Founded in Faith
Immaculate Conception Grade School celebrates 125 years
The year was 1900. William McKinley was serving as the 25th president. The Great War was still 14 years away. Automobiles were an exciting new invention.
That same year, a small one-room schoolhouse—heated entirely by coal—opened on York Street. It marked the beginning of Immaculate Conception Grade School (ICGS), which now celebrates its 125th anniversary.
The school began humbly with 40 students taught in both English and German by two Sisters of St. Agnes. Since then, thousands have passed through its doors, each receiving a strong Catholic education rooted in tradition, faith, and academic excellence. While the world has changed, ICGS’s mission has stayed the same: helping students live Christ-centered lives.
Jennifer Peterson—ICGS alum, current ICGS parent, and president of the Parent’s Club—said that the mission is thriving.
Immaculate Conception Grade School is located at 132 Arthur Street in Elmhurst.
“Having my primary years at ICGS was where my faith formation [began],” Peterson said. “My education at ICGS was the foundation and building blocks of who I’ve become as a Catholic adult today. I truly believe that the faith-based education in my primary years not only prepared me to succeed in high school and college but has influenced and guided every decision I have made along the way.”
Since graduating in 1984, Peterson’s connection to the school has only deepened—especially now that her daughter is a student there, sharing in the ICGS experience she cherishes.
“I knew from the day I found out I was pregnant that I was going to send my child to ICGS,” Peterson said “The way I felt walking back inside that school when we registered my daughter Avery when she was two years old overwhelmed me with emotion. It was like God was wrapping his arms around me and my family to let me know this was the place to raise my daughter.”
Her sentiment reflects what makes ICGS special: students grow academically and spiritually, build lifelong friendships, and join a supportive, faith-filled community.
“As I look back as an adult, I realized the quality of the education I received, as well as learning how to act as a respectful Catholic at a very young age,” Peterson recalled.
Students, families, and alumni have been able to celebrate the accomplishments of ICGS during the 2024-2025 school year through a variety of activities and events to commemorate the quasquicentennial year.
The year started with an opening Mass in August, celebrating “125 Years of Growing in the Light of Christ,” with the dedication of new lighting on the exterior of the IC Church and school building.
“Just as the alumni and students of Immaculate Conception illuminate the world, this lighting will illuminate the building from dusk until dawn each day,” Father Tom Paul, ICGS Pastor, said.
Students have spent the year learning about the school’s history, tracing back to 1862 when St. Mary’s became the first Catholic Church in the village. (At the time, the area housed 49 families, fewer than 20 of whom were Catholic.) These lessons help students understand and appreciate the devotion required to build ICGS into the school it is today.
125th Anniversary Celebration in front of the school
In addition, students have been interacting with various alumni throughout the year. Many current students come from multi-generational ICGS families—one family is fourth-generation—which means there is a close-knit family of parents and grandparents who are eager to share their stories. On May 1st, ICGS hosted an enrichment career day, where students had a chance to hear from ICGS alumni about how their education shaped their careers and lives.
Though the official celebrations of this milestone are coming to an end, the pride within the ICGS community—and their gratitude for those who paved the way—will endure for generations to come. The school’s continued success stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of its staff—past and present—and the enduring commitment of local families to Catholic education.
“Catholic Schools foster a strong sense of community and belonging among students, families, and faculty,” Peterson said. “Catholic Education aims to cultivate spiritual growth, helping children develop a personal relationship with God and understanding [of] their faith.”
For more information about Immaculate Conception Grade School, visit icgradeschoolelmhurst.org.
