November 2024

View the full calendar of events at IMSA.edu.

IMPORTANT DATES

• November 23 Residence Halls close at 12 p.m. noon (November Break)
• November 25 & 26 Virtual Engagement
• November 27 to 30 Academy Closed
• December 1 Residence Halls open at 12 p.m. noon
• December 13 Holiday Music Concert
• December 19 Residence Halls Close at 3 p.m. (Winter Break)
• December 20, 2024 to January 4, 2025 Winter Break
• January 5 Residence Halls open at 3 p.m.
• January 6 to 17 Intersession
• January 20 Academy closed
• January 21 MLK Assembly (MANDATORY)

DOWNSTATE BUS INFORMATION for November Break

Downstate buses will load at 8:30 a.m. at circle drive on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Details of both HOMEBOUND AND SCHOOLBOUND trips will be emailed directly on Monday, November 18, 2024.

Reminders for the trip:

• If your child is NOT taking the bus this trip, please send an email to mratsamy@imsa.edu as soon as possible and before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
• Students are allowed only 1 piece of luggage and a small carry-on or a laptop bag - storage space is limited. Musical instruments are not allowed inside the bus. 
• All students must arrive at the bus location 20 mins prior to departure to take attendance and load the bus as soon as possible. The buses will arrive at about 30 minutes prior to departure and leave on time.
• Please inform the Student Affairs Office and stop coordinators in case of last minute changes or dropouts. The bus will not wait, bus must depart at assigned time. Plan to arrive at pick up locations 20 minutes early.
• Note that the price you paid for the whole year is the same even if the student will not take or miss the bus.

SINGLE ride downstate bus trips are now available at $50 one way or $90 roundtrip. You can email mratsamy@imsa.edu to sign up. Please include the student's first and last name, the bus route your student will take and if the ride is homebound, schoolbound or both. All charges will be made in MySchooBucks.

Medications for Thanksgiving Break

If your student has medication in the Health Office, please let the office know if you need a supply of their prescription medication(s) for Thanksgiving break. Failure to notify the health office may result in your student not having enough medication to last the entire break. You can reach the health office at nurse@imsa.edu. Please include the day you will be picking up your student.

Parents/guardians should pick up medication in the Health Office before 3:00 p.m. or in the Hall RC office after 3:00 p.m. Students riding the downstate bus will be given their medications as they board the bus. Please return all medication bottles that are sent home, as we re-use them to send medication to the halls on nights and weekends.

When sending refills back to campus, please complete the medication receipt form and turn it in with the refill. If your student goes home frequently, please remember to keep a supply of medications at home. 

Submit Donations at this link https://forms.gle/EJWFyMtkJJb9YLUu6

STUDENT SAFETY COMMITTEE meetings take place in IN2 on the second Monday of each month. All students are welcome and encouraged to participant in these important discussions on school safety. We look forward to your involvement! The safety of the community is the responsibility of Faculty, Staff and Students.

Titans together,

Director Willie M Mayes Sr.

Campus Safety and Security Operations

The winter Titan Thrift Shop will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, and Thursday, December 5 in the Student Union. This is the perfect opportunity to stock up on winter clothing, purchase a gift for your friends or family, or create that special outfit for New Year's Eve! The winter event will feature clothing, books, games, décor, jewelry, and accessories. Drop in, enjoy the music, and have fun while sustainably shopping on campus. 

WHAT HAPPENING IN....

THE LEAD PROGRAM

Student Leadership Exchange Evaluator Interest Form

LEAD concludes with an exciting event: the Student Leadership Exchange (SLX). This mandatory, full-day symposium on April 30, 2024 showcases student-led presentations on topics such as leadership theory, entrepreneurship, activism, data journalism, and government and policy.

We are inviting external experts in these fields to provide valuable, real-world feedback to our students during the event. Interested in participating?

Please complete our interest form, and we’ll be in touch with more details!

SERVICE HOUR

APPROVAL PROCESS REMINDERS

1. Students should formally submit their time served within 1 week of completing that service. External coordinators listed should be notified so that they are looking for the approval email for this time served. Coordinators are approved time served only.
2. After the service opportunity is approved by the site coordinator, the time submitted is then approved by the students RC. 
3. If your student time has not been approved by the RC, please ensure the following are completed: Reflection questions are answered in full and well thought out and a supporting photo or document are attached. Failure to do either of these things right the first time will delay full approval. RC staff are also spot checking time served to ensure the time submitted matches what would be expected for that opportunity. 
4. Once the hours are validated, they will be reflected in the HelperHelper app/desktop. This process usually takes up to a month after the initial submission. Data transfers from Helper Helper to PowerSchool are done on a monthly basis.

Looking for more information about Service Learning @ IMSA, click here!

CLASS of 2025

Service Learning Graduation Requirement

As we approach important deadlines, please ensure your service learning hours are up-to-date in Helper Helper. Seniors, your deadline for logging hours is May 19, 2025.

To count towards graduation, your hours must be:

1. Logged in Helper Helper
2. Approved by your site coordinator
3. Approved by your RC, so they can be transferred to PowerSchool.

Only the hours recorded in PowerSchool count toward graduation, so be diligent with this process! The next scheduled data transfer to PowerSchool is on November 21, 2024.

Students and parents/guardians will continue to receive emails with their students' status for graduation throughout the year, whether they have met the graduation requirement or not.

CLASH of the Halls

Service Learning Participation Requirement

Please see below for this year’s Clash 2025 service learning participation requirements! The goal is to ensure that students are on track for graduation while fully enjoying the week of activities. It’s important to plan ahead so that participation in Clash isn’t hindered.

Class of 2025: 160 Hours

Class of 2026: 85 Hours

Class of 2027: 35 Hours

If you have any questions about your requirements as we approach Clash, please contact Mrs. Emma at ewilson1@imsa.edu.

Notice of Nondiscrimination: IMSA prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator.