August 19, 2025

Titan Tuesday is a weekly newsletter sent to students, parents, faculty, and staff throughout the school year. Its purpose is to consolidate updates and reminders in one place, making important information easy to access. Each edition will also spotlight different students and celebrate the accomplishments of our Titan Community.

These newsletters are packed with valuable information. Depending on your email settings, you may need to click 'View Entire Message' at the bottom of this message to read the full content of Titan Tuesday. 

We look forward to sharing important updates with you each week and encourage you to reach out to the Office of Public Affairs if you have questions or topics you'd like us to include.

August 20, 2025

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Main Gym

This event is required for all students, faculty and staff.

To launch the school year and strengthen connections across the IMSA community, students, faculty, and staff will gather for Titan Takeoff. Participants will rotate through three engaging experiences focused on Curiosity, Connection, and Care.

We encourage everyone to wear IMSA gear or comfortable clothing and to bring essentials like a water bottle. Please start heading to the gym at 12:45 p.m. so we can begin on time!

There are still some exciting events and helpful informational sessions coming up! Make sure to stay up to date with the Welcome Week schedule for your class!

Carnival would not be possible without the generosity and commitment of our volunteers. If you are a parent or staff member who would like to volunteer during Carnival, please sign up below.

Donations can be dropped off at the main entrance on Friday, or on Saturday morning before the event.

Kane County Cougars Game

Friday, August 29, 2025

Depart IMSA at 5:15 p.m.

Dr. Glazer is taking students and IMSA staff to the Cougars game and fireworks show on Friday, August 29. The cost is $10 and includes your ticket, a meal, ice cream, and a baseball cap. All attendees will also receive a Snoopy bobblehead while supplies last.

Those interested in attending must sign up by August 27, and payment must be received by August 28.

Blood Drive

September 3, 2025

3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Student Union

HOSA and the Health Office will host sumerous blood drives throughout the year in partnership with Versiti Blood Center. These important events can be the difference between life and death for a patient experiencing a medical emergency, as each donation can save up to three lives.

For information on how to donate blood, please view the attached flyer. Versiti representatives will also be at Carnival for those wishing to register or learn more about the blood drive.

• caWhen you are tardy, you must stop in the Attendance/CAC Office to get a pass.
• If you feel your attendance record is incorrect, please speak to your teacher or email them and CC attendance@imsa.edu.
• If your attendance record needs to be corrected, the teacher will contact attendance.
• While students are on campus, parents/guardians can not call a student off for any health reason. Students must go see the nurse. Only the Health Office can excuse students from class for health reasons while they are on campus.
• If you are off campus for any reason (illness, college visit, or doctor's appointment, etc.), you must have your parents/guardians call the Attendance Office. 
• All college visits must be pre-approved by your CAC.
• Any pre-arranged absence that will exceed 3 academic days must have special approval from Mr. Donelson.

You can contact the attendance office via email at attendance@imsa.edu or by phone at 630.907.5029.

Students enrolled in a dual credit course at IMSA will need to complete forms for one or both partner institutions. Courses through Waubonsee Community College will require students to complete a "High School Student Registration/Authorization Form," which will be provided in class by their IMSA faculty member. This form only requires basic information (student name, home address, etc.).

Dual credit courses taken in partnership with SIUE will require the completion of the Pre-Collegiate Application online form. These forms must be completed in order to earn dual credit.

Dual Credit Fast Facts:

• What is dual credit? IMSA students take regular IMSA courses (IMSA curriculum, IMSA faculty). Courses count toward IMSA graduation requirements and may also award college credit through WCC or SIUE.
• Eligibility: IMSA is confirming prerequisites with our partners. Students ineligible for dual credit will be notified but will still earn IMSA graduation credit.
• Cost: Dual credit is offered at no cost to students/families.
• Class enrollment: Only IMSA students will be in these courses.
• Opting out: Families who do not want dual credit should decline by not completing the WCC/SIUE registration forms.
• College acceptance: Credits earned may be transferable to other colleges/universities, but acceptance depends on each institution’s policies.
• Available courses: The final list of dual credit courses will be shared once confirmed.

For questions, please reach out to Dr. Paul Gaszak.

If you're looking for an internship opportunity or you're interested in learning more about the program, check out The Internship Brochure and Business Mentor Guide. If you already have a mentor for your internship, make sure they register here.  

Students are always welcome to stop by IN2 during S&E period to discuss internships, ask questions, or get help building a resume. Email sfricano@imsa.edu if you'd like to schedule a meeting at another time.

Sign up below for continuing information about the Internship Program. 

Do you have an idea you want to bring to life? Email IN2’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation program at sgoldblatt@imsa.edu for more information or to set up an appointment.

Plenty of competitions are already lined up for the ’25–’26 year! Competition categories include:

• Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Business Pitch
• Artificial Intelligence
• Writing (essays, poetry, etc.)
• Finance, Economics, and Investing
• Design and Art
• Scholarships
• …and many more!

Join the Competitions Interest List to automatically receive updates as opportunities open.

Seniors - As a friendly reminder, you should have already set up your Common App account (due August 1, 2025). Please remember to:

1. Populate “Colleges I am applying to” on Naviance Student with the names of schools you will be applying to.
2. Complete and submit the College Application Plan for the Class of 2026 to your CAC by August 31, 2025.

Your College Application Plan should list the same colleges as your "Colleges I am applying to" list on Naviance Student. Additionally, the plan must be signed by your parent or guardian. For questions, please reach out to your CAC.

Are you interested in medicine and global health? Travel with Nurse Angie and fellow IMSA students on a medical mission trip to Belize during the January 2026 Intersession. Work alongside doctors, dentists, and pharmacists, promote health and wellness, and earn 30+ service hours through Global Medical Squads.

The Program Fee is $3,230 per student. Click the button below for more information on fundraising and what is included in the fee.

Please use the Registration & Funding Page Link to confirm your participation in the program by September 10 and start raising money for the trip.  Beyond the registration donation, you will only need money for gifts, souvenirs, and shopping at local markets. 

Congratulations to Lorenzo Canali '27 for winning the US Navy’s Naval Horizons Essay Competition 2025, with his essay, “Aquatic Biomimetic Sensing Systems in the Navy,” which explores concepts for underwater sensing technologies inspired by the way marine animals detect movement. Lorenzo is the first IMSA student to win this prestigious competition!

The Navy releases research and essay competitions throughout the year, as well as the SEAP (Science and Engineering Apprentice Program). If you are interested in participating or learning more, talk to Steve Goldblatt in IN2.

Congratulations to Cooper Lee '27 for earning 2nd place in the Global Health category of the Pulitzer Center’s 2025 Fighting Words Poetry Contest! Cooper's poem, “Under the Dust, We Remember” (written entirely in Korean), skillfully combines poetic voice with journalism to shine a light on global health issues.

Cooper's work stood out among over 1,875 entries from 26 countries. Congratulations on this impressive achievement, Cooper!

Read Cooper's poem, and learn more about the Fighting Words Poetry Contest.

Medical Mission Trip to Greece

This June, twelve IMSA students traveled to Athens, Greece, on a Medical Mission trip combining service, learning, and cultural exchange. Students worked alongside healthcare professionals providing care for refugees and asylum seekers, assisting in clinics, supporting patient care, and witnessing the challenges displaced populations face. They also visited a group home for unaccompanied minors, teaching first aid and CPR to empower youth with life-saving skills.

Beyond medicine, students explored Greek culture and history, gaining global perspectives and reflecting on the role of empathy in healthcare.

Health Occupations Students of America International Leadership Conference 

In June, nineteen IMSA students traveled to Nashville, TN, for HOSA’s International Leadership Conference (ILC), the final round for healthcare competitive events. Students competed, earned leadership certificates, and took National Geographic Academic Testing Center exams to further their skills and knowledge.

A standout was Kavya Shah ’27, who earned 2nd place in the Family Medicine Physician category. IMSA is proud of all participants, whose achievements reflect their dedication, curiosity, and commitment to advancing the human condition.

Happy New School Year!

Education has a wonderful way of hitting a reset button. The launch of a school year is always exhilarating for me, even after 30 years in education. My favorite day is the first day of school, with so much promise on the horizon. There are new students, new courses, new colleagues and new opportunities. We have a way of constantly refreshing, refining and advancing at a time when most students and colleagues have had time to reflect and recharge. We can dream about what's possible at IMSA, thanks to a supporting cast that's second to none. You should know what goes on behind the scenes during the summer months and who readies the school to set the stage for an amazing experience.

Please join me in thanking the Facilities Team for improving the building and residence halls over the summer, our Technology Team for making sure accounts and tech services are ready, our Security Team for keeping everyone safe, our Business Office team for ordering necessary supplies, our HR team for hiring great RCs, faculty and other staff, our Admissions Team for bringing students to IMSA, our Public Affairs Team for sharing IMSA news over the summer and engaging our alumni, our Academic Team, including the Faculty and Principal’s Office, for preparing their courses and support systems, our SIR and IN2 teams for preparing our Summer Symposium, our Development Team for raising funds to enhance the student experience, our Advocates for opening their time and their heart to help our students, and our Student Affairs Team for welcoming our students and preparing great community building experiences in the weeks ahead.

Needless to say, it takes a village. These colleagues have worked tirelessly to make the school year possible. It also requires your confidence, as family members, to believe that new possibilities and great care will be part of your child's experience. Thank you, parents and guardians, for entrusting the IMSA team to ignite and nurture your students in the coming academic year.

Group Fitness Classes

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

10:30 a.m.

Multipurpose Room

Start your fitness journey or level up your workouts! Group fitness classes bring the energy, motivation, and accountability you need to crush your goals in strength training and cardio!

Classes are led by Counselor Alexis Pratt, a certified group fitness instructor. If you have any questions, you can email her at apratt@imsa.edu.   

After this week, group classes will typically be held at 3:00 p.m. on I-Days and 2:00 p.m. (during S&E period) on Fridays. 

Convocation Recording

Last Friday, we marked the start of the school year with IMSA's 39th Convocation Ceremony. Watch the recording to hear from our speakers, including Dr. Keith Winstein ’99, who shared inspiring words of wisdom to students.

August 20 - Titan Takeoff

August 23 - Carnival

August 27 - Day of Service

September 1 - Labor Day (Academy is closed, but the residence halls remain open and staffed for students staying over Labor Day Weekend).

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.