June 4, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As our school year draws to its conclusion, I would like to share some final bits of information and recent developments with you.

Congratulations to Jack Rich, grade seven, Jack has continued our winning ways with Raytheon Corporation’s MathMovesU contest. Jack has been awarded a $1,000.00 scholarship and ICS will receive a matching grant.

More good news, Catie Barry, ICS class of 2007, a student at Notre Dame Academy has been recognized for “Outstanding Achievement in Math and Science” by RPI and offered a $15,000.00 scholarship for all four years should she choose to go there. Catie attributes her great success in math and science to the rigorous preparation she received at ICS. Catie is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. James Barry and sister of Meaghan, grade 7 and brother of James, grade 4.

Our summer math review changed last year and will be the same this summer. Students in K-7 will be bringing home an end-of-the year math test indicating the types of math facts, concepts, and problems they should review with you over the course of the summer. All students will be tested in a similar fashion in September. The test will be based on their summer review work done at home.

Our eighth grade students and their parents gathered at 6:00 pm on Wednesday evening for Awards Night. It was a night to celebrate the many accomplishments of the Class of 2010. I extend my congratulations to them, their teachers and parents who have worked so diligently to bring them to this point. Laura Cattarin was named Valedictorian of her class and will speak at graduation.

We have all been looking forward to today’s annual School Cook Out. I extend our thanks to Mrs. Jo Ann Jackson and her committee for making this much-anticipated event a reality.

Saturday, June 5th our Eighth Grade Graduation will take place at the conclusion of the
4:30 PM Mass. All are welcome to attend as we celebrate the Class of 2010.

Our third annual ICS Band Concert will take place on June 8 at 12:30 PM in Meehan Hall under the direction of Ms Sharon Chen. Ms. Chen was injured in a head-on collision caused by a drunk driver over Memorial Day weekend. Please keep her in your prayers. If she is unable to be here for the concert, one of the staff from Paul Effman Music will be here in her place. We are looking forward to a melodious program presented by our budding musicians!

Our Sports Banquet will take place Tuesday, June 15 at 5:30 PM in Meehan Hall. Our Athletic Director, Mr. Bob Pino, and the coaches will be in touch with parents of our student athletes with all of the details. Our sports programs greatly enhance school life and are thoroughly enjoyed by all of the students who participate. I extend a sincere thank you to all of the volunteer coaches who make these programs possible.

Kindergarten Graduation will be held at 8:15 AM on Thursday, June 17 in Meehan Hall. A reception for the graduates, their families and friends will follow the ceremony.

Our Mass for the Closing of School will be celebrated on June 18 at 9:00 a.m., please note the change in date from the original school calendar. We will gather as a school community in gratitude for a wonderful school year and for the many blessings God has bestowed upon us. Please join us in prayer.

Our last day of school for Pre-School-Grade 7 will be Friday, June 18. This is a half day of school and dismissal will be at 11:00 AM. Final report cards will be sent home with all students in good standing. Standardized test scores for students in grades 1-8 will be sent home via backpack mail the week of June 14.

A list of tutors indicating which subjects and grade levels they are offering will be emailed home next week. All tutoring arrangements are made individually and independent of the school. We provide this list for informational purposes only.

Please be sure to keep your email and mailing addresses current over the summer, as we will be sending out a lot of important information over the next few months.

Some tentative, preliminary calendar dates for next year have been approved. The faculty and staff will have Professional Development Days August 31 and September 1. We will have Visiting Day on Thursday, September 2 from 10:00 am to noon and our first day of classes will be Tuesday, September 7. We cannot have classes on September 3, as the Marlborough Public Schools will be closed.

Please continue to collaborate with us in marketing our school throughout the summer. It is paying tremendous dividends. We do check messages frequently throughout the summer and are happy to schedule tours and testing as needed.

Mr. Ernest Yang our ISTEP coordinator hopes to place 8 Korean exchange students with us for the full 2010-2011 school year in grades 4-8. Host families are offered a stipend of $10,000.00 per student. Please contact Mr. Yang, ernestyang@gmail.com if you are willing to open your home to one or two students.

As you know, we have great support for our school from our pastor Father Michael and Father Israel both of whom are actively involved in school life throughout the year. The presence and participation of the parish priests makes a great difference in the Catholic identity of our school and the experience of our students, faculty and staff for which I am grateful.

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, June 27. The 11:00 AM Mass will be a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Priesthood and Father Michael’s 25th anniversary of ordination. A reception will be held in Meehan Hall directly following the liturgy.

It is indeed an honor to be the principal of such an extraordinary faith filled school community, thank you for a wonderful year and best wishes for a holy, happy, restful summer,

Mrs. Martha M. McCook, Principal