Pope John Paul II High School

That’s the Spirit!

Did you know that, according to dictionary.com, there are twenty five definitions for the word spirit. And those are just its noun forms. When you throw in spirit as an adjective and a verb, that tally rises to 30. Almost three dozen meanings for one word – three dozen attempts to define this seemingly intangible element. While reading through all of these options, my mind was flooded with examples of how life at Pope John Paul II High School is very rich in spirit. 

Like Spirit Week. Spirit, in this sense, would be definition #18: vigorous sense of membership in a group. On Sunday, October 26, dozens of students showed up at school to participate in five hours’ worth of hallway decorating, with each class transforming the corridors based on a movie theme (The Wizard of Oz, horror films, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). It was awesome to see such enthusiastic student participation in every differently-themed dress down day throughout the week. How many blue and gold painted faces did I see that Friday? Too many to count.

The newly opened PJP2 school store was swamped with eager buyers clamoring to get their Lions apparel. I believe some girls from the junior class even painted an apple with blue paint during lunchtime to display their school spirit (fortunately, no one attempted to then eat this particular fruit).

School spirit is not guaranteed; it’s something the student body and faculty have to cultivate. Needless to say, I’m thrilled and grateful to be teaching at a place teeming with vibrancy and enthusiasm. 

Definition #9 talks about spirit with a capital S: the divine influence as an agency working in the human heart. Of all the attributes that constitute the identity of Pope John Paul II High School, our being a Catholic institution is the most obvious as well as the most significant. Food Day (inspired by the school’s Social Justice Committee) is a beautiful manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit at work in our school. By referring to Friday as Food Day, each week students are reminded of those less fortunate in the local community and encouraged to bring in donations of non-perishable items for nearby shelters. There are no rewards for contributing food, save that of knowing that another person’s life has been made just a little bit better by your contribution. The Food Day tradition is so powerful because it symbolizes connectedness with and concern for all of God’s people.

This past week, I had the honor to witness the spirit of compassion firsthand in one of my Introduction to Drawing classes. Definition #8 calls spirit: an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action. During morning prayer that day, Advancement Director Mr. Catelli informed the JP2 community of a special prayer intention for a child of one of the families connected to the school. Several members of the football team, who had my class directly after receiving this information, were so moved by the news that they wanted to make a card in addition to praying for this particular family.

That, I am learning every day, is what we do here at Pope John Paul II – we care about each other.

When someone suffers, they don’t suffer in isolation. When someone is in need, they are taken care of. Seeing this instance of compassion, and the young gentlemen’s active response to a prayer petition, reminded me how important every little thing we do for others is. I am incredibly proud of these, and all of the students here, for their ability to recognize the obligation we have to reach out to others in whatever way we are capable (even in an act as simple as crafting a handmade card). 

In the spirit (definition #17, that is: the dominant tendency or character of anything, i.e. the spirit of the age) of Pope John Paul II High School, I’m ending this entry with a note of gratitude and a call for continued excellence.

Thanks for reading the First-Year Blog, and, to the PJP2 community, thanks for the spirited generosity and enthusiasm you embody. Keep on reading, and keep up the good work!