The worth of an institution is known by its ideals. Ours here at Immaculate Heart of Mary School are as simple as they are elevated: to form intelligent and virtuous individuals who, having acquired the knowledge, skills, and character requisite for reaching their full potential in society, will at the same time, by means of supernatural faith, hope, and charity, prepare themselves to take their place as citizens of Heaven.
- Knowledge. The subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic are taught at IHM School with traditional methods and such high standards that it frequently happens that students transferring to other schools are placed a grade ahead of where they were in our institution. Above and beyond these, we also provide our children with those traditional subjects increasingly undervalued in modern society, such as penmanship and Latin. History in particular is presented as “the laboratory of wisdom,” wherein students do not learn isolated names and events prescinding from any moral context. Rather, they are taught to recognize the power—for good or evil—men’s choices have in this world. History becomes relevant when they make the connection that this power is one they themselves possess.
- Skills. While other institutions maximize focus on technological skills, arguing that these will best equip children to function in the modern world, IHM promotes a different sequence of priorities: phonics-based reading and spelling curricula; regular opportunities to acquire poise in front of an audience, whether in the context of dramatic performances or semi-formal presentations; focus on personal improvement in areas such as organizational, research, or social skills. Tragically neglected by many educational institutions today is the skill of thinking clearly and logically, an ability which must naturally precede that of being able to communicate articulately and convincingly. It is precisely to give our students proficiency in this area that IHM adheres to the outstanding principles and methodology of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, used in the kindergarten through sixth grades.
- Character. Our school upholds high standards for modesty in dress, decency in language, and propriety in behavior. Our students are to be courteous to adults, considerate to each other, and compassionate to the less fortunate; they are taught to take responsibility for their words and actions and to strive for excellence especially in the areas of self-discipline, time-management, sportsmanship, and academic integrity. While emphasizing the importance of natural growth and development, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, run by the Brothers and Sisters of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, simultaneously works to inspire in its youth faith and firm convictions, hope and a sense of purpose, and charity and a desire to do good.
- Faith and firm convictions. Our religion course is the most prized component of our curriculum. Using the Baltimore Catechism, students are given the Catholic Faith by teachers who are themselves grounded in an appreciation for the Aristotelian view of metaphysics, the Augustinian emphasis on history, and the Thomistic perspective of theology, though without prejudice to other traditional Catholic schools of thought. These materials propose to our students in a worldview in keeping with reality and which addresses the most pressing of existential questions regarding the natures of individual things and the purpose of reality as a whole.
- Hope and a sense of purpose. We are committed to fostering in our students a deep sense of purpose. Having been created by an all-loving God, they have each received a unique mission from Him, a work to perform on this earth as individualized as they themselves are. Their greatest joy and fulfillment will lie in discovering this divine plan and pursuing it with enthusiasm.
- Charity and a desire to do good. Love is the greatest motivator of the human will. By assuring our students that they are loved and valued, not only by the Brothers, Sisters, and staff of IHM School, but by God and all the inhabitants of Heaven besides, we effectively lay the motivational groundwork on which our students’ growth in personal goodness can be built. Having experienced true and selfless love on a personal level, our students will be well equipped to give that love to others in their lives.
We are a tiny school, averaging between thirty and fifty students each year. But the work we do is crucial. If these children are our future—and they are—then the ideals that go into forming their minds and hearts are of paramount importance.
That is why Immaculate Heart of Mary School would be an excellent choice for your child.
Now accepting enrollment in grades Kindergarten through six.