Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair will remain open
The Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, announced today that Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair will remain open.
Representatives from the school’s Board of Trustees received the good news at a meeting with Dr. Margaret Dames, Secretary for Catholic Education and Archdiocesan Superintendent of Schools, and representatives of the Archdiocese of Newark on Tuesday, February 24th.
Originally slated to close in June of 2014, Archbishop Myers permitted the school to remain open following an extensive fundraising effort by the school’s extended family of students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.
As a result of the significant improvements to its fiscal management, recruitment efforts and development strategies, Archbishop Myers believes that Immaculate Conception High School has a viable future.
“We are extremely grateful to Archbishop Myers for his renewed belief that Immaculate Conception can be a vital part of Catholic secondary education,” stated William Slattery, Chairman of the ICHS Board of Trustees. “The entire Immaculate family has worked diligently to create a solid financial foundation and we were fortunate to have the guidance of Dr. Dames and Associate Superintendent John O’Neil.”
Principal JoAnn Degnan added that “This year, ICHS is celebrating our 90th Anniversary and we fully expect to be celebrating our 100th Anniversary a decade from now.”
Celia Triggs Honohan, a 1974 ICHS alumna whom Archbishop Myers appointed as President of ICHS last October, initiated several new development projects with fundraising efforts that reach across the country. “Thanks to last summer’s Save Immaculate Campaign,” she said, “we have discovered a wide network of supporters who have made substantial pledges to ensure Immaculate’s future. We are also indebted to the Montclair community who joined our efforts with encouragement and donations.”
Honohan added that “Our mascot is the lion, so the Archbishop’s words of encouragement last summer — ‘Since humanity’s earliest days, the lion has been a symbol of nobility and strength’ — continue to inspire us in our journey.”
Located at 33 Cottage Place, Montclair, Immaculate Conception is a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory high school. It opened as a parish high school serving young Catholic men and women in the surrounding area. In the years since, it has broadened its mission and currently serves young people from many communities in Essex, Passaic and Union Counties.