Disciple Dispatch

May 8, 2025

Habemus Papum!

This afternoon was nothing short of spectacular as we gathered together to witness the unveiling of our new pope! The energy in the building was electric, with students and staff bursting into cheers, bells ringing in joyful celebration, and hearts filled with excitement for having a North American pope!

What a gift it is to be part of a Catholic school, where we can pause, celebrate, and fully embrace the beauty of our shared faith during such a meaningful event! God bless Pope Leo XIV!

Visit Facebook for more class photos!

Congratulations, First Communicants!

Our second grade classes received our Lord in the Eucharist for the first time on Saturday, May 3. Be sure to congratulate them and their families for this major milestone!

If you are one of our second grade families and find yourself unsure of what to do with those dresses and suits, please consider donating their first Communion attire back to us! We will offer them to future students who need help finding the right clothes.

Celebrating May Crowning

On Wednesday, May 7, our students and families brought in generous donations of flowers to adorn statues of Mary around our campus. At Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Blessed Virgin holds a special place in our hearts, and we're grateful for the beautiful blooms that brighten up our campus and honor our Mother Mary.

During Mass, our 25 eighth grade students continued the tradition of placing roses at the feet of a statue of Mary and crowning her with a wreath of flowers.

Thank you to all 8th grade families and staff who prepared the students and assisted with our annual May Crowning devotion!

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us!

Updates

Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA)

From the Michigan Association of Non-public Schools: The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) would create a federal tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. Those donated funds would be available for private school scholarships in all 50 states. Congress is considering whether to include this historic legislation in a major "reconciliation" bill that is not subject to a Senate filibuster and therefore able to pass with a simple majority.

The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) has created an action alert for you to notify your congressperson of the importance of this bill and to ask them to include it in the reconciliation bill. MANS encourages our school and school community to participate in this action alert.

Tell Your Lawmaker To Support Nationwide School Choice

Donate Your Used Uniforms This Spring

Your gently used uniform donations are always appreciated.

Please consider dropping off those uniforms at the end of this school year instead of waiting until the fall! Our organizer extraordinaire plans to set up the Used Uniform Closet over the summer so it's available to you at the beginning of August.

Save time and money shopping from a huge selection of school uniforms FREE!

IHM School is seeking a part-time media (library) and part-time music teacher for the 2025-2026 school year.

These positions are offered through Brighton Area Schools Shared Time program. Those interested in full time may have that option if other area schools are in need of a media or music teacher, as well.

Interested individuals should apply through the Brighton Area Schools Applitrack website. Be sure to select “Apply” for the Kent County positions.

If you have any questions or leads, please contact Holly Lake at principal@ihmschoolgr.org.

Next week, our kindergarten classes will be hatching ISA Brown, Ameraucana, and Golden Wyandotte chicks. By the end of the school year, these chicks will need new homes!

Interested families can contact Mrs. Sova at csova@ihmschoolgr.org.

The chicks will be ready the first week of June.

IHM School App Update

Occasionally, our smartphone apps may sign users out or remove permissions automatically. This is a normal security measure designed to help protect our data.

If you are suddenly unable to access the school app app, don’t worry — we have a secure code to restore access.

IHM School Grand Rapids App access code: 0815

Download Our School App Today!

Be sure to turn on notifications!

The Week Ahead

Friday, May 9

6th graders return from Camp Henry

4th grade band instrument fitting at CCHS

All-school skating party at GR Skate & Event Center 4:00-6:00 p.m.

7th & 8th grade dance in the IHM Gym 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 10

Confessions 3:30 p.m.

Mass 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 11

Mass 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Monday, May 12

Anxious Generation Book Study in the deMazenod Room 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 13

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

2nd & 8th graders wear red prayer partner shirts

Wednesday, May 14

Awards Ceremony for 5th-8th grade students in the Gym 10:15 a.m.

Thursday, May 15

2nd grade field trip to the Air Zoo

Friday, May 16

4th grade Wax Museum in the Gym 1:00-3:00 p.m.

View our Calendar for more events

7th & 8th Grade Dance SignUpGenius Link

Planning on attending? All parents, guardians, and family members should park in the church parking lot and enter through the gym doors.

If you are joining us after 9:00 a.m. daily Mass, we welcome you to walk over afterward and enjoy light refreshments before the ceremony.

From the Principal's Desk

Hello IHM Families!

What a beautiful week we have had with our 2nd graders receiving Jesus for the first time in Holy Eucharist and then the May Crowning - honoring our patroness, and finally, the announcement of our new pope! Each grade level was praying for a particular American cardinal, and they didn't have much time to pray for them! What an incredible blessing that we all got to share this historic occasion! This will be something they remember the rest of their lives. The energy in the building was just amazing as I went to each classroom and saw them all glued to the livestream of the Vatican. May God pour out abundant blessings on our new pope as he transitions to his new role and all the cardinals who took part in the conclave.

A special thank you to our Home and School Association led by Lisa Grabiel and the committee for Teacher Appreciation Week and their wonderful week of spoiling the teachers! What a great week we had with some new ideas to show appreciation to the teachers. I am grateful for the recognition of principal appreciation day as well! That's a lot of appreciation!

As usual, you parents were abundantly generous with prizes for the prize closet - THANK YOU! Teachers really loved all the amazing gift cards and treats! We are so grateful for another year of teachers pouring themselves into their students and going above and beyond their vocation in education.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

Mrs. Holly Lake

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Guided by Mother Mary, our patroness, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School learns, leads, and serves as disciples of Christ.