March for Life 2019

2/12/19

by Madeline Suarez

On January 17, 2019, thirty-eight students and seven chaperones departed from Immaculate High School en route to Washington, D.C. for the 46th annual March for Life. The March for Life is the largest single-day anti-abortion protest in America, and Immaculate students have participated in this trip for many years. Every year, tens of thousands of people from all across the country come together to protest abortion, and advocate for the overturning of Roe vs Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. The theme of this year’s March for Life was “Unique From Day One: Pro-Life is Pro-Science.”

The Immaculate students and chaperones began their trip Thursday night by attending the Evening of Prayer Catholic rally in EagleBank Arena at George Mason University. This event included music, guest speakers, adoration, and more. The next morning, the group headed back to EagleBank Arena for another rally. This event consisted of a full Mass and some more guest speakers. After, the group made their way to the National Mall to begin the March for Life. They first stopped on the Mall to listen to multiple speakers, including Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen, as well as President Trump via a video message. Finally, the group started the march from the Washington Monument, down Constitution Avenue, towards the U.S. Supreme Court. After the March, everyone ate dinner at Carmine’s and then boarded the bus to return to Immaculate. Junior Abigail Gleissner shared, “It was an amazing experience seeing so many people all gathered for the same goal of fighting for the lives of unborn babies.”

Gerry Hatcher and his sister Marianne Fahey, both parents of Immaculate alumni, were chaperones on the trip and have been attending the March for Life for as long as they can remember. Mr. Hatcher shared that he always enjoys going on the trip with Immaculate students because they are “always well behaved, very into the trip, and seem to have a good understanding of why we are there, why it is so important to stand up for those who cannot do so themselves, and how each of our voices can truly make a difference.” Mr. Hatcher and Mrs. Fahey’s mother used to be the Chairman of the Westchester County Right-To-Life group. Mr. Hatcher explains their mother was “constantly going into high schools and grammar schools to educate students and teachers on the devastating effects of abortion on women, the reason why abortion is morally wrong, and why it is all of our jobs to stand-up and defend life from the moment of conception up to and through the moment of our natural death.” After going to the March year and after year, it is Mr. Hatcher’s hope that, during his lifetime “our country realizes that we have made a terrible mistake all of these years.” He went on to say, “I will continue to make the trek to Washington, D.C. each year until I live in a country that protects our children.”

Key Club and Campus Ministry Annual Cereal Drive

 

12/24/18

by Nicole Schlichting

The Immaculate Key Club and Campus Ministry recently had a Thanksgiving “Breakfast Food” Drive for the Dorothy Day Hospitality House located on Spring Street in Danbury. Dorothy Day has been feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless in the Danbury area since 1982. Immaculate is the only school/organization that supplies Dorothy Day with breakfast cereal and has been doing so for the past 36 years. Students surpassed this year’s goal of 1000 boxes by donating 1,098 boxes of cereal. Mrs. Nancy Stockmann, who is the teacher sponsor of Key Club, hosted the food drive. “Students really stepped up and worked hard to surpass last year’s goal. It will be tough next year to go beyond the 1098 total! The Immaculate spirit of giving is alive and well,” stated Stockmann.

The collection brings the Immaculate community together year after year.

 

Field Hockey Makes History

12/18/18

by Madeline Suarez

On Sunday, November 20, the Immaculate Field Hockey team won its first Class S State Championship in school history. The Mustangs entered the state tournament as the number three seed, and started off strong with a 2-0 win over fourteenth seeded Weston, and a 3-1 win over defending state champions, North Branford. In the semifinals, the Mustangs had a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against the second seed, Stonington.

From there, the team went on to play the number one seed, Granby, in the Class S State Championship game. The game was held at Wethersfield High School in front of a great crowd of Mustang fans. It was the first ever state championship game that an IHS field hockey team had ever played in, while Granby has won thirteen state championships in their school’s history. This game meant a lot to all previous IHS field hockey players, since a state championship was something they dreamed of achieving during their time as Mustangs. Many field hockey alumni sent messages with well wishes to the coaches who then shared the messages with the team at their pre-game breakfast.

The game’s first goal was scored by senior captain Madison Halas off a penalty stroke. Then, in the second half, junior Molly Coyle scored two more goals extending their lead to 3-0. The Mustangs dominated the entire game, thanks to an especially strong defensive performance, to beat Granby 3-0 and win the Class S State Championship.

Senior captain Mackenzy Garden shared, “It was an amazing feeling to know that all of our hard work had paid off and would be remembered as a part of the school history forever.”

On Thursday, December 13, the team was honored for their accomplishments at a school-wide Fall Sports Recognition and Winter Sports Kickoff Assembly held in the gymnasium.

Volleyball Senior Night 2018

11/19/18

by Nicole Schlichting

On Thursday, October 25, Immaculate volleyball hosted its senior night to honor its senior players and to commemorate the season. Decorations, including posters, balloons, and streamers, were set up in the gymnasium by underclassmen on the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. Before the game began, Coach Monica Ortega announced each of the seniors, who then proceeded to take pictures with their families. Ortega explains, “The volleyball team celebrated six seniors: Eliana Assaf, Finan Deakin, Isabella Echavarria, Jamilly Mendes, Nicole Schlichting, and Melissa Schirmer with a victory over Harding. I am most proud of the commitment and heart that these players shared with the program during their four years on the team.”

After winning 3-0 against Harding, the girls went to the dining hall to celebrate their win with a pasta party. Parents and coaches provided plenty of food. The seniors were each gifted volleyball jackets, flasks, and tiaras. Ortega adds, “A big thank you to Mrs. Amy Bruce for helping to coordinate gifts and dinner in honor of the seniors.”

 

Mass of Remembrance

11/7/18

by Madeline Suarez

On November 1, 2018, Immaculate High School remembered and prayed for all of those members in our school community who have passed away at a special Mass of Remembrance. This is an annual Mass attended by the entire student body. Special invited guests, including many parents and friends of alumni who have passed away, were also in attendance and invited to light a candle in memory of their loved one.

Families, staff and alumni were offered the opportunity to share the names of deceased loved ones they wished to remember. These lists were placed on the altar during the Mass and will remain in the Chapel for the month of November.

Teachers and students across different subject areas incorporated the importance of remembering those who have died into their lessons and contributions to the Mass. For example, Señora Nora had each of her Spanish classes learn the song “Remember Me” from the movie “Coco”. At the end of Mass, the students in her classes, along with Concert Choir, sang this song together. She shares, “It is a song about remembering our loved ones who have passed away. In Mexico, we celebrate with love, happiness, music, food and colorful decorations. We believe that if you remember the holy souls they will never die and they will have a eternal life. It is important for the language department to share with IHS the culture of other countries.” Additionally, in Señora Pimentel’s classes, students were able to honor their loved ones by creating posters with a picture of their deceased family member. They wrote a paragraph in Spanish about their loved ones and colored the posters to make them bright and lively.

The Mass was celebrated by Father Cole and assisted by Deacon Jeff, who gave a homily that reminded everyone how important it is to not only follow the Ten Commandments of what not to do, but to also remember the Beatitudes which tell us what we should be doing.

The annual Mass of Remembrance is a way of bringing together the Immaculate family by remembering and praying for all those who have passed away.

There’s No Place Like Homecoming

 

The 2018 Homecoming Court

Three ATI players get ready for a play

10/29/18

Madeline Suarez

On October 19, 2018 in Mustang Valley, the ATI (Abbott-Tech/Immaculate) football team took on Wilcox Tech under the lights for the annual homecoming game. Every year, this game attracts IHS alumni, a large portion of the student body, and countless other fans. It provides a time for the entire Immaculate family to come together and cheer on the team. “The Stable,” which is the IHS student section, was packed with students all decked out in white for the “white-out.” Students were able to enjoy the game with friends as Mustang spirit was on full display to bring Spirit Week to a close. There were also many alumni that came back to watch the game and reconnect with old friends, teachers, and coaches.

One alumnus who came to game to the game was Mickey Pascuzzi ’70. Shortly after graduating from Immaculate, Pascuzzi began volunteering as the IHS athletic trainer after noticing that there was a need for someone with relative experience and equipment on the sidelines. Being an emergency medical technician, Pascuzzi went on to volunteer for 25 years on the sidelines of Immaculate’s sporting events and was inducted into the IHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Pascuzzi enjoyed being invited to share a few words with the current team and commented, “It totally surprised me that not only did I get to reminisce with so many familiar faces, but was also able to make new friends such as Deacon Jeff. It [extended the family feeling] when people that I didn’t even know prior to the game treated me like they knew me forever. That meant a lot to me and is what it means to be a Mustang.” Returning for Homecoming marked 52 years since Pascuzzi attended his first Immaculate football game. “It’s always fun to come back and see the students and staff of Immaculate,” shared Pascuzzi.

The IHS cheerleaders gave a great halftime performance, followed by the introduction of Immaculate’s Homecoming Court. A total of 14 seniors were introduced, with Mikey Basile and Kayla Mingachos being announced as Homecoming King and Queen.

The Mustangs won the game with a final score of 50-20, bringing their season record to 4-2. Head Coach, Rich Holmes shares some highlights from the game including Matt Christe (Immaculate student) rushing for 242 yards and scoring four touchdowns and Anthony Frasier (Abbott Tech student) rushing for 215 yards and scoring three touchdowns. “It was the first time in my 36 years of coaching that two players rushed for over 200 yards in one game,” said Holmes. CJ Cianflone (IHS) passed for two touchdowns, while Ethan Garcia (IHS) and Tommy Fahey (IHS) playing great defense. Holmes also added, “Homecoming is great for the fans. The ATI fans were treated by a dominant offensive and a strong defensive performance. Thanks to all of the Immaculate and Abbott Tech fans who came out to support the team’s effort.”

IHS’ 2018 Pep Rally

 

(From left to right): Kate Banks, Olivia Kent, Emma Halas, Mackenzie O’Rourke, and Samantha Mulvey pose for a group photo after the pep rally.

10/24/18

by Mackenzie O’Rourke

Immaculate High School’s annual fall Pep Rally took place on Friday, October 19 and was another huge success. The afternoon began with an announcement of the fall sports teams along with their seniors and captains. After a quick picture, the festivities began. The first event was the three-legged race. Madison Halas and Matt Christe lead the senior class to victory by a long shot. The tug of war competition followed with the first match between the freshmen and juniors. The juniors defeated the freshmen, and in the second round, the seniors beat the sophomores. The final match was an intense battle between the juniors and seniors. The two determined classes pulled back and forth, even getting the remainder of their respective classes to flood the floor and cheer them on. After a hard fight, the juniors outworked the seniors and became the tug of war champions.

Following the challenges, the Student Council president, Morganne Cartee, and vice president, Drew Mitchell, introduced the Homecoming Court. IHS chaplain, Deacon Jeff Font, announced Kayla Mingachos and Mikey Basile as king and queen. Following the crowning, the chant and cheer competition for the spirit stick began. The gym erupted in screams, but the seniors triumphed, receiving the spirit stick from the dean, Mr. Joe Demaida.

To conclude the competition, the junior class, whose color was red, shocked the school. Junior Lauren Oskam appeared as Moses, and the rest of the juniors split down the middle of their section “parting the Red Sea.” Oskam reflected on how the idea came to be saying, “I really wanted to do it, and I think it turned out great. Everyone went along with it, and all the teachers and other students got a kick out of it.”

On this high note, the rally concluded. With the students being allowed to use their phones at the rally, the last moments of the day consisted of pictures taken by students and faculty. The student body clearly had a blast. “My favorite part of the pep rally was when [the Red Sea stunt] happened because nobody saw it coming,” explained Oskam.

An Abbott Tech-Immaculate victory, 50-20, on Friday night against Wilcox Tech ended the day’s events. Homecoming week at IHS concluded Saturday night in the Plumbnasium with the annual homecoming dance which was DJed by junior Hunter Brown.

IHS’ Fall Drama Production of Our Town Underway

10/11/18

by Emilia Getzinger

“This play is called Our Town,” says the Stage Manager upon her entrance, “It was written by Thornton Wilder.”

Director Mrs. Alexa Wild and producer Ms. Kathleen Czel break tradition in choosing Our Town, rather than another Shakespeare play, for this year’s fall drama. Our Town was written in 1937 and is widely considered Wilder’s best work. It centers around the residents of Grover’s Corners, a New Hampshire town with a population just above 2,000. The characters lead simple lives, but the play explores the uniqueness of the human condition through their words and actions. The Stage Manager, who narrates the play, says it best, “This is the way we were: in our growing up and in our marrying and in our doctoring and in our living and in our dying.” Despite the minimal setting and ordinary premise, the audience leaves the show with an altered view of the surrounding world.

The two main families in the show are the Webb family and the Gibbs family. The teenage children of both families, Emily and George, struggle in their relationships with their parents and siblings before discovering each other in a way they never have before. Their romance is appealing without being overbearingly unrealistic, for it illustrates the love and relationships in ways that so many can relate to.

Initially, many students were hesitant to participate in a contemporary play after years of doing Shakespeare. However, the students have grown to love Our Town. Lizzie Varda, a junior who plays Mrs. Soames and has acted in Fall Drama productions since 2016, said, “I was apprehensive at first because I like doing Shakespeare, and I had never done a non-Shakespeare show before, but I think it will be a fun new experience that could draw a broad range of audiences to come see the show.” The multigenerational characters and relationships—familial, romantic, and friendly—make this show perfect for all audiences.

Performances of Our Town will take place November 15-17 at 7 p.m. in the IHS auditorium.

Immaculate Hires Mrs. Papia as Science Department Leader

Mrs. Bernice Papia

10/5/18

by Mackenzie O’Rourke

This year, Immaculate High School has almost entirely revamped its science department staff, adding new teachers in subjects including biology, anatomy, and biomedicine. The new head of this department is biomedicine and AP biology teacher, Mrs. Bernice Papia.

Papia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University in Economics, along with a Master of Arts degree from Saint Joseph’s University in Biology. In the state of Connecticut, she is also certified in Emerging Diseases and Public Health. Papia has been teaching for twenty years. She has previously taught in New York City as well as Saint Joseph High School in Trumbull, Connecticut. At SJHS she taught earth science, genetics, and biology. Papia finds biology compelling and captivating, but her interest in the science sparked through a mini, personal research project. “I originally got interested [in biology] researching a genetic disease that is inherited in my family,” explains Papia.

The new teacher’s transition to Immaculate has been very smooth, although there are many adjustments still to be made. Her intentions for coming to Immaculate were very positive. “I came to Immaculate because I have such an admiration for Catholic education. I have seen first hand amazing young men and women grow into pillar members of society,” says Papia. “I do credit my family’s successes from their Catholic school education.”

Outside of the classroom, Papia enjoys nature and various outdoor activities like sailing, running, and skiing. “Most of all I adore spending time with my daughter,” admits Papia.

 

Golfers Tee Off to Raise Funds for IHS

10/3/18

by Madeline Suarez

On Wednesday, September 19, Immaculate High School held its 29th annual golf outing at Richter Park in Danbury. In attendance, were 120 golfers including alumni, parents, parents of alumni, faculty/staff, coaches, and friends of Immaculate. Members of the IHS boys’ and girls’ golf teams including Ryan Fanella, Joe Robinson, Jack Woods, Avery Jarboe and Mackenzy Garden helped raise funds by offering to hit a player’s ball off the tee at the 12th hole for $20. They usually hit it further than most golfers and raised $1,500 for the school! The outing included 18 holes of golf, a lunch, an awards reception, a dinner, and a silent auction.

All proceeds from the event go towards IHS programs, including academics, sports, fine arts, and spiritual life. In the end, over $33,500 were raised to benefit Immaculate students. The director of advancement, Mrs. Debbie Basile, added, “The golf outing is our second largest and longest running fundraiser. It is always a great day for so many members of our Immaculate community, as everyone participating has fun while supporting the school!”

Mitchell family celebrates Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell’s Golden “T” Award

A special highlight of the day was the awards ceremony, where Scott and Marianne Mitchell ‘81 were honored with the Golden “T” Award. This award was given as a result of their continued support of Immaculate and the annual golf outing. Mrs. Mitchell shares, “My husband Scott and I were so surprised and honored to receive the award. We both love Immaculate and both love golf.” Their children Megan ‘10, Jillian ‘14, and Drew ‘20 attended the event, with Megan golfing for her first time. Mrs. Mitchell summed it up by adding, ”It was a perfect mix of golf, family, Immaculate friends and fun! Once a Mustang, always a Mustang!”