October 24, 2023

During the week of Thanksgiving, IMSA will have Virtual Engagement Days on Monday, November 20, and Tuesday, November 21. In previous years, in-person classes would continue on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. The new Virtual Engagement Days will allow students to return home before Thanksgiving week (Halls close on Saturday, November 18 at 3:00 p.m.) while still having the opportunity to engage in their academics and academic supports remotely on Monday and Tuesday.  

Additional Details:  

• Virtual Engagement Days will not be regular, full class days via Zoom. Each faculty member will have an appropriate plan for their course and students, which may or may not include some synchronous meeting times via Zoom.  
• Assignments and assessments can be given and/or due on the Virtual Engagement Days.
• For attendance, if a student cannot participate in any synchronous meetings during the Virtual Engagement Days, the family must notify the Attendance Office, just as during a normal day of class. If a student has an unexcused absence from a required meeting during the Virtual Engagement Days, it will be marked as such in the attendance records. 
• Faculty and Academic Support (CACs, Learning Strategies Coordinator, etc.) will communicate any synchronous meeting requirements or opportunities to students as early as possible but no later than Friday, November 17.
• The B-Day (Monday) and C-Day (Tuesday) schedules will remain in place so that faculty who want to schedule synchronous meetings have a designated time to do so without creating scheduling conflicts.
• Faculty may still host office hours/drop-in Zoom time outside their regularly scheduled class times, just as during normal class days.

Any questions about the Virtual Engagement Days can be directed to Paul Gaszak, Dean of Academics and Equity, at pgaszak@imsa.edu. 

Herff Jones will be on campus to take cap and gown measurements for the Class of 2024.

All seniors need to stop by their table outside the CAC Office to record their measurements on Friday, November 3 during the Support and Engagement Period.

Herff Jones will also be outside the CAC Office on Thursday, November 9 from

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. for anyone wanting to order a class ring or letterman jacket.

Girls Tennis

Congratulations to Josie Kim '25 for yet another outstanding IHSA State Finals appearance. Josie went 5-2 in the tournament, finishing in the top 16!

Einsey Socrates '24 and Anya Parikh '26 fought hard in the doubles tournament. They went 1-2 for the day against some tough competition.

Congratulations to the entire team for a fantastic season!

Chess Team

The IMSA Chess team took second place in their first tournament over the weekend. They triumphed over last year's State Champions, Adlai Stevenson, who took third place behind IMSA.

Congratulations to Sadkrith Malladi '25, Aarav Shah '26, Himani Musku '25, Jacob Plotnick '26, William Cahill '25, Sohum Mehta '26, Aarav Lala '26, and Nikhil Kodali '25 who scored 3.5 out of 4 as a team. Special congratulations to William Cahill and Sohum Mehta, who took home individual board medals on boards 5 and 6.

Cross Country

Congratulations to Charlotte Paquette '26 and Albert Han '24 for advancing to IHSA Cross Country Sectionals. Best of luck this Saturday!

Boys Soccer

Congratulations to Raymond Schumacher '24 for making the 2023 Little Ten Conference All-Conference Team!

IMSA is currently seeking an FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) Sponsor.

If you, or anyone you know, may have an interest in this position, please email our Coordinator of Athletics & Co-Curriculars, Chris Moment, at cmoment@IMSA.edu.

Resource Workshops

Faculty and staff will host weekly informational sessions on Thursdays to benefit the IMSA Community! Unless otherwise noted, these workshops will occur on Thursdays during the Support and Engagement Period.

Mark your calendar for the next session:

"How to Use the Internet for Academic Research"

Presented by Ms. Connie James-Jenkins, IMSA Librarian

October 26, 2023

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Ac Pit

The History and Social Sciences Department will host two presentations about the current conflict in Gaza this week during the Support & Engagement Period. All are welcome. No RSVP is necessary. 

The Military/Political Realities to Date - Who/What is Hamas?

Presented by Dr. Eysturlid

Tuesday, October 24

1:55 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.

Lecture Hall

The Economic and Social Realities to Date

Presented by Mr. Kearney

Thursday, October 26 

1:55 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.

Lecture Hall

I went to a conference recently and attended a session hosted by a psychologist about perfectionism. I have to say, the only time I want someone to be perfect is when they are doing open heart surgery, or perhaps if they were in charge of a missile system that strikes down an asteroid capable of eliminating the existence of life. Most often, it's completely fine to be imperfect.

Students often develop perfectionist tendencies through high expectations from adults, or comparing themselves to their peers. They focus on what they missed, and how they are less capable, rather than what was achieved. Imagine the pressure and mental health struggles a perfectionist experiences. We can influence a healthier mindset that focuses on the learning journey rather than the outcome. It's better to try something that is really hard, struggle a lot with it, and then learn from our mistakes. I learned the acronym FAIL, or First Attempt In Learning, just reminds us that it's OK to mess up as long as we are willing to learn from those mistakes and persist to get better.

A perfect transcript implies a student has done exceptionally well but has not challenged themselves. Try the harder class or harder project, and value your desire to shatter glass ceilings, even if you fail along the way. Parents and guardians, if you worry about perfectionism, take some time to talk with your student about the challenges you have taken and what you have learned from different setbacks. It's helpful when our students see us as imperfect and better because of it. 

If you have thoughts on this topic or wish that I discuss others, don't hesitate to reach out to me at eglazer@imsa.edu.

On November 1 and November 8, Dr. Glazer will provide math tutoring in the Science Study Area from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. He will continue math help on A-days during 2nd block in the math resource center.

IMSA's Medical Society is proud to present our unprecedented Alumni Mentorship Program. Prospective medical students are paired with IMSA alumni who are professionals in their fields of medicine. We recently had our Kickoff Event for our Fall session. Interested students can apply for our next Spring session as well!

Med Society is dedicated to providing a supportive community for future medical professionals. Look out for our future events like guest speakers and discussions!

If you have questions, contact Zuyu Liu '24, Carolyn Zhang '25, or Josie Kim '25.

The average carbon footprint per person in the United States is about 16 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. This is significantly higher than the global average. Carpooling with just one other person can cut your carbon emissions in half! Share a ride and reduce your carbon footprint!

Student Spotlight

Over the summer, Carolyn Zhang '25 had the opportunity to attend the Young Innovators Program at the University of Chicago. The Young Innovators Program selects only 30 talented, high-achieving students nationwide. This highly selective program allows students to collaborate, ask questions, and pursue a future in green innovation. Carolyn is pictured above with her cohorts (middle of the picture in a white t-shirt). As you can see by the smile on her face, she had a fantastic summer exploring and collaborating with other students with a passion for changing the world!

Please complete the Spotlight Submission Form if you have been recently recognized in your field, celebrated for your academic or professional achievements, or are working on a project you'd like to share. If you have any questions, please contact Alex Johnson at ajohnson2@imsa.edu.

Alyssa Abendroth '24 is involved in many organizations beyond IMSA. This past summer, she enlisted in the United States Army Reserves and participated in her first weekend of drill over Fall Break. Alyssa's experience in the Reserves is integral to her plans, as she hopes to become a military veterinarian. Alyssa volunteers and raises money for an animal shelter near her home to further support her veterinary dreams. This summer, she even ran a 5k with one of the dogs from the shelter to raise money for its care.

Alyssa also volunteers at Project Avery, a support group for children with incarcerated loved ones. Alyssa stated, “I joined a support group, not thinking I would enjoy it. Within the first session, I fell in love with Avary- the people, the mission, all of it.” Alyssa currently works as a counselor for Project Avery and meets with children who have loved ones who are incarcerated. 

Titans are strong, proud, and stand out for their greatness and achievements. Our students' achievements and passions span far beyond academics, and we are proud of all they do! If you have an achievement or passion project you'd like to feature, please submit it Ms. Marsden at smarsden@imsa.edu.

Class of 2026

Your next LEAD elective module will take place on Wednesday, October, 25 2023, from 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Please bring a laptop, notebook, and writing utensils to every LEAD session. Please read through the 2023-24 LEAD Syllabus before Wednesday to review the attendance policy and upcoming modules. If you need an excused absence, email LEAD Program Coordinator, Ms. Emma Wilson, by Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Class of 2024

Please remember to be vigilant about logging your service learning hours and meeting the 200-hour service learning hour requirement. Emails indicating current service hour breakdowns are coming soon. If you have received an email from Ms. Emma Wilson regarding concern about your hours, please schedule a meeting or email as soon as possible!

Questions or concerns? Contact LEAD Program Coordinator Ms. Emma Wilson.

VNA Health Care will be on campus Wednesday, October 25 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Friday, October 27 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. to administer flu shots for students and any staff members who do not have health insurance through IMSA.

Staff members on IMSA's health insurance plan should wait for more information about the flu shots set up through HR.

Thank you to all the parents who volunteered and donated for the first Friday Fest on October 20. We served over 300 students!

Junior Parent Meeting

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Via Zoom

The CAC Office will host and provide a demo of Naviance.

Sophomore

Parent Meeting

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Via Google Meets

Titan To Go is a resource for students to discreetly order basic toiletries when they cannot replace them before a trip home. Students may select from the following items:



• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Toothpaste and Toothbrushes 
• Dental Floss 
• Deodorant 
• Menstrual products
• Hand soap 
• Body lotion 
• Facial tissues
• Lip balm  
• Contact lens cases

Requests are confidential and can be made by clicking on the button above. Requests received by 8:00 a.m. will be processed daily, Monday through Friday. You will pick up your items in a Smart Locker once you receive a notification that your package has been scanned in.

For more information, contact Michelle Bemis, Volunteer Coordinator for Titan To Go at mbemis@imsa.edu.

Mark Your Calendars! 

October 22 - 27 - Mental Health Initiatives Week

October 23 - Mental Health Assembly

October 27 - Band and Orchestra Concert

November 10 - Veterans Day Assembly

November 18 - Halls Close at 1:00 p.m.

November 20 - 21 - Virtual Engagement Days

November 22 - 26 - Thanksgiving Break

November 26 - Halls Open at 3:00 p.m.

ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY



1500 Sullivan Rd., Aurora, IL 60506-1000 |  630.907.5000 |  imsa.edu

To ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific

minds that advance the human condition.