January 27, 2013 Issue 19 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
Orchestra All State
2 3 4 6 6 6 7 8

Inside this issue:

D5 Dance Marathon Job Shadowing News Homework Tips NGOMA Dance Group Band Dates Concert Festival Irmo Band News Music Mentoring

Congratulations to the following students for auditioning last weekend and for being accepted into All-State Orchestra at Furman University, February 21-23:

Dates to Remember: Gold Week

Mon Jan 27 9th Grade Presentations Hoops Home vs Gilbert Girls 5:30, Boys 6:45 Tues Jan 28 Student Govt 7:45-8:15 Room 713 Thurs Jan 30 -Hoops Away vs Lex. Girls 5:30, Boys 6:45 Mon Feb 3 Softball Tryouts

Becan Floyd, Viola, 7th grade Sunjay Jayaram, Violin, 8th grade Austin Thomas, Cello, 8th grade Sophia Zhou, Violin, 7th grade ************************************************************ IRMO SOFTABLL TRYOUTS will be held on Monday, Feb.3 at IHS
softball stadium. Any young lady in grades 7-12 that is interested must have a current completed physical. If you have any questions please email Coach Henderson at Bhenders@lexrich5.org.

************************************************************

9th Grade Scheduling

It is hard to believe that the School Year is half over. That means, it is time to start planning for our current 8 th graders to prepare for high school. On Monday, January 27 and Tuesday, January 28 eight grade students will receive a presentation from Irmo High School regarding the registration process for high school. Students will receive their registration cards, a parent letter and a course catalog to bring home. Students and parents should review the information, sign the card and return it to the students math teacher before February 7, 2014. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Mrs. Sheila R. Inabinet at (803) 476-3610 or sinabine@lexrich5.org.

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

Page 2

The Buzz at Irmo Middle

Page 3

The Buzz at Irmo Middle

Job Shadowing is a great time to explore the world of work.

Job Shadowing gives students an opportunity to see that the skills they learn in school are related to the skills they will need in the workplace. Job Shadowing is considered a shortterm experience to introduce a student to a particular job by a one-on-one pairing of a student with an employee in a work environment. The student shadows the worker up to one day to better understand the requirements of a particular career. All students are encouraged to participate in this activity. Important Information about Job Shadowing:

Students and their parents/guardians will make arrangements for the student to shadow a parent/guardian, friend, relative or another person in a career of interest at the work site to include transportation. Students are eligible to have ONE day per school year for this activity. Job Shadowing can be completed in a couple of hours, an entire day, weekends and/or holidays. Students provide their own lunch during shadowing, if applicable. Students should demonstrate punctuality, honesty, good grooming habits, appropriate dress and willingness to learn. Students serve as an observer, not a worker. Students are not permitted to shadow teachers at Irmo Middle school. Any school work missed as a result of being absent for shadowing is the responsibility of the student.

If interested, please have your student contact Allison Redick, Career Specialist to pick up a packet or go to our IMS Website under the Guidance Department/Career Specialist to print a packet. Also, if you need assistance for a particular career to job shadow please contact Allison Redick @ 476-3668 or email: aredick@lexrich5.org.

Page 4

The Buzz at Irmo Middle

8 Easy Homework Tips for All Parents

What is your afternoon like as a parent? Whether you are at the office or home with the kids, I'm betting you struggle with the homework question. How do we, as parents, get our children to study and learn, setting them up for future success? It's all about balance and organizing each afternoon in advance. Here are eight easy tips to make the most of your children's afternoon: 1. Snack time = chat time. Children are hungry after school. Make time for a healthy snack and chat. The question, "How was school today?" often elicits no reaction. Instead, use creative questioning depending on the age and sex of the child. "What happened during Math today? Did you go out on the playground during recess? What was the hardest subject for you today?" If you are not home, leave a snack and a note. Make your daily note a journal -- with the date and your questions. Your child will love looking back when they are older. Make this an important time for your child even if you are not home. The point: Stay connected! 2. Limit distraction with a designated learning spot. Call it the homework corner. Find a place for your child or children to do homework where there are the fewest distractions. There have been many articles on the newest furniture and newest ways to set up rooms but the bottom line is it needs to be a place where the child will complete his/her work independently and quietly and learn too. Even though the bedroom may be the quietest, it is often the place where children want to play, fiddle with their toys or find other things to do than study. The kitchen table is still one of the most popular places to work. Let the children pick their own spots, even labeling their own chairs or corners. Family dynamics are more important than family fights. 3. Making reviewing fun. Game night = review night . Make sure you have a once-a-week review night. In fact, you can use it as game night as well. Since repetition is one of the best study tips, building this night into your weekly schedule can be fun. Have your child write his/her own review questions in language arts, math and/or spelling. Then you can make a game with this review sheet. The key of using this technique early is by middle school and high school; the kids know that constant review is a major tool to studying and success. 4. Be well-supplied. Have supplies available in the homework corner in a basket at the work table is an easy tip. Highlighters, markers, rulers, calculators, scissors, colored note cards, paper and even graph paper -- the supplies your age child would need for homework should be already there. That

Page 5

The Buzz at Irmo Middle

That way even if you are not home, the homework basket is filled and ready to go. Teach your children to underline directions and clue words. If at all possible when children are young, review homework with your child. If something is wrong, point out the mistake and ask them what should it be. Be positive and constructive, never destructive. 5. Disconnect. The world stops for homework. Often, the computer is needed to check an assignment, to read an assignment and/or to write an assignment. It is critical that children use the computer just for work and not to check the Internet and social media sites. During homework hour, kids must focus on their own work and not what is going on in the world around them. Each time they check their phone or the computer, brains stop and then must restart again. The connection is lost. It is important to make up homework rules together so everyone knows what is expected. 6. Create rules. Make the children part of them. Make up a list of rules that reflect your own family's values and post them even on the whiteboard or refrigerator. Examples: TV stays off, no computer, no games, no phone messages unless homework is complete and tests have been studied and reviewed before playtime or free time. 7. Manage the family calendar. Every child should have some homework or at least reading time during the week. Make the plan ahead so the expectations are clear and concise. Different ages will have varying amounts and there will be some days that children have more work. Be sure to have a calendar available to all so that everyone puts what is coming up on the calendar from doctor's appointments to tests. It helps with the organization and building balance in the house. If you can, do the weekly calendar on Sunday when everyone can check schedules. 8. Don't forget play time. Time out for play and relaxation is important in the day and life of a child. Even if a child has sports, piano, or any structured activity, children need down time at home to regroup, relax and chill out. Find that time during each day for playing outside, riding a bike and/or just relaxing on the couch. Napping often puts the brain on off and it is sometime hard to start again. The problem of how to balance school, activities, play and studying is what concerns parents today. We feel over-programming our children is the way to go and feel that every minute must be filled.

Page 6

The Buzz at Irmo Middle

NGOMA Dance Troupe

On Friday, 1/17, during lunches, IMS students experienced African dance and culture through interactive sessions of movement and song with the NGOMA Dance Troupe led by Dr. Hopkins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuvZE_zWl-8

Important Band Dates:

Jan 31 (1) Region Band Clinic payment deadline -$9 (2) All-State Band Clinic (selected students only) Feb 1 Feb 6 Feb 21-22 All-State Band auditions (inclement weather date) IMS Band Spirit Night at Moe's Southwest, 5:00 - 9:00 pm Region Band Clinic, Lexington Dist. 1 Performing Arts Center. All day ( selected students only)

Concert Festival
The SCBDA Concert Festival will be held on March 25 - 27, 2014. All three IMS Bands -- 7th Grade, 8th Grade, and Honor Band -- will attend. A registration fee of $25 for each student is due no later than Friday, January 10. The fee can be paid by cash or check or by way of your student's Booster account (if he or she has earned money through fundraisers). Checks should be made payable to the IMS Band Booster Club and placed in the yellow box in the Band Room. If you wish to use funds from your student's account, please write a note to that effect and have your student place it in the yellow box. We hope that everyone had a great Winter Break and is ready for a busy Spring Semester. If you have any questions, please email Layne Birdsong or call me at 732-4494.

Page 7

The Buzz at Irmo Middle

Page 8

The Buzz at Irmo Middle

Page 9

The Buzz at Irmo Middle