March 5, 2024

E-Sports

The E-Sports team competed in their Winter Season Playoff tournament at NIU over the weekend. After competing against over 365 students from 82 schools, the top 64 players faced off in the competition.  Andrew Nelson '25 took 17th place and Will Reynolds '25 took 4th place. Congratulations to the entire team for a great season!

Pictured above: Andrew Nelson '25, Brian Leong '25, Will Reynolds '25, David Garcia '26, and advisor Cesar Patino

Mock Trail

IMSA's Mock Trial club competed in its first off-campus scrimmage against area teams on Saturday, March 2, at the Niles North Viking Scramble. IMSA's Titans turned heads in competition as the only self-coached and self-taught team at the event, where 18 public and private schools were represented. We proudly announce that Ria Bakshi '26 won the Best Attorney medal for her performance, and Dominic Tous '26 medalled for Best Witness. Our other competitors were Paul Ratasuk '26, Ivan Xie '26, Iain Gore '24, Raghav Sinha '24, Titania Ward '26, Owen Larkin '26, and Sonya Patel '26, chaperoned by their sponsor, Ms. Tracy Townsend. Congratulations, IMSA Mock Trial!

Model UN

Last Saturday, the Model UN Team competed at the Lyons Township Model UN event. Congratulations to the following students who were awarded in their categories:

• Sabriya Attia '24 - Ukraine in UNESCO
• Winston Mattson '24 - Kourtney Kardashian in Kardashians Kabinet
• Neev Patel '25 - William Samuel Jackson in Constitutional Convention
• Sydney Hunter '25 - China in Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Audrey Miller '25 - Judge Nawaf Salam in ICJ

The Muslim Student Association and Lexington have created a food service system for those fasting for Ramadan. This year, sunset will occur during Lexington dinner hours for the first week and a half of Ramadan. However, when sunset occurs after dinner hours, students who are fasting can go to Lexington during dinner hours and take their food in a to-go box. The hot meal comes with dates, water, and the meal itself.

Students can also grab their food for Suhur (meal before sunrise) at the same time. Lexington will provide a variety of foods such as bagels, egg sandwiches, yogurt, fresh fruits, and more. Last year, students mentioned that they were hungry at night, so Lexington will also provide an extra meal/late-night snack that can be taken from the cooler (as much food as you need from the breakfast foods).

In order for Lexington to make a sufficient amount of food, we need an accurate count of students fasting this year. Forms were sent to students via email. If your student will be observing Ramadan, please make sure they have filled out the form. MSA will add them to a group chat for any updates or information regarding the food service.

Reach out to Maggie DiMarco or Zuyu Liu for any questions.

Monthly PAC Meeting

March 16, 2024

10:30 a.m.

Virtual Only

Parent Meetings



Parent meetings for all grade levels will occur this week. Please check the IMSA PAC calendar or our Facebook page for details on how to join the meetings.

Senior Banquet Tickets

The Senior Banquet is at 50% capacity and we will be limiting ticket sales soon. Please secure your seat if you have not already done so. If you are not attending, please complete the RSVP and indicate you will not be in attendance so we can sell your seats to those who need extra seats. Visit the Senior Banquet page on the IMSA PAC website.

Krispy Kreme IMSA Fundraiser 

Purchase a dozen donuts for $14. All proceeds will go towards the end-of-the-year gift to IMSA from the Parents Association. Previous gifts to IMSA include:



• Deep-sided carts for wing/halls to use with dorm move-in and move-out 
• Lanyards for parent ID's
• Camera and puck microphones for classroom zoom calls

Contribute to a Cultural Experience

PAC Executive Board Nominations

IMSA PAC is seeking nominations for the 2024-2025 Executive Board through March 31, 2024. Nominate yourself to serve as an officer on the Executive Board using this Nomination Form or review the Committee Committee Bylaws.

Please check www.IMSAPAC.org for updates to our programs or to view the calendar so you don't miss events this spring!

The ITS HelpDesk Team has seen several computer problems that can be corrected and/or avoided by regularly rebooting or restarting devices. On average, 85% of computer issues can be resolved or avoided by simply rebooting or restarting the computer regularly. Just like the human body needs rest to clear its mind, a computer needs the same thing to clear its memory. This is true of Macintosh, Linux, Windows, and cellphone operating systems like iPhone iOS and Android.

IMSA IT Staff recommends that you restart your laptop, tablet devices, and phones at least once a week. Shutting down the devices for a few minutes is also recommended.

Restarting your laptop is not as simple as just pressing the power button. In most cases for laptops, this just puts the device to sleep, which is not the same as restarting or shutting down. Follow the directions below to properly shut down your devices.

For Macintosh Computers:

• Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen
• A menu will pop up
• Click on: “Restart…”
• Click the Restart button

For Windows Computers:

• Click on the Windows icon in the lower-left corner of the screen
• Click on the Power button icon
• Click on: “Restart”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced updates to the isolation and quarantine guidelines for COVID-19 as Americans’ immunity increases and hospital admissions decline.

A mandatory 5-day isolation is no longer required after a person tests positive for Covid-19. A person may resume activities, including returning to school or work, once fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications. Common sense precautions should still be taken for 5 days after returning to normal activities, including wearing a mask, providing physical distancing, washing hands frequently, and taking steps for cleaner air.

Steps that each one of us can take to keep the IMSA community safe and healthy year-round include:



• Vaccinate against flu and Covid every year. 
• Properly wash your hands or use hand sanitizer
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow
• Cleaning and sanitizing hard surfaces
• Take steps for cleaner air
• Stay home and away from others when you have a fever, chills, cough, fatigue, runny nose, or headache that are not explained by another cause
• Wear a mask if you have a cough or runny nose
• Maintain physical distance from others who appear to be ill
• Get tested if you have respiratory symptoms 

Masks will continue to be available in the Health Office and Residence Halls.

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 Prom Boutique will offer a variety of gently used men’s and women’s formalwear, business attire, and accessories.
• Titan 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 have received an email from Sign Up Genius with instructions on how to book their appointment.

We continue collecting 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 questions regarding the Titan Prom Boutique or Titan Thrift, please see Michelle Bemis in Student Life.

Essay Tips and Tricks

Presented by The Writing Center

Thursday, March 7, 2024

S&E Period

Ac Pit

Do you struggle with starting an essay using a writing prompt? How do you know what each teacher wants in an essay? When you revise, should you fix the specific errors your teacher pointed out in your essay, or do you need to do more? How do you include citations using APA style?

Get tips on how to tackle these issues and more from IMSA's very own Writing Center Tutors! You'll have time to ask your own writing questions as well.

Most of you recognize IMSA as a place that supports the growth and development of your students. We want them to thrive here and do remarkable things after they graduate. IMSA is also responsible for advancing education around the state through our professional services. For example, we offer a STEM micro certification program to help educators at schools across the state improve their skills in ways that align with IMSA's mission and philosophy. 

Many of us also present at professional conferences and offer workshops to educators. We want to share the ideas we are testing and make them useful for schools all over. We set goals yearly to broaden our participation and the people we reach at other schools. One example was offering an Institute Day at IMSA on March 1, where teachers from all over Kane and Dupage counties spent the day at IMSA to pick up new ideas from over 30 IMSA colleagues. Check out the program. Also, look at our educator website if you want to connect with our professional development programs, and feel free to reach out to our team at outeach@imsa.edu if you would like us to offer a workshop in the future.

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

The ACLU club at IMSA works to educate students about their civil liberties and constitutional rights, and one of the hallmarks of American democracy is the right to vote!

Many teenagers may feel intimidated by the voter registration process, especially if they plan to attend college out of state, thus surrendering their right to participate in democracy. Youth voters consistently have lower voter turnout than older demographics. The ACLU of IMSA is working to combat this in the coming primaries and general election. 

The ACLU club has created a presentation about navigating voter registration in some of the most common states where IMSA students attend college.

Shivani Chirumamilla '24 recently wrote an exposé unveiling the deceptive greenwashing practices of the tobacco industry. Her research was recently accepted for publication by the British Medical Journal, the world's leading tobacco control journal. Shivani collaborated with her mentor, Dr. Robert K. Jackler and their research has been embraced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the global efforts to combat the tobacco epidemic. This honor is almost unprecedented for a student paper.

In recognition of the impact of her research, she has been selected as the sole youth delegate to present her findings this May at the World Health Organizations's10th Conference of Parties for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Panama. As the youngest policy advocate in a delegation of international experts, she will participate in sessions testifying for global action to prevent tobacco-related morbidity worldwide.

Dr. Angie Ahrendt has been a member of the IMSA science faculty since 2015. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from UIUC and subsequently spent six years at the Amoco Research Center. Following that, she obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from NIU. During her tenure at Amoco Corporation, Dr. Ahrendt specialized in elemental analysis of solids, liquids, and gases.



After completing her Ph.D., she dedicated nine years to working at Argonne National Laboratory. There, she focused on molecular biology and the protein engineering of antibodies, fluorescent proteins, and protein nanosensors. Currently, Dr. Ahrendt brings her extensive knowledge and practical experience to the classroom, where she teaches Scientific Inquiries in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Environmental Chemistry.

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, March 5, 2024, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. You will need a laptop, notebook, and writing utensils. Absences should be emailed to LEAD program coordinator Emma Wilson Parker (ewilson1@imsa.edu) on Tuesday nights at 4:30 p.m. 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 '25!

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 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.