A Faith Community

Immaculata Catholic School is a faith community. We worship together and strive to live the teachings of Jesus in our relationships within the school and the community. Our daily actions are a reflection of having Jesus as the center of everything we plan and do.

As a parish school of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, we benefit from the participation of three priests who are Franciscan friars. The friars preside over Mass, advise, participate in school liturgies, and are a general presence in our school.

Students engage in daily prayer with their teachers. Each day begins with prayer and each student benefits from the inner focus that comes from prayer and the sense of community that comes from praying together. Daily prayer reminds us who we are and who we want to become in the world.

Faculty, students, and staff come together for weekly Mass. Classes, starting in second grade, take turns serving as lectors and the student choir and liturgical orchestra lead the singing. Weekly, students see their teachers serve them as Eucharistic ministers.

Classes also take turns preparing for and leading the weekly School Prayer Service held on Fridays.

At every grade level, the faculty strives to make connections between religion and all subjects. In addition, religion instruction is an essential and required part of the curriculum. The central focus of faith formation for students in prekindergarten to fifth grade is the weekly "Atrium," or Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based approach to religious education, supported in the classrooms with traditional materials. Students in grades 6 through 8 attend a daily religion class.

Special liturgies and celebrations are planned throughout the year. On feast day masses, students perform liturgical dramas to bring to life the stories of that day. During Holy Week, the middle school students perform the highly acclaimed Passion play "Way of the Cross" for the entire school. In May, the second graders lead us in the May Crowning. Before every extended school vacation, the school community gathers for special blessings.

Community service is an integral part of school life at Immaculata. Community service connects school activities and curriculum to Catholic Social Teachings. For example, students run the school recycling program and each athletic team performs a service project such as cleaning up parks or serving at the food bank. Additionally, all classes take on special projects during Advent and Lent, often to aid families in need.  On a regular basis, Immaculata students collect clothing, toiletries and food for the Durham Rescue Mission.