The Immaculate Conception School of Newburyport
A Community Gem
By Kathleen Downey
IC Student Emily Afford
The Immaculate Conception School (ICS) holds inside her brick edifice the most precious of gifts: the students who attend this institute of humility and learning. Principal Mary Reardon says, “Our school philosophy is that our children are gifts from God.” Under the auspices of the venerated school, the students’ intellect, empathy, social awareness, and responsibility are purposefully and gently nurtured. “A loving spirit permeates throughout our entire curriculum, from pre-K to eighth grade,” Principal Reardon adds.
Academic excellence is a trademark of an ICS education, built upon the cornerstones of integrity and discipline. Teachers are dedicated to helping each child realize his or her potential. From the youngest future alumni—pre-K students, whose breadth of study includes learning about weather patterns and developing the craft of writing, to the school’s senior members—eighth-graders who are budding scientists, engineers, linguists, and writers—students flourish in the thoughtfully structured environment. “We set the bar for the students to excel, and they do,” says Principal Reardon.
A Classroom At The IC
A key goal of the ICS is to prepare her students for the future “academically, spiritually, and socially.” Typically, 80 percent of ICS graduates attend private or Catholic high schools, including The Governor’s Academy, Bishop Fenwick, St. John’s Prep, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Alumni have attended the U.S. Naval Academy, West Point, and prestigious higher learning institutions. Recently, the ICS added a Fulbright scholar to her heritage. This distinction and monetary award is bestowed upon a scholar who promotes the principles of peace and understanding during the course of his or her study abroad.
Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in 1882, the ICS “endeavors to develop the whole child in the Gospel spirit of love, justice, and responsibility.” Foremost is the belief that every child matters. Though her principles are Catholic-based, the ICS welcomes all faiths and fosters what Mimi Reeves, Development Director for the ICS, calls “a spirit of inclusiveness and camaraderie.” She says that “self-respect, respect between students, and respect between students and teachers is fostered by the school’s safe environment and disciplined culture.”
Learning at The IC
The school’s challenging curriculum is augmented by a nationally acclaimed writing program, a Learning Center that provides one-on-one support, a reading specialist who helps students to develop their reading comprehension skills, an advanced algebra program, a high-tech computer center, a state-of-the-art science laboratory, and classrooms that implement Smart Boards—interactive technology that projects live research via the Internet onto white boards. Eighth-grade students learn the art of journalism by writing and publishing the school’s monthly newspaper, The Pelican Press. ICS students also assist with planning the monthly liturgy.
In keeping with the school’s theme of spirituality and Christian values, the entire school membership meets in the gymnasium at the start of each day for morning devotion. Principal Reardon explains, “We gather to pray, pledge allegiance to our country, give thanks, and ‘center ourselves’ for the day ahead.”
Although academic acumen is attentively cultivated, physical education is also an important part of the curriculum; the school’s athletics program is testament to the ICS’s philosophy to “develop the whole child.” Students improve and test their physical fitness—and simply have fun—in the beautifully designed, brand-new gymnasium.
- Mariah Newman, Katie Ann Hayes, Molly Kelley, Carley Siemasko, and Juliana Noce
Because the ICS believes that learning, fitness, and social development should continue when the school day ends, the ICS offers a variety of extracurricular activities. In addition to a tutoring program that provides extra scholastic help, students may elect to join the boys’ or girls’ basketball team, participate in cross-country/track, join the ICS School Band, join the Boy/Girl Scouts, or join the school’s Leadership Team.
The Journey Program of the ICS is another after-school offering that seeks to cultivate a student’s “individual gifts and abilities” through a variety of classes that are taught by artists and professionals from the community. Classes run the gamut from Robotics, Jewelry Design, and Karate.
An extended day program, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. is available for those students who may remain in the ICS’s safe, supervised environment until their parents come for them.
Nicole Cousins, Katherine Sachs, Sr. Mary Braley, Evelyn Pike
Parents and ICS alumni play significant roles in supporting the ICS in her mission to develop the full potential, including the empathy, inherent in each child. A flower garden in memory of loved ones lost is planted each year by the children’s parents, one small but touching—and teaching—example of reverence. And the school’s alumni, some of them ICS high school graduates (the ICS included a high school until 1964), have donated significant charitable endowments that have made possible the school’s extensive renovations. One generous ICS alumnus-benefactor, Curt Gerrish (president of Rochester Electronics), praises the ICS for the values she taught him. He calls the ICS “a community gem.”
Through the ICS’s traditional practice of academic excellence and respect, students expand their minds and learn what it means to become good community citizens.
If you are an ICS alumnus who would like to help the ICS continue her mission, Mimi Reeves would love to hear from you! Contact Mimi mreeves@newburyportcatholic.org
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Kathleen Downey is a contributing writer to Newburyport-Today she can be reached for comment at cinnibellf@comcast.net
