Knight Notes November 4, 2015
Dear JPII Community,
November is here and it seems to have arrived so fast. As we head towards
Thanksgiving it is not too early to take stock of what we have and give God thanks.
This week I give thanks for our students. We are lucky to have our JPII families. Our
students are the best and it is due in large part to loving and supportive families.
They never cease to amaze me with their brilliance in the classroom, their
dedication in sports, their creativity in the arts, or their charity towards their
neighbors. Whether it is winning math competitions, being accepted to the
Governor's School, or supporting our canned food drive, we have amazing kids. I say
thank you God for the gift of working at JPII and working with such fine students.
In a few weeks we will have some surveys go out that are the initial part of a series
of surveys for our strategic plan. Your participation helps the school leadership,
which includes our Board of Trust, to help map out a path for success for JPII. All
voices matter as we work to make our school all that it can be to serve our students
and our parents.
Sincerely,
Mike Deely
Enjoy the new “Quick View” of upcoming events below.
For the full edition of Knight Notes, please click the
following link: Knight Notes November 4, 2015
QUICK VIEW of UPCOMING EVENTS for NOVEMBER
11/3 & 11/23 Governor’s School Application Deadlines
11/5 Women’s Basketball Team Parent Meeting (2015-16 Lady Knights Team)
11/6 Dress Down (with a donation on 10/27 to canned food drive)
11/6 Jostens Visit
11/9 & 11/10 Boy’s Freshman Basketball Tryouts
11/9 Sign Language Club Event
11/11 Junior Class Retreat
11/12 “Blue and Gold” Kick-Off Game (men & women’s basketball)
11/13 100 Coats for 100 Kids
11/13 Application Deadline for Loughlin Exchange
11/14 Caldwell Classic 5k PLEASE REGISTER TODAY
11/16 Men’s Basketball Parent Meeting (2015-16 Knights Team)
11/17 PAC Social and Meeting
11/18 Gala Auction Items Due
11/19-11/21 Arkansas Model UN Conference
11/20 Dress Down (with an auction item donation to the Gala)
11/20-11/22 Fall Production - Romeo and Juliet
11/23 Bonus Dress Down (with donation of two 16oz jars of peanut butter)
11/24 Grandparent’s Breakfast
11/25-11/27 Thanksgiving Holiday – no school
11/26-11/30 Choir Trip to Orlando, FL
**New & Updated Announcements Are Highlighted In Yellow**
STUDENT LIFE
Caldwell Classic, 11/14
REGISTER NOW! The 5th Annual Caldwell Classic 5k Walk/Run is Saturday,
November 14! Come and be a part of this JPII tradition and support The Jason
Foundation, which is dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide, also known as the
“silent epidemic”, through educational and awareness programs that equip young
people, educators/youth workers, and parents with the tools and resources they
need to help identify and assist at-risk youth. To learn more, visit The Jason
Foundation. We are currently looking for sponsors for the Caldwell Classic. If you
are interested, please contact veronica.delvalle@jp2hs.org. Register at school or
online www.active.com search Caldwell Classic V.
Dress Down, 11/6
If you donated money or cans on Tuesday, October 27th you've won a free dress
down this Friday, Nov 6th. Only those students that received an email may
participate. See email from Ms. Morris with specifics.
Jostens Visit, 11/6
Jostens will be on campus Friday, November 6 during both lunches to collect last
minute cap and gown orders.
100 Coats for 100 Kids before 11/13
JPII is supporting the United Way’s Kids Coat Drive by challenging the community to
collect 100 coats for 100 kids before November 13. Help us reach our goal by
bringing in a gently used or new kid’s coat to JPII before 11/13.
Bonus Dress Down Day, 11/23
Help out the Ladies of Charity by bringing in TWO 16oz jars of Peanut Butter
on Monday, Nov 23 and you can dress down! All peanut butter will go to the Ladies
of Charity Christmas baskets for needy families in the Middle Tennessee area.
Graduation 2016
Seniors and Parents of Seniors -- please see the attached Graduation Flyer for more
information about various senior events and Graduation expectations. Some dates
are still TBD, but will be sent out when finalized. Graduation will be May 22nd, 2016
at 1pm at the Grand Ole Opry. Please read this flyer carefully for information.
Contact Kat Morris with any questions: kat.morris@jp2hs.org
2015-2016 Yearbook Orders
We are excited to open up the ordering process for the 2015-2016 yearbook. The
theme is "Mind. Body. Spirit." Price is $80 per book. Please follow the link to order
your yearbook today! If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Strobel
at pamela.strobel@jp2hs.org.
Early Dismissal or Late Arrival
Parents please note that if your student arrives late to school or plans to leave early,
please send an email to: merri.gibbs@jp2hs.org or call Student Life 615-822-2375
x6037. Your student should check in with the Student Life Office or with Mrs.
Smotherman at the front desk any time they arrive late or have an early dismissal
that is non-school related.
Morning Drop off and Afternoon Pick up Location
Student drop off and pick up is at the “front” of the school (side facing Vietnam
Veterans Blvd.) and not the Visitor entrance by the flagpoles. Please follow these
instructions to eliminate traffic back up.
PAC NEWS
Parent Social and Meeting, 11/176
Mark your calendar and plan to attend a parent social and short Parent Association
Meeting on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Claudia and William
Puryear Library. Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages while you socialize with
fellow JPII parents, faculty and administrators!
ARMORY
Outerwear
The Armory is now selling the approved 1/4 zip fleece outerwear. If you missed out
on the pre-sale or you would like to purchase a few extra, we have them in the
Armory for sale NOW. The full zip is not in yet, but we will let you know when they
arrive. We should be alerting you in the coming week!
Ties
Our vender has slightly increased the price of the ties. The new price is $17.00.
Armory Hours
The Armory will be open on Mondays from 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Wednesdays
from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The Armory will be closed on Wednesdays of the weeks
we have home football games. Those weeks The Armory will be set up by the
concessions stand beginning at 6:00 p.m. until after half time. Please contact
theresapol@gmail.com for more information.
Keep the Armory in mind when needing gifts of any kind! Birthdays, Christmas, Care
Packages, any special occasion!
CAMPUS MINISTRY
Junior Class Retreat, 11/11
The Junior Retreat will be held next Wednesday, November 11th at the Catholic
Pastoral Center. Juniors are asked to bring a sack lunch (unless they are on the meal
plan in which Jason Jones will provide one) and they are permitted to dress down
for the day. They will report to school as normal for Wednesday and be dismissed
from there on JPII buses to the said location. Permission forms are to be turned in by
Monday, November 9th to Ms. Staley. If parents have any questions, please feel free
to contact julianne.staley@jp2hs.org.
Washington, D.C. March for Life 2016, 1/21 – 1/24
March for Life is a powerful experience for youth and an important witness for life.
Be a part of the March for Life in D.C. and travel with JPII students and faculty to
stand up for life. The cost is $195. Early registration not only saves money but also
allows us to plan more accurately for the needs of the trip in advance. Be a witness
for the sanctity of human life and encourage your son or daughter to participate. If
you have questions, please contact Deacon Brian Edwards
at brian.edwards@jp2hs.org or call 615-590-6022. Click HERE for a permission
form and additional information.
Caritas (Christian Service) News and Updates:
*Attention all parents (and students) we will no longer be posting service hour
totals on Veracross. If you need to know how many hours you have completed,
please check your x2vol account. (Instructions for how to access that can be found
here: Finding Hours on x2VOL )
**Note: if you ride the Bus on Mondays or Tuesdays please see x2vol for the revised
sign-up process.
As always, there are lots of great opportunities for Flex hours posted on the
Caritas website here.
Sign-ups for the Bethlehem Farm summer mission trip begin now! All that's
required to save your spot is a $50 deposit, priority goes to current juniors. Our
week is June 5-11th! Further details and paperwork will be sent out at a later
date. Click here for more details or see Ms. Morris with any questions. Still 8 spots
left!
The Quarter 2 deadline is Friday, December 11th...don't wait! Midquarter is
approaching, only 5 more weeks to finish your Quarter 2 requirement.
Contact Kat Morris with any questions regarding service: kat.morris@jp2hs.org
Weekly Mass and Sacrament of Reconciliation for All
Reminder that Mass is offered every morning except Wednesday mornings
throughout the year at 7:20 a.m. The regular Wednesday all-school Mass is
at 9:45 a.m. Reconciliation is available most afternoons at 3:15 p.m. Eucharistic
Adoration will also be available most Mondays from 3:15-3:45 p.m. JPII families
are always welcome to participate in any of these liturgies.
Mom’s Prayer Group
The greatest thing parents can do for their children is to pray for them. If you are
interested in being part of a mom’s prayer group, meeting with other mothers to
pray for JPII students, faculty, and staff for one hour each week, please join us. We
meet on Monday mornings at 8am in the chapel. If you have questions, please
contact Deacon Edwards at 615-590-6022 or email at brian.edwards@jp2hs.org and
he will put you in touch with members of the group.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE
Accepting Applications for 2016-17
JPII is currently accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school year! You may
apply online
at https://forms.veracross.com/Forms/jp2/Application/Household.aspx. Our next
Placement Exam will be given on Saturday, November 21. You may choose one of
these dates when you complete the application.
If you have an eighth grader and have not yet applied, now is the time! If you have
friends that have eighth graders and they have been considering JPII for their high
school career, please pass this information along to them. We look forward to
receiving your application and seeing you at one of these test days!
If you have any questions, please contact John Cooper @ 615-590-6006 or Sherree
DiMenno @ 615-590-6014 in the JPII Admissions Office.
ADVANCEMENT
Grandparent’s Breakfast, 11/24
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 24 from 7:45 a.m. till 9:00 a.m. as we
celebrate our Annual Grandparent's Breakfast at JPII. Parents, please send the
names, mailing addresses and Email addresses of your student's Grandparents those who are near and far - to Sharon.Hager@jp2hs.org so we can extend personal
invitations.
2016 JPII Gala & Auction, 2/6/2016
SAVE THE DATE! Mark your calendar for the 2016 JPII Gala & Auction on Saturday,
February 6, 2016. This year’s theme is “A Knight on the Town” and will be held at
the Hutton Hotel, Nashville beginning at 6:00 p.m. A formal invitation will soon
follow. Tickets are $100 per person. We are now accepting donations for live and
silent auction items. Corporate sponsorships are also needed. Questions? Contact
Celeste Duzane at celeste.duzane@jp2hs.org. This will be our best Gala, so please
join us!
Gala Auction Items Due 11/18
Don’t forget to send in a Gala auction item for your student by Wednesday,
November 18, 2015 for a Dress Down Day, Friday, November 20. All items must
have a value of $25 or more. Each House has a theme for the types of items needed:
Clement-All About the Man, Gregory-All Around the House, John-Fun & Games, LeoBig Time Sports, Peter-Leisure & Entertainment, Pius-Ladies of Luxury. Please send
your items to the school office. Questions: Email celeste.duzane@jp2hs.org or
phone 615-390-1916. Thank you in advance for your participation!
ATHLETICS
Knights Weekly Wrap-Up
Catch up on the latest athletic team results HERE!
Women’s Basketball Parent Meeting, 11/5
Coach Puckett will hold a team parent meeting for recently selected 2015-2016
Lady Knights on 11/5 at 6:30 p.m. in room S109. For more information contact
angi.puckett@jp2hs.org.
Men’s Freshman Basketball Tryouts, 11/9 & 11/10
Tryouts will be held Monday, November 9th and Tuesday, November 10th from 3:304:15 p.m. Contact kip.brown@jp2hs.org for more information.
Men’s Basketball Parent Meeting, 11/16
Coach Kip Brown will hold a team parent meeting for recently selected 2015-2016
Knights on 11/16 at 6:00 p.m. in the dining hall. For more information contact
kip.brown@jp2hs.org.
Men’s Basketball Seeks Team Helpers
The boy’s basketball team is looking for team managers, stat keepers, and a
scorebook keeper for Varsity games. If interested, please contact
kip.brown@jp2hs.org.
Blue and Gold Game – Basketball Season Kick-off, 11/12
Join us as we kick-off the men and women’s basketball season with the annual “Blue
and Gold” game beginning at 6:00 p.m.
KAC (Knight’s Athletic Club)
KAC Golf Tournament, 4/25/16
The KAC invites you to attend this year’s 12th Annual Golf Tournament at Fairvue
Plantation. Event proceeds will go toward new sound systems for our sports
facilities. Visit this LINK for more information and registration.
Thank you!
KAC would like to thank all of the volunteers that have helped with
our Friday Knights’ Tailgates. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you also to
Mathew Lascara for always providing music and his fire truck.
Winter Sports Roster
Would your business like to sponsor our Winter Sports Roster? Contact the
KAC, kac@jp2hs.org
SAVE THE DATE: KAC Chili Cook-off 1/15/2016
Mark you calendar for KAC’s Annual Chili Cook-Off on Friday, January 15, 2016 from
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. in the dining hall. Registration information will be available
soon.
SCHOOL COUNSELING
2016 Governor’s School
Tennessee provides 12 summer programs for gifted and talented high school
students. Students in the 10th and 11th grade who are interested in this challenging
and high-intensity program can obtain applications through the counseling
office. For general information and a complete list of programs offered go online
(2016 Governor's School TN)
Important note: There are varying deadlines and due to processing, application
deadlines will be set through the counseling office and posted at school and on our
website. Applications due in November: Arts 11/3; Scientific Models & Data Analysis,
Agricultural Sciences 11/23.
Learning Resource Center (LRC)
What it is: The Learning Resource Center (LRC) is an after school academic support
program that will take place Monday – Thursday from 3:15 – 4:00 p.m. in
classrooms C104. Students attending the LRC have the option of participating in the
following activities: Work with a peer tutor; Attend a regularly scheduled
tutorial; Work on assignments (study hall). Please direct all questions to Ms. Kelsey
Wilson (kelsey.wilson@jp2hs.org) or Mr. Mike Brown (mike.brown@jp2hs.org) in
the School Counseling Department.
CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
Sign Language Club Event, 11/9
The Sign Language Club presents Mr. Mike Helms of Bridges on Monday, November
9th from 3:15-4:15 p.m. in the Claudia and William Puryear Library. Mr. Helms will
speak about the nonprofit organization Bridges and how it works to bridge the gap
between the deaf, hearing impaired, and hearing communities. For more details,
please contact Mrs. Lawson, bozena.lawson@jp2hs.org.
Fall Production – Parent Help Needed
There are a number of ways thespian parents can help with the fall production of
Romeo and Juliet. If you are interested, please visit this LINK to learn about
opportunities. You can also contact amy.gaynor@comcast.net.
Fall Production - Romeo and Juliet, Win 2 FREE Tickets
No one correctly answered the question from last week so I guess we will all have to
attend the show to find out why the two families are feuding! Here is an easier one
for this week.
Who is Romeo talking about when he says:
'One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun
Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.'
Two FREE tickets to the student (not in the show) who is first to respond correctly
to Alyson.thomas@comcast.net. Tickets on sale now,
http://jp2hs.ticketleap.com/RomeoJuliet/
Fall Production - Romeo and Juliet, 11/20-11/22
William Shakespeare’s words will resonate in this abstract representation of a
dystopian society under martial law. The performers will be masked, save for
Romeo and Juliet, mirroring social themes that appear universal and timeless. For
something that is familiar and unique come enjoy Pope John Paul II High School’s
production of Romeo & Juliet on Nov. 20th & 21st at 7pm also, Nov. 22nd at 2pm.
Adults $8 / Students $5. Tickets are available at the door or online
at: http://jp2hs.ticketleap.com/romeojuliet
HOUSES
Canned Food Drive a Success!
The JPII community had another successful canned food drive, collecting 13,775
cans for Second Harvest Food Bank, which provides food for hungry families in
Tennessee. We are thankful for the generous donations of students and families.
STUDENT EXCHANGE
2016 Loughlin Scholar Exchange Program
The Loughlin Scholar Exchange is open to freshman students. For a brief overview,
visit Loughlin. If your student is interested, please complete the application and
return it to mike.brown@jp2hs.org by November 13, 2015.
JPII is seeking Host Families
Are you interested in hosting an international student? GPhomestay is looking for
qualified host families for Pope John Paul II High School. Consider hosting with
gphomestay! For more information, please contact Robert Rosario
at rrosario@gphomestay.com or at (850) 509-9690.
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
World Youth Day in Poland, July 24-August 3, 2016
World Youth Day in Poland -- pilgrimage for students at JPII who are interested in
experiencing WYD and growing deeper in their faith, along with a chance to travel
and see the homeland of our school's namesake.
We've changed travel companies and now have a slightly longer trip for less money,
and we would love you to travel with us for this once in a lifetime
experience. Families are welcome to travel also. Please visit this LINK for more
information, and if you're interested then please contact Deacon Brian Edwards by
email or by phone, brian.edwards@jp2hs.org or 615-590-6022. Visit this LINK for a
travel application from Proximo Travel. Hope to have you join us.
BUSINESS OFFICE
Excess Accident Insurance
Please take a moment to read about our Excess Accident Insurance Policy covering
students during school-time and school sponsored activities. Please visit the
following links: Letter to Parents and Insurance Claim Instructions. Contact
betsy.pierpaoli@jp2hs.org with questions.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow JPII on Social Media
To stay up to date on current events at JPII and future activities, please follow us on
our many social media outlets! We will let you know when games are postponed or
cancelled and if event times and dates are changed. This is a great way to stay
connected to the JPII community throughout the day.
Twitter: @JPII_Knights and @JPIIAthletics
Facebook: A Knight's Tale (Facebook Page) and JPII Alumni Page (Facebook Page)
Instagram: @JPIIKnights
FOR THE GREATER JPII COMMUNITY
Break at the Lake, 11/7
Diocesan Youth retreat is being held at JPII on Saturday, November 7th for an
estimated 500 students in the 7th, 8th and 9th grades. Student leaders and adult
volunteers are needed to facilitate. Additionally, donations of snacks would be
greatly appreciated. Student volunteers should contact Patti Deffendall at Our Lady
of the Lake, 615 944-8986. Adult volunteers should contact Paula Krebs at 615 3195011.
7th Annual St. Henry Tiger Town 5K Run, 11/7
Interested in running for recognition? Put on your JPII swag and we'll see you at the
finish line! Registration forms are in the front office at JPII or for online registration
visit www.sthenryschool.org.
Saint Joseph School Fall Open House, 11/12
Learn more about SJS at their Open House on Thursday, November 12 from 9:30
a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Private tours also available. SJS offers Pre-K-8th grade, including a
5-day Pre-K Program. For more information call (615) 865-1491 or visit
www.stjosephnashville.org.
Confirmation Preparation Group at OLOL
Confirmation Preparation for high school students, who were not confirmed in the
8th grade, meets at Our Lady of the Lake in the youth room on Sunday nights from
6:30 – 8:15 p.m. “CHOSEN” is an award-winning DVD/Workbook program with 26
lessons on Catholicism (Sept. 13 – May 2016). For more information contact Patti
Deffendall, OLOL Youth Director, 615.944.8986.
GO KNIGHTS!