September 10, 2024

Titan Tuesdays are packed with valuable information. Depending on your email settings, you may need to click "Display Images" to see the full content of Titan Tuesday. If you ever need to refer back to a previous edition, you can find all the information in our Titan Tuesday Archive.

SAVE THE DATE

Family Day

Saturday, September 28, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

On Campus

We are pleased to invite families to the Fall 2024 Family Day! Look for an email with registration forms and a personalized schedule next week. Please complete the forms before the event, as this will help save time during check-in.

Parents can visit the informational tables in the CAC Commons, IRC, and IN2 during the open mods in their schedules to get to know other departments and individuals from campus. Lunch will be available in the cafeteria for $5 (cash only).

*NEW* STEM Program for Siblings

IMSA's Center for Teaching and Learning will host STEM programming for any younger siblings in grades K-8 who will be attending Family Day. The program will be held in the West Gym from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The program is free, but pre-registration is mandatory. Register your K-8 student here!

Titan Thrift is bringing sustainable shopping to campus. The Titan Thrift Shop offers homecoming attire, business professional clothing, cold-weather apparel, decorations to make your room cozy, and an assortment of vintage IMSA items. Who knows what you may find - that’s the joy of thrifting!

Student-Only Shopping Hours

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Student Union

Open to the Academy

Thursday, September 12, 2024

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Student Union

Purchases can be made with cash, credit, or a debit card. There will be a small service charge for each credit or debit transaction. Thank you to everyone who has donated items to Titan Thrift.

Please note that the Student Union will be unavailable for student use from September 10 through 12 during the Titan Thrift Shop.

• When you are tardy you must stop in the Attendance/CAC office to get a pass.
• If you feel your attendance record is incorrect, please speak to your teacher. If there needs to be a correction, the teacher will contact attendance.
• If you are signed out from your hall and will miss school, you must have your parents call the attendance office.
• While students are on campus, parents can not call a student off for any health reason. Students must go see the nurse. Only the Health Office can excuse students for health reasons while on campus.
• If you are home due to illness, you must have your parents call you in.
• If you are off campus for another reason (like a college visit or doctor's appointment) you must have your parents call you in. All college visits must be pre-approved by your CAC.
• Any pre-arranged absence that exceeds 3 academic days must have special approval from Dr. White.

Campus Security invites all students to join the Student Safety Committee. The Student Safety Committee meets in IN2 on the second Monday of each month. All students are encouraged to contribute their thoughts on how to keep campus safe. We look forward to your involvement!

The CAC office is pleased to welcome the following colleges during Thursday's S&E period. Seniors and Juniors can stop by and meet representatives from these schools. Sophomores may attend if there are less than 10 students at the visit. Room assignments for the visits will be posted outside of the CAC Office.

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

The University of Arizona

Tuscon, Arizona

College Planning - Financial Aid

As students explore what college is right for them, they can use the information provided by the College and Academic Counselors to understand the cost of college and how to apply for financial aid.

Do you need help with a class during evening hours? Work with a peer tutor! 

Students can work with any tutor from any hall by reaching out to Peer Tutors through their profile information (see the button below) or visiting tutors during their scheduled shifts.  

Each hall commons has a whiteboard where tutors will write their names and subjects during their shifts. In addition, a bulletin board in both the halls and CAC Commons will have information on upcoming review sessions, peer tutor profiles, and more!  

Please reach out to the Peer Tutor Liaison, Caleb Schlesser, or Ms. Keck if you have any questions regarding the peer tutor program.

Thank you to Vincent You '25 for creating the Peer Tutor website!

Meet the Peer Tutors

Thursday, September 12, 2025

1:55 - 2:35 p.m. (During S&E)

Ac Pit

Meet the Peer Tutors and learn the best ways of contacting them during their shifts.

Campus Evening Hours

The following spaces will be open for student use in the evenings starting this week:

IRC

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday

6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Fitness Center

Wednesdays

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

IN2

Monday through Thursday

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Writing Center Hours

The Writing Center opens TODAY! Students can stop in A109 (next to the CAC Office) to get help on written assignments and work with Writing Center Tutors.

Hours of Operation

A, B, and C Days: 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

I Days: 10:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

D Days: 9:00 a.m. - 4:20 p.m.

Reducing Test Anxiety

Going into a test can be an experience that provokes nerves for most students, which is normal. Tests are always going to be a part of any class. So, what can we do to help minimize the anxiety we feel when going into tests? Here are some helpful ideas for you to try:

• Find a study pattern that works for you – Figuring out how you study best can help you feel more prepared and relaxed going into the exam.
• Exercise while studying – When studying, make time to take breaks, go for a walk, or do something active, as it can help you retain information and release tension.
• Study in a test-like environment – Make your study space like the environment you will test in, so you can practice how to stay focused.
• Practice relaxation techniques – This looks like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, and closing your eyes and imagining a positive outcome.
• Come talk to a counselor – We can help you manage anxieties and stress, just come talk to us! Email us at counseling@imsa.edu

Tristan Robb

Counseling Intern

Group Fitness Classes

There are now two weekly fitness opportunities for staff and students! No registration is required, just show up with workout clothes, shoes, and water. Email Counselor/Group Fitness Instructor Alex Pratt at apratt@imsa.edu with any questions.

Weight Lifting

Mondays

1:55 - 2:35 p.m. (S&E Period)

Multipurpose Room

This class is designed for:

• Anyone who wants to learn weight lifting exercises and proper technique in a safe and fun environment.
• Anyone who loves working out and weight lifting.
• Anyone who doesn't love weight lifting, but wants weekly motivation to do it and get stronger!

Group Fitness Class

Every Wednesday or I Day

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Multipurpose Room

This class will:

• Incorporate cardio, strength, and core exercises
• Be a full-body workout class that challenges you and helps you meet your fitness goals
• Make you feel like a Superhero when you are finished

I-Day Yoga

12:00 p.m. -12:45 p.m.

East Balcony (Gym)

I-Day Swim

1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

Enter the pool through the locker rooms.

If you have your lifeguard certification and you're interested in earning service hours during I-Day Swim, email your certification information to Mr. Lundgren.

At IMSA, we like to promote the notion that curiosity is essential to an IMSA experience. It sets the tone that students have the liberty to recommend and pursue a distinctive pathway that might not be available in their hometown. It also suggests that discovery is possible if you start with questions, and after considerable investigation and analysis, those discoveries can lead to profound new perspectives, groundbreaking inventions, and opportunities for great impact.

Inquiry is also a necessary component of curiosity that I want to encourage between families and IMSA staff. When confronted with a new situation or challenging conflict, I sometimes hear students and family members offer opinions and advocate for specific outcomes. Instead, I encourage you to start with questions. It will place you in a position where you want to learn more, understand better, and hear an additional perspective. That process of creating empathy often yields a deeper appreciation to support our students, knowing we are working together to create a great experience. 

I know many of your questions get answered by our team. However, please don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions to learn more about what's possible at IMSA.

Sophomores should bring their laptops, a notebook, and a writing utensil to every LEAD session. Please review the syllabus for your elective by Wednesday to familiarize yourself with the attendance policy and upcoming modules. Attendance is mandatory. Any absences should be reported via email to LEAD Program Coordinator Emma Wilson Parker by Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

All members of the IMSA student body must complete a Cyber Safety and Security Course within the first few weeks of the new school year. This self-paced course delivered via IMSA’s Canvas environment must be completed by September 30. It should take about an hour to complete. Failure to complete this course by the deadline may result in disciplinary action(s).

To log in to Canvas:

• Go to the web page: https://imsa.edu/scs
• Click on the button for Canvas
• Login using your IMSA username and password
• Select the IMSA ITS Cyber Safety and Security Course – Students from the available titles

All IMSA students must register their primary computing device (laptop) and any desktop computer with Information Technology Services. Juniors and seniors are expected to re-register their computing devices each school year. Failure to do so may result in the student being unable to access certain vital computing resources, like printers on campus.

To register a student’s computing device:

• Go to the web page: https://imsa.edu/scs
• Find the instructions for the student’s computing device's operating system
• Follow the instructions to complete the registration

IMSA Senior Shashi Salavath's research, "A Dynamic-Parameter Application for ICI-induced irAE Management through Digital Health Twinning and RAG," has been accepted at the IEEE 17th International Conference on Computer Science and Information Technology. 

Shashi will present his work in Dubai, UAE, in October, continuing to collaborate internationally to mainstream personalized and adaptive computational healthcare solutions in global healthcare practices. Shashi already traveled to Malaga, Spain last summer to present at the 24th International Conference on Computational Science (ICCS), where he was the youngest presenter in the conference's history.

In this section of Titan Tuesday, we would like to take a moment to recognize the Impact Makers, who go above and beyond to make a positive difference in the IMSA Community. This week's IMSA Impact Maker is Dr. Peter Dong, who serves as physics faculty and works with SIR students.

An IMSA parent recently recounted how Dr. Dong had positively impacted their student's research experience through the SIR Program, teaching students valuable lessons outside of the classroom. When their student said that Dr. Dong provided thank you cards for students to give to their SIR mentors, the parent stated,

"That moment deeply moved me and brought tears to my eyes. Instead of tens or hundreds of parents at the bus stop teaching the students how to show gratitude, Dr. Dong is there representing all of us."

The parent went on to state,

"I also want to thank Dr. Dong for guiding Sebastian in finding his SIR project mentor in the summer of 2023. One day during the summer break, Sebastian told me he talked to Dr. Dong on the phone and his family was eating lunch at the time. I was very grateful that Dr. Dong was willing to answer a call from his student during the summer break....Dr. Dong kept on communicating with him by email, guiding him on what to do next, and proofreading his emails before he sent them out. When Sebastian exhausted all the leads towards the end of summer break, Dr. Dong encouraged him not to give up and keep looking. With this advice, he was able to find a mentor at Argonne Lab."

Thank you, Dr. Dong, for your time and patience in impacting the lives of IMSA students!

-Nominated By Yan Xu (Parent of Sebastian Mark '25)

Nominate an IMSA Impact Maker

Do you know a faculty or staff member who has made an impact on your experience at IMSA, has inspired you, or helped you form interests for your future plans? Now is your chance to recognize them! We are looking for nominations to feature adults in our community who have made a positive difference. Help us find IMSA Impact Makers and celebrate their efforts.

To nominate someone, simply email officeofpublicaffairs@imsa.edu and share how this individual has made an impact. Let’s take this opportunity to highlight the dedication and hard work of our amazing faculty and staff!

September 22 - Admissions Tours

September 23 - 28 - Homecoming Week

September 28 - Parent Day

September 28 - Homecoming Dance

Click below to view the complete 12-month calendar, along with other helpful information about various bell schedules. Please refer to these calendars for important dates and special class schedules throughout the year.

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.