Immaculate Conception School -

Dear IC Families,

As I write this letter, I am filled with gratitude, hope, excitement, and yes, a bit of sadness as another school year comes to a close.

I feel that same mixture of emotions as a principal. At IC, we are more than a school — when families and staff become part of IC, they are part of something rooted in faith, love, and community. We all come from a good place to make our school shine and do the best for our students.

Your child's progress report when home today. They also brought home two copies of their tuition contract. One copy should be returned to the school and the other is for your files.

It is no secret that this school year brought difficulties unlike anything we have experienced in recent years — even beyond the challenges of the COVID years. When we had to pivot learning at the beginning of the year, our staff immediately stepped up with positivity, flexibility, and dedication. As changes continued longer than expected and adjustments became more difficult, our students also demonstrated incredible perseverance and adaptability. Throughout these challenges, our hope has been that students gained something deeper than academics alone: resilience. Learning how to face obstacles, adapt to change, and continue moving forward with determination is a life skill that will serve them far beyond the classroom. While change is not always easy, it is often through challenges that the greatest growth occurs. 

The 2026–2027 school year will bring several transitions to IC. Mrs. Masters and Mrs. Leeper have made the decision to retire. Their dedication, faith, and love for students have left a lasting impact on our school community, and we are incredibly grateful for the years they have devoted to IC. We send them with our prayers, gratitude, and blessings as they begin this next chapter.

We will also say goodbye to Father Tom as he moves to Cedar Rapids to continue his vocation. We are thankful for his time and presence within our parish and school community. Next year, we will welcome three new priests to our pastorate, including Father Ivan Nienhaus, who will serve as our lead pastor of our church and school. We look forward to welcoming him to IC and working together in support of our church and school mission.

In planning for next year, we have made several staffing adjustments to best support student learning and balance class sizes. Our current teacher placement plan is as follows:

Preschool 3 & 4 Half-Day – Mrs. Jody Osier

Preschool 4-Year-Old All Day – Mrs. Kristy Wilde

Kindergarten – Mrs. Mackenzie Parsons & Mrs. Marianne Cox (Welcome!)

1st Grade – Mrs. Journey Schwickerath

2nd Grade – Mrs. Liz Platts & Mrs. Kirsten Field

3rd Grade – Mrs. Melissa Vorhes

4th Grade – Mrs. Staci Holzer & Mrs. Shelby Schwartzkopf

5th & 6th Grade – Mrs. Cari Barry, Mrs. Stephani Munson, Mrs. Whittney Franke, & New Hire TBD

Art & Interventions – Mrs. Carrie Shaver

TAG – Mrs. Jeanne Hansen

PE – Mr. Mac Watts

Music – TBD

Religion – Mrs. Hoppel & Classroom Teachers

Social Worker – Mrs. Hadley

Our fifth and sixth grade students will continue learning within combination classrooms next year, with opportunities for grade-level instruction in certain subjects. This structure helps prepare students for middle school by encouraging greater independence, organization, time management, and transitions between teachers and classrooms throughout the day.

We would like to announce the next step in our roll out process of next year’s uniform policy. The policy, a Q & A, and a visual poster are posted on our website and can be found here: https://immaculateconceptionschoolia.sites.thrillshare.com/documents/27958283

As I close this letter, we want to thank our families for your support and prayers throughout this year. Together, we remained focused on what matters most: being a good role model for our students, keeping our students learning, growing, and rooted in faith.

Thank you for choosing IC School and for being part of a community that strives each day to live out the values of Faith, Scholarship, Kindness, and Service.

Blessings,

Laurie Field

Principal

Hello IC Families,
Please read the letter sent to your email regarding tuition, STO, and ESA.
STO deadline is May 1 - https://online.factsmgt.com/SignIn.aspx
ESA deadline is June 30 - https://iowa-households.withodyssey.com/login/
Registration for 2026-2027 School Year is open! https://archd.powerschool.com/public
Blessings,
Mrs. L. Field

Hello IC Families,
Tomorrow the Archdiocese will release their final plan for Journey in Faith announcing the pastorates. We encourage you to learn and listen to the message on the Journey in Faith Website tomorrow morning after 9:15 a.m. A message will also be shared at all masses this weekend. https://www.dbqjourneyinfaith.org/

A reminder that Father Tom is gone this week. We will have a prayer service at the church on Wednesday.

Sign ups for the Art Show are due by Wednesday, April 15, the Art Show is April 26.

I am attaching information to this message via email, text, and our app.

Have a great weekend and thank you for choosing IC School.
Blessings,
Mrs. L. Field
https://aptg.co/nNdxjV