THE LIGHT

Welcome to "The Light" - the official blog of Incarnate Word Academy. Visit our Tumblr for the latest news and important information about life at IWA! Incarnate Word Academy was founded in 1932 as a Catholic, private, female, college preparatory school for grades 9-12.

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IWA Featured in the St. Louis Business Journal

Incarnate Word Academy was featured in the "Table of Experts Series" in the most recent issue of the St. Louis Business Journal. The "Table of Experts Series" is a panel discussion covering a wide range of topics. IWA was invited to participate in a discussion on the following topic: "Why is Private Education Important?"

Sr. Helena Monahan, IWA President, was joined by administrators from 5 other private schools throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. The round table discussion was transcribed and printed in an article that was published on August 29, 2014.

Click HERE to read the article. 

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Welcome to the Class of 2018! Freshman Orientation at IWA

On Tuesday, August 12, 103 freshmen converged on the IWA campus for three days of 'Freshman Orientation'. With assistance from a group of dedicated Student Council members and IWA administrators & teachers, each girl learned to navigate the modular schedule, open and close her locker, find her classrooms and so much more! Watch the slideshow below to get an insider's perspective on Freshman Orientation at IWA.

  Frosh Orientation - Video Maker

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Freshman Orientation Activity Blends Service and Mission

This year's Freshman Orientation included an  introduction to IWA's mission, particularly "following the example of Jesus and making a positive impact on our world."  As a way of doing this, the girls performed two service projects: in "family" groups they worked together to make "hugs" blankets.  These will be delivered to the St. Louis Crisis Nursery North for the children.  The girls then used their creativity to make door decorations for a neighborhood retirement home.  By performing these acts of service, the girls learned that service is an important component of IWA's mission.

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Eucharistic Adoration at Incarnate Word Academy

Working with the Campus Ministry office, current senior Meghan McCabe and [new almuna] Marie Gardner ‘14 worked much of last year to establish Eucharistic adoration as a regular practice at Incarnate Word Academy. Along the way, they hit some bumps with funding and finding enough time in the day to hold adoration. The students baked and sold cookies in order to purchase a monstrance. After 5 months of dedication, however, they finally achieved their goal of holding IWA’s first-ever Eucharistic Adoration this past spring.

“Seeing the fruits of our labor literally brought us to tears,” McCabe remarked. “Marie and I couldn't help but get a little teary eyed opening the package and realizing that generations after us would be able to partake in this beautiful experience!”  These dedicated students wanted to share this story on how God is alive on the IWA campus and how He called them to be “Women of the Word”.

Eucharistic adorations have been scheduled throughout the 2014-15 school year.

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Read the latest issue of The Word - Summer 2014

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IWA Alumnae Associations Hosts Annual Easter Egg Hunt!

The Incarnate Word Academy Alumnae Association hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12, 2014. The crowd who gathered on the IWA campus was greeted with glorious weather and a warm welcome from the Easter Bunny himself!

Watch the slideshow below for some adorable pictures of all of the festivities! (if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow, please click HERE)

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Introducing..... Award Recipients from IWA Day!

Some very special members of the Incarnate Word Academy family were honored during a ceremony at the conclusion of the IWA Day Mass on March 25, 2014. Please read below for a description of the award, followed by a few words about each recipient. Congratulations to all of this year's honorees!

Story by IWA Communications

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Sophomores Receive Gift from their "Alum Angels"

On April 9, 2014, the sophomore class received a special gift courtesy of the Incarnate Word Academy Alumnae Association. At the conclusion of the all-school prayer service, the sophomores were asked to remain in the theater in order to receive their gift. 

Each student was presented with a silver key chain engraved with the IWA Red Knight logo. A hand-written note accompanied each key chain. The notes were written and signed by an "Alum Angel" and reminded the girls to be safe as they enter the world of the licensed driver!

The Class of 2016 wishes to the thank the Alumnae Association for their support.

Story by IWA Communications

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A Day of Enrichment for Honors American Literature Students

To enrich their study of contemporary Spokane Indian writer Sherman Alexie's short story, "This is How You Say Phoenix, Arizona", sophomores in Mr. Villmer's Honors American Literature class enjoyed an Indian-themed day, which included music, food, and dancing.  As the students arrived, they were greeted by contemporary Indian music created by Lee Blaske, inspired by Iroquois legends.  Then the students enjoyed a sweet snack of fry bread, following the Osage recipe, with various toppings like strawberry jelly and honey, prepared by Mr. Villmer and his wife.  

While eating, the students watched a Navajo woman discuss how to make fry bread.  The students then discussed an outside of school enrichment activity which is to attend the annual St. Louis Pow Wow, hosted by the Kathryn M. Buder Center for Indian Studies at Washington University.  To help the students understand Indian culture, they viewed a couple videos of Indian dancing, which is very unlike contemporary American dancing style.  Finally, the students discussed Mr. Alexie and his story and compared and contrasted it to their lives.  Mr. Villmer said, "You never know how the students will take something that is out of their routine.  I had no idea that they would enjoy themselves as much as they did, and they ate all the fry bread I made!  Sorry, faculty and staff, but there was none left for you."

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IWA Hosts a successful Mardi Gras Masquerade Auction!

On Saturday, March 29, over 300 guests attended Incarnate Word Academy's annual dinner and auction. The theme for 2014 was "Mardi Gras Masquerade"!

IWA students helped create the festive mask centerpieces, but many guests arrived in their own mysterious mask creations. Guests were treated to a variety of New Orleans-themed dishes which were served at four food stations. Many guests were seen with specially-designed "Mardi Gras Masquerade" hurricane glasses in hand!

The raffles were a big hit - including the delicious King Cake Raffle. In addition to the many baskets and other silent and blackboard auction items, there were 52 oral auction items including trips to Palm Desert, CA and New Orleans, LA.

Take a moment to view the slideshow below for a taste of all the excitement!

If you having trouble viewing the slideshow, please click HERE

Story by IWA Communications

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IWA Art Students Create Mardi Gras Masterpieces

The IWA 3-Dimensional Art and Introduction to Art classes created Mardi Gras masks to help decorate for the IWA Auction this year. The students viewed a power point slideshow featuring masks from Mardi Gras and Carnival in Venice for inspiration to create their own mask designs. (see pictures below)

They used traditional Mardi Gras paint colors to paint original designs on paper maché masks and then used paper, lace, feathers, pipe cleaners, sequins, and gems to add interest and sparkle to their masks. Students learned to design on a 2-dimensional surface and bring the design to life as a 3-dimensional mask. The girls did a fabulous job using their creativity; each of the 64 masks created by the IWA art students is a one-of-a-kind work of art! The masks will be displayed in the centerpieces on the tables at the Auction on March 29th.

Story by Michele Stokes, Art Department

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Deb Rothweiler Receives MSHSAA Distinguished Service Award

On March 22, 2014, IWA faculty member Deb Rothweiler received the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). The award was presented at halftime during the IWA vs. Dexter state championship game in Columbia, MO. (see photos below)

Ms. Rothweiler received this award for her lifelong contributions to the ideals of interscholastic activities. She has been involved with Spirit Teams since 1974, when she became the cheer coach at Ursuline Academy. In 1981, she became the head coach at Incarnate Word Academy. In addition to coaching varsity and junior varsity cheerleading at IWA, she assumed responsibility for the Knightline for ten years during the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

Ms. Rothweiler has also served MSHSAA in various capacities. For nearly 20 years, she has served as a Spirit Rules Interpreter in the areas of dance and cheer. She was a member of the Show-Me Leadership Committee for five years. She was also the St. Louis regional representative on the MSHSAA Cheer Advisory Board for 8 years. In addition, Ms. Rothweiler has been actively involved with the Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association (MCCA).

Congratulations, Deb! The entire IWA Family salutes you!

Story by IWA Communications 

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Incarnate Word Academy Captures Back-to-Back State Titles!

IWA fans filled the stands in Columbia to cheer their beloved Red Knights on to victory! This support helped push Incarnate Word Academy past Dexter in the Class 4 girls state championship Saturday, March 22nd. The final score was 60-43.

The win elevated Incarnate Word's record over the past two seasons to 62-1 and gave the team its sixth title in school history, including four in the past five years. Please see the slideshow below to get a feeling for the level of excitement that pervaded the arena this past weekend:

If you are having trouble viewing the slideshow, please click HERE

Story by IWA Communications

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IWA's Production of "Beauty and the Beast" Delights Audiences

It was a “tale as old as time” at Incarnate Word Academy as our theater department prepared for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.  All throughout the school, there were titters of anxious excitement.  Students and faculty were heard planning which day they would attend the show. A theater etiquette talk was given to prepare the students to be good audience members and respectful to the cast and crew.  The smell of wood, paint, hairspray, and makeup pervaded the theater. Performers were anxiously drinking water and tea and taking cough drops in hopes of avoiding late-winter sickness that always seems to hit just before a show.  Tickets were sold, and two grade school matinees and a drama camp were booked.  Actresses pulled themselves through long days of school and remained at IWA long into the night preparing for what many considered to be one of the best IWA shows in recent years.

And then… Tech Week arrived! In theater terms, Tech Week is the week leading up to the show where the actors practice long hours to perfect what they have been working on for the last 2-3 months.  Cast, crew, and directors all stay at school until around 10:30pm or later.  The light and sound crews add effects to the show, and the actors finally wear their costumes, wigs, makeup, and hair accessories for the first time. The stage crew practices moving the set, and the band works with the cast for several days in order to prepare for the show.  Tech Week is when the production that the audience sees comes together for the very first time.  It is a long, sometimes tedious process that makes the show audience-ready.

Beauty and the beast

If you are having trouble viewing the slideshow, please click HERE.

The experience was memorable for the entire cast.  Putting on a Disney show is no small feat - especially when the production needs to have that special touch of “Disney Magic.”   Everyone has an idea of what it ought to look like in their heads long before it is performed. Besides all the work the cast and crew put into making this show a success, many other people from inside and outside the IWA community helped put this show together.  Parents got involved in our theater department by volunteering to build the imposing castle structure that was stable enough to walk, dance, and act on.  Each Saturday morning for several hours, parents of IWA students helped construct and paint the set for the show.  Parent members of the Fine Arts Booster Club (FAB) volunteered to sell tickets, flowers, candy and water, and ‘brava’ cards (small letters to the cast members from family and friends) during the show.  The show featured a live band directed by music teacher Paul Aubuchon, and college student Jeff from Webster University created spectacular lighting.  The best thing about Incarnate Word Academy’s theater program is how involved everyone gets when show time rolls around!

It was a long road…. we auditioned for our roles in December and began working after school each day for around two hours as soon as classes resumed in January.  The snow days really put the cast members behind, but we made up for it on weekends and holidays to ensure that this show was the best it could be. Senior Lauren Arens, who played Babette (the French-maid-turned-feather-duster), remarked, “Although it was a really stressful time for us [cast and crew], at the same time it was great because we were with some of our best friends, and got to do a great show. The memories afterward are some that will never be forgotten.” 

Story By Maria Meluso, Class of 2015 

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IWA Alumna publishes her first Novel

“Learning to Swim,” the first novel by Annie Cosby, '07, has been reviewed in the USA Today book section. According to the reviewer, “this (young adult) novel seems to give a shout-out to some of the heroines from 1980's John Hughes-type movies through [protagonist] Cora's angst-ridden life of privilege, but with the added intrigue of Irish sea lore that may just be true.”

The novel is the first in a three-part young adult series titled “Hearts Out of Water.” “Learning to Live,” the second book in the series, will be available later this year. Click HERE to read the USA Today review. (The novel has been ordered for the IWA library!).

For more information about Annie, an author and editor who splits her time between St. Louis and Galway, Ireland click HERE. (“Learning to Swim,” is available in ebook formats on Kindle, Nook and Kobo and in paperback at Amazon.com)

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Kairos Retreat #25

Kairos (from Greek kairos, adapted to mean "the Lord's time") is a Catholic retreat program for high school students. Incarnate Word Academy participates in the Kairos retreat program. The retreat focuses mostly on helping a student find her own personal relationship with God during a few days of discerning and discovery. Through the course of the retreat, a strong sense of community is formed.

Most recently, IWA students attended Kairos #25.There were 45 seniors, 6 juniors, 6 senior leaders and 6 adult leaders who attended the retreat at King’s House on Feb. 12-14, 2014.  They had time to reflect on their relationship with God and with others, and got to know themselves  better.  The girls had an amazing time as they shared their stories and goals with others in the class as they laughed and cried together.  It is a powerful retreat that the girls really enjoyed as they now “Live the Fourth Day”

Please see a few pictures from the retreat shown below:

Story and Photos by Geri Pitti, IWA Campus Minister

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February Mission Models are Announced!

The Mission Models for February 2014 were announced at the Ash Wednesday Prayer Service. The “Mission Model” recognition program was initiated by the Mission Committee in 2008. Each month, a student from each grade level and a faculty or staff member is chosen as a Mission Model because they have demonstrated IWA’s Mission and Core Beliefs in particular ways. For instance, they may be kind, compassionate, friendly, reach out to others, work behind the scenes, or try to make life better.  Any member of the IWA community may nominate a candidate by telling a member of the Mission Committee and specifying reasons for the recognition. The latest IWA Mission Models are shown below along with a brief excerpt from their nomination:

Story by Sr. Eileen O'Keeffe, CCVI, photos by Geri Pitti