Signature Programs
Preparing Students for the Future
To provide a diverse, personalized experience for students, Immaculate reviews the design of its programs annually. Being flexible and offering value-focused innovative programming is vital to connecting students to real world opportunities that provide leadership roles in a certification program, academic competitions or an internship.
Certification Programs
Technology
Microsoft Digital Skills is a course designed as an introduction to modern digital skills and prepares students for success in academic and professional environments, emphasizing Microsoft Office skills in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Students will develop proficiency and computer literacy in productivity tools, digital communication and foundational technology skills, aligning with the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), allowing an opportunity to earn an Associate Certification.
Advanced Healthcare
Students interested in pursuing a health and medical science college major including pre-med, nursing, physical or occupational therapy can engage in a two-semester state certified health course. You will develop skills in allied health infection control, common and acute health conditions, communication, patient rights, safety, medical record documentation, physical rehabilitation and more. Students practice in a hospital simulation lab on our campus before doing off-campus clinical rotations at Havencare at Hancock Hall and apply for becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant during their junior or senior year.
Graphic Design
Students have the opportunity to advance their knowledge of the arts through design via Graphic Design I CP and Graphic Design II Honors courses using the Adobe Creative Suite to include Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. Students may then enroll in our Visual Design ECP course earning college credit through Quinnipiac University. Finally, students may enroll in a Graphics IV Honors class which is an independent study course designed for students who intend to pursue a career in design or related business/arts field. You will create marketing materials including but not limited to fliers, marketing pieces, promotional items and more.
Leading Scholars Program
The Immaculate High School Leading Scholars Program is designed for the highest achieving students in the freshman and sophomore classes. Admission is based on your academic record in middle school, your scores on the HSPT exam, letters of recommendation and an interview with our committee. A merit scholarship to attend IHS will be offered to our scholar candidates.
Immaculate Leading Scholars will take advantage of the following program highlights:
- Career Presentations - A series of guest speakers to help students learn about potential career options
- College Tours and Admission Presentations - Guided college tours at some of the best colleges in the country
- Enhanced Academic Programs - Identify opportunities for academic enrichment for you. Some include a summer academic program (on a college campus), an online academic enrichment course, research opportunities and academic certification programs.
- Community Service - Identify additional opportunities for community service
- College Profile - Develop your college profile by identifying the appropriate level classes, building a resume plus selecting clubs and activities in the community
- Sophomore scholars will be invited to participate in a daylong educational and celebratory excursion at the conclusion of the program in the spring
Academic Competitions
Academic competitions facilitate a learning environment that promotes academic challenges and experiences that require commitment, enthusiasm and motivation. Student personal goals and value systems as well as an understanding of specific skills necessary to work well with one another contribute to meaningful opportunities. Students develop skills on how to manage subjectivity and the complexities of working with different personalities. Competitive engagements maximize student interests, develops risk-taking skills and informs best practices that facilitate personal development.
Mock Trial
Immaculate has been an active participant in the state competitions sponsored by the Connecticut Bar Association over the last seven years, advancing to the "Elite Eight" round in the 2019-2020 season and the 2024-2025 seasons. In 2022, the team made it all the way to the Final Four! Mock Trial is a program that allows students to develop their language, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Through simulation members strive for and demonstrate mastery in a real-life trial setting. Each year a new case guides their preparation from the perspective of attorneys, witnesses and court officers.
CyberPatriots
The CyberPatriots participate in the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, The National Air Force Association program puts teams of high school and middle school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. Through a series of online competition rounds, teams are given a set of virtual operating systems and must find and fix cybersecurity vulnerabilities while maintaining critical services. The top teams in the nation earn all-expenses-paid trips to Maryland for the National Finals Competition where they can earn national recognition and scholarship money. The Immaculate teams have won several state and regional awards as well as participated at the national level.
Real World Design – Engineering Competition
The Real World Design Challenge is an annual competition with the goal of setting a solid foundation for the future STEM workforce. It gives students the chance to work on real-world engineering challenges using professional resources in a virtual environment, while allowing them to apply classroom lessons to real-life challenges found in the working world. The Immaculate Brave Engineers team has been recognized as one of the top three teams nationally.
Bee and Quiz Bowl
Think fast. Compete smart. Lead with knowledge! This club encourages an interest in geography, history and culture by fostering collaboration, critical thinking and a love of learning about history and geography. The Bee and Quiz Bowl Club allows students to compete against their peers and other schools in various academic competitions. These competitions range from fun games during club meetings to much more serious and formal competitions, such as the Connecticut Geography Challenge run by Central Connecticut State University and the History Bowl.
Career Internship Program
The purpose of the Student Career Internship Program is to allow our students to explore an area of career interest outside the constructs of their formal educational program. By fostering independence and decision-making skills, the program provides an opportunity to make a smoother transition from high school to college, the workplace or military service. The program is designed to allow students to fulfill the academic requirements and participate in athletics or other extra-curricular programs while they experience a career opportunity.