May 12, 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.  

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.

With summer just around the corner, this is a reminder to update your shipping address for any packages you may order during the summer months.

IMSA will not be able to hold or forward packages for graduating seniors or returning students over the summer. Any deliveries that arrive after move-out will be returned to the carrier.



For immediate questions, please reach out to Rachel Force at rforce@imsa.edu.

We're collecting words of wisdom from current IMSA students and families to help welcome and guide our newest Titans. Whether it’s academic tips, time management strategies, reflections on the IMSA experience, or just encouraging words, your advice can make a big difference!

Please take a moment to share your insights, suggestions, or stories that might help the next class feel more prepared and supported as they begin their IMSA journey.

The Writing Center will close for the semester this Friday, May 15, at 4:20 pm. Please plan ahead and work with tutors during their scheduled business hours in A109 or in the residence halls (contact a tutor directly to meet).  

If students wait until the last minute (Thursday or Friday), there is no guarantee that there will be tutors available to help all the students who may need it!  

Hours this week: 

A: 9:00 - 4:45

B: 9:00 - 4:45

I: 10:45 - 4:45

C: 9:00 - 4:45

D: 9:00 - 4:20

Majoring in both physics and music, Dr. Dong combined his passions by writing and producing an original musical about physics called Les Phys. Dr. Dong will host a screening of the recorded performance for anyone looking to take a break from studying and enjoy a creative intersection of science and art.

As the musical runs a little over two hours, please make sure you’ve eaten dinner, completed 7-check, and adjusted your study hours as needed before attending.

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.

Taking Care of Students at the End of the Academic Year

As the end of the school year nears, it's natural to feel increased stress. Final projects, AP exams, and managing expectations with final grades are a few examples of experiences that prompt students to spend extra time or stay up late, particularly if they have not planned or studied continuously throughout the semester.

Managing that stress can sometimes be tumultuous for a teenager and can certainly impact their mental health. Decision-making for students can be impulsive and not clearly thought out. They may spend too much time worrying, too much time procrastinating, or thinking the consequences of a situation are far more dire than what may occur. I, too, may have thought this way when I was a teenager. The reality is that our students have less life experience and their brains are not fully developed, so we have to support them where they are in their own development. 

I encourage parents/guardians to ask their IMSA student what's stressing them right now, try to understand their student's reality, and then offer how you can help. You might ask, "Do you want me to listen to understand you, or do you need my help to guide you through this situation?" Ideally, you want to walk away from a conversation with a sense that your student will turn to you, an RC, a counselor, and/or another trusted adult on campus, so they feel supported during the most stressful times. We never want students to worry alone, and also have support by their side so they can learn how to navigate challenges in their lives. We know it's not the only challenge they will face, and equipping them with strategies and resources will help them become more resilient. Thank you for teaming with us to support your students' well-being.

Amada Garcia ’27 was recently featured in a spotlight article recognizing her work as a COMPASS intern at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine.

Through her internship, Amada explored the future of healthcare while gaining hands-on experience using artificial intelligence to improve patient care and address health disparities. Inspired by her interest in equitable healthcare, she is combining STEM and AI research to better understand how emerging technologies can create more accessible healthcare systems. We are excited to see where her passion for research and innovation takes her next.

Read the full article here.

International Youth Neuroscience Association

Several IMSA students recently earned recognition for their outstanding achievements in neuroscience research and competition through the International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA).

Saanvi Thammineni ’27, Krisha Patel ’27, Ashlyn Gupta ’27, and Nysa Bothe ’27 were selected as finalists in the International Youth Neuroscience Ideathon for their paper, “Using a Liver-Brain Organ-on-a-Chip Approach to Model the Effects of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis.”

Ishika Vakharia ’27, Sivasurya Elango ’27, and Mishi Patel ’27 also earned finalist recognition in the Ideathon for their paper, “Impact of Chronic Systemic Inflammation on Microglial Phagocytic Dysfunction and Amyloid-β Accumulation in Early Alzheimer’s Disease.”

In addition, Manu Gadhiraju ’27 placed in the top 25% of competitors in the International Youth Neuroscience Ideathon for his paper, “Targeted Suppression of Collinsella aerofaciens to Reduce BACE1-Driven Amyloidogenic APP Processing.”

Sophie Hou ’27 was recognized for her neuroscience achievements, placing in the top 10 among more than 100 students at the IYNA Chicago Brain Bee event and receiving the Award of Excellence for qualifying as a finalist.

Congratulations to all of these students for their impressive research accomplishments and dedication to advancing the field of neuroscience.

Badminton Scores a Sectional Title

IMSA Badminton captured the IHSA Sectional title for a second year in a row! All six players will advance to the IHSA state finals later this week in DeKalb, IL. Good luck, Titans!

A Year of Giving Back

IMSA students continue to seek meaningful ways to give back to the broader community. During this academic year, students took a more intentional look at how they could deepen existing partnerships and identify additional service opportunities. While students contributed to a variety of local organizations and initiatives, one of the academy’s strongest community partnerships has been with Hesed House in Aurora, whose mission is to “feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and give people the chance to hope again."

This year’s collaboration reached new levels of engagement and impact. Students organized a donation drive in December that provided essential supplies to shelter residents, volunteered countless hours preparing and serving meals, and helped launch a new food donation initiative in partnership with Executive Chef Chris Ray and Elior School Dining Services. Through this effort, more than 350 pounds of prepared food were donated throughout the second semester. IMSA looks forward to continuing and strengthening these impactful service projects when students return in August.

Staff Spotlight

Dr. Patrick Buck is helping readers better understand one of today’s most important geo-political topics through his recent review of Zhou Bo’s book, "Should the World Fear China?," Dr. Buck’s analysis explores China’s evolving role in global politics and how the country views its relationship with the United States and the broader international community.

Drawing on his expertise in history and international affairs, Dr. Buck’s review encourages readers to engage critically with multiple perspectives on modern geopolitics. 

With AP exams and end-of-year projects in full swing, students took a break to enjoy Field Day! From relay races to petting zoos, Field Day was a chance to recharge and enjoy the moment.

Thank you to the Res Life staff for creating space for students to have fun and connect!

• 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.

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.

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.