A Courageous Choice for the Future

Elections, Adventures, and Winnings

2012-05-08T13:02:00.002-07:00

Team of Freshmen during their scavenger hunt.
They're keeping their hearts in San Francisco!

ICA Spartans have been busy the last few weeks! Here are some stories of their activities.

Mini-Courses

On April 26 and 27, students participated in mini-courses where they could choose from a catalog of extra-curricular classes to enjoy. On Thursday, April 26, the Freshmen class participated in a scavenger hunt across the city, documenting through journey through photos posted on Facebook! Check them out here: http://www.facebook.com/ICACristoRey

Sophomores through Seniors were able to choose from a variety of options on that Friday, including rock climbing, yoga, sewing, dancing, and several city tours.

Students a Mission Cliffs Climbing Gym.

Students during the yoga mini course.

Competitions

On Saturday, April 28, several ICAstudents participated in the final rounds of two competitions. The first was Technovation, a competition where students developed Android Apps. On that Saturday, student teams presented their concepts to a panel of judges from venture capital firms. The winners would get to work alongside a venture capital firm to fully build the app eventually selling it on the Android Marketplace. One Spartan team took third place. Great effort ladies!

The second event that Saturday was the final round of Engineers Alliance for the Arts, an annual bridge building competition. Students presented their bridge concepts at the PG&E Auditorium to a panel of engineers. They tested each bridge design with bricks to show stability and structure.

One team took first place for the Japan scenario and won Best Overall! Their bridge will be displaced at the 75^th Anniversary of the Gold Gate Bridge! Another team took second place for the America's Cup scenario. Great job ladies!!

First Place for Japan scenario and Best Overall.

Second Place for America's Cup scenario.

Elections

Last week was Spartan Week on campus, where each day students dressed according to Spartan Spirit concepts: blue and white day, class colors day, etc. Additionally, students campaigned to hold office in student government next year. During an assembly, campaigning students answered questions about how they would lead the school. Questions included: How do you represent the ideal Spartan Student? How would you incorporate all classes into school spirit activities? How would you prioritize the workload?

All the students answered each question with poise. It’s going to be a tough race!

Election Debate

A Visit from Santa Clara Students

2012-03-29T10:56:00.007-07:00

ICA had a visit Tuesday from 11 Santa Clara undergraduate students. Over their spring break, these students have decided to skip the beach and participate in an immersion program. Through the immersion program, the students volunteered with the St. Vincent de Paul Society for five days and spent time learning about the community services available throughout San Francisco. As a part of this program, they spent two hours on campus learning about ICA.

The day started with Sister Diane sharing the background of the school. She highlighted the 129 year history of ICA in the Dominican tradition as well as three years of the Cristo Rey Network Program.

Francesca Mallegni, Guidance Director, talked about the college-bound nature of every student including the 100% college acceptance rate of graduating classes in recent memory.

Courtney Philbin, Assistant Director of CWSP, spoke about the Corporate Work Study Program. Brian Cuadra, Admissions Recruiter, explained the ways we are spreading the word about ICA to potential students. Three current ICA students also shared their experiences balancing work, sports, classes and clubs.

Elizabeth Garvin, Assistant Director of Development, a graduate of Santa Clara, helped arrange the visit. When recalling the time she said, “We were very happy to be involved with this Santa Clara immersion trip and give them an inside look at ICA. It was interesting to hear the college students compare our unique program to their recent high school experience. We hope to welcome more Santa Clara Broncos to ICA in the future.”

A big “thank you” and “welcome” goes out to the Santa Clara students who joined us! And a reminder to all friends of ICA that tours of the school can be arranged for you as well. Feel free to send us a note to set it up or stop by when you are in the neighborhood!

What a Difference an Experience Makes! The School Accreditation Process

2012-03-21T11:44:00.003-07:00

Immaculate Conception Academy is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as by the Western Catholic Education Association. Recently, a team of qualified educators visited ICA for three days communicating with our Board of Directors, Administration, faculty and staff, parents and students. The focus of their visit was to verify that in fact ICA was living our mission. We were blessed with an excellent team who understood our mission to educate young women for college and a life of faith, integrity and service. The visiting team supported our action plan and offered meaningful recommendations for our ongoing growth and improvement.

A special delight was the team being so impressed with our students and commenting on their poise in communication, their love of our school, their commitment to college, their value for the corporate work study program and their faith in action through service. Parents spoke of how enthused they are with the school for their daughters and the emphasis placed on a rigorous academic program within a curriculum that offers meaningful work experience. Their hearts are filled with gratitude for the learning experiences offered to their daughters.

This was also a time to commend the work of our entire faculty and staff for all they give to the education of our students. There is a wonderful blend of experienced and younger teachers and staff who bring focused enthusiasm to their teaching and school-wide service. It was particularly rewarding for everyone to be applauded for their contribution to the learning environment. Students had mentioned how approachable teachers and staff are in their willingness to assist them in any way.

The accreditation process is a great deal of work and this experience makes it worth the many hours of preparation and planning. The insights of the visiting team colleagues and their hours of service in participating in the accreditation process is appreciated and valued. The mission of ICA is alive and well with a vision to the future for our students and their families.

-Sister Diane, President

*Note: The photo above was taking during a recent Human Rights Awareness Assembly.

Unsung Heroes: Judit Abarca, Spanish Teacher

2012-03-16T10:58:00.004-07:00

ICA has been blessed with many alumnae returning to ICA to “pay it forward,” offering their experience and talents with the next generation of Spartans. One of those returning alumna is Judit Abarca. We’re pleased to share a bit of Judit’s story here.

Judit was sponsored to attend ICA as a Freshman in August of 2003, but the donor fell through on their commitment. This left a heavy burden on Judit’s family but her dad and family made a lot of sacrifices and were eventually able to pay the tuition to keep Judit in school.

Judit was shy when she started at ICA but she really connected with the community. She remembers Ms. Hoffman teaching English and Coach Sideco teaching second semester health her freshman year.

Judit’s freshman year at ICA was very transformative. She had very encouraging teachers who saw her potential. They encouraged her to stretch herself and grow personally. As a result she ran for class officer her sophomore year and won.

By the encouragement of these teachers she ended up taking honors classes and received good grades. This was a change from prior years when her grades were often lower than average. She also became a member of the BLOCK Honors Society, Campus Ministry, and ASB

Judit committed to herself when graduating from ICA that she would complete college in four years, something she knew many people struggled with. She received her BS in History with a minor in Spanish. She’s currently planning on pursuing a master’s degree in history as well.

Now she is at ICA as a teacher. She says it was a pleasant shock to work with her former teachers, people who are now her colleagues. Judit loves teaching alongside them because of the satisfaction she receives knowing they are making a difference together.

When Judit teaches about Spanish cultures and many of the struggles faced in other countries, she hopes her students will appreciate the blessings they have living in the United States. She also wants students to recognize the sacrifices made by the students’ family members to improve their lives.

Judit loves being a part of the positive transformation she sees in students attending ICA. She is helping create a culture with strong community where students respect each other and are active about building a successful future.

Thank you, Judit, for the difference you are making in the lives of ICA students!

Future Technology Leaders at ICA

2012-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

You may have already heard that several ICA students are involved this year in something very exciting. Students are participating in the Technovation Challenge in which teams of four girls develop an Android app related to education.

This challenge is sponsored by a variety of technology companies and volunteers in the Bay Area. Participating ICA students are supervised by teachers Gigi Torres and Eloisa Mills.

Every Monday these students head downtown to meet in Microsoft’s SF office to hear from leaders in the industry talk about what it means to run a tech start-up.

On Monday, the students heard from Jory Des Jardins, Co-Founder of BlogHer. Jory shared how her company got started, the work it takes to run a company, and the importance of women being involved in technology.

Students are meeting regularly at school during lunch and break to develop their apps as a team. You can see photos in which they drawing their ideas and working through concepts together.

Recently, students had the opportunity to share about their apps during a training session at school. They have developed very practical app ideas from medical symptom trackers to how to help people improve their moods!

The entire program is ten weeks long and they have four weeks to go. We’ll keep you updated on their progress!

(Read our press release on the challenge here.)

Unsung Heroes: Mary Cerutti, Assistant Principal

2012-02-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of the things most important for young people for their development is consistency. Mary Cerutti is consistency embodied for students at ICA. Mary has been available to encourage, teach, and inspire students at ICA since 1981.

Mary teaches AP English to seniors and Honors American Literature to juniors. Why did she decide to pursue a career in this you might ask? She loves reading, books, and writing. “Why not do it for a living?” she said.

“I don’t necessarily love teaching punctuation,” Mary noted, “but I do love teaching classic literature to students who are learning it for the first time.” Mary loves seeing the revelations students have when they see human nature revealed in characters like Hamlet or Sula.

Mary has a soft spot in her heart for high schoolers. While she doesn’t think high school years are the "best of people's lives," as some would say, she does think it’s the time when people open up to the grown up world and start to see themselves as adults. Mary values being around for that process, helping young women understand themselves and their world during such crucial years.

Why ICA? “Despite the corny sound, it’s a very loving community. High school can be tough, but here students care about each other, especially after they've been here for a year or two,” Mary said honestly. “ICA really helps shape students into caring, compassionate people.”

Reflecting on the change the Cristo Rey program has brought to ICA, Mary said, “The work component exceeded my wildest expectations. I knew it would be good for the girls, but it’s been better than I anticipated.”

Whether you know Mary from attending ICA, having your daughter attend, or through another connection with the school, what you might not know about Mary, is her cat has a blog! You can check it out at spittyspeaks.blogspot.com!

Thank you, Mary, for your great work and consistent efforts at ICA! You are appreciated!

Women's Business Luncheon: EDUCATE | EXPERIENCE | EMPOWER

2012-02-15T16:59:00.008-08:00

Thank you to everyone who supported the Women's Business Luncheon! It was a great and sold-out event. We hope you enjoy the photos below!

Using Classroom Time Effectively

2012-02-15T10:43:00.000-08:00

At ICA, we often hear questions about how we can deliver an entire year of curriculum when students are at work five days each month as part of the Cristo Rey work study program. We do pay careful attention to a standard number of semester minutes per course and the length of the school day makes it possible for us to deliver high quality curriculum in the classroom. Most importantly, the teaching faculty at ICA is committed to using a number of research-proven highly effective teaching strategies so that we are making the best use of classroom time. These strategies include posting clear learning objectives every day in every classroom, activating student learning, looking for active participation from all students and providing frequent checks for understanding, and asking students to summarize their learning.

A recent study from The Center for Public Education suggests that the amount of time spent in the classroom is not key to student learning, but rather, the quality of instructional time is what’s important. A misconception is that time in U.S. classrooms is less than that in other countries, but this study shows that though school years may be longer elsewhere, actual hours in the classroom are comparable.

At ICA, we see student learning as central to everything we do and, as we aim to assure college readiness for all of our students, we know we need to use classroom time wisely. One measure of our success is that year after year, 100% of our students gain acceptance to college!

You can read the full study (“Time in School: How Does the U.S. Compare” by Jim Hull and Mandy Newport, The Center for Public Education, December 2011) here.

Founder's Assembly

2012-02-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

Today we honored the anniversary of Mother Maria Pia Backes' death. Every year, ICA has the Founder's Assembly in remembrance of her.

Students were able to hear about Mother Pia's journey from Germany, to New York, and eventually to San Francisco, where she founded the school in 1883. Mother Pia believed strongly that women should be educated, hence her life-long dedication to the cause. Years later, hundreds of young women are still receiving a Catholic college preparatory education as a result.

To test your trivia knowledge, try answering these two questions we asked the students during the assembly:

1. How much did Mother Pia pay for the property on Guerrero St. where ICA now stands?

a. $35,000

b. $3,500,000

c. She won it in the first state lottery

d. $3,000

2. How many students did Mother Pia work with the first day of school?

a. 4,000

b. 400, but 350 of them were puppies

c. 40

d. 4

Answers:

1. d

2. c

After students heard Mother Pia's story, the classes had a brief trivia competition. You can see the photos below!

Dominican Blessing

2012-01-19T11:23:00.000-08:00

Immaculate Conception Academy is proud to be a Dominican school offering quality college preparatory education for 128 years.

The students, being aware of Dominican spirituality, daily pray this prayer for ICA students, families, benefactors, alumnae, sponsors and all those in need.

Saint Dominic was well-known for his joyful presence, his social conscience, his preaching of Truth and love of others.

In their daily living, our young women strive to follow this example.

May God Creator, bless us

May God Redeemer, heal us

May God the Holy Spirit, fill us with light.

With Blessings,

Sister Diane Aruda, O.P.

President

ICA’s Unsung Heroes: Max Straube, Director of Corporate Work Study Program

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Anyone connected with ICA knows there is something very special about it. Not only does it have history, tradition, and passion for helping the young women of San Francisco’s Mission District and beyond but it also incorporates a Corporate Work Study Program. There are a number of people who make the program what it is, one of which is the program director, Max Straube.

Before joining ICA, Max was entering an era his wife calls his “second half” (he was 45 at the time). Claire, Max’s wife, encouraged him to take some time to refocus and use his energy and experience on something with more personal meaning and merit. While this thought process led him to consider a wide range of possibilities, including conservancy efforts in Montana, he ultimately decided to pursue the position for CBFO at ICA. His background working with startups was a perfect fit for a school starting a Cristo Rey work study program, and he valued the opportunity to work with high school students, helping them to succeed.

When Max thinks about his time at ICA, what he enjoys most is working with the students. He values the opportunity to work alongside students who are perhaps struggling with the work-school balance. He encourages them along the way and delights when it clicks for the students and they really start to thrive. He can remember several students at risk of not meeting the work study requirements who eventually excelled in their jobs and at school. Sending them off in the morning wearing their uniforms, knowing they’re accomplishing something and that they belong to the ICA community, is a wonderful thing.

A Typical Day

A typical day for Max starts with student check in and departure for work. This is really the nuts and bolts of the program. It demonstrates preparedness on the part of the students.

Max deals with a lot of issues throughout the day, whether it’s student absences and other workplace issues or parental concerns. He manages maintaining sponsor relationships, answering questions, and helping sponsors sign up for the next year. Max also manages new sponsor prospecting, forming relationships and encouraging new businesses to sign on to the program.

Memorable Moments

Some of the most memorable moments for Max are when students get summer employment offers directly through the companies they worked for during the year. This is tangible evidence of the program’s training, students’ initiative, and their work ethic. These offers show how much the company appreciates the students as employees. Last summer 25 ICA students were hired directly by companies for summer employment.

Also memorable are conversations and letters of thanks from students and families who receive financial assistance from ICA. Many families would not be able to have their daughters attend because of the financial strains they face. When they receive financial assistance and realize that this type college preparatory education is available to them, many are overwhelmed with gratitude. Max particularly values these experiences and even saves some ‘thank you’ letters from students and families as a reminder of his purpose at ICA.

Words of Advice

If Max could give all ICA students one bit of advice, he would say “seize the opportunity.” He realizes ICA students do a lot of work. They go through four years of tough college prep work, and work a quarter of a full-time job. But at the end, each student will be in a position enviable by other high school graduates - prepared for and accepted into college, with four years of corporate clerical work experience that they can list on the resumes.

Fun Fact

If Max could have dinner with any person, past or present, who would he choose? “Easy! Thomas Jefferson! He built the United States into a coast-to-coast nation with a passion for discovery.” This passion for unreached areas is not dissimilar, in Max’s mind, to Mother Maria Pia Backes, and the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, launching into new territory, eventually founding Immaculate Conception Academy in 1883.

Thank you, Max, for your great work at ICA!

Fireball Experiment

2012-01-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

How would you like to hold fire? What if you knew you wouldn't get burned?

For the last class before winter break, the Conceptual Chemistry students got to hold fire! Natural gas was trapped in soap bubbles. As each student dipped their hands in the water, Ms. Manes would ask why the water protected her hands. The answer was: It is inflammable and it has a high specific heat. That means the water forms a layer on your skin that is NOT burning, and it absorbs a lot of energy before it gets very warm.

The students held the suds while they were lit on fire, creating a spectacular fireball, lots of excitement, and no injuries.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-16T15:47:00.000-08:00

Today was the last day for students before the went off on Christmas Break. After a nice prayer service they said their goodbyes and headed for home. Visit our YouTube channel for a Christmas Video from all Cristo Rey schools: http://www.youtube.com/user/icacristorey

Merry Christmas!

ICA's Unsung Heroes: An Interview with Principal Graham

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

Here at Immaculate Conception Academy there are many unsung heroes. Faculty and staff commit so much of their daily lives to benefiting the students, and not all of these actions are visible to the larger community. Because of this, we will be starting a blog series on ICA's Unsung Heroes, to highlight those individuals. We want to recognize them for their good work so that the students, families, and community as a whole, can be blessed by the their service!

For our first post recognizing ICA's Unsung Heroes, we interviewed Mrs. Lisa Graham, ICA's Principal.

What were you doing before ICA?

Before I came to ICA, I was Head of School at Sterne School, a small independent school in San Francisco.

What originally drew you to ICA?

I had long known ICA as a nurturing community and I welcomed the chance to work in a faith-based setting. The Cristo Rey mission was exciting too: I see the Cristo Rey model as a brave experiment in what urban education can be.

What are some of the benefits of an ICA education that are most important to you?

The outstanding benefit of an ICA education is that it is Dominican, concerned with nurturing growth of the whole person. Students not only have the opportunity to take challenging college prep coursework, but also, they are given the chance to grow spiritually and in their sense of community. The size of the school means many leadership opportunities. There is wonderful tolerance and friendship demonstrated every day and experiencing these gifts is meaningful education. Finally, I appreciate that students at many levels of ability can find success here because of the care and support of every adult at ICA.

What is it like being the Principal? What does a typical day look like?

It is a privilege to be the Principal at ICA and I am grateful to be leading such a strong team of teachers and such dedicated staff. The transition to the Cristo Rey model has presented challenges but great opportunities as we renew our focus on students and our mission. I’m sorry to report that a typical day is twelve hours – the best parts of that in contact with students and seeing learning happening in the classroom. I also enjoy the positive partnerships we have with so many caring parents: I’m grateful they have chosen ICA for their daughters!

What is one of the most memorable moments from your time here?

ICA graduations are wonderful and entirely memorable. Class Day is also really moving. Both events underscore for me how much growth happens in these high school years.

If you had one piece of advice for current ICA students, what would it be?

Take advantage of your time here!

Thank you, Principal Graham, for all of your work!

ThanksGIVING at ICA

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

In the busyness of life, it is easy to both forget to give thanks for the gifts God has given us, and even to remember what the gifts are! Our human nature has a tendency to make us focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do.

This year, during the Thanksgiving season, ICA is focused on remembering the simplest and yet most essential of gifts…clean water. In the populous American city of San Francisco, it’s easy to forget that many people around the world struggle with finding clean water, a requirement for survival.

But ICA is not only remembering what we have here in America, we are also committed to helping provide that basic life necessity to those outside the United States who do not have it.

There has been an ongoing drought in Kenya. The town of Kisumu has been hit particularly hard by this drought. The only well available in the area has run dry. Along with all Kisumu residents, there is a Dominican school in Kisumu, Our Lady of Grace, which is struggling through this drought because of their lack of a functioning well.

ICA has been touched by this great need. Through the logistical support of Living Waters International, ICA is partnering with other Dominican high schools across the United States to raise $50,000 in order to dig a well in Kisumu, Kenya.

ICA is kicking off this campaign on November 21st and it will end during the Human Rights Awareness Week in March. No single school has the ability raise the amount needed, which is why several Dominican high schools are working together to meet the goal.

On November 21^st at Morning Meeting the campaign will be announced to ICA students and the campaign will begin. On November 22^nd at the Thanksgiving Prayer Service, a special skit about water usage will be performed, and a collection will be taken for the campaign.

ICA and Our Lady of Grace would appreciate your prayers that the goal of $50,000 is reached, clean water is provided to the residents of Kisumu, Kenya, and that the drought would end quickly. For more information about the campaign, you can contact Stefani Roybal at sroybal@icacademy.org.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.com/JohnKay

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

Last Friday the students at ICA had a Halloween Assembly where they were able to display their Halloween costumes and accrue spirit points. The students were all very excited to participate! Games such as "Wrap your Mummy," "Pass the Pumpkin" and more were played.

Pass the Pumpkin (similar to Hot Potato) was played with mini pumpkins. Two students per class started off until only one was left!

Wrap Your Mummy entailed a student wrapping her classmate up like a mummy with toilet paper. The "mummy" would then run the length of the auditorium and back. The first class finished was the winner!

Another game, “Pie a la Coach” involved tossing whipped cream filled balloons at teachers representing each class. Principle Graham, Mrs. O'Kane, Mr. Leach, and Mrs. Cottrell, were the subjects and were covered with cream by the end!

And with Halloween coming to a close, the results of the annual Door Decorating Contest have been tallied. Classroom doors have been decorated the past week for this event. Judges made their determinations based on the criteria of craftsmanship, creativity, and theme. The themes were, Freshman: Ghosts; Sophomores: Zombies; Juniors: Werewolves; Seniors: Vampires.

And the winner is….it’s a tie between the Freshmen and the Sophomores! Congrats Ladies!

Graduating Seniors at Immaculate Conception Academy Earn $1.9M in College Scholarships

2011-10-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Graduating Seniors at Immaculate Conception Academy Earn $1.9M in College Scholarships

We have been so excited about the success of our students and we have reason to be! At On-Site Admissions Day this month, there were 92 acceptance letters given, including a total of $1.9M in scholarships. ICA students work so hard and their success is paying off. Check out the press release at the link above to get the scoop.

Interview with Mary Lawson, ICA Gala Chair

2011-10-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Mary Lawson is a Chairperson for the ICA Gala Committee, along with her husband, George. The committee (shown in the picture to the right, Mary is in the front row on the left in green) has been meeting about once a month for the past six months, spending a lot of time planning the event. With all the effort that goes into the event, we wondered, what makes Mary Lawson get excited about ICA, and willing to invest so much time and energy? The following interview will help explain.

What made you decide to volunteer with ICA?

I first learned of the ICA/Cristo Rey program through our family matriarch, Jeanie. Her brother in law, Dick Jonsen, met Mary Francis Callan, ICA Board Member, at a Santa Clara Board of Regents meeting. Mary Francis extolled the virtues of the new work/study emphasis at ICA to Dick and he encouraged Jeanie to get involved. Through Jeanie’s leadership, enthusiasm and support, we now have a Gala committee that is 18 members strong! George and I are pleased to be able to see the Gala come to fruition for a second year!

What do you tell people about ICA…

Knowing that the ICA graduate will have four years of corporate work experience on her college application is incredibly exciting! This real life experience, coupled with four years of Dominican inspired education, insures that the ICA student will standout in the crowd of college applicants. ICA has been serving the young women of the Mission District since 1883. Thus, these auspicious San Francisco roots now have a 21^st century outlook. The ICA/Cristo Rey education provides these young women with a spring board to the future!

Why does ICA put on this Gala?

The Gala over the last 4 years has proved to have two distinct components. The first is a fundraising opportunity which supplements the annual budget for this work/study program. Last year we raised $200,000 to aide in covering the cost of transporting the students to the front door of their jobs: to help cover the cost of uniforms; and to enhance the budget when a non-profit employs students but cannot afford the cost of a team. Secondly, the Gala is the perfect venue to garner interest in and to educate our community about ICA and how it benefits the young women in San Francisco’s inner city. Each year we feel blessed as we see our volunteer commitments flourish, our gala attendance surge and our donations escalate.

What has been the most challenging part of planning the GALA?

With the fledgling ICA/Cristo Rey program only going into its 4th year, it has been a challenge to educate donors while requesting a contribution or attendance! Spreading the word about this innovative work/study model is vital to our success, now and in the future. This calling is also the greatest joy since expounding about the benefits of “Education that Works” is so easy to do!

What do you enjoy most about planning the Gala?

Working with a talented, inspirational and creative group of women, both on the committee and on the ICA staff, has been a great joy. Our committee grows with each year and the energy and devotion does as well. We have a great time, we laugh, we work hard and we are all committed to helping make the ICA/Cristo Rey model successful. Planning and executing the Gala is a labor of love for all and the excitement is building with only 16 more days to go until we unveil the 2011 event!

To come to the Gala or not?..

You are invited to join us as we celebrate the new direction of ICA and the continued good works of the Dominican Sisters and the Jesuit based Cristo Rey program. Come directly from work, have a drink, catch up with friends, enjoy a delectable meal and prepare to be inspired! This year we are thrilled to have the elegant Palace Hotel as our venue. The Palace Hotel and Immaculate Conception Academy share the same sense of history and purpose with the city by the bay since the late 1800’s. Both establishments have been renewed and updated recently and are ready to go bravely into the future. ..better that ever!

The auction committee has garnered some fabulous items! Our website..www.icacademy.org..will give you all the highlights to whet your appetite! We have an amazing raffle, too! If you cannot attend, you can support our cause by donating online as well. The evening’s program is heartfelt and insightful and will leave you marveling about the work/study high school model. We hope to see you there!

Another Productive Summer Experience

2011-09-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

This summer I worked for Academy of Art University in their Financial Aid Department. It was a really great experience for me. I was excited to get the call when they offered me a job. I was very happy with the fact that I would be earning my own money. I also got the chance to work with one of my close friends at my work site, which made things even better!

Working during the summer was different than working during the school year, which was what I was used to. I wore the “casual” work attire, and I looked forward to waking up in the morning, knowing I was needed at work.

I liked how work kept me busy during the summer because I like being productive and doing something with my life. I learned how a fraction of my pay check would go to pay for transportation to and from work and on lunch, etc. I never realized how all my little expenses added up to be so much. So in turn, I learned to budget my money better.

All in all, working over the summer gave me more experience at the work site and initiative to do something productive with my life. I feel very lucky to have been given this opportunity that most people don’t get due to the status of our economy. Overall, working was definitely one of the highlights of my summer. I’m considering working again next summer just to get the benefit of knowing I’m helping out and making difference with my life.

Bethany

A Student's Summer Work Experience

2011-09-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

As a freshman, I started working at Academy of Art University absolutely clueless. I hoped to not make my presence known to everyone at the job site. I didn’t want to be pointed out at, have to deal with getting scolded at if I ever messed up, or get interrogated by other workers. I began doing simple tasks such as filing, shredding papers, sending and receiving returned mail and making packets. Eventually, I began to interact more with my co-workers and my confidence grew. At that time, my only goal was to “stay consistent,” only because I wanted them to “like me” and possibly “keep me for another year.” I didn’t want to go through that phase of awkwardness again. Little did I know, I would be at that very work site, three years later.

This summer I was given the opportunity to work at Academy of Art University. My supervisor gave me a tremendously flexible schedule, but I had to work a minimum of twenty hours. I worked three days a week for seven hours. I fluctuated between two departments: Financial Aid and Accounts Receivable. I went back and forth between the two departments, whenever one needed help or if I finished tasks early.

Because of the trust relationship I’ve developed between my co-workers and supervisors, my span of skills gradually increased. I went from shredding and filing to now filling out interoffice correspondence envelopes, working with the online data-base system, checking students’ attendance, dropping financial aid, making Excel spreadsheets, logging invoices and payments, keeping track of voucher numbers and much more. Each time I learned something new, I felt like I was getting closer to their “actual” job.

This summer was a valuable learning experience. It is one thing to like your job, but when you get along well with the people around you, that’s even better! I learned that “money doesn't grow on trees” and how hard it is to truly be successful.

I’m definitely looking forward to another year working here.

Jassmine

ICA Cristo Rey Students Receive Award for Sportsmanship

2011-09-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

For a second consecutive year ICA Cristo Rey Spartans were recognized for their character on and off the court.

On September 7^th, 2011, at the Central Coast Section Administration Workshop, ICA Cristo Rey Spartans were awarded the CCS Sportsmanship Citation, an award recognizing schools who followed sportsmanship guidelines, were positive team players throughout the season, and avoided any incidents of misconduct. This was ICA’s second consecutive year receiving the award.

Athletic Director Carolyn Sideco said that the award recognized all the hard work and intentional positive behavior the girls had exemplified throughout the school year. She continued saying character and values were reinforced to the girls throughout practices and games. “It’s very important to the teammates that they represent not only themselves, but the larger ICA community, in a positive way. The award is a validation of their hard work.”

You can learn more about ICA’s sports programs on their new website at http://icacademy.org/index.php/student-life/athletics.

Upcoming Games:

(Away) ICA vs. Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto; 4:30pm (Jr. Var.) & 5:45pm (Var).; Thursday, September 13^th.

(Home) ICA vs. Crystal Springs Uplands; 4:45pm (Jr. Var) & 6:00pm (Var); Thursday September 15^th.

NEW PRESIDENT…FIRST IMPRESSIONS

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

A warm and loving atmosphere permeates the halls of ICA. Students are excited to see one another as the school has come alive with their presence, smiles and hugs. Faculty and staff have been working diligently to welcome the new school year. We enjoyed a spiritual retreat day and planning work day before students arrived. How fortunate we are to serve together in this wonderful endeavor of education through the Cristo Rey model.

This week we are sending students off to their work sites with pride and enthusiasm. We have shared with them the feedback from their corporate sponsors who attended the orientation evening last week. Existing sponsors are looking forward with joy to have students return to their companies. New sponsors were excited to hear the stories of experienced sponsors regarding how they worked with the students. They were interested in the types of mentoring students have received, and were enthused about the creativity allowed and supported by companies familiar with our students. Some of their reflections brought tears to our eyes as we listened to their accounts of working with our Lady Spartans! We are so grateful to them for their sponsorship, their enthusiasm, and their desire to support the learning of our students. They understand ICA as a “School That Works!”

I am blessed to be a part of this active, involved learning environment. Our desire is to serve with a full heart and support the Mission of ICA as a Cristo Rey School in the Dominican tradition. We welcome your participation in our school life. Come visit and meet our Lady Spartans, our faculty, and our staff. You will be impressed with their focus on Mission, and their dedication to the growth and development of our students.

128 years of excellence in education and in service surrounds all of us. Today, we all contribute to this legacy. Our God inspires and sustains us in our work. How blessed we are to rise each day supported in this educational ministry in a community of faith!

Come visit and experience the life and energy that is ICA!

Bay Area Corporations Hire ICA Cristo Rey High School Students for the 2011-2012 School Year

2011-08-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

8/25/2011

MEDIA CONTACT:

Katie Mayberry

kmayberry@icacademy.org

415.824.2052 ext 40

Bay Area Corporations Hire ICA Cristo Rey High School Students for the 2011-2012 School Year

Over thirty corporate partners expressed extreme enthusiasm to have ICA students join their staff.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 25, 2011) On August 23rd, over thirty corporate partners representing 25 businesses convened at Immaculate Conception Academy to share their excitement about having students rejoin their staff for the 2011-2012 school year. Each of these businesses will be welcoming teams consisting of one to four students into their offices as entry-level employees next month.

ICA is entering its third year as a member of the nationwide Cristo Rey Network, which incorporates a corporate work program into a traditional high school setting. Sponsors shared how ICA students were responsible for a range of entry level work, from answering phones and filing, to bookkeeping and marketing. Companies like Latham & Watkins shared that they were deeply impressed with the program. Staff from Kaiser Permanente commented on how the adults were learning more from the students in their department than they ever expected. Overall, sponsors repeated how happy they were that the students would be returning to work following their summer break.

The corporate work study program at ICA enables high school young women to finance a majority of their education. 98% of the 2010 graduating class are attending 2 or 4 year colleges as a result of this strong college-prep program.

About ICA

Immaculate Conception Academy, a Catholic secondary school, prepares young women for college and a life of faith, integrity and service. As a Cristo Rey school in the Dominican tradition, we are committed to providing both excellent education and meaningful corporate work study experiences to students of limited financial resources.

About Cristo Rey

The Cristo Rey Network, highlighted in a 60 Minute interview, is comprised of 24 schools nationwide. All Network schools provide students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds with a quality college preparatory education, academic assistance and counseling to prepare students with a broad range of abilities for college. Through participation in the work study component, students finance a majority of the cost of their education, gain real world job experience, grow in self-confidence, and realize the relevance of their education.

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For more information about ICA or Cristo Rey please visit www.icacademy.org or www.cristoreynetwork.org or contact our Director of Development, Patricia Cavagnaro at pcavagnaro@icacademy.org or 415.824.2052 ext. 31.

What makes ME a Spartan?

2011-06-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

**The next few posts featured on the blog will feature Essay winners and finalist's compositions from a Scholarship contest put on by the Parent Guild. Each of the three winners received a $500 scholarship for the next academic year.**

By: Nemesis Contreras - Freshman

Contest winner!!

Some schools are the Dolphins; others are the Eagles, but me I’m a Spartan. What makes me a Spartan? I’ll tell you. I’m a Spartan because I attend Immaculate Conception Academy, but more than that I’m a woman of faith.

I wake up early in the morning and am present at school ready to learn, while other teenagers are at home still sleeping. Working in the Corporate Work Study program also makes me a Spartan; being the only all girls’ school with this program is truly a responsibility to live up to. I’m in an office filing and delivering various and often important documents to departments at the age of fifteen. While others go to school and are thinking about their jobs, I’m out there taking action and gaining experience in a real office at such an early age.

A Spartan goes out and represents her school like a young lady should, with a respectful, classy attitude. I always keep a positive attitude even during the long days at ICA. A school day may sometimes be as long as nine hours, followed by homework, but as a Spartan it’s my responsibility to turn in all assignments and show nothing but the best of effort in my work. Also, making sure if one of my peers needs help I help them, because being a Spartan does not just mean having good grades and being ambitious. It’s being available to hold your hand out if one of your classmates needs it. I take pride in doing my work at school, while helping others whenever they need help, taking the initiative to join a club, speaking for those who don’t have a voice. To be Spartan you must be energetic, for all the rallies and fun activities at ICA. Go Spartans!

What Makes YOU a True Spartan

2011-05-31T15:39:00.000-07:00

What Makes YOU a True Spartan?

By: Feven Berhane - Sophomore

Essay contest winner!!!

Well, I've thought about this question for over one week. But, let me tell you it can't just be written down on paper. It has to be a way of life. As Spartans we have certain responsibilities normal high school students don't have. We also have benefits normal high school students don't have. When I first applied to ICA I didn't really understand all the extra things that came along with the title of being a Spartan. I had to change my complete way of life. I had to grow up extremely quickly.

First things first, my education. I was given eight classes, which was two more than my other public school friends. In the beginning all I wanted to do was complain about how stressed I was trying to keep up with my classes. My first lesson as a Spartan was that as young women we not only have more classes, but we must do well in these classes. Everybody around me did not just let me pass with decent grades but they helped me do my best. In the ICA community I never felt alone. There was so many ways I could get help with my school work; lunch time tutoring, after school tutoring, and even Saturday school. With all these resources I started to excel in my classes. Some of my friends were not doing as well in their classes and that is when I first realized what it meant to be a Spartan. As a Spartan I became a woman of community. I took extra time out of my hectic schedule to help my classmates out.

Second most important thing was work. I couldn't understand how CWSP expected fourteen year old girls to go to work in corporate offices and not mess up completely. That's when I learned the second and third characteristics in being a Spartan. As a Spartan I had to be respectful and hard working. We were already respectful to our teachers and staff members in school so we had to take everything we learned in school and apply it in the real world. I remember multiple tedious jobs that I had to complete and multiple times I just wanted to give up. I learned that the tedious jobs really made an impact in the office. Someone had to complete them and I realized that you have to start at the bottom and earn your way up. I learned at a young age that you have to work hard and never give up to gain people's confidence in you.

Lastly, I learned what I wanted out of my high school experience. As Spartans we have to be ambitious women. We have to have goals that we want to achieve. I'm not saying that we have to know exactly what we want to do with our lives, because that's a lot to ask from a sophomore. What I mean is we have to want something that we are willing to work hard for. We have to be the drivers in our lives instead of the passenger. I have learned so many lessons from attending ICA and it is only my sophomore year. I hope to grow into a great young woman like every other Spartan before me.