ICA Update
A Message from the President
Dear ICA Cristo Rey Community ,
It is with great commitment to and enthusiasm for our mission that , on behalf of the Dominican Sisters and the Board of Directors , we are taking creative steps to enhance our revenue / fundraising efforts .
We are fully committed to the promise of forming young women of faith , learning , community , leadership and vision . Thank you for all you contribute to our mission and for your support as we take this next step and continue our leadership as a community with a vital mission .
We have brought together the Corporate Work Study Program and the Development departments into one team to ensure effective and efficient management of our two main revenue streams , communication with our community and stewardship of our mission . This department is now our Mission Advancement Department . We chose this name for the department to highlight the department ’ s focus on bringing together our community to advance our ICA Cristo Rey ’ s mission together .
We are excited to announce that Tim Szarnicki , who has been the Director of our Corporate Work Study Program for the past four years , now is The Director of our Mission Advancement Department . While leading the Corporate Work Study Program , Tim built a team which ensured a steady increase of jobs to meet the demand of growing enrollment . These past four years saw our enrollment almost double and celebrate our business partnerships increase from 42 to more than 150 . This is a growth of a community of true co-educators and partners in our mission . Additionally , our program is a national leader as one of the three out of thirty Cristo Rey schools that is fully employed and helps to off-set more than 50 % of our costs of education . The CWSP team also built a 4 year curriculum that trains our young women through their four years at ICA Cristo Rey in all of the necessary skills so each of our young ladies is successful in her jobs . The skills she learns during her high school career prepares her for he work experience at ICA Cristo Rey and beyond . With vibrant partnerships and relationships , a quality program that builds skills and a meaningful work experience , and with a bright future ahead we look forward to the next chapter in our program ’ s history . Bill Olinger , who has been a member of the Work Study Program team for the past two years , will succeed Tim in the role of Director of the Work Study Program . Bill brings nearly 20 years of experience working in high schools as a teacher and coach . Bill has great vision that will build on the solid foundation as our Work Study Program enters its eighth year .
During the 2016-17 school year we look to focus on four main initiatives that work to make our program sustainable . We are preparing to invest in a one-to-one program that will outfit all students with Chromebooks . This addition promises to enhance students ’ learning experience and increase digital literacy which will have added benefits in the classroom and in the workplace . We will build our fund that helps to cover the cost of education when our families are unable to pay the full tuition . Our mission is to provide a high quality education because it is a human right and we look forward to ensuring that all have access to this privilege . We look to improve our campus to modernize our facilities as well as accommodate our growing enrollment . We welcome the largest student body to ICA Cristo Rey in more than 50 years and our efforts to create a space where all of our young ladies are comfortable is a priority . And we are excited about expanding our programs that offer experiences for our young ladies to learn creative expression and healthy lifestyles . We have been fortunate to have dedicated community members offer acting classes , ceramics , yoga , Zumba , an acapella group , and backpacking excursions . These opportunities give our young ladies the chance to explore their interest not just at work , but also at play . We want to be sure that we build support and funding for these activities which greatly enrich the lives of our students and our ICA Cristo Rey community . We are fortunate that our Corporate Work Study Program is performing well , but our model requires that we work together and ask for investment because the revenue of the program only covers a little more than half of our operating costs .
I invite you to join me as we embark on the next leg of the journey that invites ICA Cristo Rey to build upon our success by working for its future . We commit to Mission Advancement as a focus because it is what brings us together as one community of rich diversity . We form young women guided by the Dominican pillars of faith , community , learning , and service . These are the young women who will lead our future . This is an exciting mission to be part of and I am so grateful to partner with you . Let us look to the past with gratitude , live the present with passion , and look to the future with hope .
God Bless you ,
Sister Diane Aruda , O . P . President , ICA Cristo Rey
04
Summer 2016