April 2021
Spirit of Service:Student Council
During a year with so many challenges, PJP II's Student Council has persevered to sponsor school-wide activites as well as support important charitable causes in our community. Activities included a school wide collection for Birthright of Coatesville, a week long Book Reading and door decorating contest to honor American author Dr. Seuss, and a Dress Differently Purple Day, in honor of a school family, to raise awareness and collect donations to support medical research for Sanfilippo Syndrome, also known as Children’s Alzheimer’s. Each classroom signed their names in purple, the color used to represent Sanfilippo Syndrome, on a puzzle piece in honor of the family. The school collected $1,120.00 for the Sanfilippo Foundation. Many thanks to Ms. Dohoney(7th), Mrs. Farish(5th) and Miss Tronoski(7th) for moderating this year's Student Council activities.
Season of Sacraments
Forty-two students will receive their First Holy Communion and forty-seven students will be confirmed at one of our four partner parishes, St. Peter, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Joseph and Our Lady of Consolation, this Spring. Congratulations and God Bless our 2nd and 8th grade students as they grow deeper in their faith and closer to God.
Celebrating our 20th and 30th Year Graduates
CACES Class of 1991
CACES Class of 2001
Sister Leo Mary, IHM
Principal 1985-1995
R.I.P.
Sister Helen Loretta, IHM
Principal 1997-2009
Sister Jeanne Mary, IHM
Vice Principal 1999-2009
Giving Back - A Family Affair
Preschooler Evelyn McElroy '30 is quite familiar with the grit and determination needed to reach a goal. She is walking 100 laps around the park in her neighborhood during the month of April to raise funds for this year's Dash for Cash. She has surpassed her initial goal of $1,000 and hopes to exceed $2,000.

In 2014, Evelyn's dad Patrick started fundraising and participating in the annual Central Pennsylvania St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer. Only 7 months old, Evelyn attended her first St. Jude Walk/Run event in 2016. Patrick added long-distance walk challenges before the 5K Walk/Run event in order to grow his fundraising. Evelyn and her mom, Kirstin (and later her brother Liam '33 and sister Amelia '35) join Patrick for the official 5K walk event at the conclusion of his long-distance walk. Due to the pandemic, Patrick moved his 2020 long walk to the neighborhood in Coatesville where they live. Evelyn and her brother Liam were his biggest cheerleaders as Patrick walked 100 miles in under 24 hours to raise $19,000+ for childhood cancer research.

One night at the dinner table, the topic of Dash for Cash came up. Evelyn suggested that she could set a walk challenge to raise funds. Referring to the trail around the park in their neighborhood, she said to Patrick, "Dad if you can walk 100 miles, maybe I can walk 100 laps." Patrick and Kirstin suggested that Evelyn consider completing that challenge over a month as opposed to one day. Every day after school, starting on April 1st, Evelyn walked a couple of laps toward her goal. Many of Evelyn's family and friends have committed to support her, and some are donating $1 per lap completed. On April 25, 2021 Evelyn completed her 100th lap around the park! Congratulations Evelyn on reaching your goal and helping raise money for our school! We are PJP Proud!

Evelyn's mom, Kirstin Wentz McElroy CACES '95 is a 4th generation funeral home director at Wentz Funeral Home in Coatesville. She also serves as a member of the school's Board of Limited Jurisdicton and the Development committee. Also graduates of Catholic school are Kirstin's mom, Joye Wentz St. Cecilia '65 and siblings: Erin Taylor Warfel CACES '91, Brendan Taylor CACES '93 and wife Erin Hennessy Taylor CACES '99, Sara Taylor Kenna CACES '96 and Caitlin Taylor Braun CACES '03.
Fundraiser Updates
The 9th Annual Kids Dash for Cash campaign kicked off on April 26th. After the pandemic halted the event last Spring, the Dash committee is excited to bring the event safely back to campus. Students will earn raffle tickets for prizes based on the amount of donations they collect, business sponsors brought in and the amount of laps they walk during the two day event set for May 10 and 11. Proceeds will benefit the school's STEM and Fine Arts program. A BIG thank you to our business sponsors, families and friends who generously support the Dash and PJP II School, especially during these challenging times. LINK
Special thanks to our 7th and 8th grade Student Council who created the Dash for Cash video to share with classmates and the community. The media equipment used was made possible through a generous grant awarded by the Connelly Foundation.
The school's Annual Fund campaign will come to a close on June 30th. If you would like to support our school with a monetary gift to the PJPII Fund please click here: https://givebutter.com/PJPIIFund. No gift amount is too small. Thank you for your support! All donations are tax deductible in accordance with applicable laws.
ALUMNI CORNER
Officer Brian Gale '08 graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. Officer Gale entered the Police Academy in 2017 and started his Police career with the Folcroft Borough Police Department later that year. He also served with the Parkesburg Borough Police Department, before joining the Darby Township Police Department in 2019. Thank you for your service Officer Gale!

Officer Gale's mother, Janet Gale, has served as the Hot Lunch Manager for PJP II and CACES since 1999 and Brian's sister Erin Gale graduated from CACES in 2005. Erin is currently a Regional Sales Manager - PA & DE for Cape May Brewing Co.
Congratulations to our PJP alumni who were selected to represent Bishop Shanahan in the All Catholic Chorus: Madison Borkowski '17, Sarah Carpenter '17 and Natalie Stewart '19 and the All Catholic Concert Band: Jacob Hetzke '17 Trumpet, Jake Guldin '17 Flute, MaxAnthony Hashem '17 Bassoon and Vivian Schaffer '19 French Horn.
The PJP II community mourns the loss of Ali March '11. Born in West Chester, Ali was the daughter of Robert "Bob" March and Karen Howden-March. She was the fiance of Adam Waltemyer. Her mother Karen is a member of the PJP II CARES staff.

Ali's love of helping others led her to a career as an EMT which she was extremely passionate about. She was on the path to becoming a paramedic. She was a student in Class #42 of HACC. Ali was a member of Hazmat 2 Enviornmental Fire Rescue, Washington Hose Company, and numerous EMS agencies. Ali loved horesback riding, fishing, baking, the beach and photography. Eternal rest grant unto her, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.
Enrollment for 2021-22
Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year is open and applications are still being accepted. Families interested in grades PreK-3 to grade 8 can apply here. Parents interested in Little Saints Academy for infants and toddlers age 6 weeks to 36 months can apply on a rolling admission basis. For more information regarding our child care program, click here.

In-person tours are available by appointment for new families. Masks are required for all family members. To schedule your personal tour, please click here.
Commitment to Education
Natalie Carrozza, Chief Operating Officer at First Resource Bank, recently presented a $10,000 check to Dr. Kerins, Principal and Mrs. Tarquinio, Vice Principal to help school families with tuition assistance. The EITC program allows businesses and individuals to redirect their Pennsylvania state tax dollars to schools, which in turn offer scholarships to qualified families. The Program currently benefits 150 PJP II students who have qualified for these scholarships. Our deepest gratitude to First Resource Bank for their continued support of Pope John Paul II School and the EITC program. If you are a business owner or individual writing a check to the State of Pennsylvania every year and would like to learn more about how you can participate in the EITC program, please contact the Advancement Office at 610.384.5961. Your support will offer more families an opportunity to experience a Catholic education at PJP II School! 
POPE JOHN PAUL II REGIONAL CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL