Pope John Paul II High School 2020 Viewbook

Pope John Paul II High School

Faith leads us

beyond ourselves . . .

Our Mission

Inspired by faith, Pope John Paul II High School prepares students to be strong in mind, body, character, and spirit for lives of learning and service, according to the Gospel.

it imparts a vision of life’s purpose and stimulates us to action. the gospel of jesus christ is not a private opinion, a remote spiritual ideal, or a mere program for personal growth. The gospel is the power which can transform the world!

St. John paul II, Camden Yards, Baltimore, 1995

The

JPII Advantage

Classical and Innovative Education a

Choir at Carnegie Hall House of Clement House Cup Champions

Pope John Paul II High School is a school like no other: we balance a traditional Renaissance education with an innovative and creative curriculum. Inspired by our understanding that God made each of our students with unique gifts that can change the world, our school exists to serve our students and their families by helping young adults find their God-given talents and discover their greater purposes in life. We experience God in the most powerful ways through our daily activities as a community of faith, learning, and service.

Beyond.

Beyond.

Reach Reach Reach

AquaKnights Robotics Innov8

the Andes Mountains in Ecuador

Mass with Bishop Spalding

The JPII Community

Campus Ministry

celebrates a weekly school-wide

Mass

JPII’s Campus Ministry, with the help of student leaders in the Campus

and

optional

morning

masses.

Service Trip to Haiti

Service Learning Program

Faith Leads Us Beyond ourselves.

Our Service Learning Program invites students to explore ways they can give their time and talents to those in need. By connecting students to service opportunities like Bethlehem Farms, Room in the Inn, and local schools with second-language learners, students learn to give to our community in countless ways. Many alumni and current JPII students have created service programs that continue to live on through our students’ commitment to serving others. Through JPII’s Service Learning Program, our students become servant leaders and build relationships with the marginalized in churches, homeless shelters, refugee centers, animal rescue centers, and environmental restoration agencies.

As a Catholic school, we function with passion for Mass with Father Dodd ‘08

our faith and a goal to make all of our students, regardless of their faith, feel welcome and included in our faith community. Theology classes are the cornerstone of students’ academic courses all four years and follow the curricular framework established by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.) under the direction of the Bishop of the Diocese of Nashville.

Class Retreats

Retreats give students in each grade level a chance to spend time away

from campus reflecting on their faith with peers. The senior retreat, a favorite tradition before graduation, gives seniors a final retreat experience, allowing them to focus on the triumphs, challenges, and changes they experienced together during their time at JPII. Ash Wednesday

Each day, activity, and lunch at JPII begins with

“There is a constant feeling of peace at JPII. No matter what’s going on in my life inside or outside of school, when I walk into the building each day there’s a sense of peace because of Jesus’ presence in the Holy Eucharist and in the teachers and students around me. I transferred to JPII as a sophomore. The administration, staff, teachers, and students made me feel so welcome that JPII felt like home to me.”

prayer,

and Campus Ministry organizes regular

prayer services.

Chapel Campus Ministry

- Ava Priest ‘21 Service Retreat

Faith Life

Ministry class, oversees the retreat program, liturgies, and all school ministries. Campus Ministry is also the home to Cornerstone, our studentled, faith-based club open to all students. Cornerstone helps plan student fellowship events, runs regular prayer services in the chapel, and represents each grade level’s interests as they generate ideas for student involvement in our faith community. Our school chaplain serves as a connection to the Catholic Church and develops a weekly liturgical schedule which includes morning Mass, prayer services, adoration, blessings, opportunities for sacraments like Reconciliation, and even fellowship with students during lunch.

JPII offers

Academics

Engaging and Innovative Academics JPII offers one of the most innovative academic programs in the

29

AP and DualEnrollment

nation. Our talented faculty, recruited from throughout the country, has created a learning environment that is challenging, supportive, rigorous, and exciting. Designed to take students with a variety of academic abilities, the JPII academic program prepares students for the top colleges, universities, and innovative careers of the future.

Pre-Calculus Cannons

Courses

Ap European History Salon

Flexible Levels Leading to Student Success

Every student will graduate with the required courses to apply to any

college in the country. Flexible academic levels allow students to be recommended to higher-level courses, including Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual-Enrollment, along with their college-preparatory courses. JPII has one of the highest composite ACT scores of any private school in the state, and many students graduate with enough AP and Dual-Enrollment credits to earn a college degree in three years. We believe the investment families make in a JPII education is worth every penny. Our goal is to simplify the challenges of attending college, not only academically but also financially.

JPII Averages

80

Ap Scholars Per year

Advanced Placement and Dual-Enrollment courses

JPII students have opportunities to earn college credit in both Dual

Enrollment and Advanced Placement courses. JPII has one of the highest percentages of students taking AP courses of most any school in the region. Annually, we have an average of 80 students earn AP Scholar Awards for outstanding performances on the national exams.

Starting in the freshman year, we offer four-year offerings of Honors and AP courses.

JPII Teachers make the difference.

Our curricular program mirrors the strengths of our

faculty. They bring training from some of the top universities in the country, such as Vanderbilt, Duke, and Brown, as well as valuable experience from previous careers in journalism, the military, finance, and scientific research. Experts in their subjects and skilled in the most effective methods of teaching, our faculty is committed to our mission as Catholic educators: partnering with parents to mentor and care for the whole child. They understand that the needs of the students extend beyond the classroom.

Although they are flexible and creative in the classroom, the faculty also emphasize that integrity and accountability are essential skills for becoming successful adults.

4 out of 5 JPII students will take

- Keith Hargrove, father of KJ Hargrove ‘23 Biology Lab

26.6 Average

ACT FOr JPII Students 5 points above national avg.

6 points above state avg.

English with iPads and Novels

“I am very pleased by the strong commitment of the teachers in encouraging our kids to learn, grow in their faith, and have a great high school experience.

The teachers are very responsive to parent concerns and are dedicated to student achievement and success. I am equally impressed by the staff and administration of JPII and believe the education received will prepare my son KJ to pursue a college career.”

AP Spanish at the Frist

at least one

AP Course.

Robotics

Study Groups and Tutorials

TEACHER-LED STUDY HALL

Students who manage a college-prep schedule need

Hand In Hand and Peer Buddies

The Hand In Hand Options Program provides students

with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with a Catholic education and the opportunity for full inclusion. We partner with the elementary schools in the Diocese of Nashville that offer Hand In Hand Options Programs to ensure that students with IDD and their families are welcome in all aspects of Catholic school life. JPII students have the opportunity to serve as Hand In Hand Options peer mentors and are trained to provide support, assist teachers with curriculum, and work with their Hand In Hand Options peer buddy to build a relationship that provides friendly learning and social experiences.

Peer Buddies in Art

Supporting Success for All When students are accepted for admission to JPII, we believe they can be successful in our program, and we offer assistance to help them manage their classes while protecting time for extracurricular activities and their families. Our comprehensive academic program provides a multi-leveled support program to match a variety of needs.

The Tutorial System

The Tutorial System provides time during our common lunch so that

any student can seek help from teachers during tutorials, work with a study group, or have extra time to complete homework.

Knights Success Program

The Knights Success Program coordinates support and accommodations

for students with documented learning differences. The Knights Success class helps students learn accountability, recognize individual learning styles, create strategies to succeed, receive support to complete work, and ultimately gain independence. The Knights Success Program has helped many students thrive at JPII, proving that students of all ability levels can be successful in our college-preparatory program.

Academic Support

time, support, and collaboration to succeed. Our study hall program provides all of that under the guidance of our excellent faculty.

Beyond Expectations Beyond Expectations Beyond Expectations

237

“JPII has enabled me to work on my business Lil’graceCreations though an independent study course. Before I came to JPII, I was homeschooled, so I had a lot of time develop my business. When I started at JPII, I was worried that I wouldn’t have enough time to continue because I design and produce everything I sell, which can get very time consuming. I am very grateful for a school like JPII that values my entrepreneurial ideas and gives me the time and space I need to continue to pursue my dream of growing Lil’graceCreations.”

have completed

over the past Surgical Robots Hendersonville Hospital

different

4

years through the

innov8 program.

Innov8 Internships

Innovating for the Future Innov8 is a creative and forward-thinking program that makes

Innov8

60

internships

- Lily Specht, ‘24

a college-preparatory education transformative and practical. JPII’s Innov8 program includes a combination of project-based courses, internships, and independent study. Through involvement in Innov8, students are challenged to be bold, while embracing failure as an opportunity to grow and learn. The Innov8 Program does not follow a textbook; instead, it provides freedom for students to become the innovators of the future—leaders in all fields of industry, government, and the arts. JPII students will create their own jobs, rather than simply finding them.

Healthcare

Swan Surgical Just for Kids Teeth NovEx Nursing St. Thomas Hospital Vanderbilt Medical Center Gannon Lab Vanderbilt Athletics Sumner County Humane Society

Business and Marketing

Diocese of Nashville Marketing Video Development Garrett Brothers Reliant Realty LFM Capital Gallatin Chamber of Commerce 3G’s Guys, Gears and God

As part of the Innov8 program, AP WE allows students, in close

collaboration with their peers and a faculty mentor, to consider how their classroom work applies to the real world. In AP WE Innov8 courses, students develop service-learning projects related to their AP classes and implement them within their own community.

Through a recent generous donation to our Innov8 Investment and Entrepreneurial courses, students will learn to grow investments and give the proceeds to worthy service projects developed by Innov8 students in other courses.

JPII students

Engineering

Civil-Site Design Center for Interoperability CSI Medical

Global Leadership

Diocese of Nashville - Youth Services Rep. Johnny Garrett - Legislature Sumner County Election Commission Friends of Indian Lake Peninsula Army Recruitment Office Frost, Brown and Todd Attorneys

Visual and Performing Arts JPII Theater Technical Team Daywind Music Best Part Productions

Autonomous Vehicle Challenge

The

Innov8 program shifts the traditional classroom model by empowering teachers who have unique interests and real-world experiences to become mentors to students who develop solutions that solve real-world problems. Innov8 has allowed JPII students the opportunity to discover their unique potential to affect change in their community and the world.

Novex Nursing

Swan Surgical Internship

Law Firm Internship

“Psychedelic Ghosts”

by Adrianna Cadena

Gold Key, Scholastic Art Award Pictured with her Display at Cheekwood in Nashville

AP Studio Art

Voices Uknighted

JPII Arts in the Community 2019 Carnegie Hall Performance of the John Rutter “Requiem” Mid-State and All-State Choir MTVA Choral Festival Christmas at the Cathedral A Cappella Invitational Voices uKnighted – recorded a single composed by Josh Humphries ‘19 Instrumental Music

Fall Concert

Our

Mid-State, All-State, All-County ensembles and contests JPII Graduation performance Combined Full-Orchestra performance Albums produced by the JPII Rock Band Theatre Arts

Honors Acting diocesan tour Fairytale elementary school performances Student-led production for young actors in Nashville Summer-camp production for young actors A fall play and spring musical for the JPII community

JPII’s Visual and Performing Arts program is an essential component of

a JPII education. Research has proven that focusing on art education in depth over time improves academic, emotional, and intellectual development of students, which has deepened our resolve to invest in the arts. Since the first graduating class, JPII alumni have gone on to study art in colleges and universities throughout the nation, and many have built careers in music, design, theater, cinema, and as performing artists.

Choral Music

Instrumental

Inspiring and Innovative Arts

Beauty and the Beast Musical Production

Visual Arts

performing arts facilities include a state-of-the-art theater, a full band room, a recording studio, a choir room, and individual rehearsal spaces. The first-class visual art studios are designed for 2D and 3D projects. We also have equipment for photography and advanced computer graphics and design. Digital media courses allow students the opportunity for publication. Our innovative faculty and fine arts courses have led JPII artists to participate in performances and competitions beyond the JPII community, where they have won numerous awards, honors, and recognitions in local and regional contests.

Scholastic Arts Competition Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition Sumner County Studio Art Show Catholic Campaign for Human Development Student Art Show JPII Literary Magazine photography Displays at the Hendersonville Public Library

Choir Performance at Carnegie Hall, 2019

“The JPII instrumental program has allowed me to pursue my love of music, not only as a piano player but also as a composer. I am currently taking four music courses: two performance ensembles (Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble) and two theory courses (AP Music Theory and Innov8 Digital Composition). Through these classes, I have composed music performed by students at Belmont Academy, and I have been selected as a member of the Nashville Youth Jazz Ensemble. I appreciate the experiences I’ve had at JPII that will benefit my future studies as a Music Composition major.”

- Ryder Smith ‘21 Jazz Ensemble

Fine Arts

3D Sculpture

Last year, an average of

17%

Developing Scholar Athletes of

Athletics

The JPII Athletic program continues to grow with 24 varsity-level sports

Play

that encompass the traditional and beyond, including unique sports like trap and skeet, archery, and crew. Although we are one of the youngest schools in Tennessee, we compete in the largest classification in Division II, and many JPII teams and individual athletes have won local, regional, and state titles. Our coaches come from a wide range of backgrounds including national, professional, and collegiate teams that they use to provide a first-class experience for our student athletes. Along with preparing for success in competition, our coaches are committed to the mission of JPII Athletics: To inspire student athletes to become the best version of themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Collegiate Level Sports.

Women’s Soccer Baseball

Athletic Championships

Regional Champion 2017 Regional Runner-Up 2014, 2016

Bowling

Men’s Team: State Champion 2008 State Runner-Up 2014 Women’s Team: State Runner-Up 2019 Regional Champions 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011

JPII offers some of the finest facilities in the state of Tennessee, from our TBCA award-winning baseball field to our multipurpose turf field at the Jim Carell Athletic Complex. Our athletic facilities also include a fulllength natural grass soccer field, six tennis courts, a wrestling gym, a track and field complex, a softball field, as well as a competition basketball gym and auxiliary gym. In addition, JPII Athletics recently added a lacrosse wall, archery range, and short-game golf facility featuring a synthetic putting green along with a natural green for chip and short iron shots.

JPII Athletes

Competition Cheer

State Runner-Up 2007 Nationals 2020: 9th place Large Division Game Day

Women’s Lacrosse

Track

State Champion 800 m. relay 2006

Women’s Soccer

State & Regional Champion 2005 State Runner-Up 2003

Individual State Titles Archery Kennedy Sovine 2020 Female Barebow

Football

Bowling Christina Calvo 2008 Hayley Pionk 2009 Quinn Collins 2017 Matthew Mesecher 2020

Hockey

Golf Kynadie Adams 2020

Bishop’s Cup 2005, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

program designed to promote muscle hypertrophy, strength endurance, power, and injury prevention to further enhance sport performance. Our strength program is one of the few high school programs in the area to use TeamBuildR, a state-of-the-art strength-training software that uses iPads in the weight room to track each student, keeping them on a unique strength-training plan.

Women’s Team: Divisional Champion 2008, 2015, 2017 Co-Ed Team: Divisional Champion 2017

Dance

State Champion 2016: Hip-Hop Division State Runner-Up 2016, 2017

JPII athletes are supported by a first-tier strength, speed, and conditioning

Swimming

Predator’s Cup 2007, 2008 Henry Hine Cup 2016

Men’s Lacrosse State Champion 2009, 2011

Softball

Regional Champion 2013 State Runner-Up 2007, 2013

Football

Swimming Ella Platek 2020 100 Breaststroke Track Wesley Tate 2008 100m Wesley Tate 2009 High Jump Wrestling Courtney Coffey 2005, 2006

“JPII Athletics has not only provided our children with great athletic instruction, but has also helped to mold them into good people. When your children spend as much time with coaches as they do with you, you want to make sure that what they are hearing is consistent with your family’s values. Each of our children experienced a level of care and support at JPII that reflected their individual personalities. We see this as part of the JPII Advantage for our family.”

- Rick and Kristin Heagarty, parents of Ricky ’13 (Alumnus of Rucker Stewart Middle School), Reece ‘17, and Brooks ‘20 (Alumni of St. Joseph School)

Men’s Basketball

Cross Country

Model UN at Appalachian State Conference

Pep Band

“Initially, robotics piqued my interest at the JPII Science Symposium, during my sophomore year, when students were demonstrating the use of an autonomous vehicle racing around a track. I was curious, and I asked loads of questions about how it was programmed, how the speed was adjusted, and the turns were adjusted. So, by junior year, I joined the robotics club and took robotics innov8 classes. I really loved the constant challenge to innovate and problem solve, and it was really cool learning how to program light/color sensors and autonomous movement with motors. The Robotics Team regularly competes at Rose-Holman University’s Autonomous Vehicle Competition with other high schools across the nation, and preparing and programming robots with my teammates is so much fun.”

- Yasmeen Ibrahim ‘21

Extracurricular Clubs

Forensics

House Games

Engaging Campus Culture House System

The House System creates smaller communities within the school to

encourage friendships, promote school spirit, and develop student leadership. The student-led House Council works with faculty Housemasters and the Head of Houses to plan social events, school spirit days, school dances, House competitions, and House games.

The House competitions and House games all lead to the grand prize awarded at the end of the year – the highly-coveted House Cup.

Extracurriculars and Events

To engage students in their interests, we have a robust offering of Youth In Government

clubs and organizations at JPII. As we encourage student leadership and school involvement, students often form new clubs based on unique interests. Dances, retreats, pep rallies, and assemblies provide experiences that develop healthy social skills and make school life fun and engaging.

Student Life

Blue Man Group

3D Printing Club Blue Man Group Drum Line Dungeons and Dragons eSports Team Fantasy Sports Game Club Knightingales Model United Nations Mu Alpha Theta National Art Honor Society National Honor Society One Pretty Dress Peer Buddies Pep Band Relay for Life Robotics Science Club Student Ambassadors Teen Read Thespian Society Youth in Government

Over our four years at JPII, we truly experienced the concept of STREAM coming together to build God’s kingdom here on Earth, which was literally built by students through the combined efforts of the school’s INNOV8 medical internship program and an INNOV8 global leadership course in entrepreneurial programs. Together, the students in these INNOV8 courses utilized their new expertise to design a stove for a sustainable drinking water source and promote economic independence by supporting the village’s coffee products in Dunvear, Haiti.

- Dr. Chris Kaufmann (Surgeon), Sean Forrest (Haiti 180), Emily Mills ‘12 (Director of Campus Ministry), Jennifer Dye (Director of Innovation), the Haiti Love Class at JPII.

JPII Abroad

Haiti 2019

I

Learning through Cultural Immersion

n our international travel program, students have opportunities to immerse themselves in other cultures and practice their language skills. JPII students have toured France, Rome, and Spain through our program.

Most recently, students traveled to Ecuador to engage with communities in the Andes Mountains, where they visited high school classes and were individually tutored by Ecuadorian Spanish teachers.

Connecting with the World through Service and Learning Using Knowledge to Serve the World

We believe an education leads to a vocation when students see

that knowledge can be applied in love and service to others in God’s name. JPII students have opportunities to practice service through faith, both in our local and global communities.

Travel Destinations

Our

Innov8 program uses the STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) model to allow students to use their interests and to be guided by their faith to enact project-based work to serve communities. For example, Innov8 students designed and engineered a stove that could be constructed using readily available materials in Haiti to give a village a clean and safe source for cooking.

Along with constructing the stoves, students who traveled to Haiti last summer also delivered medical supplies collected through efforts of students in the course. Through their studies, students learned about the needs of others and used their knowledge of medicine and engineering to develop solutions to meet those needs.

Ecuador 2019

The Arts Chicago and New York City Learning through Cultural Experiences Ecuador, England, France, Haiti, Italy, and Spain Spain Fall2018 Building Stoves in Haiti

Italy Spring 2018

Ecuador Summer2019

Supporting the Whole Child The Student Support Coordinator, a licensed professional counselor, Therapy Dogs

The purpose of this team is to raise awareness, identify effective resources, and create an action plan for students and families identified as needing additional academic and/or social-emotional support.

College Counseling Programs

College Counseling

College Fair Mock College Admission Interviews College Application Saturdays Navigating the College Search Process College/Post-Secondary Grade-Level Information Parent Nights Paying for College: Financial Aid and Scholarship Process College Workshop for Junior Students and Parents College/Post-Secondary Decision Day Celebration Transitioning to College

Nurse and Trainer

We have a full-time nurse and a full-time athletic trainer. The nurse

provides triage for acute and chronic illness, general medical care, and health counseling. The athletic trainer assists our athletic program in injury prevention and treatment, including rehabilitation.

Chaplain and Campus Ministry

Counseling Services

Our

chaplain and campus minister provide spiritual support for our students, coordinate various ministries, and ensure that faith and formation are at the center of all activities. Our school chaplain offers spiritual counseling, blessings, anointing of the sick, and various sacraments, such as reconciliation.

Individual Counseling and Group Learning Sessions Academic Advising and College Career Planning Community Education Programs Comprehensive Student and Community Wellness Support Student and Family Advocacy Crisis Counseling Pre-ACT, PSAT, and AP Testing

Student Wellness

directs the Student Support Team in assessing referrals from students, parents, and teachers. The core team is made up of faculty and staff from Student Life, Campus Ministry, Athletics, Admissions, and Knights Success Program, and College Counseling.

School Nurse

“JPII makes wellness a priority. Time is set aside for the entire school, students and faculty alike, to take part in wellness activities, such as mindfulness training, spending time with therapy dogs, and initiating a Kindness Campaign. Through the culture of wellness, I’ve realized that learning and success matters most when it comes with joy and time to appreciate all the little things.”

- Emma Wasden ‘20 Athletic Trainer

JPII Campus Services and Safety Known as the Shining City on the Hill, the JPII campus sits on 66 beautiful acres in Hendersonville, Tennessee, located only 15 miles from downtown Nashville in Sumner County.

Bus Services

JPII is closer than you think. Our students come from 104 feeder schools in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky, JPII provides six bus routes that accommodate the travel needs of our commuters. Whether you reside in Bellevue or Bowling Green, Kentucky, our bus service makes it convenient for families by providing round-trip service. Our buses run later on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to accommodate students participating in extracurricular activities. A detailed schedule of pickup time and locations can be found on our website. Visit www.jp2hs.org for more information.

Campus Safety

JPII has invested in campus security to protect the safety of our students. Video cameras and access controls ensure that the building remains secure during the school day. In addition, our campus security officer patrols our campus and provides a direct connection to safety resources within our community.

Photo by Steve Smart

As a Catholic community, JPII is intentional about having a student body

that reflects all of God’s creation. We believe an inclusive school with a diverse population creates a stronger community, encourages dialogue, and enhances students’ experiences and perspectives. Our mission includes the commitment to welcoming students of different faiths and backgrounds and to developing programs that provide a supportive environment. JPII strives to provide financial aid, which increases the possibility for more families to experience the blessings of what we offer.

JPII Admissions team Michelle Barber

Dean of Admissions & Advancement michelle.barber@jp2hs.org 615-590-6013

Charles Wade

2020-2021 JPII House Council

Director of Admissions charles.wade@jp2hs.org 615-590-6006

Pat Kennedy

Apply Online. www.jp2hs.org

Admissions Officer pat.kennedy@jp2hs.org 615-590-6005

Pamela Wegenka

Admissions Associate pamela.wegenka@jp2hs.org 615-590-6014

117 Caldwell Drive Hendersonville, Tennessee 37075 (615) 822-2375 www.jp2hs.org Facebook/Instagram @JPIIKNIGHTS