Mustang Monthly

Enjoy The Virtual Fine Arts Festival Anytime  

Immaculate High School held its first ever Virtual Fine Arts Festival on June 2, and if you missed it then you can still participate in this new and unique program that showcases the artistic and musical talents of IHS students. Immerse yourself in galleries of original art, music, skits, magic and more. You can enjoy the Virtual Fine Arts Festival by going to this link: immaculatehs.org/festival. 
 
The IHS Virtual Fine Arts Festival offers participants the ability to see and hear actors, musicians and singers perform, as well as enter virtual galleries where you can see student works of art and learn about their process by clicking on individual artwork. Some of the highlights include: 

• The Drama Showcase features songs, skits, monologues, movies and magic. The Music Band Gallery and Art of Making Music Gallery share performances by IHS band members, musicians and singers. Many genres and artists are represented including piano covers, rock songs and electronic music, as well as original music from students including Immaculates’ Sound Design class and music video projects.
   
• The Graphic Design Gallery displays the original artwork of Graphics I, Graphics II, Graphics III (UCONN ECE) students, along with students’ comments about their process. The Fine Art Gallery exhibits Fine Arts students’ artwork through a series of linked galleries in which visitors can click through each room and on individual pieces to see them in detail and learn about each individual piece of art. 

“The IHS Virtual Fine Arts Festival highlights our students' own personal tastes and individual voices and talents. Though some of the artwork and music was created during social distancing from their homes, the entire festival is a representation of the hard work students have put in over the entire school year, and all of it is a testament to their spirit, talent and dedication to their craft,” said Samantha Kohler, IHS Graphic Arts teacher and Chairperson of the Fine Arts Department. 

Our Students Are Giving to the Community

Our students bless us with gifts every day. Whether it be sharing songs, making masks, collecting and donating food to those in need or remembering staff and patients in nursing homes, Immaculate students have stepped up to the plate to help their community. Here are some examples:

Lauren Pruner ‘21 founded the club Entertainers for Elders at Immaculate and has performed for the residents at the St. John Paul II Center for eldery residents. She dedicates this beautiful rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” for the Class of 2020. Click this link to hear her story and experience the song.

During the school year, students from the first ever class of Immaculate’s CNA program did on-site training at St. John Paul II Rehabilitation Center in Danbury and worked with patients and assisted staff.  While they had to stop going to the center due to the pandemic, the students never forgot their patients or the center’s staff who work so hard to care for them. To show that they were still thinking of them, the students created posters of support, created care packages for the staff and wrote letters to the residents. Our school nurse Helen Story took everything to the center and said that all there were very appreciative to be remembered. “The head nurse said she is more than happy to have Immaculate’s CNA students come back to St. John Paul II and that they truly miss the students,” she noted.  

Compassion meets creativity as IHS freshman Kayla O’Marra watched her mother sew a mask and thought she’d like to try. In her spare time Kayla made masks and donated them wherever there was a need. She has made many masks, each with a pocket for a filter and wire for the nose. Kayla is another shining example of our students doing small things with great love during this challenging time. The Immaculate family could not be more proud of the initiative so many Mustangs have taken showing their strength, creativity, faith and compassion!

The IHS Family Stuffs Two Vans of Food for Jericho Partnership

Thank you to our wonderful families, alumni, faculty/staff and to all those who donated to Immaculate’s Stuff the Van event. Because of you Immaculate was able to deliver TWO full vans of food to Jericho Partnership’s food pantry!  Even the Danbury Fire Department came by in their big red engine to drop off items.  “We are so grateful and encouraged by the way the community is rallying together to serve and support our neighbors in need,” said Jericho President Carrie L. Amos. “Their actions demonstrate that they care deeply about what our at-risk community – which grows every day - is experiencing during this really difficult season. We’ve always said ‘we are better together’ and we’re seeing it now in a really significant way.” Thank you to everyone who has the grace and faith to help others during this time of need, including the seniors who made signs of gratitude for food drive donors!

Virtual Spirit Week and TikTok Videos Spread the Mustang Spirit

The IHS Student Council hosted a Virtual Spirit Week in May, and students were asked to dress up for each day’s theme, which included Hoodie Day, Superhero Day, Favorite Sports Team Day and Your Immaculate Best Day. They were also challenged to make TikTok videos showing off their Mustang spirit.  The top three winners of the challenge won Amazon gift cards. Congratulations to Alanna Emiliano ‘22, first place; Ernst Koch ‘22, second place; and Angela Devine ‘23, third place. Watch their amazing videos by CLICKING HERE.

IHS Physics Students Create Amazing Rube Goldberg Machines

Mr. Tom Mertens and his Physics students continued their quest for knowledge through experiments at home by building individual Rube Goldberg machines.  Named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, these machines are intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way. The effort allows students to think both logically and creatively while considering the rules of physics, and have some fun!  

New Student Council and National Honor Society Officers Announced

The IHS Student Council recently announced the new officers for the 2020-21 school year: President Mark Radigan ‘21, Vice-President Stella Sabo ‘21, Secretary Lauren Pruner ‘21, Treasurer Kennedi Muller ‘22, Event Coordinator Angelina Ciatto ‘21 and Communications/Marketing Officer Calista Dudas ‘22.  The Student Council’s advisor is Mr. David Quesnell, math teacher.

The IHS chapter of the National Honor Society announces its new officers for the upcoming school year:  President Grace Garvey ‘21, Vice President Meryl McKenna ‘21, Secretary Stella Sabo ‘21, Treasurer Morgan Begler ‘21 and Service Chair Madison Bidetti ‘21. The NHS Advisor is Dana Pinckney, English teacher. 

Thank you to these students for stepping up for these important leadership roles and Immaculate looks forward to all the great events and work the Student Council and National Honor Society will do next year.  Thank you also to all past officers and members for your successful efforts and hard work. 

Mustang Caravan Visits Our Seniors; Senior Parade A Happy Success

The IHS Mustang was very busy recently leading the caravan of IHS administrators to visit our seniors and deliver their graduation signs, yearbooks, alumni t-shirts, goodie bags and extra Mustang spirit!  Take a look at the photos of some happy faces as Immaculate celebrates the amazing Class of 2020! The seniors and faculty/staff also participated in a senior car parade around the school, as teachers, staff and parents lined the route to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2020. Cheers, horns, balloons, painted cars and smiles filled a beautiful Spring day on the IHS campus. Immaculate continues to work hard to find meaningful ways to celebrate our seniors, while adhering to all health and safety directives, and our special graduation issue of Mustang Monthly will share all these wonderful moments. 

Meet Our New Business Manager

Christina Fernandes joined the Immaculate Family as Business Manager in May. She is taking over for Azian Kearney, who will return to the private sector. Mrs. Fernandes’ experience includes positions in non-profit finance leadership for mission-driven human service organizations with a primary focus to improve the lives of children, families and individuals with disabilities. She has served as the Accounting Manager of Boys & Girls Village and the Charles Hayden Day School, a program for youth to overcome behavioral challenges and reach their academic potential. Mrs. Fernandes also has accounting experience in the private sector. 

“My upbringing and commitment to my Catholic faith, in addition to my belief in the importance of a great education, drew me to Immaculate High School. The Business Manager role enables me to marry my accounting and finance background with my core principles. I am so thrilled to be a part of an institution whose mission is so well aligned with my fundamental values and beliefs,” Mrs. Fernandes said. 

Mrs. Fernandes earned an MBA in Accounting from Sacred Heart University and a Bachelor of Arts from Fairfield University, as well as State of Connecticut School Business Manager Endorsement certification. A religion teacher and Girl Scout leader, Mrs. Fernandes resides in Trumbull with her husband and three children. 

Join Us and Share the Word About Our Next Virtual Open House

If you or someone you know would like to have your student become an Immaculate Mustang and would like to learn more, please join us at our next Immaculate High School Virtual Open House on June 18 at 4pm, and experience the IHS difference. 
 
Choosing the right high school is critical, now more than ever! Finding the right fit is key. If you are looking for an opportunity to experience something different…something more….then Immaculate High School is the place for you!  Explore and travel our campus virtually, and discover all Immaculate has to offer at www.immaculatehs.org/admissions. To register for our Virtual Open House and meet with our faculty and students to see and hear how we live our mission daily, register here at www.immaculatehs.org/openhouse.