Mustang Monthly
One of the primary tenets of our school mission is our Catholic identity. In the past few weeks, students continued to embrace their faith as they celebrated their God-given talents and the gift of receiving a Catholic school education. Arriving at the end of our first academic semester, Catholic Schools Week brought our school community together in prayer, in joy-filled spirit, at academic celebrations, at athletic recognitions and with local community service.
Our administration, staff, faculty and Advisory Board have been engaged in a formal review of our program offerings, our Catholic identity and school operations. This collaborative review was conducted for our decennial re-accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). We are pleased to announce that our ongoing efforts for school improvement and providing students with exceptional college-preparatory experiences have been recognized and that NEASC has re-accredited Immaculate High School for another ten years. In addition to relying on best practices and professional development for all staff, we will continue our commitment to ensuring that our mission goals and objectives are strengthened by analyzing and implementing the recommendations and continuing to focus on commendations mentioned in our NEASC re-accreditation report.
In addition to celebrating our students, we have had the opportunity to celebrate two very exceptional teachers for their innovative programs. Niall Reynolds, Band Instructor, was recognized by Foundations in Education with a $6,900 grant for his proposal to introduce a Music Technology Lab that will allow students to use sophisticated technical resources for musical notation, composition, collaboration and recording of their work. Foundations in Education is a non-profit initiative that assists Catholic schools in Fairfield County with grants for education-based initiatives so that they may remain at the cutting edge of academics and leadership development. Jeanine Antonios, Engineering Coordinator, and her student team was invited to participate in the Real World Design Challenge in Washington, DC. As a result of her leadership and the caliber of the students who will be participating in the Challenge, Pratt & Whitney contacted Mrs. Antonios and offered a $7,000 partnership grant to support her and the students for the Challenge event. The Real World Design Challenge (RWDC) is an annual high school competition run by a public-private partnership with the goal of increasing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. The partners are focused on working within the context of the American educational system to transform STEM education in the United States by providing professional science and engineering and learning resources to students and teachers.
Our rolling admissions for the 2019-20 school year continues. We look forward to welcoming our new students who will be registering for their courses next week. Our Course Guide Book, which will reflect our new course offerings including a CNA program, additional technology, business, religion, fine arts and science courses, will be posted on our school website at that time. If you are interested in learning more about our programs or school community, please do not hesitate to contact Tom Burns, Admissions Director, at tburns@myimmamculatehs.org
As you read through this Mustang Monthly edition, please know that we are most grateful for the support of so many so that we can offer an exemplary educational experience for our students. Thank you in advance to all of you who have supported us in the past and who will continue to support us. Visit the Advancement section of this Mustang Monthly to learn more about our largest fundraising event, our upcoming Annual Spring Gala!
Regards,
Mary R. Maloney
President