Mustang Monthly

Olivia Hynes is Student of the Month for Social Studies  

Every month the Recognition Committee asks teachers for nominations for students of the month in a certain subject area. The committee uses a blind nomination process to make their final selection based on teachers' responses. In April 2019, junior Olivia Hynes was named Student of the Month for Social Studies.

Olivia calls it an “absolute honor” to be named Student of the Month and is very thankful for the honor and to Mr. Vingo for expanding her knowledge and perspective of history. She was nominated, in part, because she “takes on every assignment with a full commitment” and “her expression of opinion and of history is quite noteworthy.” Olivia is admired for her approach of listening to what others have to say first then “stepping forward to add to the dialogue or to question a point.”

“One thing that I love about Social Studies is that you learn about people and how our actions affect others. It’s a marvel to me that my lifestyle is caused by my predecessors, and it certainly puts everything into perspective when I look into the past and oftentimes find many parallels between what happened in the past and what is happening right now,” Olivia said. “More specifically, in my AP US History class this year, I love how it’s very intimate and discussion-based, as it fosters a really great community and I’ve learned so much in that class,” she added.

Having the sense of community, plus so many different activities/paths at Immaculate to try is the best thing about being an IHS student according to Olivia. “For instance, I came to high school with a very specific career path in mind, but that ended up changing dramatically. However, I was fortunate enough to find a whole new path for me at IHS, and had I gone to a different school that only has a limited number of options, I’d be pretty stuck. So, the best thing here is definitely all of the options and the chance to be flexible with all of your activities!” she said.

Olivia urges future Immaculate students to keep an open mind about the high school years, and leave room for the possibility that things may work out differently from what you expect. “In other words, keep an open mind about your years in high school and try as many things as you can—you can certainly do that here at IHS!”

As a student at Immaculate, Olivia participates in the Debate Club, Model UN, the Fall Drama, the Jazz Band and is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and of the Science National Honor Society.  She also started the Immaculate chapter of the National English Honor Society this year. Outside of school, Olivia takes acting, vocal and dance lessons. After graduation, she plans on majoring in something in the humanities track and hopes to become either a college professor or a journalist someday.

Congratulations to the other students who were also nominated for Student of the Month for Social Studies:  freshmen Gavin Buttafuoco and William Doran, sophomores Perry Ghosh and Alexis Johnson, juniors Kieran Doolabh and senior Jack Woods.

Eight IHS Students Honored at the DOB’s Breakfast of Champions 

At its annual Breakfast of Champions on May 22, the Diocese of Bridgeport honored a select group of Catholic school students for their academic and athletic accomplishments during the 2018-19 school year.  Eight Immaculate seniors were honored: Sara Reiss received the St. Thomas Aquinas Award, which is awarded to students in their last year of elementary or high school who have demonstrated academic accomplishment and also "exemplify the Gospel Values we are called to in our Catholic faith through service to others and Christ-like behavior," and Kristen Cirone, Mackenzy Garden, Madison Halas, Taylor Mascetta, Parker McKenzie, Logan Plaisted and Angela Saidman all received the St. Sebastian Award for high school seniors who have not only academic distinction but have been captain of an athletic team that won at the State level during this academic year.  Kristen, Mackenzy and Madison were captains of the field hockey team that won the State Championship this Fall while Taylor and Angela and Parker and Logan were captains of the State Championship-winning girls and boys cross country teams respectively. The faculty and staff of Immaculate congratulate these students for these honors and their outstanding achievements and commitment to their faith, community, academics and athletics.

Mock Trial Club Honored  

The Danbury Bar Association recognized Immaculate High School’s Mock Trial team for their success in the CivicsFirst Mock Trial competition at their Law Day celebration. The team won the first round and advanced to the next level hosted by Quinnipiac Law School. Congratulations to Daniela Arzola ‘20, Nikolas Badinelli ‘22, Emma Baughman ‘19, Allie Bellone ‘22, Chloe Bellone ‘22, Colby Bellone ‘19, Alyssa Campo ‘21, Frank Chieffalo ‘19, Zachary Clark ‘21, Katerina Crowe ‘22, Celine Diaz ‘19, Ailene Doherty ‘21, Calista Dudas ‘22, Grace Garvey ’21, Meryl McKenna ‘21, Ryan McNerney ‘20, LouAnna O’Connell ‘20, Lucas Pereira ’20, Stephen Sedensky ‘20, Lin Marie Vitarbo ‘19 and Gavin Zaletsky ‘20.

Earlier this year students worked closely with the States' Attorney's office to observe cases tried at the Danbury courthouse and participated in a tour at the courthouse hosted by the Connecticut Bar Association. The team advisor is Mrs. Wendy Neil, who also teaches the new Trial Law class, advises the Model UN Club with Mr. Jeff Vingo and helped her AP US Government students to compete in the “We the People” national competition where students debate and analyze the US Constitution.

Law Day was established May 1, 1958 by Dwight D. Eisenhower as “A day of national dedication to the principles of government under law.”

Emilia McGuinness Getzinger Receives Playwright Award  

Senior Emilia McGuinness Getzinger was one of three students who won the Palace Theatre's 2019 Ernie DiMattia Emerging Young Artist Awards for their writing of an original one-act play. Her one-act play “Umbrella” will come to life with a staged reading by professional actors at The Palace in Stamford. Professional director and producer  Leah Reddy will guest direct the staged readings, which will be attended by the playwrights' parents, teachers and friends as well as Stamford Center for the Arts board members.

Natalie Kennedy Receives Inspire Scholarship, NY Ranger Announces

Natalie Kennedy received a Garden of Dreams Foundation Scholarship worth $25,000 a year for four years, and was informed of this by New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. She will attend Sacred Heart University in the Fall where she will study pediatric oncology in the school’s honors Nursing Program and play on the school’s women’s ice hockey team.

A survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Natalie has been a youth ambassador for the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation for several years and hosted local community skating events and promoting health and education. At Immaculate Natalie is a member of Campus Ministry, the Key Club and is also a peer mentor and the secretary of the school’s National Honor Society as well as a member of the Science National Honor Society.  To read more about this, CLICK HERE.