May 09, 2012
By Vince Aquila
Dear Parents,
As a church, Eastertide is the greatest time of the year. For 50 days and 7 weeks we celebrate the glory of the Easter in its fullness. We sing the acclamation of Alleluia with gusto each week as the community enters more deeply into the completeness of Easter. Our challenge as a community of faith is to become the mystery of Christ that we celebrate in the Eucharist.
On Wednesday, May 2, we celebrated our Academic Honors Day for grades 9-11. On May 17, 2012, the senior academic honors will be conferred at the Senior Dinner at the VBC. It made me so proud to hear the enthusiastic cheers coming from the student body as each student was asked to come forward to receive their honor. I believe it is because academic excellence is the standard that the students expect from each other. They know that is expected from the teachers and staff at JPII, but when the affirmation comes from peers in the student body it is that much more meaningful. We will continue to celebrate the achievements of our students in the weeks ahead culminating with the conferral of the Bishop’s Trophy at graduation.
On Monday, the Spring Concert concluded an excellent year for the Fine Arts at JPII. I have seen such tremendous growth in our students in music, drama, and visual arts over the past year. The Wizard of Oz was a huge success playing to packed crowds at three performances. It is inspiring to see how many of our students are involved to get those actors on the stage and performing at the highest level. The orchestra was composed of JPII band members with a few additional guest musicians. This production is the product of their gifts and talents which is what we hope they will do.
The Spring Concert was a beautiful combination of music both sung and instrumental intermixed with narration that brought the whole program together. Before the concert we thank the many founders of that helped us to be where we are today. The concert was preceded by a special reception in the Library for them.
Meanwhile the past two weeks have seen our Athletic seasons come to an end. As the last player walked off the softball and soccer field this past weekend, I can say with pride that our student athletes are second to none in the state of Alabama.
So we continue to celebrate the great 50 days of Easter in its fullness. I hope that what we see in our children here at JPII is the greatness of God and Christ present in the world today. God Bless and have a happy Easter.
Sincerely,
Vince Aquila, Principal, JPII
March 22, 2012
By Vince Aquila
On March 10, 2012, our Science Olympiad team participated in the State Science Olympiad at Huntingdon College in Montgomery Alabama. With a 2nd place finish at the Regional Science Olympiad at UAH in February, our team earned the right to compete at the state. You would have been proud of our students and teachers.
The team garnered a gold medal, two bronze medals and two fourth-place finishes in the State Olympiad. I was amazed at the poise and focus these students needed to have in order to execute their projects within the parameters of the competition. The team would have to solve problems on the spot usually minutes before their turn. This was our first visit to the State Olympiad and I know we will return.
We had 20 students participate in the North Alabama Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. 14 of those 20 students advanced to the State Science and Engineering Fair to be held at the University of Alabama in Huntsville on April 6, 2012. Junior Courtney Kloske qualified for her 3rd consecutive trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair to be held this May in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These students will continue to compete for awards, scholarships, and other prizes for their achievement in science.
It is very exciting to see our students excited about the science that they are learning. I hope and pray that somewhere in the halls of our school, God is developing the next great inventor, doctor, or scientist that will make the world better!
February 14, 2012
By Vince Aquila
Dear Parents,
On behalf of the entire JPII community, I congratulate the members of the Pope John Paul II Catholic High School Varsity Girls’ Basketball team for their Runner-up finish in the Class 4A, Area 15 tournament that concluded on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at West Limestone School. The team has qualified for the first-ever AHSAA state play-off berth for JPII Girls’ basketball. The team will go on the road Thursday night, February 16 at 7:00pm to take on Brooks High School. The winner of that game will advance to Wallace State Community College for the Regional Tournament. I encourage all Falcon Fans to come to the game and cheer on our team. What a historic season!
A little history
The last time one of our basketball team has advanced to a state/conference play-off was February of 2000. Players with the names Lisa Winters, Elizabeth Wandler, Theresa Javel, Emily Smith, Kelly Villarreal, Theresa Romei, and others won the Christian Schools Athletic Conference Tournament at Belmont University in Nashville. The game was won as Theresa Romei (Daughter of Religion teacher Barbara Romei) held on to the ball as time expired for a thrilling one point victory. I was an Assistant Principal at the time and traveled with the team to watch the championship game. I got so excited that after the game I bought dinner for the team, coaches, families, and their fans. It was like a great big family Thanksgiving dinner celebration. For a glimpse of Falcon history, check out the official tournament shirt signed by every player in the trophy case in the Multi-purpose room. It is pretty awesome. I look at the memento and cherish that time with those kids.
Now to the present
Any person that attends one of our home basketball games in our gym knows one thing they will encounter: serious noise!!! The spirit that our students have created in their home is something to behold. The Pep Band makes our games seem like a college basketball atmosphere and it keeps getting better. The Student Falcon Fanatics in the bleachers behind the basketball goal make it almost impossible for the opponent to make a shot in the second half of our games. From the singing of the National Anthem to the final “JPII cheer” as time expires, one thing is certain. Our students and fans have taken ownership of our home. Our parents and have boosters fill those bleachers at every game out of love and support for our kids.
That is the spirit of the Falcon fan. We love our teams and each individual player on that team. Your support makes a major difference for them. It always has from the beginning of our school in 1996.
God brings us together as a community whenever we come out to support our teams. I hope to see you this Thursday at Brooks, as our girls continue their historic journey. Whatever the final score, we will be there with them with loud cries of JPII!!!!
Sincerely,
Vince Aquila, Principal, JPII
February 01, 2012
By Vince Aquila
Dear Parents,
The theme for 2012 National Catholic Schools Week in the United States is Faith, Academics, Service. The National Catholic Educational Association establishes the themes each year to focus on the quality of our schools and the contribution of catholic education to our nation. I would like to share with you my belief in our school and what makes it great.
Students
Over the past two weeks, I have seen our students March for Life in Washington DC., support their basketball team at Senior night last Friday night, host a concert in the Falcon zone after the game, start Catholic Schools Week off with a Falcon Feud Field Day in our gym, participate in our weekly mass and host the American Red Cross for one of three blood drives scheduled this year.
Our students have made JPII a home. I see them share their God-given talents and transform the school into a place where Christ dwells. They have done these things as over 50% of them made the 2nd Quarter Honor Roll.
Faculty and Staff
It is a privilege to come to school every day and work side by side with our committed faculty and staff. My colleagues love our students, love to teach, and are committed professionals. They challenge our students to go above and beyond to develop their gifts and discover the plan God has for them as they grow. Our staff will stay after or before school to help our students learn. They also call our students to a high standard of behavior and discipline on and off campus.
Parents
The church teaches that parents are the primary educators of our children. JPII has been blessed by a commitment from our parents since our inception in 1996. I see how much you love your children and care for their school. Our parents are not just volunteers, but partners in the mission of the school and the church.
Pastors
Our priests and pastors love our students. We are so grateful that they bring the sacraments to our school and open the doors to the mysteries of Christ to our students. We are blessed with a chaplain, Fr. Vincent Bresowar that is able to spend time with our students at school, on retreats, and activities such as the March for Life. Our area pastors celebrate mass with our students and hear their confessions during reconciliation services. Our pastors care for our school with love and support and we thank them for their presence.
During this week, I will give thanks for all of the blessings that you bring to JPII that help us to become a place where Christ dwells.
Sincerely,
Vince Aquila, Principal, JPII
January 19, 2012
By Vince Aquila
Dear Parents,
“Respect for the human person entails respect for the rights that flow from his dignity as a creature.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1930)
This week is a very appropriate time for us as a community to reflect on the dignity of every human being created by God. As a church, our belief in the respect of every human person defines us as a school and the mission that we have as a catholic school in today’s world. I have been fortunate to witness our community fulfill this mission every year. Our community sponsored 400 young people in the annual campus ministry angel tree project. By years end, our National Honor Society will have facilitated 3 blood drives for the American Red Cross. This weekend over 50 young people and chaperones from our school will participate in the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. These are a few examples of our community answering the call to honor and serve others, especially those that are the weakest and most vulnerable in our society.
The Church teaches us that the “equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it. Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design.” (CCC #1935)
Earlier this week we celebrated our national Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. His life is a reminder to all of us that we are all God’s children and that we as a school must become a bastion of human dignity rooted in social justice. By their actions, I have seen our students grow in faith and be challenged to serve and stand for those who have little or no voice to change injustice. We as parents, teachers, and administrators need to live by example and continue to model justice for our children.
There is much for all of us to do here at JPII to make our community a visible sign of respect for the human person. With the Holy Spirit to guide us, God will continue to transform our school into a sign of justice in our community.
Sincerely,
Vince Aquila, Principal, JPII
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