Knight Notes Announcements

July 27, 2022

Welcome Knights! For those of you new to Pope Prep, Knight Notes is our weekly communication announcing any upcoming events or important information you need to know. Please read through the announcements and contact the individual listed for more information. Thank you!

Please view a special video message from Karen Phillips, Interim Head of School, welcoming students back to campus! https://youtu.be/bZlVbt-EU70

Campus Drop-Off and Pick-Up For details about campus drop-off and pick-up procedures, please visit our website. Please call 615-822-2375 and speak to our receptionist if you have questions. 

ADVANCEMENT

Song Writer's Night, 8/6 A Knight of Song Under the Stars ~ presented by the Pope Prep Fine Arts Booster (FAB), is slated for the evening of August 6, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Event details and ticket information is available here. This is a 21+ event and will be held on campus in the courtyard. Food trucks will be available for savory and sweet bites, and beer and wine will also be made available for purchase. So grab your friends, bring your lawn chairs, find your spot, then sit back, relax, and enjoy a night of singer/songwriters sharing their best works and favorite tunes (Billy Dawson, Kim McLean, Hunter Rae, and Greg Barnhill).  

Celebration 2022, 9/10 Pope Prep invites you to our Celebration 2022 event on Saturday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. Mark your calendars to join us for dinner, drinks, music, live auction, casino games, mini golf, fellowship, and fun as we celebrate our amazing Pope Prep community! This is a 21 and up event. Ticket sales coming soon. Contact Michelle Barber (michelle.barber@popeprep.org) for sponsorship information.

ACADEMICS

Class Schedules AVAILABLE NOW Student class schedules are now available in Veracross on both the student and parent portals. New students will receive access to Veracross and a copy of their schedule at Orientation next week but can view their schedules on their parents' portal accounts. INSTRUCTIONS: Parents, click Classes & Reports under the student's name and then Current Class Schedule in blue under Schedule. Students, click the View Current Schedule banner at the top of the screen. Contact Karen Brown (karen.brown@popeprep.org) with questions. 

New Weekly Schedule The weekly schedule has changed to include more frequent Advisory, House meetings, Tutorials, Activity periods, separate Mass for high school and middle school, and adjusted lunch periods. To accommodate the changes, we have developed a Blue Week and Gold Week rotation. You can see a sample HERE. The new schedule will be shared in more detail in person next week. Please note that every Monday is a late start, with the first class period beginning at 8:25 a.m. 

Returning 9th-grade student iPads All returning 9th-grade students can pick up their iPads at High School Orientation on Monday, August 1, before the Ice Cream Social between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the CIE or after school on August 3. Students must bring their iPad case from last year. Please note all new Pope Prep students will receive their iPad on their Orientation day. 

HS New Student Orientation (required) 8/1 High School Student Orientation (new 9th graders and transfers only) will be Monday, August 1, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students will be in full uniform. Students will rotate through classes to meet teachers, participate in a House sorting ceremony, and receive school IDs, lanyards, and iPads. Our goal is to familiarize new students with the building, introduce them to the daily routine, and get comfortable with the school day flow to ensure a smooth start. Returning 9th graders are welcome to join their new classmates from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. for the House sorting and an Ice Cream Social. Contact Rachel Grisard (rachel.grisard@popeprep.org) with questions. 

MS New Student Orientation (required) 8/2 Middle School Student Orientation (new 6th, 7th, and 8th graders) will be Tuesday, August 2, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students will be in full uniform. Students will rotate through classes to meet teachers, participate in a House sorting ceremony, and receive school IDs, lanyards, and iPads. Our goal is to familiarize new students with the building, introduce them to the daily routine, and get comfortable with the school day flow to ensure a smooth start. Contact Rachel Grisard (rachel.grisard@popeprep.org) with questions. 

ARMORY

Armory Update The Armory has received new items and replenished some old favorites, so be sure to check out the Armory online store and keep your eyes open to the items that have been marked down as FINAL SALE. Polos should be back in stock the week of August 8. Contact the Armory (armory@popeprep.org) with questions.

ATHLETICS

Nashville Rowing Club Nashville Rowing is offering week-long Summer Learn-To-Row sessions with dates in August. Our Youth Learn-to-Row programs are for kids of all athletic backgrounds entering the 6th-12th grades. These week-long opportunities will teach the fundamentals for participation in our development and competitive groups in the fall. NRC meets weekly, Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Percy Priest Lake at Hamilton Creek Marina. For more information, reach out to the women’s coach and program director, Victoria Tkacz (victoria.tkacz@nashvillerowing.org) or visit nashvillerowing.org! Come out and ignite a new passion in rowing!

CALENDAR NOTES

Offices Closed 7/27-7/29 All offices will be closed on July 27-29 for Faculty and Staff In-Service.

2022-2023 Semester Calendar Significant dates for the 2022-2023 academic year are available here. 

2022-2023 School Event Calendar, Please visit the homepage of our website for upcoming events. Scroll down for School Events and further for Athletic Events. For a monthly view, visit our calendar page. Please note that we are finalizing our 2022-2023 School Event Calendar, and not all events are published after the first semester.

COMMUNICATIONS

The Shield Magazine is now available! We hope you will take a few minutes to celebrate 2021-2022 with us by reading The Shield, Pope's annual magazine highlighting our community, including students, alumni, special events, and a gratitude report. Visit The Shield to access the magazine online. 

FAMILY GUIDE The Communications Team is happy to share with you a Family Guide for all new and current families. The guide is a great resource for parents and provides quick access to a list of contacts, all sources of communications, a summer to-do list, available parent organizations, uniform guidelines, important semester dates, etc.

Pope Parent Communication - Stay Informed! We are continuously evaluating options for the best ways to keep our parents informed of current happenings at school. To stay current, get your questions answered, and for weekly/daily reminders, make sure you are following these social media resources.

Facebook Page: Official Pope John Paul II Preparatory School: https://www.facebook.com/JPIIKNIGHTS 

Instagram: Official Pope John Paul II Preparatory School- https://www.instagram.com/jpiiknights/

Pope Prep App: The Pope Prep App is available in the App Store. The weekly schedule is always current and listed on the front page, and the full school calendar is listed under "School Events." Visit your app store and search for Pope Prep. 

DINING

Meal Plans, due 8/22 Pedestal Foods offers three meal plans: Fall Semester for $650, Spring Semester for $625, or Annual for $1200. Payment is due in full on August 19 via check made out to Pedestal Foods. Students can drop their checks off in the dining hall or with the receptionist in the front office. For more details, please visit our webpage. Please contact Jeffrey Hennen (jeffrey.hennen@pedestalfoods.com) with questions. 

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Substitute Teaching If you are interested in substituting for the 2022-2023 school year, or would like to learn more about the opportunity, contact Melissa Baxter (melissa.baxter@popeprep.org). All substitute teachers must complete Safe Environment Training and have an up-to-date background check.  

After School Supervision We are searching for someone to supervise students after school in the CIE Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Contact Rachel Grisard (rachel.grisard@popeprep.org) if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity. 

Substitute Nurse On occasion, we have a need for a substitute nurse during the school day. Contact Susan Snyder (susan.snyder@popeprep.org) at 615-423-9385 if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity. 

KAC

Tailgate Row for Pope Friday Night Football The KAC is happy to release more Brian Motor Sports Tailgate Row spaces for Pope Football Friday Nights! If you are interested in being part of the fun, click on the link to purchase your personal space, https://forms.diamondmindinc.com/jp2hs/tgr. There are 12 Tailgate Row spots ($200 each) located on the top level of the parking lot and 50 ($100 each) Extra Parking Spaces. Either parking spot can be purchased on the same form. Contact tailgaterowjp2@gmail.com with questions.

NURSE

Magnus Health, due before 8/3 We are now using Magnus Health for all student medical information. ALL STUDENTS are required to complete all necessary medical forms and questions annually, regardless of athletic participation. Please visit your parent portal in Veracross and click the yellow Magnus button on the landing page. Reminder emails were sent today and will continue until your profile is complete. Students should be marked as complete before the first day of school. Contact Susan Snyder (susan.snyder@popeprep.org) if you have questions.

PARENTS

Who do I ask? Visit the Parent webpage for a quick guide on who to call with questions.

Veracross Parent Portal Veracross parent portal accounts have been launched for parents who are new to Pope Prep. Veracross is where you'll link to Magnus, view your student's schedule*, classes, assignments, grades, report cards, and more. The website to access your parent portal is portals.veracross.com/jp2. If you've previously enabled a Veracross account (during the Admissions process or with another child) your username (usually first.last name, example: john.smith) and password are the same. If you cannot remember your password, click "Can't access your account?" on the log-in page and follow the instructions there. Please note: this will only work if there is a unique email address associated with your account, i.e. parents do not share an email address within the system. For problems logging in, please contact Karen Brown (karen.brown@popeprep.org). 

STUDENT LIFE

Uniform Reminder Retired JPII logo oxfords, polos, and outerwear is not permitted Monday through Thursday but may be worn on Spirit Dress Fridays with uniform bottoms or jeans free from holes, tears, rips, or frays. 

Locker Request Students in grades 7th-12th can request a locker for the 2022-2023 school year by completing the Locker Request Form. All incoming 6th-grade students will be assigned a locker at Orientation on August 2 and do NOT need to complete the request form. Contact Melissa Baxter (melissa.baxter@popeprep.org) with questions. 

Parking Pass All students driving to school must have an up-to-date parking pass. Please complete the Parking Pass Form if you are registering a new driver or did not update your parking pass last year. Contact Melissa Baxter (melissa.baxter@popeprep.org) with questions. 

Replacement ID & Lanyard Returning students who need a new ID and or a new lanyard can purchase them electronically at ID & Lanyard. The replacement cost is $5.00 for an ID and $5.00 for a lanyard ($10.00 if you need both). Contact Melissa Baxter (melissa.baxter@popeprep.org) with questions. 

2021-2022 Yearbook Delivery Welcome back, Knights! Just a reminder that we have a "fall delivery" for yearbooks at Pope Prep. This is to ensure that all of the wonderful senior celebrations and end-of-the-school-year events can be captured in the book. Yearbooks will be delivered to the school by the end of August or early September. If your student is on campus for the 2022-2023 school year, the book will be delivered to them during the school day. For all other students (including last year's seniors), you will be notified that your book is ready to be picked up from the front office. Contact Emily Parrelli (emily.parrelli@popeprep.org) with questions. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Parent Volunteer Opportunities We rely on our parent volunteers to help accomplish many activities at Pope Prep. We encourage all parents to select at least one area (more if you are able) to help support us this year. You can sign up for a committee by completing this form on the website.

GREATER COMMUNITY

NCBWL Pearls of Wisdom Evening for Education, 9/10 Join the Nashville Catholic Business Women's League for our first nighttime event at the beautiful Bishop's Hall at the Catholic Pastoral Center on 9/10. Perfect date night to help support Catholic Education! Tickets are $100/person or $800/table and will include appetizers, cocktails, dinner by the Clean Plate Club, and silent and live auctions. You may even attend Mass at 5:30 p.m .in the chapel. You can purchase your tickets or make a donation at www.ncbwl.org to help fund scholarships for three young women at each of the local Catholic high schools. 

Junior Cotillion for Grades 5th-8th The National League of Junior Cotillion is a three-year curriculum designed to give young people instruction and practice in the courtesies that make life more pleasant for them and those around them; to give them thorough training in standard ballroom dance; and to provide opportunities to practice and enjoy these skills at memorable parties, balls, dinners, and events, complete with decorations, refreshments, favors and prizes. Junior Cotillion program places emphasis on etiquette, manners and character education as well as on dancing. The social and character education components of the program include rules of proper telephone courtesy, acknowledgments of gifts, introductions, receiving lines, participating in group settings, polite conversation, paying and receiving compliments, sports etiquette, first impressions, dress code for all occasions, manners in the home and in public places, table manners, formal place settings, styles of dining including American, Asian, and Continental, skills involved in being a guest, hostess or host, and many other areas of social behavior. Other topics covered are the ethics involved in the areas of having honor, dignity, respect, honesty, fairness, a caring attitude, accountability, and citizenship. For more information about the Junior Cotillion program offerings in Sumner County, including class availability and schedules, please contact (Kari.Knowlton@nljc.com) 615-585-9958 https://nljc.com/n/index.php/chapters/greatersumner/chapter.

July 1, 2022

Dear Pope Prep Community,

Hello, Pope families and new Knights! We hope everyone is enjoying their summer break! 

Today is the second of two "Summer To Do List" emails to help prepare you for the start of school in August. Please read through the following list carefully and complete the noted required tasks and others that apply to you. 

Veracross Parent Portal: All new families still only have access to the admissions portal within Veracross. We are working hard to get accounts updated and will let you know as soon as we have them ready. You will receive a Veracross setup email and be able to use this login information to access the parent portal. In the meantime, please continue to gather the necessary information to upload to Magnus once you are active in the system. If you are participating in an athletics program prior to getting access, paper forms should be submitted to the school nurse, Susan Snyder (susan.snyder@popeprep.org).

Back to School Information Day (optional): To ensure you are ready for the start of school, please plan to come to our Back to School Information Day on Friday, July 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We will have information tables from all areas of the school, including the nurse, Pedestal Dining Services, Student Life, and parent organizations. Please note that this day is not mandatory, and all information is available on our website for those unable to attend.

Parent Volunteer Opportunities: We rely on our parent volunteers to help accomplish so many activities at Pope Prep. We encourage all parents to select at least one area (more if you are able) to help support us this year. You can sign up for a committee by completing this form on the website.  

Armory Update: The Armory store has been closed for our physical inventory count but will reopen on July 5. Our new stock of uniform polos has been delivered and can be purchased online or at the Back to School Information Day event. Middle school PE shirts are still on backorder and should arrive before school starts (except for youth sizes which might arrive during the first couple of weeks of school). Students will be given a grace period if they are unable to purchase PE shirts due to this delay.

Student Orientation (required): High School Student Orientation (new 9th graders and transfers only) will be Monday, August 1, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Middle School Student Orientation (new 6th, 7th, and 8th graders) will be Tuesday, August 2, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students will be in full uniform. Students will rotate through classes to meet teachers, participate in a House sorting ceremony, and receive school IDs, lanyards, and iPads. Our goal is to familiarize new students with the building, introduce them to the daily routine, and get comfortable with the school day flow to ensure a smooth start. Returning 9th graders are welcome to join their new classmates from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. for the House sorting and an ice cream social.

Student IDs and Lanyards: All new students will receive their Student IDs and lanyards at Orientation (August 1 and 2). If you haven't had your ID photo taken, please plan to attend the Back to School Information Day on July 22. If you cannot attend, please contact Melissa Baxter (melissa.baxter@popeprep.org) to schedule a time to take your ID photo. Returning students should have their ID and lanyards from last year.  

Senior Portraits: Seniors in the class of 2023 will be taking their formal senior and cap/gown portraits with our official school photographer Mark Griffith on July 25, 26, or 27. Portraits will be taken in the Pope Prep auditorium, and the session should take around 20 minutes. Please make an appointment here: SENIOR PORTRAIT APPOINTMENTS. We also need parent volunteers to help with the event. If you are able, please sign up ASAP on the volunteer link (select Student Life).

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Seniors should plan to bring a parent, guardian, or friend to help them with the outfit change during the photo shoot. 
• All clothing is provided by the photographer, including black drapes for ladies, tuxedos for gentlemen, and the cap/gown for all students.
• Students should be dress-code compliant for these official school portraits, adhering to grooming standards outlined in the student handbook, including hair color, length, and facial hair. See the complete dress code policy here.
• Students who are unable to attend these July portrait dates will take their senior portraits during school portrait days for underclassmen in early August (date to be determined later). We will pull a list of seniors who did not attend the July dates and communicate with them directly; no appointment is necessary in this case.

Upcoming Parent Events

New Parents Social: All new Pope Prep parents are invited to drop by for a meet and greet at 12 Stones Golf Club in The Sand Trap Restaurant (1201 W 12 Stones Crossing, Goodlettsville, TN 37072) on Thursday, July 21, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This is not a required event, but if your schedule permits, we'd love to welcome you to the Pope Prep community. Please RSVP here.

Song Writer's Night: A Knight of Song Under the Stars ~ presented by the Pope Prep Fine Arts Booster (FAB), is slated for the evening of August 6, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Event details and ticket information are available here. This is a 21+ event and will be held on campus in the courtyard. Food trucks will be available for savory and sweet bites, and beer and wine will also be made available for purchase. So grab your friends, bring your lawn chairs, find your spot, then sit back, relax, and enjoy a night of singer/songwriters sharing their best works and favorite tunes (Billy Dawson, Kim McLean, Hunter Rae, and Keesy Timmer).  

Previously Communicated on June 1, 2022

1. Magnus Health Account (required) Pope requires all students (regardless of athletic participation) to complete all necessary medical forms and questions every year. Please complete the Magnus Health Account process HERE. 
2. Uniform Polos can be purchased online at the Armory Store, or you can order uniforms online at millswear.com. 
3. Summer Assignments & Supplies (required for some) There are summer assignments for select classes in English and Math. Please visit HERE to review the list of assignments and required calculators for all students in grades 6-12. If no assignments are listed for your class, no assignments are required. 
4. Athletic Tryouts and coaches' email addresses can be viewed HERE.
5. Bus Service All routes will remain the same. You can access the routes HERE. Please contact Vicki Dorr (vicki.dorr@popeprep.org) if you want to sign up for bus service. 
6. Dining Services (optional) Pope Prep partners with Pedestal Foods to provide made-to-order food for breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks. Parents can purchase a full-year or semester Meal Plan by completing a Student Meal Plan form due August 19. 

Watch your email for the weekly Knight Notes message starting on July 20, 2022.

Pope Prep Communications Team

NOW LIVE - Magnus Health Account

To access your Magnus Health Account:

Please visit your parent portal in Veracross and click the yellow Magnus button on the landing page.  You will be automatically logged into your Magnus Front Desk page.  There is a tutorial video to assist you in learning how to navigate your Magnus account.

Complete all Required Tasks:

Pope requires all students (regardless of athletic participation) to complete all necessary medical forms and questions every year.  These include:

1. Student Vital Health Record: Please answer all questions.
2. Immunization Form: The nurse will upload your student immunization records that were submitted as part of the application process.  Unless you are notified by the nurse, you do not need to complete this area.
3. Medical Eligibility Form: Students are required to have an annual physical examination and submit a Medical Eligibility Form to the school before July 31.  Athletes should submit their eligibility form before tryouts or practice for their particular sports team but at least within one year of their previous physical.  The Medical Eligibility Form should be printed and signed by both a physician and a parent or guardian.  The nurse will upload this form for any student who attended the free physical day at Pope.
4. Consent to Treat: Please electronically sign your consent for treatment.
5. Over-The-Counter Medication Form: Please give your permission for your student to receive various over-the-counter medications while at school or during a school-related activity.
6. Prescription Drug Form: Must be completed for all prescription medications that will be sent with a student during the school day.  The form must be signed by a physician.
7. Action Plans: Necessary forms should be completed if the student has asthma, severe allergies, or a seizure disorder.  Forms must be signed by a physician.
8. Sudden Cardiac Arrest Symptoms and Warnings: This form should be printed and signed by the student and parent/guardian.
9. Concussion Form: This form should be printed and signed by the student and parent/guardian.
10. Transportation Permission Form: The top portion of this form must be completed for all students.  The bottom portion of this form is specifically for athletic transportation.

Once all forms and questions have been completed, the information will be reviewed by the nurse and marked as approved.  Parents/Guardians should have all information submitted by July 31 to ensure their students can participate in school activities.  Parents of athletes should complete all forms before practice or traveling with their respective teams.

New Families and Veracross Accounts:

All new families for the 2022-2023 school year only have access to the admissions portal within Veracross.  Parent accounts will be established at the end of June after all grades have been finalized, seniors have matriculated out of the system, and the Registrar can update all student profiles to their 2022-2023 school year grade level. You will receive a setup email and be able to use this login information to access the parent portal.  In the meantime, please use this time to gather the necessary information to upload to Magnus once you are active in the system.  If you are participating in an athletics program during June, paper forms should be submitted to the school nurse, Susan Snyder (susan.snyder@popeprep.org).

Magnus Mobile App:

Magnus Health has a mobile app to access and complete your student health forms.  Please visit the Magnus Quick Start Guide for instructions to download and use the Magnus app.  Please note you will need to establish your login information for the app through the Magnus website by completing the following steps:

1. Navigate to the Magnus Portal Login button from your Veracross Parent Portal.
2. When you are logged into Magnus, hover over your name in the upper left corner of the screen.
3. Choose "Change Credentials."
4. Create a Username & Password that only you know and will remember. These will be the credentials that you will use for the mobile app login only. This will not change how you access the Magnus Portal through your Veracross Parent Account.
5. On your mobile device, download the new mobile app that is named "Magnus Health" from the Apple Store or the Google Play store.
6. Log into the new Magnus Health mobile app from your phone using your new username & password.

Questions or Problems:

If you are having difficulty navigating the Magnus system, entering data online, downloading the hardcopy coversheets and forms, or if you have any other questions, please contact customer support at Magnus Health by clicking the "Need Help?" button at the top left corner of your Magnus Health account front desk or by calling their support team at (919) 502-7689.

If you have any questions regarding required forms or specific medical concerns for your student, please contact Susan Snyder, School Nurse, at susan.snyder@popeprep.org.