Immaculata High School (New Jersey)

:"For other schools named Immaculata see Immaculata High School".

Immaculata High School (also known as "Immaculata" or "IHS") is a private, coeducational, Roman Catholic high school in Somerville, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1962, Immaculata High School operates within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen and enrolls approximately 850 students from surrounding communities. The School is also served by a group of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who live in a convent attached to the main building of the school. Many of the Sisters teach different subjects in the school's curriculum.

Immaculata High School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The program of studies at Immaculata strives to meet the needs of all students in developing their abilities and talents. The curriculum is planned to permit the student to select college preparatory courses, business courses or a combination of both. The objectives of the total curriculum are to impart spiritual, intellectual, cultural, physical, and social values.

Awards and recognition

During the 1997-98 school year,Immaculata High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF)] , United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.] , the highest award an American school can receive. [ [http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17475750&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6 CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department] , "Journal Inquirer", November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."] [Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; "The Washington Post", September 29, 2005. "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."]

Academics

A total of 132 credits are necessary for graduation. This includes Theology, which is required each year at Immaculata High School. Students must select six major subjects yearly. Prerequisites for upper level courses are determined by the respective departments and must be met for entry into those respective courses.

Advanced Placement Program courses are available in AP English Language and Composition, AP United States History, AP Spanish Language, AP Chemistry and AP Calculus, AP French Language, AP Art History. In addition, Honors courses are offered to students in English, French, Spanish, Mathematics, Science, and History.

Spartan Spirit

Spartan Spirit is an activity in which each class has to incorporate a color theme into song lyrics or another popular culture reference. Seniors are Blue, Juniors are Red, Sophomores are Yellow, and Freshman are Green. There are various class races that are won, number of students who attend per class, spirit, attitude, sportsmanship, and theme are voted on for points. The class with the most points wins a casual dress day for their class. All other classes must report in their uniforms.

In March 2004, the freshmen (the class of 2007) won the competition, and the graduating seniors of the class of 2004 became the first class in over 15 years to not win the competition once over the course of their four competitions.

Library

The library is run by Sister Ceceila Molloy I.H.M. The library has enough computers to allow a class to do a project or learn how to use the resources it has to offer. It has many great books and participates in the inter-library loan program, which allows books to be borrowed from other Central Jersey High School libraries. Students are allowed to use the library before lunch, after lunch, during lunch periods, and during study periods.

Athletics

Immaculata competes in the Skyland Conference, which comprises eighteen public and parochial high schools covering Hunterdon County, Somerset County and Warren County in west central New Jersey. Immaculata is categorized by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association in Non-Public Division III. Many sports are offered at Immaculata.

Fall sports

*Cheerleading
*Boys' Cross Country
*Girls' Cross Country
*Football
*Boys' Soccer
*Girls' Soccer
*Girls' Tennis
*Marching Band

Winter sports

*Boys' Basketball
*Girls' Basketball
*Bowling
*Cheerleading
*Swimming
*Weightlifting Club

pring sports

*Baseball
*Golf
*Boys' Lacrosse
*Girls' Lacrosse
*Softball
*Boys' Tennis
*Track
*Weightlifting Club

On December 2, 2006, Immaculata's varsity football team faced Delbarton School in the Non-Public Group III State Final at Rutgers University, winning 22-14. [ [http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061203/SPORTS08/612030346 Delbarton runs out of time against Immaculata] , "Daily Record (Morristown)", December 3, 2006.] [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=188015&tclass=Non-Public%2C%20Group%20III 2006 Football Tournament - Non-Public, Group III] , NJSIAA, accessed April 28, 2007.]

The girls basketball team won the 2003 Parochial North A championship, defeating Immaculate Heart Academy, 53-29 in the tournament final. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=30419&tclass=Parochial%20North%20A 2003 Girls Basketball - Parochial North A] , NJSIAA, accessed April 28, 2007.]

The school's Cross-Country running team, the Spartans, runs in the Skyland Conference. In the 2006-2007 academic year, the team made it to the New Jersey State Championship, but did not place. Immaculata's cross-country team has been around since 1976.

Clubs

The school has many clubs including foreign language clubs, drama, various student outreach programs through campus ministry, and spring track.

Marching Band

The Immaculata High School Spartan Marching Band is one of the cornerstones of the school, consisting of over 170 wind, percussion and color guard members. The band performs at all school football games and competes in United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) competitions in the New Jersey area. In the 2006 season the band was named State Champions. They also won third place in Class VI at the USSBA National Championships at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, and was recognized with the Overall Best Percussion National Championship title as well as tying for the Overall Best Color Guard National Championship title. In 2007 the Spartan Marching band placed 2nd in Group VI Open at USSBA National Championships at Raven Stadium in Baltimore, MD. The Band received Best Effect and Drumline in Group VI. [ [http://www.marchingbandplanet.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=32 USSBA National Championship Titles] , United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) press release dated November 14, 2006.]

Track

The track program was recently an "official" club sponsored by the school. Before the 2005-06 school year it was an unofficial team through the cross country runners. The 2005-06 year lead to an official Spring Track Club. Mr. Wilt Robinson, the varsity cross country coach, coached the sprinters. Mr. Flannery, a Princeton University alumnus, coached the distance runners. Practice is commonly held throughout Somerville and the track at Raritan Valley Community College. The Spring 2007 season was coached by Mr. Robinson again along with another alumnus, as Mr. Flannery was unable to coach.

Drama

Musicals are performed each year at the school in the spring. In March 2006, the department put on a production of "Footloose". The plays are directed by Mr. Trent VanDoren, with musical direction by Sr. Dolores Margaret and Ed Webber as Stage Manager. The 2008 spring musical was "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying". The shows were in the middle of March 2007.

Model United Nations

Model United Nations is designed to give students an understanding of the structure and functions of the United Nations in New York City. Since 1985, Immaculata High School has won numerous awards at the annual [http://www.ymcamun.org YMCA Model UN Conference] in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Model U.N. is also called MUN by some of the students.

During the 2006 - 2007 School Year, the group won the Outstanding Delegation award, surpassing 1200 students and 35 other schools. During the 2008 Model UN Conference, Immaculata students will serve in the roles of President of the General Assembly and Chair of the Environment and Technology Committee A.

Model UN is run by Mr. Thomas J. Welsh of the History Department.

Administration

*Reverend Monsignor Seamus F. Brennan - Director
*Sister Regina Havens, IHM - Principal
*Pierce G. Fraunheim - Vice Principal/Athletic Director
*Sheila White - Vice Principal/Director of Guidance
*James Dimino - Assistant Dean of Students

Notable alumni

*Jack Cust (born 1979), Major League Baseball player with the Oakland Athletics. [ [http://www.nj.com/sports/hunterdon/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1173391712218510.xml&coll=12&thispage=2 Jack Cust Jr. still on cusp of Major League career] , "Hunterdon County Democrat", accessed April 2, 2007. "Cust's journey didn't seem like it would be this difficult. He starred at Immaculata High School in Somerville under longtime coach Tom Gambino, who said Cust is one of the best players he's ever had in nearly 20 years as the team's skipper."]
*Jason Ryan (born 1976), pitcher who played two seasons for Minnesota Twins. [ [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Jay-Ryan.shtml Jay Ryan] , The Baseball Cube. Accessed January 13, 2008.]
*Douglas Urbanski (born 1957), Broadway and film producer.

See also

*Immaculate Conception School (Somerville) - a PreK-8 day school, of the same parish and located on the same street

References

External links

* [http://www.immaculatahighschool.org/ Official website]
* [http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=01603041&ID=01603041 Data for Immaculata High School] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.ihscslnews.org/ Immaculata High School Child Slave Labor News]
* [http://www.ihsband.org/ Immaculata High School Spartan Marching Band]
* [http://freewebs.com/ihsaltos/ Immaculata High School Alto Saxophone Website]
* [http://www.ihsmun.org/ Immaculata High School Model United Nations Team]