These ICS students came to school dressed as their future selves. Back row, from left, are Brycen Busby as a baseball player, Norah Wargo as a nurse, June Messa as an artist, Ivy Fulkert as a doctor, Hudson Grine as an electrician, and Annaliese Gonya as a school secretary. In the front row are, from left, Lily Schlotterer as a hair stylist, Hunter Griffin as a construction worker, Evelyn Messa as a ballerina, and Adalynn Geldien as a doctor. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

PORT CLINTON – On Jan. 30, the Immaculate Conception School (ICS) hallways were filled with doctors, nurses, ballerinas, electricians and baseball players, many of whom were well under five-feet-tall. Those “professionals” were actually ICS students dressing as their future selves as part of Catholic Schools Week 2025.

The students celebrated a different aspect of Catholic life each day, and Jan. 30 was “Celebrate Vocations” day. The students participated in teambuilding activities and were encouraged to dress like the professional they hope to one day become.

June Messa arrived at school wearing a black French beret and a paint-splattered apron. She wants to be an artist.

“I really like drawing, and I also want to be an author. I want to write children’s books,” Messa said.

Students, from left, Lily Schlotterer, June Messa and Evelyn Messa plan to one day bring beauty to the world as a hair dresser, artist and ballerina. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Annaliese Gonya didn’t have to look too far for inspiration for her future self. She dressed like a school secretary because she wants to one day follow in the footsteps of ICS secretary Gail Trent.

“She’s nice,” Gonya said.

Lily Schlotterer was decked out in pink and wore a hair stylist’s apron.

“My friend’s mom does hair, and she does it really good. I like getting haircuts, so I decided I want to be a hair stylist,” Schlotterer said.

Norah Wargo didn’t have to step outside her house to figure out that she wants to be a nurse.

“I want to be a nurse because my mom’s a nurse, and I want to help people,” Wargo said.

Brycen Busby, left, plans to one day be a baseball player, and Hudson Grine plans to be an electrician. Grine said he chose the career “because they make lots of money.” (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Hudson Grine was also inspired by a relative – as well as a keen eye for finances – when he decided he wants to grow up to be an electrician.

“I want to be an electrician because they make lots of money,” Grine said. “My papa was one, and he said they make a lot of money.”

ICS Communications Director Jennifer Roberts said the school had a full week of activities planned to celebrate Catholic Schools Week and the theme, “Faith, Excellence, Service.” The school is also celebrating its 100th birthday.

In addition to celebrating vocations, the school also celebrated the parish, community, students, nation, faculty and staff. The students enjoyed many activities during the week. They watched a movie and ate popcorn while wearing pajamas, collected canned goods for the St. Vincent DePaul Society, enjoyed a no-homework day, and participated in a Candlemas Mass. On Wednesday, Charles Opio of Uganda presented a “Be the Light” assembly.

Hunter Griffin plans to build a career around the construction trades when he grows up. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“He taught them Uganda dances. He was really amazing. He had them up and dancing,” Roberts said. “He showed them pictures of kids with polio in Uganda. He helped the students understand how blessed we are to live here.”

Among the many other activities, the students attended an assembly by Outback Ray, who brought live, exotic animals, and they ended the week with a family Winter Snow Ball.

“It’s a dance/craft/snack night for the whole family,” Roberts said.

For the past 100 years, ICS has offered faith-based, small-class education to area children to help them thrive academically, physically and spiritually. Today, ICS offers classes for prekindergarten through sixth grade.

For more information, call ICS at 419-734-3315 or visit www.portclintonics.net.