ER ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
HOWDY!
Dear St. John Paul II Alumni, Welcome to the second edition of our Alumni Newsletter! We’re so grateful you’re here and excited to keep you connected to the vibrant StJPII community that helped shape us all.
In this issue, you’ll meet some of our wonderful new staff members, read some Saint-Sational News, and celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our alumni through featured spotlights. We’ll also reveal the date of our Senior Sendoff honoring the StJPII Class of 2022 as they prepare to graduate from high school and embark on their next adventures. Once a Saint, always a Saint!
We invite you to join us for upcoming events, come reconnect with old friends, and consider supporting our continued mission through upcoming fundraising opportunities. Most of all, we’d love to hear from you!
Share your updates, milestones, and memories with us anytime
Thank you for being a lifelong part of the StJPII family. Know that we are praying for you and cheering you on, wherever God leads you next.
With gratitude and Saints spirit,
TheStJPIIAlumniCommittee 2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 6 THEME
Inspired by Pope Leo’s wisdom, “peace is within the heart and from the heart...by carefully choosing our words.” The theme Speak Life calls us to choose our words with mindfulness and love, just as Christ models for us. By speaking with kindness and purpose, we cultivate peace in our hearts and share it with our community
NEWSAINTSONTHEBLOCK
LAURA JACKSON - MS COUNSELOR
Laura Jackson, MEd, LPC-A, is a native Texan with a background in writing, journalism, and counseling She earned her degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Counseling from Lamar University. Laura has served children, teens, and adults, integrating art, writing, play, and prayer into her practice. She is grateful to join StJPII in supporting its students, families, and staff with care and compassion
DANIELLE NUNEZ - 1 GRADE ASSISTANT ST
Originally from Chicago, Danielle Nuñez earned her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She moved to Houston in 2019 with her husband and now enjoys life with their five children Passionate about teaching and Catholic education, Danielle is excited to join the StJPII community and support students and families in faith and learning.
ND
KATHERINE GRIFFY - 2 GRADE TEACHER
Ms. Griffy is excited to begin her teaching career at StJPII. A University of Houston graduate with a bachelor’s in education, she is passionate about inspiring young learners. An active parishioner at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Katherine enjoys farmers markets, reading, running, and caring for her pets She feels blessed to join the StJPII community and looks forward to a joyful year of faith and learning.
- PREK TEACHER
is excited to return home to StJPII. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Evan, and their dog, JJ, and loves reading, crafting, and all things theatre
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AROLINE WALLER - COMMUNICATIONS
BETTYFESTANAMEDSALLYLANDRAM AWARDRECIPIENT
Every year, the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston (AGH) presents the Sally Landram Excellence in Education Award to an outstanding educator in the Catholic school system. Named in honor of Sally Landram, former AGH Superintendent and a devoted advocate for Catholic education, the award celebrates her life and legacy. It is given to a teacher who exemplifies a strong Catholic faith, a deep commitment to community, and a dedicationtodeliveringrigorousacademic instruction. Sally Landram’s unwavering commitment to nurturing Catholic education has helped shape the Archdiocese’s schools into centers of both academic excellence and spiritual growth. Her leadership and passion for Catholic education left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire educators and students throughout the Archdiocese today.
Betty Festa has dedicated over four decadestoeducationandhasbeenapart of St. John Paul II Catholic School (StJPII) since1994.SheearnedherBachelorofArts in Education from Nicholls State College in Thibodaux, Louisiana. With a gift for explaining complex concepts, Ms. Festa strives to make learning meaningful for everystudent. Oneofherformerstudents, Lucas David, shared, “I like how she really ingrains the material in my brain. She has taught me how to study and retain information in ways I will carry with me through high school and beyond.” His words are a testament to the intentional workFestahaspouredintoeachofher
students. Over the years, she has gone aboveandbeyondinformingtheminds and hearts of generations. She is deeply committed to those in her classroom andtakesmassivestridestounderstand eachofherstudents
Teaching in a Catholic school allows her to fulfill a greater mission: guiding students not only academically, but spiritually. Principal Rebecca Bogard states, “She not only teaches academic content but also equips students with essentiallifeskills,alwaysthinkingahead to prepare them for the future... Her commitment to professional and personal growth, paired with her servant-heartedfaith,playsavitalrolein fostering a school culture that aligns with and supports our mission.” Ms. Festa’s work is a reflection of the values honored by the Sally Landram Award. Her lasting contributions have shaped the lives of countless students and will continue to inspire the StJPII community andbeyond.
SAINT-SATIONALNEWS!
Saintsgiving
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving and here at StJPII we call it SaintsGiving!
During this virtual one-day event, we
invite our families, alumni, and community to make StJPII their
philanthropy. Please save the date and scan the QR code to learn more.
December 2, 2025 S A V E T
10th Annual saints at sunset crawfish boil
Join us for StJPII’s favorite community event and reconnect with old friends, teachers, and fellow Saints Enjoy delicious food, a live band, and great company. Stay tuned for when tickets drop!
March 27, 2026 @ 5 pm
Alumni Mass
Join us to celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord! Reception to follow in St Jude Hall
January 4, 2026 @ 11 am
Senior send
off
StJPII class of 2022
Congrats on your upcoming High School Graduation Class of ‘26! Join us for a treat and catch up with your StJPII
classmates Wear your college t-shirt for our reunion photo! May 21, 2026 @ 1 pm
class of 2022 parent party
Join us at Blue Agave! All senior parents are invited to reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy a fun evening together before your grads head off to college. More details to follow next year! June 9, 2026 @ 4 pm
stjpii class of 2016 senior sendoff redo
COVID may have spoiled some plans 5 years ago, but it is never too late to celebrate. You are a B16 deal and we would love to have you back!
Stay Tuned... S A V E T H E D A T E
CLASSOF2025
SENIORSENDOFF
ALUMNISPOTLIGHT
MichaelJewett
Michael Jewett, StJPII Class of 2014, went on to attend Strake Jesuit and later Trinity University, where he played football.Hehascomefullcircleandnow serves as the head football coach at StJPII, inspiring the next generation of athletes.
DiegoVillareal
StevenGray
Steven Gray, StJPII Class of 2025, is a freshman at Strake Jesuit who has returned to campus to assist Coach Jewett He generously volunteers his time to support the StJPII football program.
Diego Villarreal, StJPII Class of 2025 and current member of the Strake Jesuit Debate Team, returned to campus to share tips and advice with our debate students Diego was one of the founding members of the StJPII DebateTeam.
ThomasGordon
Thomas Gordon, StJPII Class of 2015, went on to attend Strake Jesuit and later graduated from Northwestern University, where he played football. After college, he signed with the ChicagoBearsandcontinuestoshine bothonandoffthefield.
KatiaHillier(‘25),TommySchwab(’25),JacobCline(‘24), DavidPena(‘24),BlakeSmith(’25),AndreArellano(‘24), MatthewFruelda(‘25-notpictured)
We were also proud to have StJPII alumni, who are currently attending St. Thomas High School, serve as judges in our 6th GradeScienceFair!AbigthankyoutoTripp Lawless ’22 and Dylan Courtney ’22 for sharing their time and expertise with our students
This past month, we were thrilled to welcome alumni back to campus as volunteers for our Robotics Tournament! These six alumni proudly assisted Dr. Hiltbrand throughout the event, ensuring the competition ran smoothly. We love seeing our former Saints return to share their time and talents with our current students.
