Blessed Sacrament Academy Beneficiaries – Together We Can Dance

I like to call beneficiaries to our Blessed Sacrament Academy ministry by another name as well. Whether they contribute time, networking, finances or advice they further our Mission and have become Missionaries in our part of God’s Vineyard.

A generous time donator left me with a delightful story concerning one of her challenges which seems to me to relate to our challenge. “I can learn dance steps half body at a time. I learn the feet and leg movements, then the arm and torso movements and I’m ready to dance. Problem is that I can’t put them together to make my whole-body dance at the same time.” I laugh each time I think of how adept she has been at organizing my office and how puzzled and jerky is her dance.

Our Mission calls us to a ministry which requires us to learn how to reach out in compassion to children vulnerable to the poverty into which they were born. BSA personnel have the head and heart functioning to the Gospel directive of helping those in need. The feet and legs in this dancing comparison need assistance. To provide the education, training, mentoring and networking our children and their families need to move beyond the handicap of believing there is no way out, we ask our BSA Missionaries to assist us with the funding we need, in addition to volunteer time and in-kind resources.

To that effect March 28, 2019, the Big Give SA 24 hours of online giving is on the horizon. We need all of our BSA Missionaries to gather around us and make this one-day event successful in bringing hope to our children through funding needed to extend the hand of care, training, and education. This is an online event. However, our Big Give crew will facilitate other ways of giving. Call 210-532-4731 before or during the Big Give to find out how.

Together we can dance with joy and delight in God’s growing Vineyard. When God is the conductor amazing things happen for us, for you. Please join us in this dance and be amazed at the life of a BSA Missionary. Thank you.

Sister Odilia Korenek, IWBS, CEO

4 Star rating process worth the effort for our children

The Child Development Center, on the campus of Blessed Sacrament Academy, is pleased to announce achieving a 4 Star rating in Texas Rising Star--a rating and improvement system for Texas early childhood programs.

“We decided to overcome these challenges by changing our attitude and implementing other systems. Our equipment was old, and we needed to purchase new equipment and materials. I knew we must improve staff qualifications and morale to stop staff turnover. In addition, we wanted to establish community connections for services our families needed, but we couldn’t offer.” It was determined that a partnership with the administrators was necessary to achieve these improvements.

Regular meetings would establish better communication. It was concluded the best way to achieve our goals was by starting to work very closely with the Texas Rising Star Program (TRS). Since they had recently launched quality guidelines approved by the State. Administrators met with our mentor often, and followed through with her recommendations.

“Here at the Child Development Center, we believe offering the highest quality of services to our children and families, and we are always looking into ways to improve those services,” said Carol Silva, Director. “We had a lot of challenges throughout the years, but always our heart was in the services we should offer. At Blessed Sacrament Academy, when we entered the Texas Rising Star’s new system, we made the decision to start working toward our goal of better quality in the overall program.” Silva added.

One recommendation was to target each Texas Rising Star category individually—one at a time. As the Director, Silva started by improving her knowledge about leadership and management. Learning about systems and program policies implementation, attending directors’ trainings and other professional development opportunities, she enhanced her skills as an administrator. The office management team also took advantage of opportunities to enhance their abilities to grow professionally.

Silva and her team confirmed all changes were worth the effort for the children in their care. “We are willing to take risks to improve program performance and offered quality services for our families. For the past three years we have seen a tremendous growth, we have been able to enhance our program services and quality.

CDC Staff and Management

The TRS mentor provided information to staff and administration about Child Development Associate trainings and conferences to attend. In the last three years, 80% of Blessed Sacrament Academy teachers have obtained their CDA credentials through different TRS opportunities. A teacher resource area/ lounge was created for staff use during breaks to build staff morale. At the present time, Blessed Sacrament Academy has achieved staff stability with very little turnover. Continued meetings with the TRS mentor allowed us to learn how to develop, implement and score lesson plans, which are part of the curriculum category.

Our program has grown by leaps and bounds with the mentorship and tools TRS had provided to our program during that timeframe. It is with the mentoring services, materials/equipment grants, professional development opportunities that our center has grown and evolved into a better program with top quality services and performance for the benefit of our families and children.”

The spirit of generosity flows like a river

As the San Antonio River flows just on the outskirts of the property, an underlying current of generosity runs through the campus of Blessed Sacrament Academy. It’s a generosity born of God’s love and manifested in the Sisters of Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. From their founding of the campus in 1926, and throughout the 93 years since, people have come to the campus both in joy and in need receiving a heartfelt response from the Sisters and those on staff.Blessed Sacrament Academy began as an all-girls high school and continued as such for over 60 years. In the early 1990’s, programs were developed to meet the needs of a changing neighborhood establishing the Child Development Center, Por Vida Academy Charter High School, and Parents' Academy.The history of generosity at BSA can be told thru recalling the many times the campus was used as a refuge—from tragedies of war or natural upheavals, personal or family difficulties.  Throughout the years, the campus community continues to be education-centered, but it's not just about the high school students, children enrolled in the CDC or parents attending the Parents' Academy. The generosity of resources, encouragement, support, and prayers extend to alumni, families, and even strangers who find themselves on campus.Sister Odilia Korenek, CEO of Blessed Sacrament Academy, speaks to recent events which demonstrate the generosity of resources and spirit: “Saturday of the 3^rd week of October was special at Blessed Sacrament Academy. The strong voices of men sounded throughout the convent building. In word and in the song The San Jose ACTS Group prayed and shared in the presence of a very large cross which they brought up the back stairs into our chapel in the early morning. The blessing was palpable.”“On the other side of the driveway” Sr. Odilia continues, "the American Indians of Texas came for a weekend of learning and prayer. Again, we were blessed. This time it was with a traditional fire and smoke ceremony as they moved from building to building giving a blessing dating back hundreds of years. The ancient words of the ancient One to Moses come to mind - “This is Holy Ground”.”Joe Dominguez is a parent of one of our pre-school students and attended Parent's Academy. He and his family are very active on our campus, lending a helping hand any chance they get.  Dominguez visits the chapel every morning with a contagious smile and often says, "Blessed Sacrament Academy is my second home!"We extend an invitation to visit our campus, learn about our programs, join us in extending our mission.

Por Vida Academy--when education matters

When motivated teens realize education matters, Por Vida Academy teachers and staff can create a flexible combination of courses to earn a high school diploma and in preparation for college.As a middle school student, Elizabeth Idar experienced some family and emotional concerns which led to an interruption in her school attendance. After more than a year’s absence, she realized a high school diploma would be a necessary step towards any aspirations she had for her future. Idar began searching for a way to earn that diploma.Idar found that because she dropped out at the middle school level, no district school in San Antonio was willing to work with her—but Por Vida Academy was. “I am so grateful to have found Por Vida Academy,” Idar states. “They allowed me to catch up on my courses and to complete all the classwork necessary to graduate.” In fact, Idar was the Valedictorian of her 2015 class.Interested in continuing her education, Idar enrolled at Palo Alto College and received her Associate’s degree in Applied Sciences from the Cosmetology program. "When the college guidance counselor mentioned the cosmetology program, I tried a few courses," Idar says. “I realized I liked working in beauty services, and was interested in a career in this field." Idar is currently working as a stylist at Super Cuts while continuing to advance her professional experience.While Idar was in school and now on the job, her daughter Isabella has been cared for by the staff at the Child Development Center on the Blessed Sacrament Academy campus.Over the past 23 years, Por Vida Academy Charter High School (PVA) has helped several thousand teens earn a high school diploma and prepare for college. This unique San Antonio charter school located on the campus of Blessed Sacrament Academy specifically and intentionally meets the varying educational and emotional needs of teens on the verge of permanently dropping out of school.For more information about Por Vida Academy Charter High School call Principal Loren Franckowiak  +1 (210) 775-1132

For children, playing outdoors is more than just having fun

Twice daily children attending Child Development Center have the opportunity to play outside in a well-equipped and safe environment. Physical exercise is essential to a child’s development. For almost 30 years, the Child Development Center at Blessed Sacrament Academy has been providing quality, affordable care to children age 6 weeks to 5 years. Director Carol Silva continually improves the program by supporting staff development, enriching curriculums and completing (with staff) the intensive and detailed application for NAEYC accreditation. The program now also includes several Early Head Start classrooms.

• Playing outdoors is a form of exercise that promotes well-being and wholesome physical development.
• Children are naturally drawn to active play outdoors: it allows them to explore their environment, develop muscle strength and coordination, and gain self-confidence.
• Other skills which they can learn more effectively outdoors include throwing and catching, jumping, crawling, swinging and running.
• The outdoors is also a great place for them to learn problem-solving, communication with other children as well as a deeper appreciation and respect for nature and the environment.
• Although outdoor play for children may be more prevalent during summer, spending free time outside can particularly benefit a child’s development when pursued year-round.

Albert Einstein said it best: “Play is the highest form of research”.