Immaculata High School (New Jersey)

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.[5] The School was also served by a group of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, (from opening through the end of the 2018-19 school year) who lived in a convent attached to the main building of the school. Many of the Sisters taught different subjects in the school's curriculum. Immaculata High School has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1978.[3]

Immaculata High School
Official seal
Address
240 Mountain Avenue

Somerville
,
(Somerset County)
,
NJ
08876

United States
Coordinates40°34′48″N 74°37′7″W
Information
TypePrivate coed high school
MottoFaith. Scholarship. Service. Friendship.
Religious affiliation(s)Catholic,
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Established1962
FounderMsgr. Eugene Kelly
DirectorRev. Msgr. Seamus Brennan
PrincipalJoan Silo
Asst. principalsEdward Webber
Faculty51.1 FTEs[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment466 (as of 2017-18)[1]
Average class size25
Student to teacher ratio9.1:1[1]
Color(s)     Blue
     white[2]
SongUnitas Caritas
Athletics conferenceSkyland Conference
NicknameSpartans[2]
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools[3]
NewspaperThe Spartan Spirit
School fees$300 (registration)[4]
Tuition$13,500 (2017-18)[4]
Athletic DirectorTom Gambino
Websitewww.immaculatahighschool.org

As of the 2017-18 school year, the school had an enrollment of 466 students and 51.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.1:1. The school's student body was 73.0% White, 8.6% Asian, 6.7% Black, 7.5% Hispanic, 0% American Indian / Alaska Native, 0.8% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander and 3.9% two or more races.[1]

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, recognition and rankings

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,[6] the highest award an American school can receive.[7][8]

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. These courses help to not only build the students knowledge of the world but to also give them a broad overview of topics that could help them better prepare for their intended major in higher education.[9]

Advanced Placement (AP) program courses are available in AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP United States History, AP Spanish Language, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP French Language, AP Computer Science A, AP Capstone, AP Music Theory, AP European History and 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 annual activity in which each class has to develop a theme based on their class color. Seniors are Blue, Juniors are Red, Sophomores are Yellow, and Freshmen are Green. Students develop skits, cheers, and decorations based on their class theme. The festivities conclude with Spartan Spirit Game Night, where students participate in relay races and present their skits and cheers. In addition to the games, students also earn points for their class based on the number of students who attend per class, spirit, attitude, sportsmanship, and overall theme. The class with the most points wins a casual dress day for their class; all other classes must report in their uniforms.

Media Center

The Media Center is available for use as a quiet area for writing, research, reading, and other appropriate activities. Collaboration and group study activities may take place in the facility. 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 school, after school, during lunch periods, and during study periods.

Athletics

The Immaculata Spartans[2] compete in the Skyland Conference, which includes public and parochial high schools covering Hunterdon County, Somerset County and Warren County in west central New Jersey and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[10] Immaculata is categorized by the NJSIAA in Non-Public Division III and school colors are blue and white.[2]

The school participates in a joint ice hockey program in partnership with Gill St. Bernard's School as the host school / lead agency, under an agreement that expires at the end of the 2017-18 school year.[11]

Interscholastic sports offered at Immaculata include:[2]

Immaculata won the Non-Public B North state sectional championships in 1984 and 1985, in Non-Public Group II in 1994 and in Non-Public Group III in 2006; the team appeared in the state finals on six other occasions (1998, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012).[12] In 2006, Immaculata's football team faced the Delbarton School in the Non-Public Group III final at Rutgers University, winning 22-14, and finishing the season with a record of 12-0, the first team in school history to finish their season with 12 wins, and were ranked in the top 5 in the state by various Top 20 polls.[13][14][15]

Pierce G. Frauenheim coached the Spartans since the high school formed a team in 1966 through the 2012 season. Frauenheim coached his 400th career game on November 17, 2006, when the Spartans defeated Holy Spirit High School in the NJSIAA semifinals by a score of 35-6.[16] On January 15, 2013, John Hack, assistant coach and 2000 graduate of the school, was named Immaculata's head football coach after Frauenheim's retirement. Frauenheim had served as head football coach for 50 years.

Since 1978, the Spartan football team has not had a losing season. The Spartans won 23 consecutive games in the 2006-2007 seasons (12 in 2006, 11 in 2007), the longest streak in team history, before losing in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group III state final by a score of 26-13 to Holy Spirit High School on December 1, 2007, at Rutgers University.[17]

The girls' basketball team won the Non-Public Group B state championship in 1987 vs. Immaculate Conception High School. The boys team won the Non-Public Group A title in 2008 vs. Camden Catholic High School and in 2009 vs. Christian Brothers Academy.[18]

The boys' lacrosse team won the Non-Public B state championship in 2007 (vs. Pingry School), 2009 and 2010 (vs. Pingry both years), 2011 (vs. Montclair Kimberley Academy) and 2014 (vs. Morristown-Beard School).[19]

The bowling team won the Group I state championship in 2014.[20]

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 90 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. Among the many accolades the band has achieved are: marching in the 1989 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington DC, and traveling to Canada, Virginia, and Florida, and all over the Northeastern United States. In 2008, the band placed first in USSBA National Competition at the Annapolis Naval Academy winning Best Music, Percussion, Colorguard, and Overall Effect with their show called "Heroes".[21]

In the 2011 competition season, the band won the USSBA (now USBands) Group 6 Open New Jersey state championships with a score of 96.925 with their show "The Planetarium", taking the captions for Best Visual, Best Effect, Best Color Guard, Best Percussion, and The Cadets Award for Excellence. They also placed second in National Competition at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis with a score of 97.988, winning awards for Best Music, Best Effect, Best Color Guard & Best Percussion.[22]

While celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school during the 2012 season with their "We Are Spartans" show, the band captured the USBands NJ State and National titles. At States, the band took all special awards (Music, Visual, Effect, Color Guard and Percussion) and had a score of 97.375. At National, IHS came out first over 15 band, taking home the Best Music special award and scored a 96.587, narrowly winning the title by .049 points over their nearest competitor.[23]

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. 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.

Drama

Musicals are performed each year at the school in the spring. The shows are directed by Trent Van Doren. In 2017, Immaculata's theater was renovated; it now includes an orchestra pit and updated sound and lighting equipment. Past musicals include:

Model United Nations

The Immaculata Model United Nations program (MUN) 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 YMCA Model UN Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

In November 2013, former Immaculata volunteer coach Patrick Lott was sentenced to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of child endangerment and invasion of privacy. Between 2007 and 2011, Lott had videotaped male students in the showers at Immaculata High.[24]

Notable alumni

References
  1. School data for Immaculata High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 17, 2019.
  2. Immaculata High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 9, 2015.
  3. Immaculata High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed October 2, 2011.
  4. Financial Information, Immaculata High School. Accessed February 1, 2017.
  5. School Directory, Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Accessed October 2, 2011.
  6. Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.
  7. CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department Archived August 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, 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."
  8. 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."
  9. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/33.html
  10. League Memberships – 2016-2017 Archived 2012-11-09 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 10, 2017.
  11. NJSIAA 2017 - 2019 Co-Operative Sports Programs Archived 2017-07-31 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 22, 2017.
  12. Goldberg, Jeff. NJSIAA Football Playoff Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 19, 2015.
  13. Frezza, Harry Jr. "PLAYOFF FOOTBALL: Exhilarated Immaculata squad goes back to class", Daily Record (Morristown), December 5, 2006. Accessed June 20, 2012. "About 5,000 of the announced crowd of 8,000 were estimated to be Spartan fans, and what they saw was their team earn a thrilling 22-14 victory over Delbarton in the Non-Public Group III title game."
  14. 2006 Football Tournament - Non-Public, Group III, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed April 28, 2007.
  15. Immaculata 2006 Football Stats by Game, MaxPreps.com. Accessed June 20, 2012.
  16. Staff. "Immaculata had full control in Frauenheim's 400th game", Courier News, November 20, 2006. Accessed October 2, 2011.
  17. Merrill, Everett. "Holy Spirit stifles Immaculata, wins Non-Public, Group 3 championship", The Star-Ledger, December 1, 2007. Accessed June 20, 2012. "During its 23-game winning streak, Immaculata forced turnovers, took advantage of penalties by its opponents and ran the ball with abandon. Yesterday at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, the Somerville school was defeated at its own game. Holy Spirit, No. 4 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, intercepted two passes, was penalized just once and rushed for 239 yards en route to a 26-13 triumph in the NJSIAA/Gatorade Non-Public, Group 3 championship."
  18. NJSIAA Group Basketball Past Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 9, 2015.
  19. History of the NJSIAA Boys' Lacrosse Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed February 1, 2017.
  20. History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 9, 2015.
  21. USSBA National Championship Titles Archived May 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) press release dated November 14, 2006.
  22. USSBA - NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN CLASS (1, 3 & 6) AT ANNAPOLIS, MD, United States Scholastic Band Association. Accessed October 12, 2012.
  23. Staff. "Immaculata remains undefeated with Nationals win", The Messenger-gazette, November 14, 2012. Accessed December 1, 2012. "Immaculata's unique Marching Band, with its tribute to the school's 50th anniversary entitled "We Are Spartans," is undefeated this season. It won all seven competitions, including not only the US Bands State, but also the National Competitions this weekend."
  24. Witchert, Bill. "Former Immaculata High coach sentenced to six years for videotaping boys in showers", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 15, 2013. Accessed August 24, 2015. "In exchange for a six-year prison term, Lott, 56, of Somerville, pleaded guilty in May to multiple counts of child endangerment and invasion of privacy for secretly videotaping boys between 2007 and 2011 in the showers at Immaculata, where he served as a volunteer coach."
  25. Fischer, Jake. "Vanderbilt's Wade Baldwin IV defined by competitiveness, desire to be great", Sports Illustrated, June 22, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Wade Baldwin IV had starred at Immaculata High School, regularly scoring 30 points on opponents, slicing his way to the rim and draining jumpers well beyond the three-point line.... He hatched a plan to enter the Jersey history books: Joining old friend Karl-Anthony Towns at nearby St. Joseph’s and recruiting fellow local stud Marques Townes to create their own Big Three."
  26. Hirsch, Rod. "Immaculata Football Standout Begins NFL Career with Minnesota Vikings", TAPinto.net, September 3, 2017. Accessed November 5, 2017. "Standout Immaculata High School football player Tashawn Bower has played himself onto the opening day roster of the Minnesota Vikings after a four-year collegiate career at defensive end for perennial powerhouse LSU.... Bower’s family lives in Livingston."
  27. Kuboski, Terry. "Immaculata High School inducts Hall of Fame Class of 2016", Courier News, December 31, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2018. "Rounding out the Class of 2016 was the first inductee to represent the arts: Tom Brislin, Class of 1991, an internationally recognized musician, song writer and producer. Brislin has played with multi-platinum artists, including Meat Loaf, Debbie Harry, and Yes."
  28. 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."
  29. Stanmyre, Matthew. "Notre Dame's Theo Riddick feels gratitude toward the family of his best friend", The Star-Ledger, January 6, 2013. Accessed January 5, 2014. "A 5-11, 200-pound senior running back at Notre Dame, Riddick leads the Irish in rushing this season and — with his stop-on-a-dime cuts and blazing speed — became one of the most exciting players in the nation. The Manville native and former Immaculata High School standout leads No. 1 Notre Dame into Monday night's BCS national title game against No. 2 Alabama."
  30. Rogers, Justin. "Lions notes: Theo Riddick honored, Matthew Stafford's wife to judge cheerleading tryouts", mlive.com, June 23, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Before Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick was one of the NFL's most dangerous receiving options out of the backfield, and before he was a dual-threat running back and receiver for Notre Dame, he was posting eye-popping numbers for Immaculata high school in Somerville, N.J."
  31. Jay Ryan, The Baseball Cube. Accessed January 13, 2008.
  32. Thomson, Peter. "Ryan, A 9th-round Pick, Moving Up Cubs' Ladder", Orlando Sentinel, September 4, 1994. Accessed July 31, 2015. "'Most of the scouts I spoke with told me that I would probably go (get drafted) somewhere around the second round,' said Ryan, who finished with a 9-1 record this spring for Immaculata High in Somerville, N.J."
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