January 2024

View the full calendar of events at IMSA.edu.

Monday, January 22, 2024

is the mandatory IMSAs annual MLK Assembly at 3PM in the Main Gym. There will be no sign-outs allowed during this time.

2024 Clash Rules



Clash_Student_Presentation_ Parents.pptx

Clash of the Halls, run by the Campus Activities Board (CAB), carries the legacy of highlighting the creativity, ambition, and unity throughout the IMSA campus in the form of competition. Students can gain points for their resident hall by participating in a weeklong series of events ranging from graphic design to video editing, dance, individual talents, daily riddles and trivia. Clash provides a glimpse into the hidden diversity and talent on campus; nonetheless by the conclusion of the week, the hall with the most points stamps itself as the best Residence Hall at IMSA.


On Friday, Feb 16, 2024 the students will attend the Pep Rally and showcase final performances. The students have designed T shirts to represent their halls and wear them at the Pep Rally. If you would like to purchase one scan the QR code below or purchase via MySchoolBucks (details below).


Sale Dates:

  • MySchoolBucks Now through January 23, 2024
  • 12PM to 1PM in CAC common area January 16 to 19, 2024 (cash, check, or CC)
  • MidDay in CAC common area on January 23 & 24, 2024 (cash, check, or CC)

The item "Clash of the Halls T-shirt- online payment" option is available in MySchooBucks through January 23, 2024. T-shirts will arrive to IMSA the week of February 12, 2024.


These shirts are all student designed and are worn on the day of the Clash Pep Rally, on February 16, 2024.


Support your favorite hall! (Shhhh, we don't have favorites.)


T-shirts are all $15 each and are available in sizes Small - 3XL. An online processing fee of 4.9% will be added and is non-refundable.


If you have any questions about the Clash of the Halls T-shirt- online payment, please contact Chloe Katehis at [email protected].

Titan Thrift!

The Titan Thrift spring pop-up shop is coming soon!  


Our first Thrift Shop was held December 6 and 7, 2023. Good deals and good times were found in the Student Union as our Titans sustainably shopped on campus. Student feedback from our fall shop was overwhelmingly positive. Students enjoyed the variety of items offered and that we provided “the vibe of an actual thrift store”. One student noted, “It was one of the coolest events I've seen on campus this year.”


If you are starting the new year by cleaning out your homes and wardrobes, please consider donating to Titan Thrift. Our Spring Shop is focusing on formalwear for prom and business attire for internships and interviews, but all donations are welcome. We specifically need the following items:


  • Suits, jackets, dress pants and shirts
  • Formal dresses
  • Ties, jewelry and hair accessories
  • Shoes
  • Hats! Students asked for a variety of hats.
  • Hoodies
  • Stationery, school and dorm supplies
  • Students also asked for more clothing in Medium, Large, and plus sizes.


New or gently used donations will be accepted Friday - Sunday at the Security Desk and Monday - Friday in the Student Life office. We ask that donated items be laundered and clean.


For more information on donations, please get in touch with Michelle Bemis, Titan To Go coordinator, at [email protected].

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Student Leadership Exchange (SLX)

*Mandatory for all Class of 26 Students


April 24, 2023



Leadership Education and Development (LEAD)

LEAD Classroom Information

Hey Class of 261 Your next LEAD elective module will occur on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. All classroom and elective assignments will be allocated after Winter Break. Please note that while you rank your elective choices, you may receive your second choice and that’s okay!


LEAD Attendance

Please make sure that 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. In addition to an email, a meeting will be held with the student to discuss attendance after the break. If you have any questions or concerns, contact LEAD program coordinator Emma Wilson Parker ([email protected]).


LEAD Student Leadership Exchange Information

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) is looking for evaluators to join us for the upcoming 2024 Student Leadership Exchange!


At IMSA, our students are required to go through the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program. In this program, students spend their sophomore year learning leadership theory, entrepreneurship, activism, and data journalism and how these can be used to impact social change. This year of learning concludes with an event called the Student Leadership Exchange where students present projects they have completed about entrepreneurship, activism, or data journalism. Also included in this event is our Hollister Lecture, which features a keynote speaker who talks to the students about their real-life experiences with these topics in correlation to leadership.


The 2024 Student Leadership Exchange will take place on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. 


Please fill out this interest form if you are interested in participating as one of our expert evaluators!

Safe Medication Usage


The Health Office is working to educate students on safe medication usage and practice, including prescription, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. Each month, I will put 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 # 7 - Looks can be deceiving - The color of the medication does not determine the function of the medication. For example, Aspirin and Tylenol are both white. However, both medications are very different. Know the color, shape, size, and markings that identify your usual medication. If the medication does not look the same, investigate before you take the medication. Often times the pharmacy will give a different brand of medication than the normal. Most pharmacies describe the pill on the label. If it is not on the label, call the pharmacy to verify. Always carry the pills in an original labeled bottle.


Tip # 8 - It takes two to tango - The liver and kidneys prevent the body from being poisoned. The liver breaks down medications and other toxins while the kidneys eliminate them from the body. With age, the efficiency of these organs diminishes. The use of alcohol in combination with certain medications can cause permanent damage.

Class of 24 Service Learning Reminder

Hey Class of 24! 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 Wednesday’s for the second semester. As a reminder, students that 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 21st, 2024. 


All Classes Service Learning News

Hey IMSA! Happy New Year! Below are some reminders and news going into the second semester:


Clash Service Learning Requirement:

All hours must be submitted, and fully approved by February 11th, 2024.

  • Class of 26: 35 Hours
  • Class of 25: 85 Hours
  • Class of 24: 160 Hours


Weekly External Service Learning Trips

  • Be on the lookout for second semester service learning opportunities with some of IMSA’s external communities, including Feed My Starving Children and Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry. Opportunities will be posted on Helper Helper with an email notification to students. Class of 24 will receive first priority for these opportunities, and Class of 25/26 students may be removed to accommodate our seniors if necessary.


Interested in Leading a Service Opportunity

  • Have you found a cool opportunity to participate in or lead at IMSA? Drop by and let's see how I can assist in supporting you get it off the ground. An example of an ongoing service project is current student Ellen Hsuan’s Little Green Monster Project, working with author Sharon Chappell’s team to create little green monsters to pair with books for children affected by cancer.

Representative Barbara Hernandez's office is creating a new Youth Advisory Council, which will meet monthly in Aurora at the ALIVE center. These meetings will be focused on varying topics that the members of the Council find interesting. Rep. Hernandez will invite guest speakers to Youth Advisory Council meetings and discuss potential legislation in Illinois related to speaker topics, when applicable. 


Interested in serving on Rep. Hernandez's Youth Advisory Council? Apply here: https://bit.ly/YouthAdvisorySignUp

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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