Welcome Day Celebrates Students at Immaculate Heart



Jurassic Juniors Singing to Freshmen

The Immaculate Heart school year is filled with traditional days of celebration that knit the campus community together. Even years later, IH alumnae treasure memories of these special events that help make Immaculate Heart a unique educational experience for young women.

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“I love these celebrations. As the girls plan activities for these events, they apply what they have learned inside and outside the classroom. Everything really comes together,” said Immaculate Heart High School Principal Naemah Morris.

Welcome Day, Immaculate Heart’s oldest tradition, officially launches the school year. For the annual event, the high school’s student body officers plan a song and dance-filled day to honor the newest members of the school, the freshman class, as well as other new students, faculty and staff. Each class picks a theme and plans a presentation to show its collective spirit.

“Welcome Day shows off the personality of each entire class, not just the individual students,” said Ms. Morris, who still fondly recalls her own first Welcome Day as an IH freshman.

This year, the juniors chose Jurassic Park as their theme while the “Sandlot Sophomores” donned baseball shirts and sang to the tune “Take Me Out to The Ballgame.” While the seniors paid homage to the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, even the freshmen showed spirit as “The Freshmen of Bel-Air” – a takeoff of the ‘90s television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

“There’s really nothing like seeing the senior class surround the incoming freshmen and sing to them with such heart,” said Immaculate Heart English teacher Callie Webb. The upperclasswomen also distribute small notes and words of encouragement to each new student.

At Immaculate Heart’s middle school, members of the Student Council also plan a day of friendship-building activities. Big and Little Sisters get to know each other through games and races.

“It’s a special time when every student is brought into the IH Panda Community,” said Middle School Principal Gina Finer. “The girls learn about each other, and, as a result, they begin to build that community spirit that is so important at Immaculate Heart.”

Other traditions soon followed Welcome Day, including the first retreats of the school year – starting with the high school’s Freshman Day of Recollection and day-long retreats for the 7th and 8th grades. High school students also recently enjoyed Join Day by selecting among the 30+ clubs and organizations to join on campus. The Girls Athletic Association has since hosted Spirit Week activities culminating in the Pep Rally for fall sports teams.
Next month, seniors look forward to their four-day Kairos retreat. Additionally, on October 1st students and their families will gather on the grounds of Alverno Heights Academy in Sierra Madre for yet another community-building event, Immaculate Heart’s Annual Family Picnic.

Immaculate Heart High School & Middle School is located at 5515 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles. You can call the school at (323) 461-3651 or visit www.immaculateheart.org for more information.

 

 

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