Frequently Asked Questions

Room Parents facilitate communication between teachers and parents about school-wide functions, organize food donations for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheons, and coordinate the voluntary Advent collection.

Volunteers are a vital part of our community.  There are many opportunities to be involved.  All volunteers working with children need to fill out a CORI form, as well as complete VIRTUS training.  This 2-2.5 hour training is offered through Immaculate Conception Parish. Among some of the volunteer opportunities are Recess Duty Attendants, Cafeteria Helpers, and Field Trip Chaperones, After School Advisors, and Volunteers.

Families are encouraged and welcomed to our monthly liturgies.  Each class, 1st to 8th grade, takes a turn helping to prepare and participate in these liturgies.  The dates of each liturgy are scheduled at the beginning of the school year, and are published on the on-lineCalendar.

We have several events that occur each year.  The North Pole Express and the Spring Auction are the two largest events.  Among some of our other events are a Family Cookout, Halloween Party, Christmas Concert, Grandparent/Special Person luncheon, Spring Science Fair, and Spring Fine Arts Night.

Once a month, a different class (K-8th) prepares a “Teacher Appreciation Luncheon”.  The Room Parents for that grade organize this event.

The Room Parents coordinate a voluntary collection, with a suggested donation of $10 per family.  They divide the monetary donations among the entire faculty.

Notifications for school closings and other emergencies are sent out via an automated system.

The major source of our communication goes out online, via “The Communicator”, which is on the Home Page of our website.  You can sign up to be notified of new postings, though we suggest checking it at least once a week.asp

ICS follows the Newburyport Public School calendar for scheduling.  Once a month, we have Faculty meetings, resulting in a half day.  These usually fall on the first Thursday of each month.  Dismissal is at 11:30 a.m.

Please do not drop off your children prior to 8:05 in the morning.  We ask that you wait in your vehicle, and if your child needs help, one of the teachers will come to your car and assist.  Please make sure there is a teacher in the parking lot.

Pick up for grades K through 8 is at 2:50.  Each family is asked to make a sign for their window, to include their family name, as well as the first name and grade of each child.  For both safety and efficiency reasons, we ask that you remain in your car.

Please refrain from sending in classroom treats.  We also ask that all snacks be nut free.  We do permit nuts for those bringing in their lunches, but these students sit separately at the peanut table.

All visitors must report to the office and sign in.  We are prohibited from simply opening the door; you must ring the bell, and are then buzzed in.

ICS offers several extracurricular programs, including Journey (five-week classes geared toward a particular interest, offerings vary each session) Band, Leadership Team, Basketball, Newspaper and Theater.

In keeping with the spirit of giving back to the community, we encourage donations to the local food pantry.  Each month, a grade–1 through 8–is told it is their turn to stock the food pantry.  A letter goes home, explaining what items are needed. Many of our ‘Dress Down Days’ support a charity

Each year our goal is to provide an appropriate number of educationally-relevant field trips. The cost for these programs are largely covered by the PTO fall fundraiser.