and credit cards will be accepted on all three days.


So that we may provide a personalized shopping experience, Seniors must book an appointment for the Titan Thrift Prom Boutique. This will allow them to browse and try on clothing. Prom Boutique consultants will be available to help students select and accessorize their perfect prom looks. On March 1, 2024, Senior Titans will receive an email with instructions on how to book their appointment.


We continue collecting donations for both Titan Prom Boutique and Titan Thrift. We thank everyone who has generously donated to help our Titans sustainably shop on campus.


If you have any questions regarding the Titan Thrift Prom Boutique or Titan Thrift, please contact Ms. Michelle Bemis at [email protected].

Get to Know...

Get to know your faculty and staff by discovering how music has impacted their lives! Check out the bulletin board outside of the CAC office. The recommendations will be updated weekly! Find out who is a fan of KPop, Michael Jackson, Summer Walker, and IMSA's musical artists! 


Some responses may surprise you!  

As we near the program's end, please ensure you are watching your attendance points for LEAD. If students accumulate 12 attendance points OR reach five (5) total absences, excused or unexcused, they will fail to complete LEAD and have to retake it next year. Students and their parent/guardians with over six attendance points and/or more than two absences will receive an email from Mrs. Emma informing them of their total absences. If you have any questions or concerns, contact LEAD program coordinator Emma Wilson Parker ([email protected]).


The upcoming Student Leadership Exchange functions like an academic conference focusing on youth leadership, bringing awareness to social issues worldwide. Because of this, students are expected to dress professionally. Please take some time over Spring Break to identify clothing to send back for these presentations. Students needing assistance may come to speak to the Student Affairs Office for support.

Sophomore March LEAD schedule:

  • March 6, 2024
  • March 13, 2024
  • March 20, 2024


MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Student Leadership Exchange (SLX)

*Mandatory for all Class of 26 Students


April 24, 2024

Event Information

All students in the Class of 2026 are required to attend the Student Leadership Exchange (SLX) on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. This is a requirement for completing the LEAD program. SLX is a day-long event. However, students will not have a typical LEAD session on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Dress code is business professional.


LEAD Evaluators Needed

Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) seeks evaluators for this year's Student Leadership Exchange (SLX) on April 24, 2024. Evaluators will join us for a morning of listening to the Class of 2026 projects surrounding social entrepreneurship, activism, and data journalism in correspondence with the UN's Sustainability Development Goals. Evaluators can evaluate both in-person and virtually. However, we would prefer in-person. Please send this form to any individuals you think would be interested in this opportunity!

Safe Medication Usage


The Health Office is working to educate students on safe medication usage and practice, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. Each month, I will include a few medication safety tips in the newsletter for you to use in conversations with your students. The goal is to help students understand the importance of medication safety and encourage them to be independent in their health care. 


Tip #11 - Don't Blow It Out of Proportion

Over-the-counter antihistamine usage is common among those suffering from seasonal allergies. However, they can have dangerous side effects that affect conditions such as emphysema, glaucoma, ulcers, and kidney or heart disease. Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting new medications. 


Tip #12 - Run for Cover

Some antibiotics and topical steroid creams can increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun's rays, even on a cloudy day. Therefore, it is important to use sunblock and clothing to protect your skin and prevent cancer when taking these medications. 

Seasonal Allergies

Spring has already sprung this year. With this comes seasonal allergies. 

When you return after Spring Break, please bring personal items you may need for your allergy symptoms, including Kleenex, cough drops, decongestants, Vic's vapor rub, a mug, tea, honey, lemon, antihistamines, or your preference for soothing your symptoms.

Blood Drive


Save the date! The next blood drive will be Wednesday, May 22, 2024.  We will not have a March blood drive due to Spring Break. Students who are eligible and want to donate at a center close to home during Spring break should do so no later than March 27, 2024, to be eligible to donate at IMSA on May 22, 2024.


Remember, if you donated whole blood on January 31, 2024, you are not eligible to donate again until March 27, 2024. If you donated double red cells, you can donate again on May 22, 2024.

Attention Rising Seniors

Submit Documentation

Vaccination Requirement


DUE August 1, 2024

The Illinois Department of Public Health requires that all students entering 12th grade have two doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine, with the second dose administered on or after the child’s 16th birthday and at least eight weeks after the first dose. 


Please submit an updated immunization record for documentation before August 1, 2024.


Don't Forget to Log Your Service Hours

Class of 2024! Please remember to be vigilant in logging your service learning hours into Helper Helper and then following up to make sure they are fully approved. Data transfers and email blasts will be sent out monthly until graduation. Those looking for external hours, be on the lookout for emails regarding reinstating weekly external service learning opportunities on Wednesdays for the second semester. As a reminder, students who do not complete the graduation requirement for service learning, as stated here, will not receive their final transcripts until they have done so. All hours must be submitted and fully approved (present in PowerSchool) by May 21, 2024.

ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY


Office of Student Affairs

1500 Sullivan Rd., Aurora, IL 60506-1000 |  630.907.5009 | imsa.edu


To ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds

that advance the human condition.

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