As our community celebrates Catholic Schools week, two of our students were asked to share their reflections at the Immaculate Conception Parish masses on January 31. Carl Knable shared the following thoughts at the 11:30 mass.“Be it known to all who enter here that CHRIST is the reason for this school. He is the unseen but ever-present teacher in its classes. He is the model of its faculty and the inspiration of its students.” This is the quote that is framed at the entrance of ICCP, and I’ve seen it nearly every morning for the last four years. I believe that it embodies the purpose and the character of our school community. Good morning, my name is Carl Knable. I am a 2017 graduate of IC Grade School and a member of the ICCP current Senior Class of 2021.
One of the greatest aspects of ICCP is the daily connection to faith. We pray before the start of our lesson in every class, and the Theology classes help us develop a clear yet personal image of God and our faith. We learn about Catholic values and morals through guided discussions of real-world situations, and how these principles are relevant in our everyday lives. Regular masses, opportunities for confession, and annual class retreats allowed me to build and deepen my relationship with God and others. The shared retreat experiences brought our class closer together. In Apologetics, the whole class is engaged in thoughtful discussions about arguments for the existence of God from the likes of Thomas Aquinas, C.S. Lewis, and St. Augustine. In Vocations class, we examine our gifts and talents in the context of the greater good. Also, through the Theology department, we participate in service projects to benefit our community and help others.
Another aspect that I value as part of my education here at ICCP, is all the extracurricular activities I have participated in. I’ve participated in twelve activities and sports from Theater to Golf to Robotics. In the theater program, I learned valuable skills including public speaking and thinking on my feet. In golf, I started as a beginner. It took a lot of hard work and perseverance, but by my senior year, I was able to be co-captain and a scorer on the varsity team.
IC has a wide variety of quality academic opportunities. Our school is big enough that we can offer many unique classes (like Guitar, Latin, and Engineering), but small enough that your experience can be tailored to you individually. I took the most rigorous courses that IC has to offer. I’ve taken 9 AP courses. I was able to succeed in these classes, which for me was not only about getting good grades but learning new things. Not only was I able to take the most rigorous courses, but I still had time to devote to my friends, family, and activities outside of school.
This year, I learned that I was accepted into my dream school, the University of Notre Dame. I have no doubt that the excellent academic, service, leadership, and extracurricular opportunities that I was given here, have made it possible for me to attend.
It’s sometimes said that IC is like our second home and that we’re always part of the IC family. This could not be more true. During the school year, I gladly spent almost as much time at school as I did at home, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. The school counselor asked me the other day if I was ready to graduate. I said, “No, if I could stay here longer, then I would.” But, when the time comes, I will be ready. With four years of study in faith and excellence in academics, ICCP has prepared me for life.