Virtual Learning at IHS

Students, teachers, and alumni perform in a virtual coffee house.

5/11/20

by Caitlin Doherty

On March 16th, Immaculate High School began its virtual learning in response to the school’s closing due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Virtual learning has been a “learning” experience for students, faculty, and staff at Immaculate.  Students go through their normal school day schedule by attending virtual classes with their teachers on Microsoft Teams.  They have continued to complete homework assignments, quizzes, tests, and projects online by using Google Classroom and other software.

Anna Flaherty, a sophomore, said the most challenging aspect of virtual classes is staying focused on the lessons being taught.  Through this unprecedented time, she is grateful that teachers have been there to support students.  “The most helpful thing teachers are doing is being understanding and lightening the homework load. After sitting at a computer for 6+ hours, it’s nice to be done with your day and have some time to decompress,” she reflected. 

Anna, along with the rest of the Immaculate community, misses the atmosphere of being at school with friends and participating in after-school activities.  The Immaculate community has found ways to stay connected during this time.  Students, alumni, and teachers came together to perform in a virtual coffee house, clubs have continued to meet through video calls, and coaches communicate with their teams about various ways to stay in shape for sports.  Beginning April 27th, Student Council held a virtual spirit week with themed dress-up days. On Sunday May 3rd, the school held a no-contact food drive to aid Jericho Partnership, a nonprofit that serves those in the Danbury community who are in need of aid.  Although they cannot be together at school, Immaculate Mustangs have continued to find ways to stay connected and support those in need.

Turning Pages Club Book Fair

4/3/20

by Caitlin Doherty

On Saturday February 7th, Immaculate’s Turning Pages club traveled to Sacred Heart Greenwich to set up a book fair.  These book fairs are for elementary and middle school students in Bridgeport and other areas of Connecticut who may not have enough money to purchase books to read.  The Turning Pages club collects books and organizes these fairs during which the kids get to select several books they would like to keep to read at home. “[I love] the smiles the kids have on their faces as they shop for their new books.  We’ve donated over 2,000 books. Our club is growing and reaching out to many more communities in need,” Kennedi Muller, a sophomore and co-founder of the club, commented. 

Over forty children attended the event.  This is a much smaller group than the normal size, which usually includes about one hundred-fifty students.  This allowed the members of Turning Pages to personally connect with the children and help them find the books they wanted to read.  After the kids had spent time choosing books, they divided into groups and listened as members of Turning Pages read books with positive messages about future goals and friendship.  After the readings, members of the club had a chance to talk to the kids about the books they read. The kids then went on to play games, and the club began to clean up all the remaining books for their next book fair, where they will be able to spread the joy of reading to more children in need.

Mass of Remembrance

11/15/19

by Caitlin Doherty

On Friday November 1st, Immaculate High School held its Mass of Remembrance in honor of All Saints Day.  The mass was celebrated by Father Ford of Saint Gregory’s in Danbury. He spoke about the importance of our faith and the fleeting matters of this world.  Members of the Immaculate family attended the mass, and their loved ones were honored by the placing of candles on a table before the altar. Along with All Saints Day, Diá de los Muertos was recognized during the mass.  In Spanish classes, students made colorful projects that were dedicated to family and loved ones who have passed away. Their projects were used as decorations in the gymnasium for the mass. Señora Pimentel, a Spanish teacher at Immaculate, explains what students worked on in class, “We followed the Mexican and Guatemalan tradition of creating colorful art to commemorate this day. The skulls and artwork symbolize that the bonds of love are not broken by death, and the colors represent the celebration of our loved ones’ lives and their legacy to us.”  This mass highlighted many aspects of the Immaculate Community as students, faculty, friends, and alumni came together to celebrate loved ones that have been lost.

Freshmen Social 2019

10/13/19

by Angela Pacheco

On Friday, September 20th, the Class of 2023 enjoyed a night of fun at the freshmen social. Students danced to music, played games, socialized with others, and got to know the rest of their graduating class. There was even a photo booth that allowed students to document the event. The cafeteria was ornately decorated with string lights and balloons.The normal lunch tables were moved aside to provide for a generous amount of dancing space. Songs such as “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper and “Best Song Ever” by One Direction were played. The students participated in the annual Cinderella Dance, a tradition at the freshmen social where girls put one of their shoes in a bag and boys pick out a random shoe. The boy would then dance with whoever the shoe belonged to. This event was a spectacular way for the incoming freshmen class to meet and learn more about their fellow classmates, as well as create memories that will stay with them throughout their lives.

Mu Alpha Theta Induction

5/15/19

by Mackenzie O’Rourke

On Friday, April 26, Mu Alpha Theta, the mathematics national honor society chapter at Immaculate High School, held its induction ceremony for applicants granted membership for the 2019-2020 school year. The newly accepted members, along with Mu Alpha Theta’s current officers and advisors, gathered in the Learning Commons for a brief ceremony and catered lunch.

The ceremony began with some words from current president Ryan Fannella, treasurer Mackenzy Garden, and secretary Susan Zhao. Mrs. Lynn Lemme, the mathematics department chair, followed by reading the oath that all new members had to take. Then, she read off the name of each member, officially inducting them into Mu Alpha Theta with a certificate, a card representing their good academic standing, and a pin. After this, the students who ran for office were recognized. The current officers reflected on their time in their position and then announced who had won the election to take on their position for next year. The board for Mu Alpha Theta next year will include Keelan Doherty (President), Selina Wang (Vice President), Victoria Bono (Secretary), and Meryl McKenna (Treasurer).

Holding an officer position is a prestigious honor. The new officers for Mu Alpha Theta put much thought into running for their position. “I felt that [running for president] would be a great opportunity to showcase and improve my leadership skills,” explained Keelan Doherty the newly elected president of Mu Alpha Theta. Recently elected secretary, Victoria Bono, added, “I decided to run for secretary because I wanted to become more involved with student body activities.” When the new officers were announced, both Bono and Doherty were honored to have won their elections. “It was an honor to be accepted into Mu Alpha Theta, but arguably an even bigger honor that my classmates believed I could do a great job at fulfilling the role of secretary,” Bono reflected. Doherty felt similarly, stating, “After learning that I was going to be the next president, I was very excited and energetic. My goal to be president was actually going to be true.”

Doherty and Bono have big plans for Mu Alpha Theta next year. “I will help to keep our meetings well organized and bring a positive attitude,” Bono explained. “I hope to promote more interest in math as a school. I want to really encourage the student body to seek tutors for math subjects they’re having difficulty in. I want to make sure students know that math is one of the most important academic skills you need throughout your life,” Doherty added. “I want every student to know that if they really put the effort in they can become great math students.”

Junior College Fair

4/23/19

by Madeline Suarez

It is that time of year again for juniors to begin the process of discerning which colleges they are interested in attending after graduation. On Wednesday, April 3, Immaculate High School’s junior class took buses to the 2019 Hartford National College Fair, held at the Connecticut Convention Center. The students were accompanied by six faculty and staff members: Georgia Orlando, Robin Morasky, Liz Lato, Kate Maloney, Joe DeMaida and Nancy Stockman. At the fair, representatives from over 300 colleges were present and located at booths set up across the gym. Students were able to walk around, talk to representatives, and pick up brochures and information packets from the schools that interested them. The representatives were available to answer questions as well as provide information including the school’s top majors, acceptance rate, campus activities, and more.

The fair was a golden opportunity for students to begin learning about certain schools and gather as much information as possible about them. Junior Emma Mortara shared, “The college fair was a great experience and allowed us to gain information from someone who truly knows everything about the college.”

Career Day 2019

The 2019 Career Day presenters

4/11/19

by Caitlin Doherty

On Friday, April 5, Immaculate High School held its annual Career Day. This is a day to help students get a taste of jobs they may be interested in pursuing. Over twenty-five jobs, each with presenters experienced working in their respective fields, were showcased. Many of the presenters were alumni of Immaculate, including Al Lupenski ‘80, now a U.S. Air Force Major General. Lupenski was also the keynote speaker and shared with students his Immaculate experience and lessons he has learned from his life journey.

After Lupenski’s speech to the student body, students went to three twenty-minute career sessions. A wide range of jobs were represented, including clinical therapy, FBI, and information technology. The presenters talked about their education, background, and explained what their jobs entail. Diana Divestea, Class of 2022, said, “I had an amazing experience learning about new career options and had a great time listening about jobs that I didn’t know much about like marketing and sales.”

Snowball 2019

 

 

IHS students Molly Coyle and Olivia Kent at Snowball

 

3/31/19

by Mackenzie O’Rourke

Every year, Immaculate High School coordinates Snowball, a winter formal for its juniors and seniors. This year Snowball was held at the Fox Hill Inn, located in Brookfield. Upperclassmen were permitted to bring underclassmen dates if desired, as well as students from other schools. The night consisted of food and fun for everyone in attendance.

The first hour of the event was called mocktail hour, where the students were able to socialize and enjoy various types of “mocktails.” Appetizers were also available. Later, the students headed down to the dance floor. When it was time for dinner, they were directed to the table that they had signed up for earlier in the school. Guests were allowed to choose from three main courses, all of which were delicious. They were served salad and bread before the main course, and dinner was completed with a candy bar open for dessert. After a tasty dinner, the students, and even some faculty chaperones rushed to the dance floor to dance the night away.

It seemed to be unanimous that Snowball was a blast. “The mocktail hour was fun because the drinks were good and you got a chance to talk to everyone before you ate,” explained IHS junior Rachel Iannarelli. Many students agreed with this. Junior Olivia Kent stated, “The mocktail hour was good for pictures and seeing everyone you wanted to before you went to eat.” This year’s Snowball is certainly one to remember. Junior Victoria Bono agreed, commenting, “I really liked the venue and I think everyone had a great time.”

Catholic Schools Week 2019

2/25/19

by Mackenzie O’Rourke

From January 27 to February 2, 2019, Immaculate High School celebrated Catholic Schools Week. The highlights of the fun-filled week included the student versus faculty basketball game and a school-wide Mass. Students, faculty, and staff all look forward to the memorable week dedicated to honoring Catholic education. For most Catholic schools, this highly anticipated week is packed with fun and informative events for the school community. This year’s theme for Catholic Schools Week, “Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed,” centered on honoring what a Catholic education inspires students to do.

Attending Catholic elementary and high schools has positively affected many Immaculate High School students. Catholic Schools Week gave students the time to reflect on the experiences and memories a Catholic education has given to them. “It has provided me with long-lasting relationships. The friends I have known for so long have become my family due to the supportive environment of Catholic School,” stated IHS junior Francesca Coppola, Saint Rose of Lima School alumnus. Saint Gregory the Great School alumnus and IHS junior Sam Mulvey reflected on this saying, “My elementary and middle school Catholic education have helped guide me through high school, and Immaculate’s environment has enriched my faith.”

Catholic schools are enhancing the lives of students. They must be cherished, and Catholic Schools Week is the perfect way to emphasize this. IHS junior and Saint Mary School in Bethel alumnus Olivia Kent summed this up perfectly. “Catholic education is important because it is the first step to a faith-filled future,” explained Kent.

Class of 2020 Junior Ring Ceremony

2/25/19

by Madeline Suarez

As juniors, Immaculate students participate in a long-standing tradition: the ring ceremony. The ring ceremony is always an inspiring event showing the bond and friendship between classmates. Students who order a class ring receive it at the ceremony, presented by President Mary Maloney and Principal Dr. Patrick Higgins.

The junior class processed into the Chapel, while parents lined the rear with cameras in hand. Once seated, Deacon Jeff Font blessed the rings and then Mrs. Maloney spoke to the students about this milestone in their high school journey. She shared the importance of uniting as a class and always looking out for one another. Mrs. Maloney looked forward in time, sharing that each student will one day open their memory boxes, look at their ring, and recall the cherished friendships and experiences they had at Immaculate.

Each member of the junior class who ordered a ring was called forward individually, shook hands with administration, and received their navy blue Jostens box. Once seated, many immediately opened the box to try on their ring for the first time.

At the conclusion of the ring distribution, Immaculate’s acapella group performed a rendition of “Gone, Gone, Gone” by Phillip Phillips. Next, Mrs. Maloney thanked the junior class advisor, Mrs. Carol Stone, for her work on the ring ceremony.

Students were then treated to a celebratory breakfast in the Dining Hall, courtesy of the Immaculate Parent’s Association. There, students were able to socialize, take photos, and show off their new school rings. Juniors Drew Mitchell and Lauren Oskam assembled a slide show that was shared at the end of the meal, featuring photos from freshman, sophomore, and junior year to date. Laughter filled the room, as students remembered their journey as Mustangs thus far. The Junior Ring Ceremony marked a major milestone for the Class of 2020!