Immaculate Conception Catholic School

Congratulations to Fourth Grader Amanda Rex on her winning essay,
What the American Flag Means to Me.
(Click the title to read Amanda’s essay!)

Immac's Proud Winners Siara Maldanado, Hannah Christou, and Lily Dempsey with Mrs. Cordes, Asst Principal (left) and Sister Kathleen McKinney, Principal (right) of The Mary Louis Academy.

Read more about the event here.

Immaculate Conception Catholic School celebrates Flag Day! The Knights of Columbus’ Flag Day Ceremony took place at 9 AM in the Holy Union Convent Courtyard and included guest speakers, student presenters, and members of the NYPD marching band.
View the article from the Queens Gazette here.

View the article from The Tablet, with a slideshow of images from the event, here.

View the Currents Video of Flag Day at Immac, June 14, 2011.

Immaculate Conception graduate Nicole Aloise was invited to give a speech to the crowd:

My name is Nicole Aloise and I graduated from Immaculate Conception School fourteen years ago. I am now a prosecutor at the Queen’s District Attorney’s Office. It is my privilege and honor to be here with you today.

The American flag is very important to me both as a lawyer and as a citizen. As a prosecutor, my job is to do justice; to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. Our country’s criminal justice system is based on the following truths: that all men are created equal, that all men are presumed innocent until proven guilty and that justice is blind. These ideals do not exist in other countries and citizens of other countries do not enjoy the same protections under the law that we share as Americans. Outside of every courthouse flies an American flag and it serves as a reminder to all who enter the courthouse doors that they are privileged to live in a country where the law will protect them and justice will be done.

Likewise, as Americans we are fortunate to live in a society of freedom and choice. Although I know that right now, if you were given a choice you probably would not choose to come to school every day or to go home and study and do your homework; the fact that your parents had the choice of what school to send you to and whom you would be educated by is something special to our country. I know that when I was your age and people would tell me that I should be grateful that my parents send me to Immaculate Conception – a good, Catholic school – the words just rolled off of my shoulder. Now, having been to many other places around the world, I can confidently say that I am grateful to live in a country full of freedom; a place where my parents had the opportunity to choose to send me to this school so that I could be educated by excellent teachers, make lifelong friends and grow up in a fun, safe environment.

I also know that there are mornings when you are standing up in class saying the Pledge of Allegiance and your morning prayer and all you are thinking is that you would much rather still be home in bed. I know you all have mornings like that because I definitely did. So, I won’t ask any of you to stop thinking that but I will ask all of you this: the next time you are saying the Pledge of Allegiance in class, try hard to listen to the words because they really are meaningful. They remind us that these stars and stripes don’t just differentiate our flag from the flags of other countries because of the colors or the design – they differentiate our flag from the flags of other countries because of what they represent; One Nation, Under God. The stars and stripes represent the right you all have to choose your friends, to watch one hundred different channels on TV, to listen to all different types of music, to wear whatever you like (when you aren’t at school in uniform!), to choose your high school and college and career, to choose where you want to live, what religion you want to practice and who you want to marry.

No matter where our flag is flown throughout the world, it represents the United States as a whole but here at home, it represents so many different things. Throughout music, literature and history we Americans have used our flag to represent what we needed at any given time and place – as a symbol of what we require to get us through tough times and happy times, to lift our spirits and remind us what we are fighting for, to keep our focus on coming home and, to commemorate those lives lost in defending its colors.

On a battlefield the flag stands for honor and freedom. On the moon the flag shows that once again, as Americans, we are braving new frontiers. At Ground Zero the flag stands for perseverance and, as I mentioned earlier, in the courthouse the flag stands for justice and in a school it means truth.

I ask each of you to take the time today to think about what the flag represents to you and I hope that like I did, you all take advantage of the freedom and liberty our flag stands for and choose a life that makes you happy.

May God bless each and every one of you and may God bless America.

______________________________________________________________

Fourth and Fifth graders also marched in The Flag Day Parade in lower Manhattan on Tuesday, June 14th. It has become a tradition for Immac. They carried the banner and began at City Hall and then marched to Fraunces Tavern.  Fourth grader Emily Mattelini won the Flag Day Essay contest and was invited to read her essay at the celebration.

Emily Mattelini, winner of the Flag Day Essay Contest!

June 14, 2011

Dear Parents, Students, Alumni, and all Members of the Immaculate Conception School Family,

After forty years of teaching, thirty-six of which have been at Immaculate Conception School, I have decided to call it a day.  This decision was not an easy one to make, but after discussions with my wife and family, and careful deliberations, I believe now would be the best time for me to step away and allow some younger blood to take my place.

I have truly enjoyed my years teaching at Immaculate Conception, and I believe I have been blessed to have had this privilege.  I would like to thank all the parents who have supported me over the years.  You have helped to make my job easier and more enjoyable.

I wouldn’t even know where to start to thank all the students who have been part of my life these forty years.  They have kept me young inside while I aged on the outside.  They have habitually made me feel like I was one of them and have often inspired me to try to inspire them.  I know I will never get used to not being with them 180 days every year, and I wouldn’t trade the times I spent with your children for anything.  I will always treasure the wonderful memories they have given me throughout my retirement years.  My biggest hope is that I have in some way been a positive influence in their lives.

Respectfully yours,

Mr. Louis Torre

Immaculate Conception School’s new gym floor is a gift from one of our alumni and his wife.  There will be a dedication ceremony in the Fall to acknowledge the generosity of this gift that means so much to the students, alumni, parents, faculty and staff of the school and to all of the children in our parish community.

Immaculate Conception School’s Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on April 16, 2011 was a great success! Read more about it in the article from the Gazette linked below.

Read the article in the Queens Gazette.

Immaculate Conception School has established the ICS News Team, led by Joann Ianniello (ICS) and Marie Carella (Alumni). The purpose of the news team is to teach students the basics of journalism and public relations while generating positive recognition for the school.

The participating students, in grades six through eight, will learn about publications such as daily & weekly newspapers, magazines, and TV.  They will learn how to list an event, the basics of a press release, how to contact an editor, and what the guidelines are for submitting information after an event takes place.

Immac’s Adopted Kennel at Animal Care and Control of NYC (Manhattan) has seen lots of action in the past week- both of our “residents” have gone on to happy endings outside of the shelter and I can’t wait to see who is occupying our kennel now!  Here’s a quick update:

• Beautiful Lab mix Lola was adopted by a wonderful family with a 6 year old son who can’t wait to play with his new puppy!
• The second resident of Immac’s kennel was Jay, a gorgeous Dalmation- here’s his photo, but he’s already gone on to a new foster home through a Dalmation Rescue organization.

Yay Lola and Jay- best of luck in your new homes! You can view all the adoptable animals at the ACC here. More updates to follow soon!

-Ms. Skiver

Last month, the students at Immaculate Conception School raised money for Animal Care and Control of NYC during one of our Dress Down for Charity days. The school raised over $500 and was able to “Adopt a Kennel” to feed and care for a dog for a month. Yesterday I visited the shelter and met Lola, the sweet and playful pup that is residing in “Immac’s Kennel.”  Lola is a happy 10 month old small Labrador Retriever mix with gorgeous peach and white coloring and a constantly wagging tail! She was super excited for her walk and I was happy to see that she seemed to be enjoying her “extra large” kennel (Immac got the corner office of kennels!)

-Ms. Skiver

Lola is up for adoption at the Manhattan shelter! You can read more about her here. Or visit her at the ACC Manhattan on 110th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue.  You can also read more about the ACC as well as search adoptable animals on their website .