March 10 2014, Issue 25 Irmo Middle School 6051 Wescott Road Columbia, SC 29212 (803) 476-3600 www.lexrich5.

org/ims School Hours: 8:20 a.m.-3:35 p.m.

The Buzz at Irmo Middle School Creating successful students for the challenges of tomorrow
Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal rsjackso@lexrich5.org https://twitter.com/IMS_Principal

Inside this issue:

Pass Testing Info 1-5 Saluda Shoals Art Show 6 Garage Sale 7 B Team Baseball 8 Chinese Bridge 9

Choice Notifications
All Choice notifications will be sent out to parents on Tuesday, 3/11. If you applied via email, you will be notified via email. Otherwise, you will be notified by mail. Parents will have until March 17th to accept or decline the choice. If received electronically, you will electronically accept or decline.

******************************************************** Pass Writing8 Days and Counting

Dear Students, Parents and Guardians, We have 8 days and counting until the state of South Carolina PASS Writing Exams. The writing tests (at Irmo Middle School) for grades 7 & 8 are administered over two days (March 18th and 19th). The writing assessment is aligned to the 2008 ELA standards. For one section, students will respond to a non-text dependent prompt (same style as in the past). For the other writing section students will select answers to multiple-choice editing questions. Students will be able to use a dictionary or thesaurus in responding to the prompt, but not for the multiple-choice items. Below, we have included sample writing items, a sample answer document, and the final rubric so you can partner with us and work with your child at home.

Dates to Remember: Gold Week No CHP This Week

Tues March 11 -Stud Govt 7:45-8:15 Room 713 Wed March 12 -B Team Baseball game @ home vs. Dreher 6 PM Fri March 14 -Strive for 5 Celebration -FCA 7:35-8:05 Rm 603 Sat March 15 -Step Team Comp @ WJ Keenan HS 5 PM -B Team Baseball game @ Chapin 12 PM

Sample Writing Items:

Sample Writing Items PASS by irmomiddle

If you have any news you would like to see in the Buzz, email Allison Redick at aredick@lexrich5.org.

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Sample Answer Document =>

Sample Writing Answer Document by irmomiddle

Final Rubric
To help your student prepare for the test, we have included the following tips: The Night Before the Test 1. Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep the night before the test. 2. Plan ahead to avoid problems before the test so he/she doesn't go to bed upset. 3. Tell your child you know tests can be hard, but that taking them gives him/her a chance to show how well he/she can do. 4. Be encouraging -- let your child know you think he/she will do well on the test. 5. Consider playing an educational game like ScrabbleTM to help your child get into the testing spirit. The Morning of the Test 1. Have your child get up early enough to avoid hurrying. Get them to school on time. Testing will begin at 8:20am! Do not schedule any medical appointments or early dismissals these two days (March 18th and 19th). 2. Make sure your child has a good breakfast on the morning of the test. 3. Have your child dress in something comfortable and familiar. Please don't allow them to bring blankets, pillows, etc... as these are distractions to the testing environment. 4. Urgent - Keep all electronic devices at home these two days. They cannot be in the student's possession per test security guidelines. 5. Be positive when you send your child to school. 6. Make sure he/she goes to school on the day of the test (make-ups are difficult to arrange). After the Test 1. Reward your child for trying hard on the test. 2. Talk with your child about what was learned from the test. 3. Talk with your child about what can be done between now and the next time a test is given to improve their performance. When you receive your child's test results: 1. Don't compare his/her performance to a sibling or a friend's child. 2. Point out your child's strong areas and how proud you are. 3. Talk about the areas of need and how the family can work together to improve those areas. 4. Discuss with your child's counselor any questions you or your child have about the test or the results Our teachers have worked hard with students all year long. We are confident that they are ready to show everyone that we remain #IrmoSTRONG!

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Check Out the Winning Artwork

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Annual Garage Sale IMS Special Education Department Saturday, March 29, 2014, 8AM - Noon Proceeds benefit the Special Education Programs at IMS

We are in need of items to sell.

If you have done some Spring cleaning and would like to donate those GENTLY used items. Smaller, lightweight items may be sent to school with your child. Students may take items to a teacher in the Special Education Department or to the front office at the beginning of the school day. Parents may drop off items at the front office during school hours any day before March 29.

Larger, bulkier items should be dropped off at IMS on Friday, March 28 between 4:00PM 6:00PM

Please contact any teacher in the Special Education Department or dkratzer@lexrich5.org with questions. Thanks for your support!!! IMS Special Education Department

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2014 Baseball B-TEAM Schedule

Mon Feb Date 19 23 25 1 5 8 12 15 17 20 24 27 29 31 3 5 7 9 12 14 15 16 21 26 DAY OPPONENT LOCATION AWAY RIVER BLUFF HOME RIDGEVIEW RIDGEVIEW RIDGEVIEW HOME AWAY HOME AWAY AWAY AWAY AWAY HOME AWAY HOME HOME HOME RNE RNE RNE RNE AWAY HOME TIME 5:00 5:45(3) 4:30 11:00 6:00 10:00 6:00 12:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:00 12:00 6:00 6:00 12:00 6:00 6:00 4:00 12:00 2:30 TBA 6:00 12:00

WED RIVER BLUFF(Scrim) SUN TUE SAT WED SAT WED SAT MON THUR MON THUR SAT MON THUR SAT MON WED SAT MON TUE WED MON SAT PELION 50 Inning Game RNE CARDINAL NEWMAN WESTWOOD DREHER CHAPIN BLYTHEWOOD RNE RIDGE VIEW DREHER DUTCH FORK SPRING VALLEY BLYTHEWOOD DUTCH FORK RIDGE VIEW RNE SPRING VALLEY WESTWOOD DUTCH FORK TBA SPRING VALLEY CHAPIN

Mar

Apr

Roster
PLAYER ALEX MORRIS ANTHONY PARKS BRENDAN DOUGLAS CJ SHIVER JAMIE KARL LANCE WRIGHT MASON LASSITER SAMMY BOONE TYLER JOHNSON WILL GALAN GR 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 PLAYER AARON WHITE JAKE LESLIE LUKE WINSLOW ROBERT WISE TORRE BROCK GR 7 7 7 7 7 PLAYER ALEX VINSON BLAIR STUTTS BRYCE ALLEN CAMERON FELKEL JARRETT CHAVIS NOAH LOQUIST SULLY MOSLEY TY BILLUPS GR 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

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2014 Chinese Bridge-Summer Camp for U.S. High School Students will be held in China from 17 th July to 1st August. This year, we headquarters would like to invite 800 American high school students and chaperons to participate in the summer camp and open 10-30 places for each Confucius Institute/Classroom (student-chaperon ratio is about 10:1). During the summer camp, students will go to different provinces or cities to have Chinese language classes and Chinese culture experience in groups. We headquarters will be responsible for their cost in China including food, accommodation and group activities. Students and chaperons will be responsible for international travel fees, international insurance, visa application fees and so on. All students and chaperons should meet the following criteria: Students: 1. American citizen; 2. High school students; age between 14 and 18; grades from 9 to 12; current 8th gr. Chinese students 3. Non-Chinese learning background and less than three years of Chinese learning experiences; 4. Have great interests in Chinese language and culture; 5. Healthy enough for international travel. Chaperons: 1. Respect and understand Chinese culture; 2.Good at communication and adaptable to new environments; 3.With K-12 teaching experiences; 4.Highly experienced in student management; 5.Healthy enough for international travel; 6. Under 50 years old. Chaperons also need to perform the following duties: 1. Assist Confucius Institutes/Classrooms in pre-departure training for students; 2.Participate in all summer camp activities with students and comply with requirements; 3. Take the primary responsibilities for the safety of students during summer camp; 4. Help students adapt the environment and provide guidance for them; 5. Accompany students in emergency situation and provide help to contact their families; 6. Collect students feedbacks and hand in reports to Confucius Institutes/Classrooms. Confucius Institutes/Classrooms can start recruitment from today and send us back application forms, recommendations, CVs to our division (liuyun@hanban.org) by 12 th March. Please refer to Appendix 1, 2, 3 for application forms. We will send invitations to students in early April if they are verified. On the occasion of arrival of Chinese New Year, we take this opportunity to thank all Confucius Institutes/Classrooms directors for your support and wish all of you a happy New Year and good luck for everything! Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have questions. Contact: Ms. LIU Yun, Program Coordinator, Division of International Exchanges Tel: +86 (0) 10-58595972, E-mail:liuyun@hanban.org Appendix: Student Application Form Chaperon Application Form Confirmation Form Division of International Exchanges Confucius Institute Headquarters 23rd January 2014