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From the Local news section on
the July 12th edition of the Lowell Sun
An assignment
she’s proud to take
Parental involvement part of Fiorino’s mission at Immaculate
Conception
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By Caitlin McGuinness
Sun Staff
LOWELL — Teachers and staff at the Immaculate
Conception Grammar School gathered Wednesday morning
to welcome the newest edition to their family, Principal
Catherine Fiorino.
“Her first project is to get to know every student’s
name,” said the Rev. Nick Sannella. “I don’t think it
will take her long.”
She had already started with her coworkers, greeting
each of them with a smile and mingling over coffee.
Fiorino moved from Connecticut, where she was a
principal of St. Aedan’s Catholic School and St.
Brendan’s Catholic School, both in New Haven.
Originally from North Andover and with a sister in
Chelmsford, she chose to move back to Massachusetts to
be closer to her family.
“I am really excited to be back in this area and to
continue working with the faith,” said Fiorino.
“I am also a Boston sports fan all the way, and that
was tough with the split in Connecticut,” she added
laughing.
Fiorino hopes to increase enrollment and maintain the
importance of faith to the students. A big part of that
will be initiating more parental involvement, she said.
She is also excited to be working within a smaller
community. Immaculate has around 180 students in
prekindergarten through 8th grade. In Connecticut, she
was responsible for nearly 300 students.
“We were excited that Ms. Fiorino was looking to
relocate,” said Sannella.
“She is very experienced and extremely dedicated to
the Catholic faith, which is so important to us.”
The application process was competitive, said Sannella.
Almost every applicant had principal experience.
“Everyone on our hiring committee was immediately
taken by Ms. Fiorino,” said Sannella. “I was not
surprised. She is an outgoing people person with
exceptional experience.”
Fiorino takes over from Jean Murphy of Burlington, who
retired this year after five years at Immaculate.
“She came in when we were in deep need of a principal
and turned this place around,” said Sannella. “We are
sure that under Ms. Fiorino we will keep going uphill.”
“We’re here to make sure that our children leave with
the necessary skills for high school and society, and
Ms. Fiorino is just as dedicated as we are,” Sannella
added. |
SUN / DAVID H. BROW
Principal Catherine Fiorino joins the Rev. Nick Sannella at
Immaculate Conception Grammar School in Lowell on Wednesday.
Fiorino comes to Immaculate from Connecticut, where she served
as principal of St. Aedan’s Catholic School and St. Brendan’s
Catholic School, both in New Haven.
From Cardinal O'Malley's Blog,
December 12, 2008
On Saturday, I went to
Immaculate Conception in Lowell. It happened to be the Feast of
St. Nicholas who is the patron saint of the pastor there —
Father Nick Sannella. Of course we celebrated the Sunday Mass
but I did comment on the fact that the Feast of St. Nicholas is
one of the Advent celebrations.
The church was filled — it’s a
very large church, holding close to 2,000 people. It’s one of
the largest and most beautiful churches in the area, I would say
perhaps in all of New England. Anywhere else it would be a
cathedral.
Under the leadership of Father
Sannella, they have done a lot of restoration work on the
buildings. They also have a school that they are working very
hard to support.
Father Sannella gave me a
reproduction of one of the stained glass windows in the church.
It is a unique image: it depicts the Madonna holding the child
Jesus who is, in turn, holding a chalice and a host — a very
Eucharistic theme.
From the December 7th, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Local News Section
 
Cardinal in Lowell visit: Remember the reason for Christmas
LOWELL —
Years ago, when Cardinal Sean O’Malley was still a priest at a
Spanish parish in Washington, he was set to officiate a wedding
until the bride entered the church in tears.
O’Malley asked her what was wrong and learned there would be
no wedding. The groom was in Buffalo, N.Y., trapped by 6 feet of
snow.
The bride asked O’Malley to announce to the congregation that
the wedding would be postponed, but that the reception would
proceed as planned. So O’Malley made the announcement, and there
was a gasp from the pews. Until he told those gathered that
there would be still be a reception at a local restaurant.
“And they left very happy,” O’Malley said yesterday, telling
the story as he said Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church on
East Merrimack Street.
“It’s almost like a parable of what Christmas has become for
us,” O’Malley said. There are presents, shopping and
celebrations.
“But the bridegroom is in Buffalo,” O’Malley said.
As O’Malley led the church in the celebration of the second
week of Advent, the four weeks of preparation and penance
leading up to Christmas, the spiritual leader of the Boston
Archdiocese reminded the flock to keep Jesus in Christmas.
He urged them to use Advent to do just that — to remember the
day that Christ was born.
About 1,000 people came to the afternoon service, which lasted
well after dark.
O’Malley also spoke of Saint Nicholas — the real Saint Nick.
Yesterday was the feast of Saint Nicholas in the liturgical
calendar.
Far from an old elf who lived in the North Pole, Saint
Nicholas was a fourth century bishop in Turkey and the first
saint who did not die a martyr. He helped write the Nicene
Creed.
O’Malley mentioned that he had been to the Immaculate
Conception Church before. Twenty years ago, when he was a
missionary bishop in the West Indies, O’Malley frequently
returned to the United States to celebrate confirmations, and
once visited Immaculate Conception.
Then, as he did yesterday, O’Malley noted the beauty of the
church.
“I congratulate you on your restoration work,” he said.
That work is ongoing, according to the Rev. Nicholas Sannella,
pastor of Immaculate Conception.
Despite facing tough financial times in the past, which once
fed fears that the church would be closed, the parish is now
renovating its more than 150-year-old sanctuary both inside and
out, doing work on the granite outside, and a number of areas
inside.
 
 
 
From the November 2nd, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools Section
Immaculate Golfers Finish Season
LOWELL
—Students at the Immaculate Conception School in Lowell recently
wrapped up another season of golf with Allen Santos, the pro at
Trull Brook Golf Club in Tewksbury. Pictured were students
Mary Farley, Theresa Klobucher, Jack Breen, Juliah Breen, Kenny
Rainville, Alyssa Anderson, Quinn Breen, Michael Witts and Andre
Santos.
From the October 25th, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools Section
Immaculate Conception hands out awards
LOWELL — The
Immaculate Conception School recently gave Academic Awards and
Citizenship Awards to several students. Receiving Academic
Awards were third-grader Patrick Ryan, fifth-grader James Ryan
and sixth-grader John Ryan. Receiving Citizenship Awards were
first-grader Lauren Brewster, fourth-grader Michael Zawadzki and
sixthgrader Courtney Lemire.
Also, ICS student Ronan Dunn was named the American Taekwondo
Association 2008 Massachusetts State Champion. Ronan placed
first in the boys First Degree (7 years old).
From the October 5th, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools Section
Graduating eighth-graders leave Immaculate Conception in
tile
Eighth-graders at the Immaculate
Conception School this past spring painted tiles that were
placed around the school as their departing art project.
Missing from the photo is Kendall Strong. Below are the
various tiles they created.
Pictured in the paper were: Nicholas Godfroy, Emily Pacht,
Natalia Czerwonka, Curtis Nolet, Allan Fagundes, Kyle
Cordeiro, Andrew Berrio and Mark Paquette, Maria Correa,
Leah Moynihan, Daniel Watson, Alexandra Emrick, Vincent Li,
Samantha Piedad, Alexandra Battaglia, Katelyn Mercado,
Lindsey Kelley, Zachary Stinchfield, Eduardo Casella and
Alexander Gavriel.
 
 
 
From the September 28th, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools Section
Immaculate Conception closes butterfly unit with big release
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LOWELL — Students at the Immaculate
Conception School recently ended their butterfly unit by
releasing the butterflies.
The unit begins when the students make symbolic
butterflies that journey to Mexico. The students learn
mapping skills while tracking the migration of the
monarch butterflies. Months later, they check on the
migration of the butterflies back to the Lowell area.
During that part of the unit, the class receives live
caterpillars, and students can watch the life cycle from
caterpillar to butterfly. They then release the
butterflies.
The unit is closed when the students receive their
symbolic butterflies back with messages from students in
Mexico. The students also visit the Butterfly Place in
Westford.
The unit includes a complete packet of information and
material that students record and complete as the unit
is being taught.
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Attending the release of butterflies, the culmination of
a butterfly unit for students at Immaculate Conception
School in Lowell, are, front row, from left, Austin
Ramos, Emily Carbonneau and Matthew Donovan; middle row,
from left, Abigail Elliott-Orr, Kylie Bolarinho and
Ronan Dunn; and, back row, from left, Kalvin Guillermo,
Jacob Zawakzki, Meg Mercuri, Owen Kelley, Ryan Donovan
and Sophia Marsden. In back is Ann Cunha, who sponsors
the unit in memory of her husband. |
Immaculate’s
Linda Gallotto honored by local group
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LOWELL— Linda Gallotto, an eighth-grade teacher at the
Immaculate Conception School in Lowell, was recently
honored as the Ecumenical Athletic Association Teacher
of the Year for upper elementary grades.
Gallotto was nominated by her peers at Immaculate
Conception. She was honored at a banquet.
The Ecumenical Athletic Association represents 10
Lowell-area schools, including the Academy of Notre Dame
and the Rogers Middle School, Franco American School,
Immaculate Conception, Lowell Community Charter Public
School, St. Louis School, St. Margaret School, St.
Michael School, Ste. Jeanne d’Arc School and Stoklosa
Middle School, all in Lowell.
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From the July 27th, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools Section
Immaculate Conception’s ‘Angels’ help kids in India
Third-graders at the Immaculate Conception School in Lowell
collected Beanie Babies for children in India through
“Angels from Heaven.” The students included, Jonathan
Mooney, Eric Oullette, Ryan Mahoney, Scout Emrick, Michael
Zawadzki and Austin Gavriel, Molly Carabatsos, James
Chadwick, Abdul Traore, Andrea Cervizzi, Catherine Moynihan,
Katherine Nemetz, Joshua Duarte, Victoria Battaglia and
Keara Loughlin and Zachary Wilson.
(Photo of class was in the paper)
From the June 15, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools Section
LOWELL — Under the direction of third-grade teacher
Alexandra Zarba, students at the Immaculate Conception
School entered a Science Poetry Contest initiated by Boston
College.
The
following students were recognized for their work.
• Joseph Levasseur, first place, seventh
grade, Most Original, “A Breath of Fresh Air.”
• Maria Correa,
second place, eighth grade, Humorous, “Ozone Depletion.”
• Alex
Gavriel, eighth grade, Long Poem, “Hydrogen.”
• Scout
Emrick, third place, third grade, Long Poem, “The Moon.”
• Jessica
Anderson, honorable mention, sixth grade, Long Poem, “The
Underwater Cities.”
•
Leah Moynihan, eighth grade, Humorous, “Food Chain.”
ICS recognized Neil Patel, Peter
Kolodziej and Gavin Loughlin for their academic
achievements, and Abdul Traore, Mary Farley and Chris Regan
for citizenship.
Twelve ICS
eighthgraders — Alexandra Battaglia, Maria Correa, Natalia
Czerwonka, Alexandra Emrick, Lindsey Kelley, Katelyn
Merdcado, Leah Moynihan, Curtis Nolet, Emily Pacht, Samantha
Piedad, Kendell Strong and Daniel Watson — under the
direction of Gail Desmarais and assisted by graduate
students Ryan Tucker and Erin Rapacki explored the world of
robotics.
From the May 8, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun (letters to the editor)
Teacher earns accolades
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Immaculate Conception School in
Lowell teacher Linda Gallotto was awarded the
“Teacher of the Year” award at the annual Ecumenical
Athletic Association Awards banquet held on April
17. Mrs. Gallotto is the eighth-grade teacher at
Immaculate. Congratulations to her on this well
deserved honor. All students, teachers, staff and
parents are proud of you and glad that you are part
of ICS.
RICHARD LEVASSEUR, Tewksbury
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From the February 10, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools section
Commemorating Catholic Schools Week
Immaculate Conception celebrates with fundraisers, talent
show, spelling bee
LOWELL —
Students and staff at the Immaculate Conception School
celebrated Catholic Schools Week with several events.
On Sunday, Jan. 29, third graders were the main participants
in a special Mass, which was followed by an open house and
the seventh grade’s annual Chocolate Buffet. Money raised
from the buffet will benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute.
On Monday, students were treated to a visit by Jon Goode of
the Lowell Spinners, co-author of the children’s book,
Pitching with the Papelbons; proceeds from books
sold go to Goode’s fundraising program, C2 Mission.
On Tuesday, students participated in a talent show.
The school’s annual spelling bee was held Wednesday, each
class with two participants.
On Thursday, all classes decorated their classroom doors
with an assigned theme and dressed up in their theme to
contribute to the ICS Student Council scholarships. Also, in
honor of Student Appreciation Day, students participated in
many activities and had their “ Special Persons Luncheon.”
On Friday, staff members were honored with a luncheon.
The culminating activity was a dinner Saturday honoring a
Distinguished Graduate. This year it was Brian Barry.
From the January 20, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools section
Immaculate Conception elects council officers
(Photo of
Student council officers was in the paper) Elected officers
for the Student Council at the Immaculate Conception School
in Lowell are, from left, Leah Moynihan and Maria Correa,
co-presidents; Spencer Gavriel, fifth-grade representative;
Joseph Levasseur, vice president; Shamus Dunn, fifth-grade
representative; Joe Paquette, treasurer; and Caroline
Anyonso, secretary.
From the January 13, 2008
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools section
Immaculate collects food
for needy
LOWELL -- The
Immaculate Conception School recently participated in a
food drive to mark Hunger/Homeless Awareness Week. ICS
and other schools in the area also participated in a
canned-goods drive, collecting canned goods that were
donated to the Food Pantry of Merrimack Valley.
Also, administration
and faculty at ICS have been meeting, under the
direction of eighth-grade teacher Linda Gallotto and
third-grade teacher Alexandra Zarba, the 2007 Teacher of
the Year, as they prepare for the finally phase of the
accreditation. The school will host a school visit in
the spring.
From the December 9, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools section
Immaculate holds
Halloween party
LOWELL -- The Immaculate
Conception School recently celebrated Halloween with its
annual haunted house, games and activities.
Eighth-graders out did themselves with their haunted house
and activities for the younger students.
The day began with the
annual Halloween costume procession for children in grades
pre-kindergarten through 3. Each grade proceeded to
the auditorium for the haunted house and enjoyed other
seasonal activities.
From the November 4, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools section
Immaculate Conception
walks for a good cause - itself
LOWELL -- Students, faculty
and volunteers from the Immaculate Conception School in
Lowell recently held its annual walkathon to raise money to
update the schools kitchen equipment and Science Resource
Room.
From the October 21, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools section
Immaculate welcomes
O'Hearn
LOWELL -- The Immaculate
Conception Grammar School opened its doors this school year
with the addition of a new staff member, sixth-grade teacher
Kelly O'Hearn.
O'Hearn earned her degree
in education from Keene (N.H.) State College. She has been
excited about getting to know the ICS community.
ICS celebrated Children's
Day on Sept. 28. Each classroom was provided with a special
treat, and all teachers had special projects and activities
for the children throughout the day. Seventh- and
eighth-graders held their first dance of the year, which was
enjoyed by all who attended. Eighth-graders have been busy
visiting local Catholic schools in the area as they prepare
for life after ICS.
From the October 14, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools section
They're no longer green on
the green
LOWELL -- The Immaculate Conception School in Lowell
recently wrapped up it's first golf instructional program.
The children enjoyed playing and learning the rules of golf
from Al Santos, the golf pro at Trull Brook Golf Course in
Tewksbury. Pictured in the paper were Matt Perron,
Molly Carabatsos, Scout Emrick, Gavin Laughlin, Quinn Breen,
golf Pro Al Santos, Mary Farley, Jack Breen, Kenny Rainville
and Gus Byers.
From the June 14, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun (letters to the editor)
Kudos to teacher of year
Please join me in
congratulating Mrs. Alexandra Zarba of the Immaculate
Conception School in Lowell who recently was awarded the
Ecumenical Athletic Association's "Teacher of the Year"
honor in the K-1 through grade four category. An excellent
dinner and awards ceremony was held in May to hand out these
awards to teachers and coaches from six of Lowell's schools.
Congratulations to all teachers and coaches who were
nominated. The entire Immaculate Conception School is very
proud of you, and we are blessed to have you as part of the
ICS family.
RICHARD LEVASSEUR
Tewksbury
From the June 3, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun
An Immaculate production in
Lowell
LOWELL -- The Immaculate
Conception School recently presented "The Story of
Cinderella," under the direction of Irene Lavallee.
Students participating in
the production included Abigail Clark as Cinderella, Keri
Bowzer and Emma Humphrey as the stepsisters, Catherine
Chadwick as the stepmother, Taylor Mahoney as the good
stepsister, and Krystal Monahan and Benita Aifuwa as the
godmothers.
Also involved were Hannah
Lewis, Thomas Cote, Nathan Mooney, Christopher Regan, Sara
Gonsalves, Matthew Perrin, Joseph Levasseur, Joseph
Paquette, Ashley Dumont, Samantha Gruca, Kenneth Pham, Eleni
Villaras, Trent Giurleo and Trevor Lamb.
Sister Joan Lacasse
accompanied on the piano, Craig Maxfield was the stage
manager, and Kenneth Pham and Ali Shaikh handled art
decoration.
From the May 14, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun
The Immaculate Conception School in Lowell recently held its
annual mother/son event. Moms and sons spent quality time making lanterns
for Lucy Larcom Park and making sundaes. Their artwork will be included in
the Revolving Museum's ARTventure series to beautify downtown Lowell.
Pictured in the paper were seventh-grader Alex Gavriel and
his mom, Alice Gavriel; Danielle Trout and her seventh-grade son, Zachary
Stinchfield; and Lisa Klobucher and her son, Bryan Klobucher.
From the April 11th, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun
It's 'Play ball!' to benefit
Immaculate Conception
LOWELL -- Like Red Sox-Yankees baseball? Better yet, like
Red Sox-Yankees baseball from the comfort of a luxury box,
complete with endless supplies of food and drink? Buy
a $100 raffle ticket to benefit the Immaculate Conception
School and Parish. The winner gets to attend the
Saturday, June 2, Red Sox-Yankees game with 17 friends in a
luxury box above the Red Sox dugout.
Terry McCarthy, an Immaculate
church elder who helps organize the fundraiser, said about
$106,000 was raised last year between the Red Sox raffle and
the April golf tournament at Indian Ridge Country Club in
Andover. "I'm hopeful we can surpass that," McCarthy
said. "Another $5,000 or $10,000 would be terrific."
This month's golf tournament
is scheduled for April 23 at Indian Ridge. The winning
raffle ticket will be drawn that night during a banquet
dinner.
Rev. Nicholas Sannella said
last year's proceeds were used to help restore the
granite-blocked facade of the 140-year-old church.
Tickets are available at the
Immaculate Conception Rectory, 3 Fayette St., from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. Monday through Friday or by mail (checks only).
For more information, call
(978) 458-1474.
From the April 8th, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun Schools section
Immaculate Conception's
Web site wins Silver Award
LOWELL -- The Immaculate
Conception School's Web site has been selected to receive
the World Wide Web Awards Silver Award.
Donna Snyder, CEO of the
World Wide Web Awards committee, said, "The site received
this award due to its clean and organized design,
user-friendliness, quality content and informative
information for visitors."
Rich Levasseur, webmaster
for the Immaculate Conception site, said the school is proud
to receive the award and glad that the site has become a
useful and revealing place for students, teachers,
administrators and prospective students to find out about
the school.
Everything related to the
school, including registration materials, lunch menus,
sporting events and after-school activities, can be found at
the site.
To see the award-winning
Web site, go to
www.icslowell.com.
From the February 8, 2007
edition of the Lowell Sun BackTalk section
KUDOS: Congratulations to all the
Catholic schools in Lowell on a successful week that showcased
all these great schools have to offer. I can speak to Immaculate
Conception School -- a great school with great teachers,
administrators, parents and students.
Tewksbury
From the December 31, 2006 edition
of the Lowell Sun
BackTalk section
THE TRUE MEANING: I recently
attended a Christmas concert put on by the first through fifth
graders and the band from the Immaculate Conception School. What
a great job all did putting everybody present into a good mood
and realizing the true meaning of Christmas. Great job teachers,
students and parents.
Tewksbury
From the December 14, 2006 edition
of the Lowell Sun BackTalk section
INSPIRING: The students at
Immaculate Conception School recently entertained people at the
church with a beautiful Christmas pageant and concert. It was so
wonderful to hear their beautiful voices.
Dracut |
 
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