Immaculate Conception School
Diocese of Brownsville cdob.org/
305 N. Britton
Rio Grande City, Texas 78582
Phone 956-487-2558
FAX 956-487-6478
Pastor Father Amador Garza
Principal Ruby T. Urbina
e-mail addresses: ICSprin@cdob.org and urbinaicstcc@hotmail.com Send your e-mails to both of these addresses in case one doesn't work.(copy and paste e-mail address into your e-mail account if you don't have Outlook Express)

We, the parents, students, faculty, and administration of Immaculate Conception School,are committed to providing and maintaining high academic standards in a Catholic atmosphere with open communication, discipline, orderliness, and accountability. We are committed to the development of the whole child for the service of God and the local and global community. Revised 2007

Pictured are our Student Council Officers for 2007-08.

The primary goal of the faith community of Immaculate Conception School is to create a Catholic environment where each child may develop spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. To achieve this purpose we focus on the following:
Spiritual Development
To empower each child to become a living testimony of God's Word through prayer, the study of Scripture, and the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church;
To manifest through worship our oneness with all God's people;
To provide a caring, loving environment built on trust, justice, and peace.
Intellectual Development
To implement the Diocesan curriculum that strives for academic excellence, while nurturing each child's creativity, spontaneity, and self-worth;
To challenge each student to develop an open, inquiring mind.
Social Development
To develop life skills that will encourage each student to become a mature, responsible, and caring citizen of the world;
To foster a partnership based on mutual respect among the civic community, church community, school, and home;
To increase each child's level of awareness and sense of responsibility for global ecology as stewards of the earth.
Emotional Development
To address the individual needs and issues faced by each student;
To foster respect and appreciation for diversity found among students, faculty, and administration that allows for an appreciation and acceptance of each person's uniqueness as a precious child of God.
Physical Development
To teach each child sports and activities that provide opportunities for total physical development;
To create a safe and pleasant environment.
Our hope is that through the implementation of the school's philosophy, students' potential becomes a reality, empowering them to emerge as spirit-filled individuals who are concerned with the advancement of God's Reign on Earth. Revised 2007

In 1884 the Rev. R. M. Olivier, O. M. I. asked the sisters of Incarnate Word in San Antonio to start a school in Rio Grande City. Three nuns were sent here and by 1885 were teaching 100 day students in a 3-room school. The sisters of the Blessed Sacrament came to teach in 1900, followed by the sisters of Mercy in 1920. The School Sisters of Notre Dame undertook the mission of the school in 1985. Throughout its history, dedicated laity joined the sisters in providing a strong Christian and educational foundation. It enjoys the support of the church and community.(1997)
View a slide show of our school through the years at gemini.utb.edu/jpeterson01/projects6351/Project1.htm

On the first day of school, 2007-08, our new eighth graders led the morning assembly. Eighth graders serve the school as leaders and good example for the younger students.

The first student mass of school 2007-08 was led by the eighth grade, who also led the first Children's Mass at Immaculate Conception Church on Sunday, August 26. They are pictured with Principal Ruby Urbina, at right, and their homeroom teacher, Gilberto Martinez, at left.

New additions to our Immaculate Conception School faculty and staff, shown with Pastor Amador Garza and Principal Ruby Urbina are Father Francisco Solis, Mrs. Olga Escobar, ACE Teacher Mr. Matt Hughes, Mrs. Magdalena Alaniz, and Mr. Luis Carlos Ramirez.

Sister Gayle Hurban, SSND, was presented a plaque awarding her the sixth annual Sister Rose Anthony Rosswog, SSND, Award. Father Amador Garza presented the award, stating, “Every year we honor a special person in our school community with the Sister Rose Anthony Rosswog Award in honor and memory of Sister Rose, who was an exemplary, dedicated teacher for fifty years. She was faithful to the church and was zealous and untiring in her life of service. This year, we honor someone who reminds us so very much of Sister Rose Anthony. Like her, our honoree is tireless and faithful in her commitment to the children of the Convent School. Most days she is the first person to arrive and the last to depart. She is kind and generous in disposition. She learned so many things from Sister Rose Anthony because they shared their life and vocation as women religious. It is, indeed, an honor to bestow the 2007 Sister Rose Anthony Rosswog, SSND Award to Sister Gayle Hurban, SSND.”

Our Parent Teacher Organization, as well as our School Council, offer strong support for our school. Pictured are our 2007-08 PTO President, Margot Barrera, and Vice-president, Matea Solis, tired but happy at our very successful Fall Festival.

I.C.S. students enjoy spending time in the computer lab at I.C.S. every week. Every student in grades Montessori through Eighth come to the computer lab for instruction that supplements their classroom lessons and prepares them for excellence on the Stanford Achievement Test. The 3-5 year olds are getting a "Jumpstart" on their technology education. The I.C.S. computer lab has 24 Dell computers for students with many educational programs. View our technology interactive newsletter at gemini.utb.edu/jpeterson01/projects6352/newsletter.html

Eighth grade students at I.C.S. take computer applications, a class that is prerequisite to starting high school. They complete numerous technology projects and learn many new skills. These Middle Schoolers are preparing for high school and college work in a technological society. The Class of 2007 created a project in Microsoft Photo Story 3 that will be used as a guide for computer applications students in the future. Here is a link to their site: gemini.utb.edu/jpeterson01/6351ics/8th.htm

At I.C.S., there are opportunities for physical development and good health. Every grade has Physical Education classes, and fifth through eighth grade girls and boys may participate in basketball and soccer. Third grade and up may participate in cheerleading. Physical fitness is encouraged, and four play areas with equipment are provided to help accomplish this goal.

This playground equipment was obtained through a generous grant from the Daughters of Charity, who have been very dedicated and helpful to our school. The playground was needed when the four new rooms behind our annex were constructed.

All of the best-behaved students are shown celebrating a pizza party with Father Amador. Every Thursday Father Amador asks every teacher who was the most well-behaved student in the class. Then each teacher sends one or two students to the front. On the following Monday at 12:00p.m., all the well-behaved students of each class go to the Parish Hall and have the pizza party with Father Amador.
by Monica Hinojosa

Our counselor is pictured with I.C.S. students. Ms. Ortega is helping our students with their activity. Kindergarten works well together as a team.
by Rogelio Garcia

Father Amador is the best pastor in the world because if it is raining he is the one that opens the door so that we could get out of the car so we don’t get wet. Eighth grade wants him to go to the high school so that we can see him every day. We love you, Father Amador!
By Elias Marroquin

This year, we had a great Fire Prevention Week. The Rio Grande Fire Department came over to give us a fun presentation on how to stay safe in case of a fire. After the show, the firemen gave a small tour of the fire truck to the kindergarten classes. Shown is a picture of Mrs. Barrera's kindergarten class.
by Karla Barrera, I. C. Tech Club

The donations for this school have been very helpful. A grant from the University of Notre Dame was given to I.C.S. to buy water coolers for our school. The eighth graders and the first graders were very grateful for that grant, and now we are enjoying the fresh water that is given to us.
Done By Dannais Salinas

On October 4, we celebrated the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. This was a very special saint because he said that we should treat the animals like our brothers and sisters. Father Amador was the one who blessed all the animals, and that is how we celebrated the feast day.
By Alejandra Lopez

Immaculate Conception School holds elections---I.C.S. held student council elections. Our students went around the classrooms encouraging others to vote for them by telling them what they would be doing for their and the school’s benefit. They also distributed some yummy candy. Finally, the big moment came. On September 14, the students voted for the candidates they’d want to serve their school. On September 16, the results were given. These are as follow: President, Honorio Garza; Vice-President, Stevie Garza; Secretary, Andrea Salazar; Treasurer, Alexis Bazan; and last but not least, Reporter, Karla Barrera. So, these are the people that will be running all the events (or most of them) at the school. Congratulations, guys!

Immaculate Conception School is very lucky to have two Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) teachers. These teachers are earning their Master of Education degree at Notre Dame University while teaching at a Catholic school. Ms. Jessica Maciejewski is the middle school language arts teacher and athletic director, and Mr. Hughes teaches fourth grade and is the music director. They are shown being welcomed by our principal, Mrs. R. Urbina and Fr. Amador Garza.
by Alexis Bazan, I. C. Tech Club

This website is maintained in part by our Technology Club students. The officers are pictured, l-r, Andrea Salazar, vice-president; Jocelyn Cazares, president; Karla Barrera, secretary; and Alexis Bazan, reporter. They are shown installing one of ten new computers provided to ICS by the Rio Grande City CISD, Vilma Garza, Technology Director.

Immaculate Conception School fourth grade student, Hunter Olivarez, won second place at the 2008 Diocesan Spelling Bee that took place at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in McAllen, Texas. Hunter will be going to Brownsville as the competition continues on March 1, 2008. We are very proud of you Hunter; keep up the good work! cutline by Karla Barrera