MARCH MADNESS

Welcome Parents and  IMSA Enthusiasts to the wonderful and very busy month of February and now March. The semester is in full swing, and I am excited to share some of the festivities the students are involved with.  

FEBRUARY: 02 AND 07 VALENTINES DAY PARTY

The Community Developers of 02 and 07 planned a very special Valentines Day Party. Click on the caption below the picture to view this memorable event!

Click Here for More Pictures!

FEBRUARY: TALES FROM THE HOMEFRONT

Tales from the Homefront is a yearly event coordinated by BELLAS, and is required for all sophomores to attend during their first year. What makes Tales so unique is that true stories are submitted anonymously by IMSA students, faculty, and staff. Although personal accounts read aloud by BELLAS tend to be emotionally sensitive and dense, students are comforted in knowing they are not alone in their battles, and no matter how difficult the circumstances, there is always support.  Two sophomores summarize their outlook on Tales below:

Tales from the HomeFront: Student Perspective 1:

"Tales From the Home Front made me see a different side of the IMSAcommunity. It talked about things that not many people share with anyone, really, and that's what made it more inspiring. People somehow related to the IMSA community shared their stories that changed their life and their outlook. Some stories were about a torturous childhood, whereas others were about the issues many people struggle with such as depression and other personal problems. For me, it showed me that everyone has a story, everyone has problems, and everyone has a different way to deal with it. I see a different side of people now, knowing that I have the power in making their day just a little brighter, and that nobody deserves to be judged without knowing their past. I am so grateful now to see that the things I take for granted, like a loving family and friends, and a purpose in life, are things not everyone is lucky to have."

Students stand behind a lighted screen to share stories anonymously 

Tales from the HomeFront: Student Perspective 2:

"I thought Tales was a really great event for all the student body. Sometimes we forget that not everyone is as fortunate as we are and this reminded us. It also helped to show us to be careful with our words and actions around us, because we don't know everyone's story. I also thought about what my story would be if I told it, and how people would respond. Afterwards, we broke off into small discussion groups and talked about what we heard and how it impacted us. It also included a moving (no pun intended) activity called Step Forward. We got to see how much we have in common with other IMSA students, and although we come from different schools, towns, families, and friend groups, we all have things in common. Overall, the experience was very impactful and I hope to attend in the upcoming years."

FEBRUARY: LUNAR and a Senior Perspective

The past couple of months, students were busy rehearsing for  several hours a week for their annual Lunar show. Lunar celebrates the Chinese New Year, and the celebrations at the Academy were in full swing! Lunar is  is a time for a multitude of Asian cultures to show pride through song, dance and music. A.S.I.A.S Mayuri Yasuda, from 1502 D wing did a wonderful job coordinating this event. Don't forget to congratulate her again on a job well done! 

SENIOR STUDENT PERSPECTIVE: LUNAR BY SOMIE PARKS 

"Throughout my many years at IMSA, I’ve participated in Lunar New Year each year. Every year ASIA (Asian Students in America), the club responsible for putting on the show, put it in a lot of time and effort to make the show great. They start planning months ahead of time, planning dances and writing the skit. The skit is different every year; for example my sophomore year, it was a rendition of Mulan and junior year, it was a romance story. This year it was about trainees trying to debut into the vicious music Asian industry while also dealing with their love lives. This year, I participated in senior dance. We put in a lot of time and energy, practicing twice a week in the month leading up to the dance. It was fun because as seniors we knew each other. Throughout the course of learning the dance, there was quite a bit of trial and error. The song for the girls’ dance had to be slowed down because not many people could dance to the original speed. The throw for boys’ dance was something that had to be practiced quite a bit for it to be consistent. Learning formations was difficult because of the limited practice time on stage and some people not coming to practice due to conflicting schedules. But in the end, it all came together into something that we were proud of and more importantly, something that we had fun doing. This was true for everybody participating in the show."

JUNIOR DANCE

CURRENTLY THIS MONTH: CLASH

One of the most talked about and anticipated events coming up, perhaps more celebrated than homecoming, is IMSA's Clash of the Halls. This is the opportunity for halls to show unity by participating in various actives. Although halls do compete with each other through various activities, students are encouraged to remember that the spirit of clash promotes togetherness. Students will spend this month prepping for different events for CLASH. Some things students should keep in mind

• Student's don't have to do EVERYTHING that clash offers
• I highly encourage students to get involved, but not to the extent they forget other responsibilities
• It is o.k. to say no
• Clash is only fun when it is not forced or is something students feel obligated they need to do. With that said, if students cannot do certain events because they already have enough on their plates, saying no is perfectly o.k.
• Bullying/forcing students to do COH events will not be tolerated 
• COH is a great time to put artistic/creative talents on display
• Finally, students who are at unsatisfactory academic standing will not be allowed to participate in Clash related events until grades are brought up. The current restrictions include
• Students with two or more Cs may participate however must check in with the RC to discuss their plan on accomplishing homework/projects
• Students with at least one failing grade are not allowed to participate until grades are brought up to at least a C.  

Parents and students can visit the COH OFFICIAL RULE BOOK  and the CLASH OFFICIAL WEBSITE for more information