by Dominique Damian and Nickie Stillman, Contributors
CORPUS CHRISTI–Students at Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) headed back to school Monday, Aug. 6, several weeks ahead of many area schools. The halls were filled with hugs and smiles as pre-K through 12th-grade students welcomed new faces and caught-up with friends and teachers they have not seen all summer.
With a new school year, comes growth. Whether it was a new teacher or classroom, many of the 815 students enrolled at IWA found many exciting advances and additions on their first day of school.
While many new programs will be instituted at IWA, the school’s most important goal remains to
form students in a loving and challenging environment where the individual gifts of every student are recognized, celebrated and developed as a reflection of Christ.
As such, IWA began the first day of school with a new statement of vision, mission and core values. This revitalized guidance of the school’s mission was developed by a broad group of committed members from the IWA community, which the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament and the IWA school board adopted.
“It is natural and important that we revisit this language to assure that we create as much clarity of purpose as is possible as we unite to achieve the goals of our school,” IWA President Charles Imbergamo said.
Aware of the importance of IWA’s vision, mission and core values, faculty and staff strive to guide students to be the community leaders of tomorrow. The faculty is already making IWA’s mission statement a part of their daily routine by believing in
Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word and His message of love for the world.
“The teachers will incorporate this into their lesson plans,” IWA Middle Level Principal Adolfo Garza said. “It’s not a one day thing – it’s going to be an on-going process.”
For senior Elizabeth Kirkland, the new mission state exemplifies the goals of IWA.
“It illustrates how we are all servants of Christ to those around us,” Kirkland said. “IWA gives us a wonderful learning environment to put these values into practice. I truly believe that this new mission statement will unify us as a school community in Christ.”