Dear St. John Paul II School Community,
The foundation of St. John Paul II School is built on recognizing and nurturing the full personhood of our students, helping them realize their true potential as children of God. It is essential that all students feel the school is a community of care and support—one that fosters both academic achievement and personal and spiritual growth. I hope that you have had the time to take advantage of the opportunity to witness this throughout the past 4 months.
The school’s dedication to student development was on display throughout the holiday season with several performing arts showcases. The Advent Concert and the Festival of the Arts put the singing and dancing talents of Grades 5-12 on display. Even our mascot, Roary got in on the fun as a guest conductor at the Advent concert! The Fall production of Godspell was a tremendous success! The dedication of all of our performers from grades 5-12 was evident as we witnessed the culmination of their work at the November show.
Early decision and early acceptance letters have begun to arrive for our graduating seniors. They have collectively been accepted to more than 90 higher educational institutions, with additional acceptances arriving daily—a true testament to the academic rigor established in fifth grade and maintained throughout high school.
Beyond academics, our students demonstrate Christ’s love through their words and actions. Whether in the hallways, the classroom, or through Christian Service efforts, I have personally witnessed countless examples of our students living out their faith. During the Social Justice Fair, it was clear that our students do not simply complete “community service” but truly serve others. Many go above and beyond the required service hours, leading food drives, advocating for causes, and even establishing nonprofits. I was equally impressed by the number of students choosing to pursue careers of service: nursing, the armed services, teaching and law enforcement among some of the future professional pathways.
As students and athletes, the spirit of our school has been demonstrated throughout the Cape and beyond. Our Fall athletic teams were fiercely competitive with three student athletes signing letters of intent to play collegiate Division 2 sports, Cape & Island Championship teams in golf, men’s soccer and women’s soccer and men’s soccer coach Kal Boghdan was recognized as the MIAA Division 5 South Coach of the Year. Through long days at school and hours at practice, we saw our teams win humbly and lose graciously. The dedication of the young men and women at St. John Paul II School continually amazes me.
Equally inspiring are the families that support our school. In October, Grandparents Day was a heartwarming success, with standing-room-only attendance. Our Giving Tuesday campaign raised the highest amount in the school’s history, and the $50,000 match was unlocked on December 31. These efforts have brought the school to more than 60% of its Blue and Gold Annual Fund goal, which helps bridge the gap between tuition and the cost of operating the school. The generosity of our families and friends encourages and strengthens our faculty and staff, and we are deeply grateful for your ongoing support.
Recognizing that St. John Paul II School needs long-term continuity in leadership, Partners in Mission School Leadership Search Solutions was retained to assist with the search for a permanent Head of School. A search committee consisting of Advisory Board members, teachers, and parents spent many volunteer hours vetting candidates and narrowed an initial field of over 20 applicants. We are excited to share that a well-qualified candidate visited campus this week to meet with faculty, staff, parents, and students.
As I reflect on the first half of this school year, I recall being asked during the early months if I was having fun in my new position. I didn’t accept the position with this criteria in mind, and I wasn’t necessarily having “fun.” However, enjoyment has increasingly become part of my day as the year progresses. Some of the most enjoyable experiences have been listening to Ms. Poirier’s high school chemistry students present their lab findings, seeing students at the Youth Street Reach Breakfast recognize the humanity of those less fortunate in our neighborhood, and watching our young Preparatory students singing Here Comes The Snow at our Christmas concert. I especially enjoy the frantic five minutes of serving lunch to our eighth graders each day and am looking forward to more of these enjoyable moments throughout the second half of the year. I hope you take advantage of the opportunities you will have to visit the school and witness our students as they continue on their academic and spiritual growth journey.
Best Regards,
John P. Redding
Head of School
