December 1, 2016
From the Desk of Dr. Molly Grumich
Principal

Prayer for the Year of Grace
 
In the new year of grace
I want to offer a share of my heart
Greater that what I offered
In the year just past...

I want to offer you the pieces of my heart
I'm least inclined to let go;
The part of my heart I try to hide
From others, from you, from myself;
The hurting places in my heart
That shy away from even a healing touch...

I offer you the corners of my heart
Where I've let some weeds grow wild:
Help me uproot whatever fails
To nourish and give me life...
 
I offer you the closets of my heart,
Stuffed with old grudges and resentments:
Lord, help me discard anything
That fails to help me grow...
 
I offer you the boxes of wasted time,
The cartons of foolishness
And the bags of misspent effort
All cluttering my heart:
Help me clear out the trash of my mistakes
And give me a new beginning...
 
And I offer you the cellar of my heart, Lord,
Where a locked trunk of hurt and anger
Aches to be opened:
With the key of your healing grace
Open me to the peace I seek...
 
I offer you my heart's hopes and dreams:
My desire to grow in faith;
My pledge to rely on your wisdom and word;
Mu promise to ask you for help each day;
My word I'll forgive whoever offends me
And my vow to give freely to those in need...
 
I offer you this new year of grace, Lord,
And ask for the strength and resolve I need
To live it as one worthy of the name I bear:
Christian...
 
I offer you the new year ahead, Lord
-one day at a time-
And I pray for the serenity
To accept the things, I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference...
 
I offer you all of my heart, Lord,
And pray you give me a new year of grace
To grow in faith, to deepen my hope
And give myself to love...
 
Amen. 

CAMPUS MINISTRY
Liturgy:
IWA will celebrate Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Thursday, December 8th at 10:00 a.m.   At that Mass we will have 54 guests coming from different grade schools to receive the "Caring Hands Award" for being nominated by some of the freshmen for making a positive difference in their lives.  Father Anthony Gerber from St. Joseph Cottleville will be our celebrant and Kyle Huelsing will be our music minister.

Junior Service:
The Juniors  are selecting their s ervice sites now for when they will perform their
Junior Service in May, 2017.  All Junior Service Site Selection forms are due to Ms. Pitti no later than tomorrow, December 2.

IWA's Christmas Drive will run until tomorrow, December2 :
  1. The Freshman Class is collecting gifts for families in the Holiday Hearts program for St. Louis Crisis Nursery - North County.  The Mission of St. Louis Crisis Nursery is to provide a 24-hour safe haven dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect throughout the region.  The Holiday Hearts program provides gifts for the children of these needy families who are faced with emergencies or who are in crisis. 
  2. The Sophomore Class is collecting gifts for children at Our Little Haven.  The Mission of Our Little Haven is to provide a safe, healing environment for the youngest children recovering from abuse, neglect, abandonment or early childhood trauma in the greater St. Louis region.  Our Little Haven helps young children build a firm foundation for their futures. 
  3. The Junior Class is collecting gifts for children at Whole Kids Outreach.  The Mission of Whole Kids Outreach is to build healthy relationships within the families of some of Missouri's most impoverished and isolated areas.  Whole Kids Outreach is a faith-based not-for-profit organization that provides educational and health care programs by addressing the needs of families with young children in rural Missouri. 
  4. The Senior Class is collecting gifts for children at St. Augustine-Wellston Center.  The Mission of St. Augustine-Wellston Center is to reach out to about 400 families that need assistance.  The Christmas Club allows these families to shop in the thrift store and purchase items at a fraction of the original cost of the item (about 10% of the original cost).  The families are grateful to be able to do their own shopping and happy to pay the small amount charged. 
  5. The Members of Student Council are collecting gifts for two families for the Adopt-A Family program through Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service.  The Mission of Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service is to serve those in crisis, and prevent homelessness and hunger.  Their Adopt-A-Family program assures that parents with children and the elderly will have Christmas by providing them with food and gifts.  
**Click 
here  
to view the Wish List for the Agencies.  Click here to view Wish List for Sts. Joachim & Ann "Adopt a Famiy."

We hope that everyone can be generous and live the mission of IWA as we follow the example of Jesus and make a positive impact on our world.

Archbishop May Service Award:
The Archdiocese of St. Louis announces the annual Archbishop May Service Award.  Each Catholic High School chooses one senior student to be recognized by the diocese on behalf of that student's commitment to service.  IWA encourages applications for this award.  The Archbishop May Service Awardee from Incarnate Word Academy must apply.  Completion of the materials in a timely manner and a final decision made by the Theology Department and Campus Ministry will result in our naming of this senior to represent IWA.  Any senior that would like to be considered for this special service award must write an essay which lists specifically all the services that she has done in the past four years, and a reflection on what service has done for her, and how it has touched and affected her life.  Essays should be two to three pages, typed and double spaced.  All essays are due to Ms. Pitti no later than tomorrow, December 2, 2016.  Please remind your daughter to include her student number at the top right hand corner of her paper and not her name on her essay.  She can turn in her essay and have the chance to be selected for this special award.

Service Opportunities:

1.  Ten of our girls, along with Sr. Eileen and myself, will be volunteering with
     Weatherization for Energy Care on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 8 to noon.
2.  Volunteers are  still needed to help with Sts. Joachim and Ann's Care Service  
     Adopt-A-Family for Christmas Program for their drop-off and pick-up of gifts. 
    The event will be held at the St. Charles Community College Center on
    Saturday,  December 10 and Sunday, December 11 .  Volunteers are still
    needed to help on S aturday from 1-3 p.m. and from 3-5 p.m., and on Sunday
    from 9 to noon.  Please email Ms. Pitti if you are interested in volunteering for
    one of those time  slots.

Geri Pitti
Campus Minister
gpitti@iwacademy.org

FROM THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT: 
Junior Parents/Guardians: As the semester finishes up, we will be talking about beginning the college search process.  Please encourage your daughter to visit college reps when they visit to find out more information about colleges that they might be interested in.  It is also a great time to start making plans to visit colleges of interest.

Senior Parents/Guardians:   Today is IWA's college deadline. All seniors should have submitted all College Checklists to Mrs. Goldberg. The next step in the process entails awaiting admission decisions and beginning to make a decision on where to attend. Continue to encourage your daughter to search for scholarships, and most importantly, congratulate her for all the hard work she has done thus far!

For a complete listing of scholarships available, please remind your daughter to see Naviance under the "Colleges" tab.


Emma Goldberg, M.Ed, NCC, PLPC
College & Career Counselor
 egoldberg@iwacademy.org

FROM THE ATHLETIC OFFICE: 
Off to a Great Start...          

Basketball: All three teams are undefeated. Varsity will play at 4:00 AM Saturday. Yes,that is correct AM! It's the Norm Stuart Classic which entails 48 hours non-stop basketball. The game will be aired live so you can watch the Red Knight play Helias in your pajamas on Channels 4. 3, or Charter 181. JV plays in the Championship game this evening for Notre Dame Tournament.  Swimming/Diving  had their first meet Nov. 29 at Principia against Ursuline & St. Dominic. Ellie Wehrmann qualified for  State in two events: 100 M Butterfly with a time of 58.88 (which is 4 seconds better than qualification time) and 100 M Free with a time of 54.81.
  
Good LUCK to Dance as they compete Saturday at Lindbergh High School.

Booster items are IN! Send your daughters to my office. I will have some items for sale next week.


Always a Great Day to be A RED KNIGHT!

Lisa P. Orlet '87
Athletic Director
lorlet@iwacademy.org





 
       THINGS TO NOTE:

MOTHER/DAUGHTER
Thank you to all who attended Mother Daughter on Friday, November 18th.  It was a fun evening of trivia, laughter & dancing.

Congratulations to the 2016 Mother of the Year, Vicki Bramer!

Please fill out the survey to help plan for Mother Daughter 2017.
Click here .  Thank you!


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NEW in the Knight Shop - December 6th 

Next  Tuesday, December 6th there will be two new items in the Knight Shop: 

1. A black vest with a red embroidered crest & yellow embroidered 'The Academy.'  These will be sold for $40/each. Limited quantities available.  

2. IWA Christmas ornaments with different fonts & designs.  The ornaments will be sold for $15/each.  Limited quantities available.  

Please note:  Neither of these items will be sold before lunch mods (10:45 am - 12:30 pm)  on Tuesday the 6th.  First come, first served.

Black vest with front embroidery:


Close up of the vest embroidery:

  
Ornaments: 


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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

THE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT
PRESENTS 
 IWA CHRISTMAS CONCERT & ART SHOW

WHEN:  Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016
TIME:  2:00 PM



UPCOMING EVENTS:

         
Friday, Dec. 2 - Regular day of school
                        - Regular HR - not "Family" HR
                        - Dress out for Clubs' Day                         
                        - Junior service site forms due
                        - Christmas drive ends

Monday, Dec. 5 - Regular day of school

Tuesday, Dec. 6 - Regular day of school
                            - FR retreat follow-up mods 15/16
                            - Knight Shop open during lunch mods

Wednesday, Dec. 7 - Late Start - HR begins at 9:00 am
                                 - HR - Prayer service
                                 - Reconciliation at lunch mods

Thursday, Dec. 8 - Regular day of school
                              - Liturgy - Caring Hands
                              - Dress uniform required

Friday, Dec. 9 - Regular day of school

Sunday, Dec. 11 - Christmas Concert & Art Show - 2:00 pm


Incarnate Word Academy | 314.725.5850 | www.iwacademy.org