Last Week at JPII - 02/03/25

On Friday, the school enjoyed a special visit from the Marian Sisters (an order in the Diocese of Lincoln), including Mother Ann Marie, aunt of the Zierke children. Scroll down to see a few more photos of this week!  

Feb 3, 2025 - It was a busy week at St. John Paul II Academy! Here’s a look back at some of the highlights from last week, capturing the heart of life at JPII.

On Monday of Spirit Week, we celebrated our students! JPII students bring so much joy and wonder to the classroom, seeking mentorship from their teachers and building deep friendships with each other. In celebration, students wore hall shirts, crazy socks, and casual shoes. They also enjoyed a hall lunch with desserts supplied by parents!

On Tuesday of Spirit Week, we celebrated our beloved teachers! We love that our teachers are fully alive, love to learn, and model these qualities for their students. Students (and teachers) were invited to dress like their favorite literary character, or their favorite teacher. How many can you name?

On Wednesday of Spirit Week, we celebrated our wonderful parents! We are so grateful that our parents share our vision of human flourishing rooted in what is true, good, and beautiful. It is an honor to partner with them to aid in the education and formation of their children. Parents were celebrated with complimentary coffee and pastries at drop-off.

On Thursday of Spirit Week, we celebrated our mission - forming saints, fully alive! We celebrated with the Annual Bard competition, an afternoon of classic poetry that has withstood the test of time. A hearty congratulations to all the performers, especially to those who placed! You can see more pictures and videos in the gallery.

On Friday of Spirit Week, we celebrated our grit, embodied in the phrase, “Verso l’alto!” Italian for “to the heights,” this phrase was used by Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a patron of our school and a rugged mountaineer. Frassati’s life was a modern portrait of the friendship, joy, and adventure that the JPII student is called to. This motto speaks to the grit and adventurous spirit that is the hallmark of JPII. In celebration, students engaged in friendly physical competitions to earn hall points. Events included a cartwheel race, steal the bacon, brisket ball, and an exhilarating obstacle course, all in answer to the call to soar to the heights.

Also on Friday, the school also had a special visit from the Diocese of Lincoln’s Marian Sisters. They visited the classrooms, talked with the students, and even brought pieces of the habit for the girls to try on! We are so grateful for the gift of their presence and ministry to our students.

Hope you enjoyed this week in the life of JPII. Stay tuned for more glimpses in and out of the classroom as we continue to form saints, fully alive!