May 5, 2026

Make sure to click "View Entire Message" at the bottom of this email so you don't miss any important details in this extended edition.

AP exams will be held predominantly in the West Gym, with the first test session from 8:00 a.m - 11:30 a.m. and the second from 12:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Students who receive accommodations, including extended time, will follow a slightly modified and extended schedule. During these two weeks, we will not have any PA announcements, and we are asking the community to limit traffic and noise at the south end of the building.  

Mandatory Quiet Hours

Mandatory quiet hours will begin on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. and will remain in place through finals.

Adjusted 10-Check Times

10-check will run from 8:45 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., giving students flexibility to rest earlier as needed. Students assigned housekeeping responsibilities will still be expected to complete them and have them checked by their RC before going to bed.

Mental Health Days (MHDs)

Parent/Guardian approval is required for any Mental Health Days (MHDs) for students taking AP exams on those days. 

• If students need to take an MHD on their AP Exam day, parents/guardians must email the Coordinator of School Counseling at jpanchal@imsa.edu to confirm. 
• If a student takes an MHD, they will not be allowed to take their AP Exam. There are no make-up days for AP Exams. 
• Please make sure students are aware of how many MHDs are still available, as they can take only five per year. 

If you have any further questions about AP Exams, please contact IMSA's Registrar, Shari Katich-Rogers, at skrogers@imsa.edu.

The schedule for the final week of the academic semester has been added to the website's calendar page. For questions about the schedule, please contact the Principal's Office.

Please confirm with your student when they have finals and the date of their last exam. Students without final exams may move out beginning Monday, May 18, 2026, after 4:30 p.m. All students are required to schedule their official move-out date and time with their Resident Counselor (RC).

Class of 2027 and 2028

Sophomores and Juniors must vacate their residence hall within 24 hours of their final exam. All sophomores and juniors must complete their move-out by 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

Class of 2026

On Saturday, May 23, 2026, residence halls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to accommodate final move-outs. All students must be fully moved out by 12:00 p.m. (noon).

We encourage all students to gradually bring home non-essential items over the weekend to make the move-out process easier.

Please remove or uninstall IMSA software from your personal computers. This includes but is not limited to the CrowdStrike Antivirus software and Adobe software you installed using IMSA’s license.

• Class of 2026 - Uninstall all software using an IMSA-provided software license. CrowdStrike Antivirus must be uninstalled, and Adobe products will stop working after graduation. As of May 1, no special uninstall code will be required to uninstall CrowdStrike. Students may keep any “freeware” or public domain applications. Wolfram Mathematica may be converted to a free student license.
• Class of 2027 and 2028 - Students are not required to uninstall CrowdStrike. If you choose to uninstall it for the summer, please note that you may need to install an antivirus application again in the fall. As of May 1, no special uninstall code will be required to uninstall CrowdStrike.  

Returning Loaned IT Equipment

Students with loaned IT equipment must return it before leaving campus at the end of the school year. All equipment must be returned in person to the IT HelpDesk Office. Emails will be sent to students and their parents/guardians over the next few weeks listing the equipment expected to be returned. Sophomores and juniors with scholarship loaner laptops can keep them over the summer.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the IT HelpDesk Team or stop by the HelpDesk (B-205, above TV pit) Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Friday, May 8 - Last day to request Interlibrary Loans
• Wednesday, May 13 - Last day to check out material
• Monday, May 18 - All IRC items & Interlibrary Loans due

Please arrange to return any library material you no longer need. Items still checked out on Friday, May 15 may be reflected as IRC obligations.

Sign in to your library account using your IMSA credentials to view what items you have checked out.

Applications for the 2026-2027 travel study programs are now open! There are TEN trips on offer throughout next year, with destinations including the Galapagos, Rome, San Francisco, Scotland and Ireland, and everywhere in between. You can read more about each trip and the IMSA Faculty and Staff who will be chaperoning them in the 2026-27 Travel Study Catalog.

Students interested in Travel Study should complete the application form by Friday, May 8 at 11:59 p.m. Decisions will be announced by Monday, May 18.

Field Day is open to all students, whether you’re competing as part of a team, cheering on friends, or simply enjoying the festivities.Winning teams can win a $500 paid meal to Wu’s House, DoorDash gift cards, or $200 to Funway.

Activities:

• Team competitions: half-mile race, relay race, scavenger hunt, obstacle course, tug-of-war, knockout
• Petting zoo
• Airbrush temporary tattoos
• Bracelet-making and crafts
• Inflatable obstacle course
• Community mural painting

Snacks and drinks will be provided. Students can also sign up to volunteer at the event on HelperHelper.

Tonight!

Cinco de Mayo Dinner

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Cafeteria



Burrito Bowls

• Pork El pastor
• Flank steak
• Impossible taco meat
• Fajita veggies
• Black beans
• Pinto beans
• Cilantro lime rice

Toppings

• Roasted corn salsa, salsa roja, salsa verde, pico de gallo
• Cheese, Sour cream, Jalapenos, Cilantro, Limes, Guacamole

Dessert and Drinks

• Churros
• Flan
• Rice pudding
• Agua fresca

The school counseling department presents the Senior Transition Education (STEP) Program to help seniors prepare for life after IMSA. Seniors who do not attend will not be eligible to go to Six Flags Great America.

The event will include an alumni panel, a financial wellness workshop, and special swag for all the seniors! Seniors will also receive the letter they wrote in Navigation when they were sophomores.

Join our instrumental music students for their final concert of the year, featuring senior conductors and soloists performing with both the Chamber Orchestra and Symphony, along with the debut of original student compositions.

Some of the featured repertoire includes “Zelda,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Time to Say Goodbye,” “Spring Breezes,” “Serenade,” “Big Band Spectacular,” and “Hamilton.” All of the Band and Orchestra students will participate.

IMSA’s Multicultural Fest will feature the Hip Hop Arts and Culture Fest, led by Culture Creator Michael Reyes (ReyesPoetry). Attendees can enjoy live performances, a Battle of the DJs, creative workshops, a spoken word showcase, live graffiti art, a portrait station, and a food truck. More than an event, this festival highlights the educational power of hip hop as a form of storytelling, a platform for social dialogue, and a creative discipline that connects music, poetry, art, and technology.

Sound Bath Meditation

Thursday, May 14, 2026

7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Main Gym

Star Sound Baths will host a 30-minute sound bath experience, providing a calming, meditative opportunity for students during the stress of APs and finals.

This mindfulness activity is designed to promote relaxation and well-being. Space is limited and will be first-come, first-served, with confirmation sent after sign-up.

Sunday, May 17, 2026

12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

IN2

Peer tutors will be available to help prepare for final assessments and projects. Pizza will be generously provided by PAC.

A Thank You to Teachers

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. I would like to thank our PAC for offering special treats to faculty and colleagues throughout the week. It's a nice touch to recognize their hard work every day. By “teachers,” we mean not only faculty, but also RCs, advocates, CACs, counselors, and staff who mentor and support students’ learning every day (and night).

One of my greatest mentors was a professor while I was in graduate school at the University of Illinois. In my late 20s, I moved away to the East Coast for over 20 years, but we stayed in touch through holiday greetings. When I moved back to Illinois to be at IMSA, I tracked him down and learned he was living in a retirement community in Chicago. Regrettably, he passed away this spring at the age of 92, after a full life. I have been blessed to spend many Sundays with him over the past five years. It was an amazing chance to have him as a teacher and friend in ways far beyond academics.

I will offer that it's never too late to thank or learn from a teacher over the span of our lives. A simple note of gratitude can make a world of difference, whether that's someone at IMSA or an educator who has impacted your life. It's inspiring for educators to receive that validation because they dedicate their careers to the growth of their students. There's nothing more enjoyable than knowing their efforts changed someone's life for the better.

16th Judicial Circuit’s Law Day Essay Contest

Malyada Medikundam '27 earned First Place in the Junior Category of the 16th Judicial Circuit’s Law Day Essay Contest.

On Friday, May 1, Judge Keith Johnson presented the award to Malyada during a special ceremony, along with Paul Steele from the Kane County Bar Foundation Board. Judge Johnston took the time to recognize Malyada's impressive writing and critical thinking skills in the application of law. The Kane County Bar Foundation also generously provided prize money for the contest, supporting and celebrating her achievement in civic engagement.

Congrats to IMSA Team TBX, consisting of Nikhil Baman ‘28, Derrick Xianto ’28, Seth Taukolo ’28, and Nayan Chilakapati '28, for taking third place at the Illinois Personal Finance Challenge. The team advanced through multiple rounds of competition to reach the state finals, and also secured a third-place finish in the Illinois Economic Challenge, marking an impressive showing across both events.

Science Olympiad Excels at State

On Saturday, April 18, the IMSA Science Olympiad team traveled to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to compete in the Illinois Science Olympiad State Tournament, where they placed 8th overall and multiple team members placed in individual events.

Congratulations to the following State Champions:

• Sasha Bystrukhina ‘27 and Amelia Weingarz ‘27 - 1st place in Water Quality 
• Avery Lau ‘27 and Adam Park ‘28 - 1st place in Engineering CAD 
• Avery Lau ‘27 and Atharv Kanchi ‘27 - 1st place in Code Craze 

Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding placements:

• Andrew Zhu ‘26 and Nathan Handjojo ‘26 - 2nd place in Chemistry Lab 
• Nathan Handjojo ‘26 and Atharv Kanchi ‘27 - 2nd place in Bungee Drop 
• Heather Wang ‘28 and Joa Ji ‘28 - 4th place in Botany
• Oscar Chaplain ‘27 and Nathan Handjojo ‘26 - 5th place in Circuit Lab 

Boys Volleyball Senior Night
Last week, the seniors from the boys' volleyball team were recognized for their achievements and leadership on the court. Congratulations to the entire team for their hard work and dedication this season!

Sergey Tyan '26

Rakshan

Chandrasekhar '26

Angel Castillo Campa '26

Classroom Spotlight

Mike McGrath, Vice President of Red Hat, a leading global provider of open-source software and enterprise support services that help organizations run their computer systems reliably and securely, spoke with students in Mr. Campbell’s Elements of Computing Systems 2 classes last week. He shared advice on a CS career path, his thoughts on AI, and encouraged students to gain as much experience as possible through internships, externships, mentorships, and part-time jobs.

Hollister Lecture and Student Leadership Exchange

Congratulations to the LEAD students on concluding their year in the LEAD program! The Class of 2028 marked this milestone by participating in the Hollister Lecture and Student Leadership Exchange on April 29, 2026. Students had the opportunity to hear from IMSA alumnus Aaditya Tolappa ’12, a civil rights attorney, who shared insights on his post-IMSA journey and his personal definition of leadership. Following the lecture, students presented projects to external guests, showcasing their work in areas such as leadership, entrepreneurship, government and policy, and journalism.

College Decision Day

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on taking the next step toward your futures! Students marked College Decision Day on Friday, May 1, by proudly wearing spirit wear from their chosen colleges.

Prom 2026

The Class of 2026 celebrated Prom last Saturday. Students began the evening in Rockford at the Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens for photos. They then continued the celebration at The Standard for dinner and dancing, before ending the night in Naperville at Lucky Strike. It was a wonderful way to celebrate their hard work and dedication throughout their time at IMSA.



A special thank you to Brandon Ducoing, Arielle Hernandez Lyons, Ricardo Rodriguez, Senior Class Club students, and the junior helpers for their time, effort, and commitment to making this night so memorable.

Adopt-a-Trail Program

IMSA has partnered with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County to adopt a trail at Aurora West Forest Preserve.

Students can now participate in clean-up events to support environmental stewardship and maintain the trail. The first event took place on Earth Day, with more opportunities planned for the future.

Group Workout Classes

Fridays during S&E

Multipurpose Room

Sweat your stress out during the group fitness class led by Counselor Alex Pratt. Classes include cardio, weight training, and core exercises. Beginners welcome!

Email apratt@imsa.edu with questions.

We’ve recently seen an increase in tick activity near the campus pond, affectionately referred to as No Pond. Out of caution and to prioritize student health and safety, we designate the grassy area surrounding the Pond as off-limits for the remainder of the academic year.

Students should avoid the area and perform regular tick checks after spending time outdoors. Thank you for helping us keep our community safe.

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.