October 29, 2025

By Deacon Kevin Mastellon
Contributing Writer

“It has become a cozier, homier atmosphere,” according to Mary O’Brien, Advancement director for Immaculate Heart Central (IHC) in Watertown.

IHC Principal Amy Mitchell agrees.
“There is a sense of community, of family now that we are united,” Mitchell said.

They are talking about a decision made last spring by the school board and a consolidation committee to bring all students, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, to one campus on Ives Street in Watertown.

A brief current history of how IHC got where it is today is in order.

Through most of the second half of the last century, Catholic elementary education, kindergarten through eighth grade, was provided at each of the four Watertown parish schools. In 2003, parishes relinquished control of the early childhood education to the Catholic school system and IHC added seventh and eighth grades with grades four, five and six at the former St. Patrick’s School (called the Intermediate School) and kindergarten through third grade housed at the former Holy Family School (called the Elementary School.)

The Intermediate school was closed in 2020, and sixth graders joined seventh, eighth, and high school age children at the Ives Street campus.

That left pre-K and kindergarten through fifth grade on the elementary campuses on Winthrop Street with the remaining students on Ives Street.

“We tried to be one school but at two separate locations. It was challenging,” Mitchell said. “I think being under one roof was definitely a move in the right direction.”

This fall, the planning was accomplished but not without some work.

“We had a busy summer. The work started on June 23, and we were in the new elementary section by the third week in August,” Mitchell said. The work involved construction of new bathrooms to accommodate the “littles” and repurposing two rooms for use by the pre-K and kindergarten children.

“We also had some work to do with the staff,” Amy Mitchell told us.

Some teachers now had added responsibilities with elementary age children. IHC added Spanish to its curriculum at all levels, not just Junior and Senior High. A youth sports program was introduced to help elementary age kids learn the elements of soccer, basketball and lacrosse. The rationale is starting the kids at an early age is bound to positively affect those offerings in later years of school life.

“During a transition like this, you will lose families,” according to Mitchell. “But we have been fortunate. Last June our enrollment in the system was 247 and now we are at 251.” (the numbers were as of October 16 when the interview was conducted,) “We lost some families and gained some. Most of those we lost were due to military reassignments not to consolidation. That was huge. Our biggest fear was that we would lose some families. In total, we did not. It is wonderful.”

Walking through the halls and classrooms of the elementary wing of the school building, the years of Amy Mitchell’s experience with children that age became evident. Little ones ran up to her to give her a hug or show her their most recent artwork or craft. She greeted each child by first name and gave each child her complete attention.

Amy Mitchell taught in pre-K, kindergarten and first grade most of her career at Indian River, St. Anthony’s and then at IHC. She became vice principal in 2009 and principal this year.

The consolidation has gone very well. The upper-class students are comfortable with the little ones around.

“They eat lunch at the same time. It is a bit noisy in the cafeteria, but it all goes well,” Mitchell said.

“There is a sense of community, of family, that exists now. Perhaps that was absent before. And the enthusiasm and support of people in the community that still want to see Catholic education as a choice for people is magnificent. It gives us hope.”