Gabriel Penfield, Irmo Town Council
For kids, parents and teachers

Kids’ Corner

Local government is the part of government closest to home: parks, police, town streets and the rules that keep Irmo a good place to live. Here’s how it works, a few flag facts, and how to invite me to your classroom.

Invite me to your classHow Irmo worksFlag factsTake the quizFun links
Gabriel Penfield showing students an American flag at a classroom table
How Irmo works

Who makes the decisions?

🗳 Voters choose

Grown-ups who live in Irmo vote to pick a mayor and four council members.

🏛 Council meets

They meet in public at the Municipal Building on Woodrow Street. Anyone can come watch, even kids!

✋ Everyone votes

Ideas become town rules only when most of the council votes yes.

🌳 Taking care of town

The town takes care of parks, has its own police department and court, and helps bring events like the Okra Strut to life.

Flag facts

Our two flags

The American flag

  • 13 red and white stripes for the first 13 colonies
  • 50 white stars, one for every state
  • It should never touch the ground
  • When it’s retired, it’s folded into a triangle

The South Carolina flag

  • A white palmetto tree and crescent on a blue field
  • The palmetto honors the 1776 fort built of palmetto logs that protected Charleston
Students at a table covered with small American flags while Gabriel Penfield teaches
A flag lesson with young students
Quick quiz

Test what you know

1. How many stripes are on the American flag?

2. How many stars are on the American flag?

3. What tree is on South Carolina’s flag?

4. Who runs the Town of Irmo?

Teachers and group leaders

Invite me to your class

I visit classrooms, scout troops and youth groups to talk about our flags, how town government works, or what a council member does. Visits are free.

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