The Buzz
Volume 3, Edition 7, October 8, 2021
Irmo High School International School for the Arts
We bring our A Game to all we do in Academics, the Arts, Athletics, Attendance and Attitude by promoting the 3 R's - being Respectful, Responsible and Reputable.
Website: https://www.lexrich5.org/IHS
Location: 6671 Saint Andrews Road, Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: (803) 476-3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irmohighschool
Twitter: @IrmoHigh
A Message from our #ProudPrincipal, Dr. Robin Hardy
There is a long-standing separation of church and state; however, with an English teacher's heart and spirit, I share with you the poetic language from Ecclesiastes 3. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
Yesterday, I celebrated my 50th birthday ~ with our staffulty and students. I am appreciative of the cards, gifts, flowers, and well wishes. This is our time, our season, together. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
With Irmo Pride,
Dr. Robin L. Hardy
New This Week:
October is National Principal Month!
English Department
World Languages Department
Science Department
Class of 2022:
Senior quotes, activities and baby pictures are due by October 11. These portions of the yearbook need your participation! Your info goes here: https://forms.gle/4obg4cbm8oesj62P7
There is a Class of 2022 meeting with Jostens in the Center for the Arts (CFA) at 10am on Thursday, October 14. See you there!
There is no late start on Wednesday, October 13
Bell Schedules: https://www.lexrich5.org/Domain/2534
#IrmoPride runs in the family...
Mr. and Mrs. Railey were both on the field for Homecoming as students at Irmo High School, and last week Friday they brought their daughter to the Homecoming game. Photos are below! #ThisIsIRMO
Congratulations to our 2021 Homecoming King and Queen!
Congratulations to Raegan Friday!
Congratulations to Van McAlister!
Future Yellow Jackets!
In-Person PSAT / SAT / ACT test prep after school (free)
We appreciate our teachers who are also PSAT / SAT / ACT coaches!
Teachers Ms. Dukes and Mr. Bennett offer in-person coaching sessions in their classrooms after school and news/tips about the tests in our school's testing-info Google Classroom. Want some weekly practice and updates? Be sure to join the testing-info Google Classroom, from your student email address, using code gmwkzmg.
District Five Social Work Staff Presents: Parent's Night Out Series
An interactive, educational event for parents only at Irmo High School. The first one is scheduled for October 21 from 6-7:30 in the IHS Cafeteria. The subject topic is substance use and dinner will be served.
Please RSVP by October 15: https://forms.gle/ewVzRQ4CYjDbdFpZ8
Covid Self-Assessment Reminder from Nurse Powell
Please remember to self-assess each morning before school for possible COVID symptoms. Click https://www.lexrich5.org/Page/26533 for symptom screening checklist. Please note that if your child comes to the nurse's office for one of the main symptoms or two or more of the secondary symptoms, s/he will be sent home for COVID testing or quarantine. Thank you from Nurse Powell!
School Counseling Information
The October Newsletter is available!
The October Newsletter was sent to families on Wednesday, October 6. You can also read it here: https://www.smore.com/nsvc6-counselor-s-corner
Virtual Financial Aid Panel on October 21
IHS Magnet Update
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: Communication through Dance
Seniors at Irmo High School and candidates for the International Baccalaureate ("IB") Diploma, Audrey Keller and Anna White also are active in their communities. Here is their story of their passion for communication through movement, in their words:
Dedication, hard-work, passion, and discipline are characteristics that we, Audrey and Anna, are all too familiar with. As IB students, dedicated church members, consistent employees at small businesses in the Irmo area, and girls who love to watch the Divergent movies and TikTok, we also have a drive and desire to excel in one of the most difficult sports/arts: ballet.
As ballet dancers who have moved up the ranks of our company since the youngest age of 9, we have grown in our abilities to converse with those around us… just not in words. We dance. We tell stories through movement and to top it off, we get to spin around in pretty costumes. As company members, we participate in two productions a year, our annual Christmas show and our spring show. However, besides the two weeks of the season that we are in the theatre, there are smaller community events we participate in such as Irmo’s very own Okra Strut, and the First Baptist Churches’ Celebration of Liberty.
We are at the studio every day standing at the barre practicing our plies, tendues, and rond de jambes. It’s a tedious practice, but we have learned how to act, how to work with others, and how to overcome physical and mental challenges that come with any passion a person decides to pursue. This does not stop over the summer. Dance training usually becomes more involved over the summer with there being summer dance intensive programs such as the one at Ballet58, a ballet company where Audrey trained this past summer, and at our own home studio where we both enjoy weeks of intensive training each summer.
Every day we are students by sunlight and ballet dancers at night. As a famous ballet choreographer whose repertoire we study at our studio has said, “What are you saving for? What are you waiting for? Now is all there is” (George Balanchine).
Athletics
JV Cheer Win!
Congratulations to Irmo JV Cheer for their first place win in their first competition of the season!
Irmo Boys Swim Region 4AAAA Champs!
Senior Night
Congratulations to Irmo JV Cheer for their first place win in their first competition of the season!
Lots of good news as we near the end of the Swim Season -- Varsity Boys and Girls are finishing the season #IrmoStrong!
Congratulations to our Boys Varsity Swim Team, Region 4AAAA Champions!
9th grader Mackenna Starling is the Region Champion in the 100 fly & 500 freestyle and our boys 200 freestyle also took first in the region!
Swimmers make the All Region team when they finish first or second in the region in an individual event or a relay. The Irmo Swimmers to make the All Region team are Mackenna Starling, Addy Strickland, Grace Ford, Mackenna Starling, Caleb Purini, Emmanuel Gadson, Ryan Folding, Harrison Pham & Alex Petruzzi. Way to go!
The following Yellow Jackets qualified to swim in the 2021 State Championship Swim Meet in Charleston on October 9th & 11th: Mackenna Starling, Addy Strickland, Corinne Everling, Grace Ford, Kameron Courtney, Calen Purini, Josh Purini, Emmanuel Gadson, Ryan Folding, Harrison Pham & Alex Petruzzi!
Heading to the Away Football game this Friday at Dreher High School? Masks are REQUIRED in the stadium, according to district and Richland County mandates and fans will not be allowed into the stadium without a mask. Tickets will go on sale online at 8am this Friday morning: https://dreherathletics.com/event-tickets. There is a no refund, no re-entry policy at the stadium.
Wrestling condition begins October 12! Please visit the Wrestling page on our website tab, IHS Sports Pages, for the complete schedule.
Baseball conditioning has begun! Check out the Baseball page on our website, Athletics tab, IHS Sports Pages.
Boys Lacrosse conditioning begins on October 11 and continues Monday, Wednesday, Fridays from 6:15-7:45PM. More info on our website, Athletics tab, IHS Sports Pages.
- Families are encouraged to join the Irmo Yellow Jacket Club to support our athletic programs. Some of the Yellow Jacket Club's packages include free parking and tickets to sporting events! Info: https://www.lexrich5.org/Page/22923.
- Attending a #LexRich5Schools sporting event? Know the safety protocols before attending: https://bit.ly/38NF6hD.
Previously Published Information:
Register to take the ASVAB at school
Yearbook Photo Reminders & Ordering Information
Senior Yearbook Makeup portraits for seniors who were not photographed on September 27 or 28 will be November 10. Please visit https://seniors.legacystudios.com/irmo-high-school-columbia-sc/ to select your day and time. Your sitting fee must be paid at time of booking.
Underclassmen yearbook photos will be taken on Monday, October 11 and Tuesday October 12. Information about ordering underclassmen pictures will be sent at a later date.
Senior yearbook ads can be purchased by visiting www.yearbookforever.com and searching Irmo High School. The deadline to purchase a senior ad is February 28, 2022.
Yearbooks may be purchased by visiting www.yearbookforever.com and searching Irmo High School.
A makeup picture day for all students will take place on November 10.
Important Information from our Attendance Office
Parents/guardians are asked to email Ms. Menger at emenger@lexrich5.org.
The attendance office opens at 7AM and closes promptly at 3:15 every day. For more information about our attendance procedures, please visit our website here.
ACT, SAT, and Accuplacer Tutorials
Apex offers tutorials to support students as they prepare to take the ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer assessments. Students have the option to complete all tutorials or focus on selected parts.
Students can self-enroll in these courses using the codes and directions outlined on the flyer below!
Chromebook Support - The Tech Nest is here to help!
Students, need a Chromebook repaired? Come to the Tech Nest in the Media Center between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm Monday through Thursday.
Online Lunch Application is Needed to Receive Other Benefits
Breakfast and lunch for students will be provided at no cost during the 2021–2022 school year.
Eligible families are encouraged, however, to complete the online meal applications for the 2021–2022 school year, which determines eligibility for other benefits, including P-EBT funding, scholarships, reduction in school fees, camp fees waived or reduced, ACT/SAT fees waived or reduced, etc. Families may complete the online meal applications at www.lunchapplication.com.
Wednesday mornings - Late Start
On Wednesdays, classes start one hour later to allow for teachers to participate in professional development. The first bell rings at 9:10 am and classes begin at 9:20 am. The morning CATE Bus leaves the IHS bus loop at 9:05am on Late Start Wednesdays.
Bell Schedules are on our website: https://www.lexrich5.org/IHS , Our School tab, Bell Schedules page.
Mark your calendars for the NO Late Start Days for this school year:
October 13, 2021
March 2, 2022
March 23, 2022
May 4, 2022
May 11, 2022
May 18, 2022
May 25, 2022
June 1, 2022
Student Parking Information
All students are required to take the Alive at 25 class in order to receive a parking pass at IHS. Also, all school debt must be resolved; including school fees, library, IDs or textbook. The bookkeeper will verify that debts have been satisfied.
Please click this link to be directed to information on the IHS website regarding Alive at 25 classes and the online parking pass application. You can also access this information under the resources tab on the IHS homepage. Purchased parking passes can be picked from Ms. Carlsen in the Main Office.
Should you have any questions, please contact Ms. Carlsen at (803) 476-3195 or dcarlsen@lexrich5.org.
ATHLETICS
CENTER FOR THE ARTS
SCHOOL COUNSELING
Follow IHS on Social Media!
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/irmohighschool/
Twitter: @irmohigh
Instagram: @irmohigh