March 12, 2024

Read this month's Student Affairs Newsletter, which includes important information about Spring Break checkout procedures.

Science Olympiad

The Science Olympiad Team dominated the Harper College Science Olympiad Regional Tournament! They came in first place for the entire region and qualified for the State Championship at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

FTC TITAN Robotics

IMSA's FTC Robotics Team recently won the First Place Connect Award at their Regional competition and advanced to state! At state, the team won both the 2nd Place Promote Award and the 3rd Place Motivate Award, recognizing their outreach work in spreading STEM and robotics programs both locally and globally.

The IMSA FRC Titan Robotics team is hosting three fundraisers for their upcoming Central Illinois Regional Competition in Peoria, Illinois. Stop by any of these three restaurants in Peoria, Illinois during the dates provided to support the team!

Chess Team

After their impressive performance at the State Tournament, the IMSA Chess team was recognized by the Illinois Chess Coaches Association as the highest-performing team in the 3A Division.

Congratulations to the team on an impressive and successful season!

Mod21

Mod21, IMSA’s student-run a cappella group, recently competed in the selective quarterfinals for the Varsity Vocals International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA). The group placed in the top 10 in the competition out of 50 schools in the Great Lakes Region. Their competition set included the following songs:

“West Coast” by One Republic - arranged by Aditya Prashanth ‘24, soloed by Fedora Noya ‘26

“Jealous” by Labrinth - arranged & soloed by Johanna Frances Germo ‘24

“Come Alive” from The Greatest Showman - arranged & soloed by Ayobami Ajayi ‘24

Johanna Frances Germo '24 won Outstanding Arrangement for “Jealous.” All three songs were choreographed by Donovan Morrow '24 and Sriya Mudumba '24. Watch their performance here.

Table Tennis

The IMSA Table Tennis team took fourth place at the State Tournament. This is the first time IMSA has qualified for the tournament in 5 years. Faizaan Shaikh ‘24 went undefeated at the tournament, defeating the #1 players from the winning schools. This continued his undefeated streak during the regular season.

IMSA Table Tennis team also attended the second annual Illinois vs. Wisconsin Tournament, which featured the top players from each state. Faizaan Shaikh '24 and Vikram Rao ‘24 represented IMSA in the tournament, going undefeated in doubles and only losing one match in singles.

The IMSA Table Tennis Club wants to continue this spirit by hosting an IMSA-wide doubles tournament with their brand-new competition-regulated tables. Find your partner, start practicing, and watch for more information!

If you have any questions regarding SPARK or Wellness Week, please contact Stephanie Broy. 

SPARK, in collaboration with the counseling, wellness, and health teams, is excited to host a Wellness Fair to promote mental and physical well-being. Resources and treats will be available!

Hear from Adam Campos, a licensed clinical social worker from Riverview Child and Family Therapy on “Supporting Healthy Ways to Manage Emotions.” Learn about manageable strategies to help move through challenging emotions, manage stress, and promote calm. Concepts that increase self-compassion and improve positive self-talk will also be discussed. The presentation will take place from

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the Wellness Fair 

The Black Student Union is hosting a merch fundraiser for their culture show, Asante! Sweatshirts will be $25.00 and T-shirts will be $15.00. Sizes S-4XL are available. The items will be available for purchase on the following dates:

March 18: Midday and 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

March 19: Midday and 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. (Cash Only)

March 21: Midday and 4:30 -5:30 p.m. (Cash Only)

The merch will be distributed the week of the show. If parents are interested in purchasing the design, please let your student know so they can help you purchase one!

Designed by Ebba Kaulus '24

IMSAloquium is an annual public event in which the IMSA community showcases research and other innovative work done during the year. Students in the Student Inquiry and Research, Business Internship, RISE, Independent Studies, and Intersession Programs present their completed and ongoing research. This year, over 275 students will present their investigations in a live classroom setting and conclude with an in-person poster session.

This year’s keynote address will be given by Kishor Kapale, Ph.D. Dr. Kapale is a Physics Professor from Western Illinois University. He was an integral part of the Promise 2.0 pilot program last summer, and he is currently part of the IMSA parent community. His research interests include Theoretical Quantum Optics, Atom Optics, and Quantum Information Science.

The Muslim Student Association and Lexington have created a food service system for those fasting for Ramadan (March 10, 2024 – April 9, 2024). 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. Students can also grab their food for Suhur (meal before sunrise) and extra meals/late-night snacks at the same time. Lexington will provide a variety of foods such as bagels, egg sandwiches, yogurt, fresh fruits, and more.

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.

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.

IMSA Class of 2024 Yard Signs

Purchase a yard sign for your graduate! Standard signs are $15, and custom signs with your student's first name are $25 (limited supply).

You can order multiple signs if you would like some for grandparents, relatives, guardians, or friends who are celebrating this milestone with you.

Senior Banquet Tickets

If you have not registered for the Senior Banquet or reserved a hotel room for the weekend (if needed) please check out the Senior Banquet Page for registration and reservation details. Please complete the registration if you are not attending so we can release your seats. Registration closes on April 1.  

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!

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.

Movement for Mental Health

Presented by Alex Pratt

Thursday, March 14, 2024

S&E Period

Multi-Purpose Room

Did you know that movement can positively improve your physical and mental health? Come boost your mood in a safe and friendly environment with School Counselor and fitness instructor, Alex Pratt!

When I was a student, I aspired to get A’s in everything. I don’t think I was a perfectionist, but rather felt my success was based on high performance. As I grew older, though, I realized that performance came at a cost. For some students, it’s their mental health. For me, it was a matter of dedicating a lot of time to some things I didn’t feel passionate about. Eventually, I realized my time to do things I enjoyed was more important, so I accepted having a lower grade in a few courses. I used that time to engage in community service activities, which in turn brought more joy to my life. I think my joy for service compelled me to be an educator.

I think it’s important that parents/guardians find time to ask their children what brings them joy, and what sacrifices they are willing to make. For some students, it could be accepting lower grades, and for others, it could be taking a break from certain activities. The key is they don’t need to do it all, but instead, do some things well, and hopefully those things relate to their passions. I think helping students recognize their limitations at this point in their lives will guide them into making better decisions as they enter adulthood. Often our imbalance — our distinctive qualities — shape our identity. Have a conversation with your student about how they manage their time, and during this discussion, perhaps help them recognize it’s ok to be imperfect.

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

At IMSA, we believe in transforming lives by transcending educational boundaries through innovation and inquiry. Sometimes that happens in the classroom and sometimes outside the classroom. This past winter we provided students with an opportunity to apply for a grant through the Stephanie Pace Marshall Endowment for student-led opportunities that reflect innovation in the learning experience, residential experience, and community/cultural experience. It was great to read all of the submissions and see so many student-led ideas for enhancing services and programs at IMSA. Check out a summary of all of the award winners. We wish them great success in their efforts.

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”

Rachel Coutinho '25 was a finalist at the 2024 Virtual Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, where she delivered a presentation on "The Effects of Different Prosthetic Foot and Ankle Stiffness Combinations on Transfemoral Prosthesis Users." The presentation encompassed two key components of her research: mechanical testing and roll-over shape testing.

Rachel's research explores the valuable correlation between stiffness and roll-over shape, offering potential applications for doctors and patients. The data gathered from the study can assist in enhancing the experiences of prosthetic users during both walking and standing.

Jayram Palamadai '25 had the honor of speaking at the 2024 Python Developers Conference. In his presentation titled "Decoding Algorithmic Artistry: Navigating the Technical Landscape of Visual Generative AI," he discussed diffusion-based text-to-3D scene generation through direct voxel grid optimization. In simpler terms, he is working to develop software capable of producing fully interactive 3D scenes based on textual prompts.

Caela Gnutek currently works as a Resident Counselor in 1505. Caela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of St. Francis, and an Associate's Degree in Applied Science in Computer Programming. Before coming to IMSA, Caela participated in an internship at NASA through the Lucy internship program at ASU, the Mission Concept Academy and the NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience as a former L'SPACE participant. As an alumnus of NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars, she has demonstrated her passion for aerospace and discovery.

Caela still participates in NASA-funded research in addition to her role as a Resident Counselor. Caela is also a certified nursing assistant and spends her free time as a hobby musician, model rocketeer, and writer.

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.

Did you know that recycling one ton of paper saves around 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and prevents 60 pounds of air pollution? Embracing sustainable paper practices not only conserves vital resources but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, contributing positively to environmental preservation and combating climate change. By opting for recycled paper and printing less, we can significantly lessen our ecological footprint and promote a greener, more sustainable future.

Class of 2026

Your next LEAD elective module will occur on Wednesday, March 13, 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.