Pope John Paul II High School (Boca Raton, Florida)

: "This article is about the Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton. For others of a similar name, see Pope John Paul II High School"

Infobox Private School
name = Pope John Paul II High School


motto = "Fundamentum Christus Iesus" (Founded on Jesus Christ)established = 1980
type = Private
religion = Roman Catholic - Carmelite Order
head_name = Principal
head = Sr. Eileen Sullivan, O.P.
city = Boca Raton
state = FL
country = USA
enrollment = 750 total
faculty = 75
ratio = 10:1
free_label = Tuition
free = varies (Grades 9-12)
year = 2006
athletics = 21 Interscholastic Sports
62 Interscholastic Teams
color = Gold/White/Brown
mascot = Eagle
homepage =
ceeb = 100-123

Pope John Paul II High School is a college preparatory Roman Catholic secondary school with a 30 acre campus in East Boca Raton, Florida, adjacent to the main campus of Lynn University. The school opened in 1980, and has a co-ed student body consisting of 600 students and 75 lay and religious teachers as of October 2007.http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:m-Np3cQjKrYJ:www.thefloridacatholic.org/articles/2007/070831/070831-plb-catholicschoolenrollment.html+fr.+guy+fiano,+the+florida+catholic&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us] These students are admitted from a diverse applicant pool representing all parts of Palm Beach County and Broward County. The school has a maximum capacity for 750 students. PJPII High School is governed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach and is administered by the Dominican Sisters. The Catholic identity of this school allows it to offer religious education classes, retreats, Catholic Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation to its student body. A chapel on school grounds provides students a quiet place to pray. The school is funded through donations, tuition and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach.

= History =

Construction of Pope John Paul II High School began in February 1980. The first classes were held the following August. In its first year the school consisted of 300 freshmen and 150 sophomore students. The following year the student body included juniors. Then, in its third year 1982-1983, the school functioned as a four-year high school and saw the first graduating class. Originally, the school operated as part of the Archdiocese of Miami. However, in 1984 the school became part of the newly formed Diocese of Palm Beach. The campus and student body has continued to grow, and in 2000 a new Media Research Center was added. In the summer of 2002, a new Administration/Student Services Building (Carmelite Hall) was opened, and in 2004, a third academic wing was added to the school to house the growing science department, music department, and foreign language department. In the same year, a new gatehouse was built on the east entrance. For the first 27 years of its history, the Carmelite order was actively involved in school administration and other functions. Fr. Guy Fiano, a Carmelite priest who served at the school for these 27 years, was a teacher and eventually president of the school. [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:S1RPAmxaQ-EJ:www.thefloridacatholic.org/articles/2006/060609/060609-pb-jubilarians.htm+pope+john+paul+ii+high+school,+fr+guy+fiano&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us] In 2007, due to declining membership in their religious order, the Carmelites transferred administration of the school to the Diocese of Palm Beach. Fr. Guy is currently president of another Carmelite High School in Chicago. The Palm Beach Diocese created a panel of pastors of local Catholic Churches to replace the function previously performed by Fr. Guy. In honor of the contributions made to the school by the Carmelite Order, the school administration building was renamed Carmelite Hall in 2007.

= Campus=School grounds include full athletic facilities such as a football/soccer/lacrosse and softball/baseball fields with a track and stadium seating. The air conditioned gymnasium with locker room facilities fulfills indoor athletic needs and also functions as a site for school pep rallies and assemblies such as for the celebration of Catholic Mass and school fund raisers. A full theater stage compliments the school cafeteria building. The school library includes a media center and facilities for training in theater sound and light production for which the school is unique. Three computer labs are available to teachers, students and classes. In addition to computer access and tv/vcr's in every classroom, the school provides reference materials available online from school or home. The Catholic identity of this school allows it to offer religious education classes, retreats, Catholic Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation to its student body. A chapel on school grounds provides students a quiet place to pray.

=Faculty =The school maintains a faculty of over 75 lay and religious teachers. The student teacher ratio is 10:1. Teachers use Electronic Gradebook which provides online grade access for parents and students. Teachers also maintiain faculty web pages. All faculty are certified to teach in their subject areas; fifty-five percent of the faculty has earned a Master or higher degree. Some Pope John Paul II High School faculty members are school alumni. [ [http://www.pjpii.org/about/school_profile.jsp?rn=1674945 Pope John Paul II High School ] ] The Adrian Dominican Sisters have been part of the school faculty and administration since 1981.

= Accelerated Curriculum =Pope John Paul II High School teaches a college preparatory academic curriculum, offering advanced courses to students who wish to challenge themselves. Eight of the school's nine academic departments offer Honors, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement course selections.

* Business/Computer Science: Advanced Placement Computer Science A; Honors Visual Basis.Net: An Introduction to Computer Programming, Dual Enrollment with Saint Thomas University
* English: Advanced Placement English Language and Composition; Advanced Placement English Literature
* Fine and Performing Arts: Comprehensive Theatre I, Dual Enrollment with Lynn University; Television Production, Dual Enrollment with Lynn University
* Foreign Language: Advanced Placement Spanish Language
* Mathematics: Advanced Placement Calculus AB; Advanced Placement Calculus BC
* Religious Studies: Honors History of Christian Thought I and II, Dual Enrollment with Saint Thomas University
* Science: Advanced Placement Chemistry; Advanced Placement Biology
* Social Studies: Advanced Placement United States History; Advanced Placement American Government and Politics

=Extra-Curricular Activities=Athletics:The school offers a full range of athletic programs. Fall, Winter and Spring Varsity and Junior Varsity sports include: football, cheerleading, boys and girls basketball, swimming, diving, golf, cross country, track, girls volleyball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, and flag football. The school grounds house a full football field/track/stadium with bleachers and locker room facilities. An air conditioned gymnasium with full indoor and outdoor basketball courts doubles as an assembly hall for the celebration of Catholic Mass, pep rallies and school fundraisers and open house functions. [http://pjpii.org/athletics/fall_sports.jsp?rn=2820198]

Theater Department:Pope John Paul II High School is well-known for its award-winning drama department. It offers students not only the chance to develop their acting and singing skills but also offers students the opportunity to learn all aspects of theater production including technical duties such as sound, lighting, and set creation. [ [http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&refno=21033&category=Schools Boca Raton News - Local News | Real Estate | Events | Dining | Hotel | Society ] ] School plays are performed on stage in the school theater which also serves as the school cafeteria and dance hall for school dances such as Homecoming and Prom.

ClubsEach Wednesday afternoon, a large selection of clubs meets on campus after school. The list of clubs includes a golf club, various foreign language clubs, academic clubs, art club, flying club, and many more. These clubs are usually held in the classrooms of the sponsoring teacher. Often, these clubs make group trips to areas of interest or create projects.

= Academic Prestige =
*For the past four years, Pope John Paul has placed first among high schools in Palm Beach County in the Florida Math League Competition.
*In two consecutive years, two of Pope John Paul's students have been awarded the distinguished title of National Merit Scholar for excellent performance on the PSAT.

Pope John Paul II is committed to seeing all of its graduates pursue higher education. Upon graduation, 95% of Pope students matriculate into four years colleges or universities. The remaining 5% attend either two year colleges or technical programs. The high school maintains close ties with both Lynn University and Saint Thomas University, since several of its dual enrollment courses are run with their cooperation.

Pope graduates are frequently accepted to the nations most prestigious colleges and universities.The 2007 graduating class was awarded over $3.2 million in scholarships.

Accredidation
* Member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
* Member of the National Catholic Education Association
* Member of the national Education Association
* Florida Catholic Conference
* Florida High School Activities Association
* National Association of Secondary School Principals
* Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
* National Honor Society of Secondary Schools
* Member of College Board

=Catholic Identity=Religious Education

Religious education classes are required courses for all students. Students are educated mainly in Catholic subjects but also learn about world religions as part of regular social studies courses. Catholic Masses are offered to parents and the student body once a month. Bishop Barbarito has visited the school on more than a few occasions to celebrate Mass. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered to students once a year.

RetreatsOnce a year, in-school retreats are held for all classmen except Seniors. These retreats bring together the student body for a day of reflection and cooperative interactive programs meant to help the students grow in their knowledge of themselves, each other and their personal spirituality. These retreats are held in the gymnasium on separate days for freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Seniors are strongly encouraged to attend a Kairos retreat. The Kairos Retreat Program has been the core of Pope John Paul's retreat ministry since 1988. This is a retreat for seniors that has been adopted by many high schools throughout the country and by all of the Carmelite high schools in the United States.Kairos is a Greek word meaning “The Lord’s Time”. It is built upon a peer-to-peer ministry model which helps the retreatants deepen their relationships with themselves, their families, their friends and Jesus Christ. Prayer and Sacraments are an essential part of the retreat, as well as the retreatants’ involvement in discussions and group exercises. The goal of the retreat is to help the student achieve a greater awareness of who they are and where they are going. [http://pjpii.org/spiritual_life/retreat_programs.jsp?rn=2275541]

Patron and School MottoSince the death of Pope John Paul II, a number of clergy at the Vatican and laymen throughout the world have been referring to the late pontiff as "John Paul the Great"—only the fourth pope to be so acclaimed, and the first since the first millennium. Additionally, John Paul II had a special relationship with Catholic youth and is known by some as The Pope for Youth. The motto of Pope John Paul II High School is a quote from this late pontiff:"Always remember that only if one builds, as St. Paul says, on the one foundation which is Jesus Christ will one be able to construct something really great and lasting."-Pope John Paul II, January 27, 1979 [http://pjpii.org/about/motto.jsp?rn=3136041]

References

External links

* [http://pjpii.org/ Official website]
* [http://www.carmelites.com/ Carmelites website]
* [http://www.adriansisters.org/ Adrian Sisters website]