September 19, 2023

Join us for Family Day this Saturday, September 23, 2023.

Last Thursday, we spent time orienting students and families on IMSA 2033: Elevating IMSA Everywhere (see the slide deck presentation). Our thematic priorities include Leadership in AI, Rebuilding Residential Life, Creating Diploma Options, Expanding Higher Ed and Industry Partnerships, and Developing Innovation Hubs. With a ten-year vision, we are mindful of addressing how a long-term plan affects students and families at IMSA.

One way is to express interest in contributing to our working groups for a particular theme or connecting us to a professional or institution/company that will help us move these efforts forward. Please complete this form if you would like to get involved. In addition, we are opening calls for proposals for an innovation grant opportunity for our students interested in artificial intelligence. Recipients will receive resources focusing on learning, experimenting, developing, testing applications/tools, exploring ethical implications, and educational outreach efforts in artificial intelligence. Applications are due October 6, 2023. All grant recipients will be expected to produce a professional artifact and/or outreach activity that can be shared with audiences within and/or beyond IMSA. 

Please contact me at eglazer@imsa.edu if you have thoughts on this topic or a topic you'd like me to address in future newsletters.

Dr. Glazer’s math help sessions are on Mondays during 2nd mod in the math resource center.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Via Zoom

The College and Academic Counseling office will host a Financial Aid presentation featuring Paul Daly, an Investment Advisor from OMH Partner Group. He will share information on preparing for the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) and College Board's CSS Profile, as well as helpful financial tips for filing for financial aid. There will be time for questions after the presentation. This webinar is geared toward junior and senior students and their families. Faculty and staff are also welcome to attend.  

Have you considered being a paid sponsor for an IMSA Co-Curricular? IMSA is seeking an individual to act as an official sponsor for the Future Business Leaders of America Co-Curricular. 

This role would include scheduling, facilitating, and traveling with the students to various off-campus FBLA competitions and on-campus meetings and practices. 

If you are interested, please reach out to Chris Moment, Coordinator of Athletics & Co-Curriculars 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:

"Benefits of Staying Fit"

Hosted by Mr. Moore

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Support and Engagement Period)

Fitness Center

IMSA's Student Council is dedicated to voicing student opinions and facilitating the best learning and residential environment for the IMSA community. We work on projects that affect Academics, Residential Life, Lexington (food), Student Health, Clubs, and Communications. If you have any ideas or concerns, reach out to Maggie Dimarco '24 (mdimarco@imsa.edu) and Zuyu Liu '24 (zliu@imsa.edu).

See what StudCo has been working on this week!

Monday, October 2, 2023

4:30 p.m.

IRC (Library)

Please join us for our first Read-In of the year recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month. What is a Read-In, you ask? Great question! A Read-In is an event where members of the IMSA community get together to recognize and highlight literature from underrepresented authors and artists. You, too, can share a poem or an excerpt from a reading if you'd like.  

This year, we have Spoken Word Artist Michael Reyes sharing original pieces! 

Parenting gifted students is filled with many unique challenges. The Illinois Association of Gifted Children (IAGC) is hosting a Parent Conference to provide resources for supporting gifted and twice-exceptional students. If you are interested, please see the attached flyer with more information on topics and registration.

Student Spotlight

Michael Meng '24 has used his web programming skills to develop an academic enrichment engine for the Illinois Association of Gifted Children (IAGC). Micheal collaborated on this project with some recent IMSA grads. The search engine they created allows anyone to share and search for free and scholarship-based learning opportunities around the State of Illinois. Families engaged in gifted or extension programs are encouraged to share opportunities that are available in their communities in this new portal.

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.

Class of 2026

Your next LEAD elective module will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 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.

On behalf of IMSA's Principal's Office, we invite you to submit proposals for IMSA's 2024 Intersession. The full Intersession Proposal Guidelines and Proposal Forms can be found on IMSA's Intersession page.  

Intersession proposals are welcomed from current and former IMSA faculty and staff, current and former IMSA Board members, current and former IMSA parents, alumni, and other professional/academic IMSA partners, so feel free to share this information with anyone who may be interested! Please note that current IMSA students may participate as Additional Facilitators in a session but may not be the Primary Facilitator who submits the proposal.

The deadline to submit a proposal is

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Paul Gaszak at pgaszak@imsa.edu. 

The Fall 2023 Final Exam Schedule is now available. Final exams must be taken during the assigned time slots. If a student has two or more exams during the same time slot, please contact the Principal’s Office at prinoffc@imsa.edu. If a student has three or more exams on the same day, the student has the option to send a request to the Principal’s Office to take one or more of the exams on a different date.

Note that changes to this schedule may occur prior to December 18. Double-check the schedule the week prior to finals.

Mark Your Calendars! 

September 18 - 23 - Homecoming Week

September 22 - Shortened Class Schedule for Pep Rally; Homecoming Soccer Game

September 23 - Parent Day and Homecoming Dance

October 6 - First Quarter Ends

October 7 - Halls Close at 1:00 p.m.

October 7 - 14 - Fall Break

October 15 - Halls Open at 3:00 p.m.