August 24, 2015

The Buzz at Irmo Middle School

Irmo Middle School

6051 Wescott Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3600

Creating successful students for the challenges of tomorrow

www.lexrich5.org/ims
School Hours:
8:20 a.m.3:35 p.m.

Inside this issue:

SIC Bios
Chromebook Covers
Cover Order Form
Beta Club Info
CATS BBQ Info

rsjackso@lexrich5.org

Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal

https://twitter.com/IMS_Principal

2-3
4
5
6
7

Dates to Remember:
Mon 8/24
Chromebook
Distribution
Tues 8/25
Chromebook
Distribution
Open House 6-7:30 at
IMS Cafeteria
Wed 8/26
Chromebook
Distribution
Thurs 8/27
Make-up Chromebook
Orientation
Fri 8/28
Make-up Chromebook
Orientation

If you have news for the

Buzz, email Allison Redick
at aredick@lexrich5.org.

************************************************************************************
Late Start Days: IMS will start at 9:18 on the following dates:

September 23, 2015

October 21, 2015
November 18, 2015

February 3, 2016
March 2, 2016
April 13, 2016

Bus transportation and car rider drop off will be an hour later on these days.
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Date

Time

Loc Opponent

Candidates

09/10 Thu

6:00 PM

(A)

Laurens

Toshia Addison David Jones

09/16 Wed 5:30 PM

(H)

Lexington

Greta Avery

09/23 Wed 5:30 PM

(A)

Pleasant Hill

Ashley Hartzog Kurt Stevens

09/30 Wed 5:30 PM

(H)

Chapin

Faith Hunter

10/07 Wed 5:30 PM

(H)

White Knoll

10/14 Wed 5:30 PM

(A)

Meadow Glen

10/21 Wed 5:30 PM

(A)

Dutch Fork

Timothy Parker
Tina Warner

Full Bios
Pages 2-3

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Toshia Addison is the mother of Matthew who is in the 7th grade at IMS. The biggest
challenge that District Five of Lexington Richland Counties face in the next 2-4 years is
making sure that we keep up with the tremendous growth. I have served as a SIC Chair,
SIC Vice Chair, Parent Cabinet and the Auntie Karen Foundation. I would describe myself as focused, mom, friendly, dedicated and committed. I believe I can be effective
and make a difference in serving on the IMS SIC. I love our school. I am committed to
make it better in working with parents and the district to make sure the best interest of our students is served.
Greta Avery is the mother of Jabari who is in the 8th grade at IMS. The biggest challenge that District Five of Lexington Richland Counties face in the next 2-4 years is the population growth, effective communication across all
lines to individuals/parents outside the District, District funding, and poverty. I have served one year as Secretary, three years as President of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and a year on the SIC at Seven Oaks Elementary School, and one year as President of the PTSO at IMS. I would describe myself as passionate, caring,
goal-orientated, friendly and detailed-orientated. My passion for education, students achievement and the desire to ensure that the domain where learning is to take place is successful is the reason why I desire to serve on
the IMS SIC. I have a Master of Art and Teaching degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor of Science
degree in Business Administration (Marketing). My current work experience includes supervising a staff of three
individuals. I am a registered trainer with the South Carolinas Center for Child Care Career Development. I am
a charter member of Richland County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where I
served many leadership roles to include recording secretary, corresponding secretary, ways and means committee chair, sergeant-at-arms and nominating committee chair. I served as a board member of the Greater
Waverley Foundation. As an active member of First Nazareth Baptist Church, I serve on the youth ministry, sing
in the choir, assistant director with the youth choir, chaired several Womens Day Sub-committees, assist in coordinating the annual MLK Day of Service, and coordinated the youth basketball league.
Ashley Hartzog is the mother of Ross who is in the 7th grade at IMS. The biggest challenges that District Five of
Lexington Richland Counties face in the next 2-4 years are classroom size, bullying, diversity, and parent support/involvement. I have served as a Homeroom volunteer in the past. I would describe myself as outgoing, a
people person, well spoken, loving and compassionate. I would be honored to serve on the IMS SIC for many
reasons. I am a graduate of IMS and IHS. I served on SIC as a student and vice president of Student Council as a
student at IMS. Middle school is one of the most crucial times in a childs life and they still need the best guidance they can get from adults who are willing to advocate for them to provide the best learning environment
possible as well as hearing what they need. I feel I have what it takes to try and take a stance in our childrens
future. I have lived in Irmo my whole life and was very active throughout my school career. I am proud to be an
Irmitte despite all the changes and feel proud to represent IMS and all the students, faculty, and staff.
Faith Hunter is the mother of Serenity who is in the 6th grade at IMS. I feel that the biggest challenges that
District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties face in the next 2--4 years are safety-- need more blinking speed
limit signs, more crossing guards, and more sidewalks, male Involvement, not enough emphasis on reading age
appropriate material, need better Fundraising Ideas and more Community and Parental Involvement. I am the
current PTO Co-President at HWES, current SIC member at HWES, room parent, field trip chaperone and Birthday Book Lunch Volunteer at HWES. I describe myself as ambitious, involved, loyal, compassionate, and a leader. I want to help bring change to the school and work with other people that are trying to do the same thing. I
believe that the school is where our children spend most of their time and that this should be all about them,
and how well they adapt and grow. I am a mom of 2 wonderful girls who are 8 and 12, one of my children
attends HWES and my other daughter is a 6th grades here at IMS. I want to help raise awareness for everyone
about our children with special needs and how they too are a vital part of our community and society. I want to
be able to help make school not just a place for education but a place for growth and maturity. I am motivated
for our children.

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David Jones is the father of Hunter who is in the 8th grade at IMS. I feel that the biggest
challenges that District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties face in the next 2--4
years is maintaining the districts top rated teaching and learning environment as state
funding is being reduced. I have served on the SIC at Leaphart Elementary for 2 years,
PTSO Board at LES, and volunteered with Field Day at LES several years. I would describe myself as enthusiastic, diligent, purposeful, loyal and conscientious. Im a strong
advocate of public schools and a big fan of District 5. As a parent I like to be involved, to have a voice, and to be
able to contribute to help our community schools. I have lived in the St. Andrews/Harbison/Irmo area for many
years. This is a great area to live in and call home. It is important to me that we do all we can to support the
Irmo schools.
Timothy Parker is the father of Leslie who is in the 7th grade at IMS. I feel that the biggest challenges that District
Five of Lexington and Richland Counties face in the next 2--4 years are the growth of the student population
across all schools in the district and the funding necessary for this growth. I would describe myself as passionate,
empathetic, caring, motivated and determined. Having served on the SIC at two (2) prior schools, I know firsthand the power of community involvement in our schools. When parents and community members become
stakeholders in our childrens education, everyone wins. I also believe every child, regardless of their economic
background, deserves a quality education, and this path leads to success in life. Im a 14 year veteran of the
South Carolina Army National Guard. Ive lived in the Coldstream community for the past 10 years. I graduated
from Chapin High School in 1994, and have a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Liberty University.
Kurt Stevens is the father of Brayden who is in 6th grade at IMS. I feel the biggest challenge that District Five of
Lexington and Richland Counties face in the next 2-4 years is an ever changing population of students and educational needs. I have served in the Watchdog Program Nursery Road Elementary School. Outside of a
school, I was also Den Leader, Pack Trainer, and Scoutmaster for the Cub Scout Program in Alaska. I would describe myself as dedicated, talented, driven, honest and caring. I would like the opportunity to be active in my
own sons learning as well as being able to provide input in programs, and ideas that would be beneficial to all of
the students. I am a dedicated father, and hard worker. I strive often to always excel. I have also previously
served as a Certified Instructor within a Corrections Agency and was President of the Fraternal Order of Police
Correctional Labor Council; Phoenix AZ.
Tina Warner is the mother of Autumn who is in the 7th grade at IMS. Tina works in the Financial industry and
has a degree in Education for the hearing impaired. Tina feels some of the biggest challenges that District Five
of Lexington and Richland Counties faces in the next 2-4 years are Cyber-bullying, entitlement issues with the
me generation raising children, and On-line schools. I signed up to volunteer at Dutch Fork Elementary and
Crossroads Middle School. I would describe myself as caring and dedicated. I would like to serve on the SIC committee because I am an involved parent that cares for students and the treatment of teachers.

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