Integral Formation®

Centered upon the sound principles of the Catholic faith, the method of education at Clear Water Academy seeks to educate the whole person, addressing all aspects of the person, and therefore providing an Integral Formation® - intellectual, spiritual, character, and apostolic - helping the student to fulfill the mission for which he was created. Our goal is to provide a superior education and Integral Formation® to produce authentic Christian leaders.

What is Integral Formation®

Integral Formation® is the harmonious development of all dimensions of the human person. In our educational method, we focus on the following four dimensions:

• Intellectual Formation
• Character Formation
• Spiritual Formation
• Apostolic Formation

Intellectual Formation

The goal is to develop in student’s intellectual capacities while fostering a love for learning and truth. This includes:

• High academic standards, preparing students for higher education & professional careers
• Extensive study in core subjects
• Effective study skills and habits
• Critical thinking and reflection
• Logical order of thought
• Clarity of expression
• Public speaking and writing skills

Character Formation

The goal is to achieve virtue and maturity. This includes:

• Virtue cultivation programs
• High behaviour standards
• Mentoring
• Athletic achievement, sportsmanship and teamwork
• Social graces
• Extracurricular programs

Spiritual Formation

The goal is to foster a deep and genuine love for Jesus Christ, Mary, the Church, the Pope and the salvation of souls.This includes:

• A personal relationship with Christ so that students may come to know, love and imitate Him
• A deep understanding of the Faith through a solid program of religious instruction
• Living a life of grace and participation in the sacramental life of the Church
• The conscious pursuit of virtue
• Prayer as an integral part of school life
• Respect for students of all faiths

Apostolic Formation

The goal is to form within each student a compassionate heart so that as an apostle of Christ, he or she will reach out to society in service. This includes:

• The conviction to live according to Christian ideals
• An awareness of social issues, particularly suffering and injustice in the world
• A practical understanding of service
• The desire to contribute to the well being of the community
  The qualities that aid apostolic action: leadership, teamwork, initiative and perseverance

Religious Education

As a private Catholic school, we are faithful to the teachings of the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Church. Christ is the center of all that we do, it is His model of charity that we foster amongst our children, parents and staff.


Sacraments and Prayer Life

At Clear Water Academy, we celebrate the sacrament of the Eucharist daily, with a school mass on Fridays. We invite our parish priests to celebrate mass and to hear confession. Children who have made First Confession and First Holy Communion are offered the sacraments along with their families.

Developing and nurturing an active prayer life is foundational to our Integral Formation® philosophy. We begin every morning with a prayer for our bishop, and a decade of the rosary for various intentions, instilling a deep and sincere connection to our broader Catholic community in the Diocese of Calgary. The students also pray before meals, before commencing and after completing activities.

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction is offered to all students, parents, teachers and staff on a regular basis. This is all part of developing and nurturing the whole person. The Deans of Students, in collaboration and our Legionary priest, Father Jon Budke, support and nurture the spiritual development of our school community.

Retreats

Retreats are organized throughout the year for students, teachers and staff. Students in Grades 7-12 attend two retreats twice a year to foster their relationship with Christ and with one another.


Role and Responsibilities of the Dean of Students

Clear Water Academy has two Dean of Students that work closely with our students. The Boys School and the Girls School (grades 4 to high school) each have their own Dean of Students. Their primary role is to assist the students in their formation by meeting one-on-one with students in grade 7-12 on a regular basis to discuss their academic, spiritual, human and apostolic formation. The Deans of Students are also very involved in the Apostolic Program, designed to teach students about service to others, using Christ as our model.