Sherry Crow of Federation Bank delivers the great meal for our faculty to eat before parent-teacher conferences.

After a day of school, the teachers need to prepare for four more hours of parent-teacher conferences. One item that they don’t have to worry about is their meal! Our thanks go out to Federation Bank of Wellman for providing  the delicious BBQ pork sandwiches, veggies, chips, and chocolate chip cookies. We are truly thankful for the support that IMS receives from our community.

Phil Ropp of Farmers Supply Sales, Inc. presented the keys to the Gator to maintenance director Joe Swartzentruber.

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The Class of ’11 wanted to give a Gator to IMS as their class gift but realized that it would take more money than they had so they consulted with the current Class of ’12 and agreed that they would combine their money and get a used Gator for IMS. Last fall we asked Farmers Supply to keep their eye out on a good, used Gator. In January a phone call was received from Phil Ropp telling us that they were going to order a new Gator for IMS to get the exact features that we would need. Because of the generosity of Phil, Myron and Warren Ropp of Farmers Supply Sales, Inc. along with the Classes of ’11 & ’12 a brand new BEAUTIFUL Gator will now be available to meet our needs.

Phil Ropp (’66) of Farmers Supply Sales, Inc. delivered the new John Deere Gator and turned over the keys to maintenance director Joe Swartzentruber on Thursday. This has been a need for many years as Joe cares for the upkeep of our campus because the little golf cart that has been used doesn’t effectively meet his needs! 

A big thank you goes to the Class of 2011, the Class of 2012, and Farmers Supply Sales, Inc. as they each contributed one-third of the cost to this cool, new machine!

IMS continues to value and appreciate the many ways in which constituents show support for the school.  Whether by attending events, donating funds, supporting various projects, volunteering time and energy, or simply praying – it is obvious that the community cares.

Donating funds is a tangible way of showing support.  A cash gift helps with immediate needs; including IMS in one’s estate plan ensures the future of IMS; and getting involved in specific projects helps do both.

Gloria Hochstetler of Hills Bank presents a "Classroom Cash" check to Tony Miller and Larry Swartzendruber.

Hills Bank & Trust Co. has a program that will earn money for IMS each time you make a purchase using their debit card.  With every purchase, the bank will make a donation back to the school.  There is no cost to you; it’s just a great way to help make a difference for IMS! Since the program began, more than $8,700 has been donated to IMS via this program.  A recent check for almost $900 was given.

All you need to do is complete a short application at any HB&T location or online (click here).  Non HB&T customers may obtain a debit card by opening a checking account at any of their locations. It’s that simple!

Another way to give conveniently is an automatic withdrawal from one’s account directly to IMS.  A regular withdrawal is quick and time-saving; simply contact your local bank and start the process.  If a routing and/or account number is required, call Kris Brenneman at IMS.

For more information, contact Larry Swartzendruber at the school. 

IMS students Elysia Stastny, Elizabeth Yoder, Jacey Dehogues, Larissa Wyse, Sam Swartzendruber, Reggie Hostetler are employed at JW's.

Not only does area grocery store, JW’s Foods, employ IMS students they also support IMS by offering the Cash for Kids program to their customers.

JW’s donated 3% of their customers’ total purchase amounts when they used their Saver Cards and designated IMS as the recipient.  The promotion ran in November. Thanks to the Cash for Kids program, IMS received $467.43

Of this money, $74.25 was designated for the Music Booster Fund and $393.18 was designated for IMS which will be used for “above budget” items that may be needed in the classroom.

IMS appreciates the support of JW’s Foods and the customers that selected IMS to be the recipient of the money!

Floyd and Marjorie Yoder believed in IMS. They sent their children to IMS and in turn, many of their grandchildren also attended. Floyd & Marjorie attended many music programs and athletic events over the years. They always showed great support for IMS. Floyd died in 2009 and Marjorie in 2011. They generously included IMS in their will. Upon Marjorie’s death, their children requested that the money we received be used, in part, for new additions to the scoreboard. Their money purchased “add ons” that will keep track of the basketball players on the floor along with their points and fouls. The rest of their money will be used for the general operating costs of the school.

It is very appropriate that some of their money be used for the addition to the scoreboard. Floyd and Marjorie spent many an evening in the IMS gym watching their athletic grandchildren play basketball and volleyball! And now several of their grandchildren have returned as coaches or line judges or the scoreboard operator! Tanna Yoder Boshart was head girls basketball coach and is currently an assistant volleyball coach. Karl Yoder is a volunteer girls basketball assistant and Luke Yoder is a volunteer assistant for the boys team. Meghan Yoder helps with volleyball line judging and operating the scoreboard during girls basketball games. Also, Amy Yoder Landes ran the scoreboard during volleyball and girls basketball. Floyd and Marjorie’s descendents just keep on giving.

It has been very difficult to change light bulbs, fix maintenance issues and clean in the ceiling regions of our school. Our maintenance director Joe Swartzentruber would have to assemble scaffolding and then crawl up on the wobbly thing to do the repairs. This was time consuming and felt a tad bit unsafe! Thanks to a combination of memorial money from the late Louis Gugel and  the alumni class of 1971, a rarely used battery operated one-person lift was purchased. Louis Gugel was the director of maintenance at IMS from 1969 – 1973. It was felt that he would have appreciated this purchase. And it just so happens that at the class of 1971 reunion this summer money was raised at a silent auction to be used for various expenses that arise. Duane Gugel, Louis Gugel’s son, was a member of this class so the combination of money seemed very appropriate! Joe Swartzentruber is so appreciative to have this equipment and already finds it very useful.

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