Pope John Paul II High School

The South Puget Sound region is blessed not only with quality public high schools, but also a private opportunity in the form of Northwest Christian High School. PJP2HS looks forward to becoming a partner in the educational environment of this region, allowing parents the kinds of choices they ought to have in the education of their child. We look at ourselves not as the better choice, but simply as a choice. The choice we offer is not a “private” high school, but a Catholic high school.

Our entire region benefits from the education provided by Catholic schools. The excellent results shown on the WASL, Washington state’s standard of measurement, testify to the high academic achievements of Catholic school students. The faith-based and values-laden education provided by Catholic schools strengthens the ethical fiber of our communities and trains students for responsible citizenship. Our communities have long benefited from the leadership of people educated in the Catholic schools of western Washington.

In Catholic schools, students are accountable for their progress and their behavior. Teachers reinforce academically rigorous curricula with traditional values and high expectations. The results speak for themselves:

• Minority students make up about 21% of the student population
• Catholic schools score on average 20% higher than the State averages for standardized tests
• 99% of Catholic high school students graduate
• 97% of the graduates attend postsecondary education and are more likely to complete their program of studies.

The fact that approximately 30% of the high school student population is of a diverse religious background provides proof of the welcoming environment for which Catholic schools are known.

All the knowledge given to the students is useless and possibly even dangerous if they receive it without knowing that they are good and loved by God.  Effective education requires an acknowledgment that its highest purpose is moral and spiritual. This will be accomplished with a curriculum that will promote the development of reasoned thinking that is both tempered and enriched by the Catholic Tradition. PJP2HS will promote a high level of excellence, which will depend in large part on the faith, zeal and continuing education of the staff and teachers.

The success of the school will also be based on an educational partnership with the Archdiocese of Seattle. The Church's teachings will be a core part of our teaching and our formation, allowing the Traditions handed down through the millennium to permeate every aspect of the school. The faith life of the school will be enriched by an active campus ministry and regular celebration of Mass as well as attention to social justice issues locally and globally. The students will be encouraged to be active in their local parishes or churches and provide leadership.

The school leadership (the President, Principal and at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of the Board of Directors) will be Catholics who are actively participating in the life of their parish communities.

YES!  It has been the work of PopeJP2HS for over two years to develop a business & strategic plan that passes the common-sense test, and would meet the stringent requirements of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. Through a combination of surveys, focus groups, studies, evaluations, committee work, PopeJP2HS has done just that.

On January 31, 2007, Archbishop Alex J. Brunett gave his formal approval to begin the work of raising the capital and building the campus. The extraordinary infrastructure of the Archdiocese—the 9th largest school district in the State of Washington—are and have been available to PJP2HS to make this vision a reality.

To assist in the planning, implementation and execution of the project, the Archdiocese is allowing the use of property owned north of the city of Lacey as a temporary location for the campus until such time as the Board is able to finalize an agreement and permits for its permanent campus.

The South Sound region had two Catholic high schools in the past.  St. Martin’s all-boy Catholic high school opened in 1895 and finally closed in 1974.  It was also a boarding school under the order of St. Benedict. St. Placid all-girls high school opened in 1961 and closed in 1985. It was under the order of the Sisters of St. Benedict.

Members of this community have seen the need for a Catholic education ever since 1856 when Mother Joseph first opened a Catholic school in the Pacific Northwest. The last time a new Catholic high school was opened in this region was in 1961 with the opening of St. Placid all-girls high school in Lacey.

Since the closure of St. Placid in the 1980’s there have been various attempts to bring back Catholic secondary education. Today, the many fine options of Catholic elementary education coupled with the existence of an expanding Catholic University bring to light a significant void: the lack of a Catholic high school option for parents in Southwestern Washington. This missing link becomes more vivid when viewed in the context of the growing regional population, recent surveys as well as news accounts, all of which point to the need for an additional educational choice.

While it is too early to establish a tuition amount at this juncture, the Board will ensure that tuition levels will be set at the point where it is possible to:

1. hire exceptional teachers, staff and administrators
2. maintain an effective student-teacher ratio
3. provide a viable opportunity for families based on their finances.

Effective programs for tuition assistance will be an initial and continuing priority for the school.

On property near the intersection of Hogum Bay Rd. and 31st Ave. NE in the Hawks Prairie area of Lacey. It is about 5 minutes from I-5.

No. The school is now officially named Pope John Paul II High School.

School colors are blue and gold and the mascot is an eagle.

PJP2HS will be open to all young men and women who might benefit from the excellence of its programs. However, no alteration of the Roman Catholic instruction will be made in order to exempt students of other faiths from participating in these programs. While the school will not attempt to dissuade a student from his or her beliefs, the very environment will challenge all students, regardless of faith traditions, and require dialogue that demands reasoned thought and vigorous discussion of human history.

The American culture is a powerful influence on our young men and women. It is the intent of PJP2HS to have an equal or greater influence.

The student body will be less than 200 for the first few years, ultimately climbing to an enrollment of 600.

Keeping PJP2HS as a small school allows a lesser opportunity for anonymity, thus leading to more of a sense of belonging felt by both teachers and students. Therefore, because a teacher works with fewer students, regardless of the individual class size, the domino effect is an increase in the desire of both parties to make that extra effort, leading to a more positive attitude, a heightened sense of safety, greater variety in instructional approaches, and stronger accountability among teachers, students and parents.

Through these connections, teachers will get to know students well; they become familiar with students’ learning styles, interests, backgrounds, and goals. Knowing who their students are and how they learn, teachers will adjust instruction to leverage students’ strengths and build curriculum around issues relevant to their lives. The personal connection between teachers and students will also allow teachers to push students farther. Teachers will demand higher levels of achievement when their expectations are based on a personal understanding of students’ capabilities. Because of their sustained, mutual trust, students will grant teachers the authority to challenge them as learners.

Although the co-curricular activities available for students may be limited in the early years of its existence, the Principal will work with the appropriate department heads to quickly ramp up the opportunities as the school population grows. During the first years, it is expected that students may take advantage of the co-curricular activities offered through their home school district. Activities offered through PJP2HS will ultimately be wide ranging and include such opportunities as various clubs, band, annual, athletics (football, golf, tennis, basketball, etc), and school newspaper, among other activities.

Each co-curricular activity, be it drama or football, will be held to the same high standards and high expectations as are the academic activities. The production of a memorable play or the achievement of a winning schedule is a by-product of this “strive for excellence.” These concepts are then easily transferable from the theatre or field of play to everyday life.

In order to make our vision a reality, it will require the generosity and leadership of those who share this vision for Catholic education in Southwest Washington.  PJP2HS has engaged the services of Mission Advancement Partners (formerly known as Guidance In Giving), a nationally renowned consulting firm with over 25 years  of experience, to guide efforts to raise the necessary capital in the months and years to come.