Immaculate Conception Catholic Grade School

My parents made incredible sacrifices to send all of my siblings and me to ICGS from preschool through 8th grade, having at least one child at IC for nearly 20 straight years. They now deeply regret sending us there. Why? After all, the academics are great. Yes, they are. Unfortunately, though, the social foundation we received at IC has proven to be a miserable failure. I, for one, was bullied. Severely. Particularly from 6th grade on, although it was always there. This ranged from intentional exclusion (think "four-square") to theft (countless times over the years I had school supplies either stolen right off my desk with a taunting "thank you," or "borrowed" by people who had no intention of returning them and knew I was too nice to demand them back) to verbal abuse (such as daily personal and family insults) to physical violence (I would occasionally be attacked from behind while minding my own business at recess. I was the obvious choice for a target because I assumed it was wrong to fight back. The one time I dared to defend myself against a bully, he used that as a license to kick, punch, ram doors into, or otherwise assault me whenever the opportunity arose throughout the rest of our junior high years - a notion supported by the other fools in his clique.). The strange thing is - and this is what I especially caution parents about - I felt little or no resentment toward my classmates at the time and generally considered myself happy at IC. It's amazing how we don't realize a situation is wrong when it's the only way we've ever known. ("I never realized people could actually be nice," one sibling said shortly after starting high school at York.) My advice? Unless your children come from a snobby family that fosters a "build yourself up by tearing others down" approach to life, do NOT send them to this school unless they have been thoroughly, and I mean thoroughly, taught to stand up for themselves against children who do. Administrators have every right to disagree with this review. They have every right to say it was wrong of me to post these comments publicly instead of talking to them privately (as if they would say the same thing to someone who had only positive things to say). And they have every right to claim that my family's situation was an isolated one or that things have changed since we went there. I hope and pray - but highly doubt - that that's the case. In any event, the above are simply my long thought-out and 100% honest comments based on attending ICGS for ten years of my life.

Our 3 children attended this school from preschool 3 through 8th grade. Along with an excellent academic foundation, they learned time management, organization, public speaking, and leadership skills that have served them well in high school and college. Their academic foundation also propelled them onto the honors track in all subjects in high school. Most importantly, they were instilled with a sense of their responsibility to make our world a better place by serving others. This was the best investment we’ve ever made.

Being part of ICGS has been and continues to be wonderful for both our child and us as parents. The level of education that students receive, the opportunities to excel both in the classroom and outside through clubs, band, choir, athletics and of course a strong faith foundation makes for the best all around experience. With dedicated teachers and staff it gives us comfort to know our child is in the best school environment each and every day.

There are not enough positive words to describe this special, wonderful school. ICGS cultivates the very best qualities in each child. Students are challenged academically, but I think more importantly, they are taught to be good people who live their lives in faith.

We have three children at IC Grade School and could not be happier with our overall experience. Each of our children have different educational needs and the school has met, if not exceeded our expectations for all of them. It is also very obvious to us that they are gaining a vital foundation to make them good, religious people with strong values to help them grow up in a world that is not always so great. We thank you IC for making our children the best that they can be.