IMS Newsletter | Winter 2024

An Update from Our President & CEO As we find ourselves in the New Year, I am grateful to have you as a valued member of the Independence Mission Schools (IMS) family! Thank you for your continued support of our mission. KEEP READING GIANNA'S LETTER

Alumni Spotlight: Rishaun Hall, St. Malachy Class of 2012 From St. Malachy to City Hall: IMS Schools Prepare Tomorrow’s Leaders

Rishaun takes a trip down memory lane and poses with current St. Malachy students. “A successful school can breed a successful student, which can breed a successful future.”  -Rishaun Hall, St. Malachy Class of 2012

Rishaun is a self-confident and successful leader in Philadelphia who exudes humility, love, and respect – values he credits to his formative years at St. Malachy Catholic School. It is these values that paved the path from his childhood neighborhood, to Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, to the steps of City Hall where he is making a difference and giving back to the city that gave him so much. From the daily reciting of the St. Malachy creed that ended with “I am somebody”, to the teachers who believed in him, to getting him ready for success in a top-performing high school, Rishaun shared how his IMS education prepared him to be the leader that he is today. READ HIS STORY & WATCH HIS VIDEO

New IMS Partnership Sparks Student Interest in Civics

Independence Mission Schools (IMS) has recently partnered with the legal nonprofit Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts (PMC) to provide an 8-week civics education program for middle school students—St. Raymond of Penafort, SS. Cyril & Philomena, St. Frances Cabrini, Our Mother of Sorrows/St. Ignatius of Loyola (OMSSI), and The DePaul Catholic School have pioneered this initiative. Since October 2023, 7th and 8th-grade students at these five schools were visited by lawyers and judges each month teaching them all about civics. KEEP READING

St. Rose of Lima Students Meet the Archbishop! Our St. Rose of Lima scholars continue to bless the community with their voices! On November 5th, St. Rose of Lima was one of three schools invited to the Memorial of St. Martin de Porres at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, and Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine. Thanks to their great performance, our scholars were also invited to sing at the Interfaith Prayer Service commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Community on January 14th. READ MORE

SS. Cyril & Philomena Receives YMCA IMPACT Award SS. Cyril & Philomena Catholic School was nominated and selected to receive the YMCA of Eastern Delaware County’s IMPACT Award. The prestigious award is given annually to two organizations that are recognized for doing impactful and transformative work in and for their community. Principal, Brigid McClelland accepted the award at the YMCA of Eastern Delaware County’s IMPACT Celebration. READ MORE

Eagles Linebacker Provides Winter Coats to Students St. Malachy Catholic School students got the surprise of a lifetime when hometown hero Haason Reddick and UnitedHealthcare teamed up to bring the spirit of Giving Tuesday to North Philadelphia! In partnership with the Dreambuilders Foundation and Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS), UnitedHealthcare and Haason Reddick, outside linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, donated over 200 brand new coats to our students to encourage them to live an active lifestyle and spend more time playing outdoors. KEEP READING WATCH THE VIDEO OUR STUDENTS CREATED TO THANK HAASON!

Staff Spotlight: Erin Wooley, Chief of Advancement We are so excited to welcome Erin Wooley to our team! Erin brings over two decades of experience in fundraising, She will serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team with responsibility for leading and implementing IMS’ fundraising strategies, managing and building the advancement team, and driving advocacy and awareness for IMS’ mission. LEARN MORE

Students Celebrate MLK Day at the Church Farm School

Middle school students and parents from DePaul Catholic, Holy Cross, St. Raymond of Penafort, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Malachy, St. Martin de Porres, and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Schools participated in the Church Farm School’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. These seven IMS schools sent approximately 100 middle school students from our Varsity Boys basketball teams, along with coaches and parents to participate in a unique athletic and high school admissions program at the Church Farm School, an all-boys boarding school in Exton, PA. LEARN MORE

Black History Month at SMdP In honor of Black History Month, the 8th-grade students of St. Martin de Porres Catholic School showcased their knowledge and brought Black history to life at their 2nd Annual Blacks In Wax Presentation & Exhibit with a special focus on black inventors. Our amazing students were featured on the evening news! WATCH THE NEWS CLIP!

Celebrating Catholic Schools Week 2024

During this week-long celebration of Catholic Schools, students and staff participated in a variety of activities. As the largest network of independent Catholic elementary schools in the country, we have a lot to celebrate! Did you know that our network is made up of 14 schools, nearly 4,000 students, and almost 400 educators? Together, we are stronger!

St. Martin of Tours first graders are proud of their amazingly decorated Catholic Schools Week classroom door!

St. Veronica celebrated Culture with their 3rd Annual Cultural Festival complete with lunch, dancing, and games.

St. Barnabas middle school students partnered with younger students to play school-wide bingo for Community Day!

PYA Brings Joy to St. Thomas Aquinas From their Fall Festival to their magical Christmas Tree Lighting, the students at St. Thomas Aquinas (STA) are the lucky benefactors of a flourishing relationship between their school and the Philadelphia police. Through the partnership with the 17th district police and the Police Youth Alliance (PYA), special events like these are made possible. READ MORE

For Our IMS Families...

Our application for the 2024/25 school year is now open to new families! Current IMS families are eligible to receive a $500 tuition credit if they refer a new family! See flyer for details. Please encourage friends and neighbors to apply! APPLY TODAY IMS families in "Good" Financial Aid status by certain dates will automatically be entered to win some amazing prizes... Learn more! Need help getting your financial aid application done? All 14 of our IMS schools will host a financial aid night. Check the school websites for dates and details: imsphila.org/schools.

Get Your Green on for Mission Week 2024! Mark Your Calendars for IMS Mission Week: Shamrocking the Spirit of Giving!  During this annual virtual event, we invite you to support our students by making a gift. Whether you want to champion Catholic education, your alma mater, or your child’s school, your gift will make a difference. MAKE AN EARLY GIFT!

We Are Always Hiring! Know someone looking for a rewarding, mission-driven career? Point them to our careers portal to view open positions, complete an online application, and upload their credentials. SEARCH CAREERS

Our 14 Independence Mission Schools

St. Barnabas SS. Cyril & Philomena The DePaul Catholic School St. Frances Cabrini St. Helena-Incarnation

Holy Cross St. Malachy St. Martin de Porres St. Martin of Tours Our Mother of Sorrows/St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Raymond of Penafort St. Rose of Lima St. Thomas Aquinas St. Veronica