Last year, Agnes Irwin piloted a five-year strategic program, A Boundless Vision of Success, which highlights a different core value each year and integrates it into our yearly curriculum. Previously, during the 2022-2023 school year, AIS focused on the value of Striving for Excellence. This school year’s focus is Nurturing Passions and Wellbeing. This strategic plan expands upon Agnes Irwin’s original four core values (excellence, community, character, and respect), further developing values that better capture the nature of our community.
      According to the Strategic Plan, the value of Nurturing Passions and Wellbeing means “nurtur[ing] a love of learning and academic success by cultivating individual passions and the pursuit of our own unique path, supporting the whole person in wellness and wellbeing.” The plan states that AIS will promote the significance of achieving academic, athletic, and artistic success while simultaneously sustaining physical, emotional, and mental wellness. The school is accomplishing this via increased faculty training, funding, and integrated programming around social and mental health. In my opinion, this initiative will benefit our entire school community, as our minds and bodies need adequate support to handle our daily load of rigorous classes and extracurricular activities. In order for us to strive for excellence and reach our greatest potential in all aspects of our adolescent life, we need access to additional resources that focus on mindfulness such as study/mind breaks, to help fuel us during the day. These necessary breaks can include stepping outside, nature walks, yoga, fitness, and Flexwells. Overall, finding a balance between academics and personal health is key to success. If you want to learn more, check out the AIS Strategic Plan Website.