February 27, 2024

Thank you to everyone who donated items for the Senior Auction. The Senior Class Club successfully raised over $9,000 towards their prom!

The CAC Office invites students and staff to join us for a college visit from Newcastle University in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Matt Larkin, Admissions Representative, will share information about Newcastle University and provide insight into applying to college(s) in the UK. Stop by and learn about college attendance options in the United Kingdom! 

Moderated by Anita Connors White, Ph.D.

Dr. White, Dean of Student Support and Equity, attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and received her doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC).

Meeting ID: 849 8406 5852 | Passcode: 970763

All items need to be paid for in full before pickup. If you have questions or concerns about your order, please contact Herff Jones at CustServ@HerffJonesIL.com or 815.756.4743. If students cannot pick up their merchandise on March 7, they can pick them up in the Principal's Office during school hours.

Students will need their IMSA ID to pick up their order. If you have not placed an order, extra cap and gown units will be sold at the event for $50 (cash only).

All graduates must have an approved cap and gown to participate in the Commencement Ceremony on June 1, 2024.

This year, graduating students will be able to adorn their graduation regalia with approved accessories.

With input from IMSA alumni and several student groups, the Principal's Office has established a process and criteria for approval, as well as a request form to be submitted by March 15, 2024. Please note the updated form below.

Seniors - get ready to book your Titan Thrift Prom Boutique appointment!

Titan Thrift’s Prom Boutique will be open to Seniors only from 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, and from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20. The Boutique will offer a variety of gently used men’s and women’s formalwear, business attire, and accessories.

On Wednesday, March 20, and Thursday, March 21, both the Prom Boutique and the Titan Thrift Shop will be open to all students from 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The Thrift Shop will offer a variety of casual clothing, household items, and giftable items. Cash and credit cards will be accepted on all three days.

So that we may provide a personalized shopping experience, Seniors must book an appointment for the Boutique. Senior Titans will receive an email from Sign Up Genius with instructions on how to book their appointment. Look for the invitation on or around March 1.

We are continuing to collect donations for both Titan Prom Boutique and Titan Thrift. We thank everyone who has generously donated to help our Titans sustainably shop on campus.

If you have any questions regarding the Titan Prom Boutique or Titan Thrift, please see Michelle Bemis in Student Life.

How to Use the Internet

for Academic Research

Presented by Librarian, Ms. James-Jenkin

Thursday, February 29, 2024

S&E Period

Ac Pit

Learn about all of the academic sources available to YOU! Come with questions! We are here to help.

This past week, IMSA colleagues came together during the extended weekend for Community Day. This is an opportunity to involve all of the adults at IMSA in conversations about our goals and growth areas. Since we operate around the clock, serving students 24 hours a day, this is one of the only times many colleagues have a chance to interact with each other.

The most recent Community Day focused on developing our next Equity and Excellence plan. Equity is the foundation of our daily efforts, so students can have a transformational experience at IMSA. We recognize that our students have different life circumstances. We aim to customize the experience for our students so they can excel, which requires understanding their backgrounds and identities. That's true for IMSA colleagues as well. The more they get to know and empathize with each other, the greater the spirit of appreciation and collaboration develops.

We will share our next Equity and Excellence Plan as it develops. In the meantime, please look at our progress from the past three years.

If you have thoughts on this topic or wish me to address others, please reach out to me at eglazer@imsa.edu.

Did you know?

The average high school wastes about 530,000 tons of food per year. Nationwide, about 40% of food made in the US is wasted. That’s about 160 billion dollars!

We can tell others about IMSA, but they might want to hear directly from you - our students. As a senior or rising junior, the story of your individual experience at IMSA has the potential to make a significant impact on the future of IMSA. As we strive to secure state funding for the aging residence halls and demonstrate IMSA's impact on your life, we can’t wait to hear your story.  

In a 60-second video selfie from your phone, please share your name and hometown and

• What experiences at IMSA have had the greatest impact on you 
• OR The best thing about IMSA

Upload your video, and we’ll enter you into a weekly drawing for a chance to win a $50 VISA Gift Card. Submissions will be accepted through February 29, 2024.

Select videos will be released digitally on imsa.edu and social media channels.

Johanna Frances Germo '24, a Mandarin 3 student, participated in the Chinese Language Association of Secondary Inaugural Schools Talent Show. Among thousands of students nationwide, Johanna excelled in the singing competition, securing third place with her outstanding performance in the Chinese language. Congratulations, Johanna!

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 occur on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. You will need a laptop, notebook, and writing utensils. Please read through the syllabus for your elective before Wednesday. Absences should be emailed to LEAD program coordinator Emma Wilson Parker (ewilson1@imsa.edu) Tuesday nights at 4:30 p.m., on top of following proper check-out procedures. If you have any questions or concerns, contact LEAD program coordinator Emma Wilson.

Class of 2024 Students and Parents

Please remember that all service hours must be submitted by May 21, 2024, to meet the graduation requirement. Seniors should take the time to log their service hours into Helper Helper as soon as possible so the hours can be approved by the site coordinator and entered into PowerSchool. The number of service hours displayed in PowerSchool shows what has been earned and logged toward your graduation requirement, so please be sure to check those hours regularly to make sure they match your records.

All sophomore students are required to attend the Student Leadership Exchange (SLX) to complete the LEAD program. SLX is a day-long event where students will present their LEAD projects surrounding social entrepreneurship, activism, and data journalism in correspondence with the UN's Sustainability Development Goals. and network with evaluators from IMSA and the wider community.

LEAD Evaluators Needed

LEAD is looking for evaluators for the Student Leadership Exchange (SLX) on April 24, 2024. Join us to assess Class of '26 projects on social entrepreneurship, activism, and data journalism aligned with the UN's Sustainability Development Goals. Evaluators can participate in person or virtually, with a preference for in-person. Please share this form with anyone interested in this opportunity!

Check out the new search engine from the Illinois of Gifted Children for local STEM enrichment opportunities for all ages. This search engine was developed by IMSA Senior, Michael Meng '24!

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! 

March 8 - Choir Concert

March 15 - Band Concert

March 22 - Quarter 3 Ends

March 23 - Halls Close at 1:00 p.m.

March 24 - April 1 - Spring Break

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.