Parent and Student Handbook

Employee Directory

We welcome you to Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, one of the finest Catholic schools in the country. In our short history, we have accomplished so much and have gained considerable praise for our Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program, which has redefined the role of STEM/STREAM programs and internships in Catholic education. We always seek to provide our students and their families with the best education possible grounded in our love for and faith in God. Our teachers, coaches, staff, board trustees, parents, and diocesan leaders are partners in a great mission that helps transform the lives of our students so they can have a positive influence on God's world. We thank you for being part of this great school, and we are looking forward to making every day at Pope Prep a great day to be a Knight.

Our handbook outlines our curriculum, our program, and our policies. It is a tool to show you the possibilities of seeking new challenges, taking risks, and trying new things. A good education teaches you how to overcome obstacles and not avoid them. At Pope, we help and support students to go "beyond themselves" and be part of something bigger. Our policies help us live within a community to make it better. Take time to go through the handbook and understand our community so you may thrive here and find joy in your time as a Knight.

History

Pope John Paul II High School was founded in 2002 by the diocese of Nashville under Bishop Edward Kmiec, now the retired bishop of Buffalo, NY.  We opened that year with two grades, ninth and tenth, and added an additional grade each year, becoming a 9-12 school in 2004-2005. In the fall of 2021, we incorporated a middle school, adding grades 6-8, which prompted a rebranding campaign and our new name Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. The majority of the student body lives in Sumner or Davidson counties. Still, there is a strong regional draw, with students from 10 different counties, 56 different zip codes, and two states. Mr. Hans Broekman was the school's first head of school and led the school until 2008, followed by Mr. Faustin Weber from 2008-2015, Mr. Mike Deely from 2015-2022, and current Interim Head of School Ms. Karen Phillips.

Mission Statement

Inspired by Faith, Pope John Paul II Preparatory School prepares students to be strong in mind, body, character, and spirit for lives of learning and service according to the Gospel. 

 

THE KNIGHTS' QUEST

Questing for faith and wisdom

Understanding responsibility to community

Embracing excellence

Seeking balance in academics, arts, and athletics

Trusting God's Plan for You

 

School Philosophy

Middle and high school are times of discovery, a chance for students to explore their talents and find out what they genuinely enjoy doing. We hope students will embrace our school's Renaissance ideal. We want them to become scholars and people of faith dedicated to the service of others. But we also want them to develop their talents as musicians, artists, orators, thespians, and athletes.  We believe when students strive toward excellence in these many areas, they will flourish and live truly happy lives. 

Parent-School Partnership

Parents are the primary educators of their children. The school seeks to work in partnership with parents to make their children's education comprehensive, effective, and inspiring. Parents are encouraged to take an active interest in the progress of their children. They are encouraged to approach faculty members, staff members, or administrators directly by telephone, email, or appointment. If you have a concern, the first point of contact should be the faculty member or school counselor. If this contact is unsatisfactory or if the parent's concerns are more general, parents should contact the appropriate administrator. General matters of an academic nature should be referred to the Assistant Head of School for Academics. General issues relating to Student Life should be directed to the Dean of Students.

Because parents are the primary educators, a constructive working relationship between the school and a student's parent or guardian is essential to accomplishing the educational mission of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School.  The school reserves the right to terminate or not renew a student's enrollment contract if the school reasonably concludes that the actions of a parent or guardian make a positive and constructive relationship impossible or otherwise seriously interfere with the accomplishment of the educational aspirations of the school.

Admissions Policy

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School does not discriminate based on race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, or gender. Though our first priority is to serve the Catholic community, we welcome students and families of all Christian faiths, united as we are in service to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as those from other faith traditions. In these matters, we take inspiration from our namesake, Saint John Paul II, who said:

It is absolutely clear that ecumenism, the movement promoting Christian unity, is not just some sort of "appendix" which is added to the Church's traditional activity. Rather, ecumenism is an organic part of her life and work, and consequently must pervade all that she is and does; it must be like the fruit borne by a healthy and flourishing tree, which grows to its full stature. (John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint, 1995) and

“(Inter-religious dialogue) is often a source of great joy and encouragement. It leads us to discover how God is at work in the minds and hearts of people and indeed in their rites and customs. “ (John Paul II, address to Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, 2001).

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School has a competitive admissions process and cannot accept all applicants. We strive to be transparent in our admissions process about the qualities and characteristics that we expect of future Knights. First and foremost, we seek candidates who value, and are committed to, the mission of a Catholic school, which means they have a willingness to engage in spiritual growth, understand the teachings of the Catholic Church, and have an openness to living in a community of prayer, service, and discipleship to Jesus Christ. In evaluating applicants, the Admissions office seeks students who have the prerequisite skills to succeed in a college preparatory program - determined by an assessment of their prior academic record, recommendations of teachers, a placement test, and personal interviews. A wide diversity of academic talent is supported by academic offerings, which allow students to choose between College Preparatory, Honors, Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment selections, depending on aptitude and work ethic. Students must be supported and respectful of others and understand that our rules, policies, and expectations are essential to success at the school. Ultimately, we desire candidates who seek to understand their God-given gifts and want to push themselves every day to pursue excellence in all that they do to live a life of service, leadership, and love of all humankind.

Financial Aid

We recognize that the total cost of tuition at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School is beyond the means of some outstanding students and families. To make Pope Prep affordable to as broad a range of families as possible, the school assists students with demonstrated need. A separate application for financial aid is necessary and reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee, independent of the Admissions Committee. 

The Admissions Committee makes acceptance decisions well before the financial aid process begins, such that aid requests are not a factor in admissions decisions. At the same time, parents must be realistic in understanding that Pope Prep only awards partial financial assistance and that the responsibility for affording Pope Prep rests primarily with the family. 

Emergency Drills

Fire, severe weather, and school lockdown drills will be conducted during the school day at the discretion of the Administration. Students are expected to respond in a quiet and orderly fashion according to these guidelines.

• Fire Drills will be held routinely, without prior notification. The alarm is a loud, high-frequency beeping sound that is distinctive, OR an announcement is made "This is a fire drill."  Students are to leave the building in an orderly fashion to designated safe areas. Teachers will direct students to the correct locations. Students may return once the school gives the all-clear signal.
• For Severe Weather/Tornado Drills, an announcement will be made that, "This is a tornado drill." Students are routed to hallways in designated areas and asked to assume a crouched position facing the wall and to await further instructions. No students may use the bathrooms or be allowed to move away from direct supervision until the drills are over.
• For Safety/School Lock-Down Drills, there will be an announcement over the intercom that says, "This is a school lockdown drill." We follow the Run, Hide, Secure/Fight method. (RUN) In a true emergency, such as a violent incident, we expect students to safely exit the building (Run) if capable. Students should then go to the designated safe areas. (HIDE) If students cannot safely exit the building, we expect them to go to a locked down secure room (Hide). Generally, this will be the classroom they are in or the nearest room where those who hide inside can lock the door. Students should move away from the doors and windows and remain quiet. If the incident is during class time, teachers will lock the classroom door. If students are out of class for any reason, they will go immediately to the nearest classroom, whether it is their classroom or not. Coaches have designated locker-room areas to channel students and lock doors for gym and weight-lifting classes. If the incident occurs outside of class time, all students should go to the nearest classroom. Students in or near the cafeteria should quickly go to the school auditorium, where doors will be secured.  While in classrooms, students should sit under windows, away from the line of sight from the outside and away from doors. Students should be quiet, awaiting further instructions. No cellphones are to be out or used during this process. An announcement will declare when conditions are "safe" to return to normalcy. (SECURE/FIGHT) Students may be directed to barricade the door or defend themselves in the (Secure/Fight) scenario. We have partnered with state and local law enforcement to train our faculty, staff, and students in these procedures.

The daily schedule at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School is structured around an eight-period course load. The schedule offers several advantages. In allowing students to take eight classes each year, the schedule provides exposure to a broad core curriculum, leaving room to take additional electives in AP courses, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the arts, and the Study Halls and support programs, notably the Knights Success Program.

Attendance Policies

Absences

Daily attendance is both a school and a state requirement, and the school must validate that students are not truant in order to grant course credits towards promotion to the next grade level and graduation requirements. Beyond legal requirements, regular class attendance is essential for student intellectual growth and managing the rigorous courses at Pope Prep.

Absence Policy

If a student is chronically absent, they may be subject to the absence policies outlined below:

After a student misses five days of school per semester, the Student Life office will communicate to the student and family, outlining the school's absence policies. 

If a student misses eight days of school per semester, or if a student has an extended absence that results in major missing work, it will initiate an Academic Review from the Student Support Team to assess whether the student is making sufficient progress to maintain enrollment at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. If adequate progress is being made, the team will review the student's academic progress and create a make-up schedule after communicating with teachers.

Suppose a student has a physical injury (e.g., a concussion, surgery, etc.) that impacts the ability to complete academic assignments. In that case, the Student Support Team will use the above guidelines to create a make-up plan for the student. If a student returns to athletic practices/games (e.g., in the event of a concussion), they are no longer eligible to receive academic accommodations provided during the recovery period. Please see the concussion protocol for more information. 

Students who miss eight days of school will be ineligible for all extracurricular activities or school-related events that require absences from classes until they make up all academic requirements. The Student Life office is responsible for communicating this information to coaches, club sponsors, and the leaders of school activities.

Unexcused Absences

If a student has an appointment with or diagnosis from a medical professional and brings documentation to school, the absence will be considered excused. 

Student Life will consider additional circumstances on a case-by-case basis (i.e., death in the family, major family event, etc.).  Please note that both excused and unexcused absences count towards the total number of days a student is considered absent. If a student misses more than eight days, they are subject to an Academic Review. 

School-Related Absences and College Visit Days

Field trips for educational purposes enhance the learning process. For that reason, school-sponsored field trips, approved college day visits, checkouts, absences for athletic events, or other activities of rare circumstance that the school has pre-approved do not generally count toward days missed if the procedures below are correctly followed (see below).  If a student is not meeting their educational commitments in a class, the Administration reserves the right to veto this activity. Commitment to one's studies is a prerequisite for other activities. With pre-approval from the office of Student Life, juniors and seniors may take two college visit days per year that do not count toward the absence policy. The school, however, encourages families to visit colleges during school breaks.

We believe students should visit colleges before committing to schools and encourage families to take these trips with their children. As much as possible, we ask that these be planned so that as little school is missed as possible. The original purpose of "Fall Break" was for seniors to visit schools without falling behind. Even so, we allow two missed days per year (with extensions if visiting a faraway school):

• Parents should notify the Student Life office and request the college day visit, noting the school and dates.
• Students should bring back a written verification of the visit by an appropriate college official in the administration office. 
• As with any planned absence, students should consult with their teachers before the absence and arrange to complete all missed work.

Tardiness

If a tardy is due to a doctor's appointment, we require that students bring a note from the doctor to excuse the tardy. Students tardy for any other reason will be considered tardy-unexcused and be issued a point (Pope Point System Link). Students who arrive past 8:30 a.m., without a note from a medical professional, will be issued 3 points per class missed. 

Students arriving at school any time after 7:55 a.m. are required to check-in at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  They must have a note before going to class. Students who are not in their assigned location by 7:55 a.m. will be marked tardy unexcused and will be issued a point unless they present a medical note to the Student Life office the following day. Students will receive a point for each unexcused tardy.

Athletic and Extracurricular Participation: Students must be in class no later than 11:00 a.m. to participate in an athletic practice or game. The only exception to this rule is if the student brings in an official medical note from their physician, dentist, or medical provider. Students arriving from a medical appointment must be in school before 12:00 p.m. to be eligible to participate in a game or practice. 

While on Campus

No student may leave the campus during the academic day without the permission of the Student Life office. Students who violate this policy are liable for suspension.

Students who drive to school may not return to their cars without permission from the Dean of Students or staff from the Student Life office during the academic day.

Students will not be allowed to enter the school building until 7:15 a.m. each morning. Students may not congregate in the parking lot but should enter the building as soon as they exit their cars.

High School students are allowed to have lunch and congregate in the courtyard immediately in front of the school. All other outside areas of the campus are off-limits for students from 7:55 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. unless accompanied by faculty.

Parking Permits

All students who drive their vehicles to school must have a current parking permit. Parking permits will be distributed through Student Life. Students will have assigned parking spaces that are updated yearly. Vehicles on campus during school hours without a parking permit will be towed at the owner's expense. 

Early Dismissals

Any student who needs to leave school during the academic day for an appointment must submit a note to the Student Life office from the parent/guardian, explaining the reason for Early Dismissal by 7:55 a.m. that day. At the appointed dismissal time, students should report to the Center of Innovation and sign out. If the student is leaving for a medical or dental appointment, they should bring a note from the provider the next day. Non-essential early dismissals are strongly discouraged and result in students being issued 3 points per class that they miss.

If a student faces an illness during the school day, they must first see the Nurse to leave school during the school day. Balancing the health needs of students with prioritizing that the student attends classes, the school Nurse must sign off on a student leaving school during the school day. If the issue relates to mental health (e.g., anxiety attacks, depression, self-harm, etc.), the student should see a counselor before being signed out to leave during the school day.

If the student is leaving for a doctor's appointment, physical therapy, emotional therapy, etc., they should bring a note from the relevant health professional to account for the absence.

Suppose a student misses school due to familial obligations (e.g., a sibling's graduation, a family wedding, etc.). In that case, they must seek prior approval for the absence/early dismissal at least 24 hours before the dismissal.

Failure to present proper documentation or gaining prior approval for absences may result in Student Life consequences ranging from Loss of Privileges (LOPed), Saturday school, or being placed on the Academic Probation list depending on the frequency and severity of the situation.

Concussion Protocol and Academic Accommodations

If a student experiences an event that may have caused a concussion:

• After the event, the student must be diagnosed by a doctor. 
• Athletic Trainers are alerted to concussions by the student/family. The family provides a doctor's note to the Athletic Trainers. 
• Athletic Trainers email the Nurse and relevant Coaches and include student symptoms and accommodations and any additional pertinent information.  
• The Nurse will email the student's teachers and counselor and include necessary accommodations due to their symptoms. 
• Teachers should continue accommodations until an Athletic Trainer clears the student. 
• The Athletic Trainer will complete a Daily Symptom Check and documentation.  
• The Athletic Trainer will email the Nurse when a student enters "Return to Play." 
• The Nurse will email teachers and counselors to end accommodations. 

Suppose a student requires additional academic accommodations due to a concussion after two weeks. In that case, a family meeting will be held with the Student Support Team to discuss potential alternative options moving forward. These accommodations may include, but are not limited to, modifications to the curriculum, alternative assignments, extended test-taking, quiet test-taking, hard copies of materials, or an alternative schedule (shorter day, less physically demanding classes – i.e., Strength or PE). 

• Accommodations will be permitted on a case-by-case basis, as determined by the School Nurse and Athletic Trainer. While physician recommendations will be considered, Athletic Trainers reserve the right to extend concussion protocol for the health and safety of the student.
• Accommodations will continue until cleared by Pope's Athletic Trainer. 
• Students must meet with the Athletic Trainer daily to reassess continuing in the concussion protocol. 
• When a student is removed from concussion protocol, the student meets with their counselor to create a plan to make up missed work, if needed.
• Before beginning the 5-Day Return to Play Process*, students must be participating fully in their academic classes without any accommodations. 
• The goal is to limit the amount of school time a student will miss and the number of assignments missed. 

Concussion Guidelines for Parents

• Parents must provide documentation from a physician 
• Students should not drive while in the concussion protocol.
• Students should have limited access to phones, computers, and television since these activities cause concussion symptoms to worsen.
• Students should have limited physical activity while in the concussion protocol, both at school and home.
• Families are encouraged to use audiobooks or PDF readers if reading is creating concentration issues for students.
• Students should not participate in major extracurricular activities to provide time for rest, which helps the brain recover more quickly.
• Accommodations are provided for a maximum of two weeks before a meeting with the Student Support Team to discuss potential alternative options for academic support.

Concussion Guidelines for Parents

• Students must complete a Daily Symptom Check with Athletic Trainer when in school
• Students should not drive while in the concussion protocol.
• Students may not participate in sports practices while in the concussion protocol. Students may attend practices and games with the approval of Athletic Trainers. 
• Students should have limited access to phones, computers, and television since these activities cause concussion symptoms to worsen.
• Students should have limited physical activity while in the concussion protocol, both at school and home.
• Students are encouraged to use audiobooks or PDF readers if reading is creating concentration issues for students.
• Students should not participate in major extracurricular activities to provide time for rest, which helps the brain recover more quickly.

Possible Academic Accommodations

• Resting in the Nurse's office when excused from classroom activity.
• Extended time on in-class major assessments.
• Supplemental notes from peers.
• Checks for understanding from the teacher.
• Subtle cues for attention/focus from the teacher.
• Breaks when necessary.
• Alternative assessments to technology assignments when possible
• Placement in study hall instead of those classes (strength, band, chorus, active theater classes, etc.) where physical activity or noises may exacerbate concussion symptoms while in the concussion protocol.

Accommodations are provided for two weeks, after which a family meeting will be held with the Student Support Team to discuss potential alternative options moving forward. 

*Return to Play - Part of the state of Tennessee's Sports Concussion Law. Its goal is to inform and educate coaches, parents, and youth athletes and protect their health and safety. 

After School Attendance

Students are permitted to stay on campus after school if they are involved in a school-sponsored activity, wait for a bus, or study in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship closes at 5:45 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 4:00 on Fridays. Students must leave campus if they are not participating in a supervised activity. 

Attendance Policies due to Inclement Weather or Factors Impacting School

School Closing

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School follows its policies regarding school closings for inclement weather.  For the timeliest information, check the school's web page.  Remember that Pope Prep students are from ten different counties, so what may look safe from one person's home may not be safe in other counties. Though safety will be our ultimate concern in closing decisions, parents are the primary decision-makers for their children. If a parent delays sending a child to Pope Prep for reasons of weather and sends a note to the school with an explanation, Pope Prep will regard this as an excused tardy.

Because of distance and geography, there are occasions when the Clarksville or Bowling Green bus will be canceled, and students who ride that bus will be excused*, while the remainder of the student body is required to attend school that day. 

Late Opening

On some occasions, the school will open late due to weather or other factors. Check the school's web page for start time.

Early Closing

On rare occasions, if a severe storm is impending around dismissal time, the school may decide to close early. When the school does so, we will send an email to all parents and post it on our web page. Student drivers will be permitted to leave immediately. It is important that parents of student drivers discuss early closing situations and agree on where students should go in these circumstances. The Administration cannot check on every student driver and must assume that student drivers who leave do so with their parent's permission.

Emergency Drills

Fire, severe weather, and school lockdown drills will be conducted during the school day at the discretion of the Administration. Students are expected to respond in a quiet and orderly fashion according to these guidelines.

• Fire Drills will be held routinely, without prior notification. The alarm is a loud, high-frequency beeping sound that is distinctive, OR an announcement is made "This is a fire drill."  Students are to leave the building in an orderly fashion to designated safe areas. Teachers will direct students to the correct locations. Students may return once the school gives the all-clear signal.
• For Severe Weather/Tornado Drills, an announcement will be made that, "This is a tornado drill." Students are routed to hallways in designated areas and asked to assume a crouched position facing the wall and to await further instructions. No students may use the bathrooms or be allowed to move away from direct supervision until the drills are over.
• For Safety/School Lock-Down Drills, there will be an announcement over the intercom that says, "This is a school lockdown drill." We follow the Run, Hide, Secure/Fight method. (RUN) In a true emergency, such as a violent incident, we expect students to safely exit the building (Run) if capable. Students should then go to the designated safe areas. (HIDE) If students cannot safely exit the building, we expect them to go to a locked down secure room (Hide). Generally, this will be the classroom they are in or the nearest room where those who hide inside can lock the door. Students should move away from the doors and windows and remain quiet. If the incident is during class time, teachers will lock the classroom door. If students are out of class for any reason, they will go immediately to the nearest classroom, whether it is their classroom or not. Coaches have designated locker-room areas to channel students and lock doors for gym and weight-lifting classes. If the incident occurs outside of class time, all students should go to the nearest classroom. Students in or near the cafeteria should quickly go to the school auditorium, where doors will be secured.  While in classrooms, students should sit under windows, away from the line of sight from the outside and away from doors. Students should be quiet, awaiting further instructions. No cellphones are to be out or used during this process. An announcement will declare when conditions are "safe" to return to normalcy. (SECURE/FIGHT) Students may be directed to barricade the door or defend themselves in the (Secure/Fight) scenario. We have partnered with state and local law enforcement to train our faculty, staff, and students in these procedures.

Visitors

All visitors, including parents, must check-in at the main office upon arrival on campus. Visitors will be issued a Visitor's Pass on a lanyard, which they must wear while on campus and return to the main office upon departure.  We ask, however, that no visitors come to the school during exam weeks or when other schools are out of school for inclement weather. "Shadow" visitors should check in to the Admissions office at the beginning of the day. *For safety reasons, students should not open the outside doors to any person.

We encourage students to communicate with the Admissions office to invite a friend interested in enrolling at Pope Prep. These are called "shadow" days. A student who wishes to bring a friend to the school must adhere to school policies. The Pope Prep student's parent must notify the school 24 hours in advance that their son or daughter wishes to bring a guest to school. A school representative will confirm the request. On the day of the visit, the Pope student should report to the main office to receive a Visitor's Pass for their guest.  The guest should return to the main office to check out before leaving the school's campus. 

Students should be courteous to all visitors and report any person who does not have a Visitor's Pass.  Students should provide directions and answer questions for visitors when asked. 

We do not allow visitors to come to school to have lunch with their friends unless they are part of a shadow day to maintain safety and order. Alumni are welcome to visit but only during the lunch hour and not class time. Alumni will be given an alumni badge to wear while on campus. Visiting alumni must be registered in the Alumni Portal of our database with updated contact information.

Accreditation

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School is fully accredited by the Cognia and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Advanced Ed.

The academic program at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School is committed to instructing students in core learning disciplines during each of the seven years in middle and high school. Our teaching schedule and requirements for graduation reflect this commitment.  For each year of attendance at Pope Prep, students will complete eight classes for one credit each (either graded or Pass/Fail). Students will be limited to taking one class Pass/Fail in the regular seven-period rotation.  For the departments where four credits are required for graduation, students must take a core course each year. The following distribution of courses is required for graduation from Pope John Paul II Preparatory School:

Middle School Required Courses

Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
Innovation and Entrepreneurship – 1 credit Art- 1 credit English- 1 credit Mathematics – 1 credit Physical Education – 1 credit Science – 1 credit Social Studies – 1 credit Study Skills- 1 credit Theology – 1 credit	Innovation and Entrepreneurship – 1 credit Art- 1 credit English- 1 credit Languages- 1 credit Mathematics – 1 credit Physical Education – 1 credit Science – 1 credit Social Studies – 1 credit Theology – 1 credit	Innovation and Entrepreneurship – 1 credit Art- 1 credit English- 1 credit Languages- 1 credit Mathematics – 1 credit Physical Education – 1 credit Science – 1 credit Social Studies – 1 credit Theology – 1 credit

 

High School Courses taken in Middle School

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School offers high school level courses for middle school students. Middle school students who have completed high school level courses may begin their high school classes at a more advanced level. Credits earned through courses completed in middle school do not count towards high school graduation requirements or the Grade Point Average (GPA) the school reports to colleges.

High School Required Credits

Class of 2023 and Beyond

• Arts and Innovation: 2 credits
  • 1 credit in Visual or Performing Art
  • 1 credit in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Prior to 2021-2022, academic Innov8 courses can count towards the Innovation and Entrepreneurship credit, with two trimesters fulfilling .5 semester credits.

• English: 4 credits
• Languages: 2 credits in the same language
• Mathematics: 4 credits
• Physical Education: 1 credit
  • Health and Wellness
  • PE 9
• Science: 3 credits
  • Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
• Social Studies: 3 credits
  • World History, US History, Government and Economics
• Theology: 4 credits
• Electives: 9 credits

Total: 32 credits

Class of 2022

• Arts and Innovation: 3 credits
  • 1 credit in Visual or Performing Art
  • 2 Innov8 credits
• English: 4 credits
• Languages: 2 credits in the same language
• Mathematics: 4 credits
• Physical Education: 1 credit
  • Health and Wellness
  • PE 9
• Science: 3 credits
  • Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
• Social Studies: 3 credits
  • World History, US History, Government and Economics
• Theology: 4 credits
• Electives: 8 credits

Total: 32 credits

* Theology and service requirements for transfer students in years before enrollment at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School will be waived.

** The general foreign language requirement for students at Pope Prep is that all high school students must take two consecutive years of the same foreign language. Exceptional circumstances of international/transfer students will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students are encouraged to take at least three years of a foreign language if it is advantageous for applications to their desired university.

Students must earn eight credits per year to advance to the next grade level. Students may not repeat a grade level or retake a course during a subsequent school year. For those who fail classes, the credit must be restored at Pope Prep in our summer school Credit Restoration program to be eligible to advance to the next year at Pope Prep.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits from accredited institutions are accepted as proof of satisfactory completion of coursework up until the point of transfer. However, due to differences between schools in the weighting of grades and the types of courses that schools offer, the grade point average of transfer students will be based solely on grades earned in courses taken at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School at the high school level. Transcripts documenting credits from other high school institutions will be sent to colleges along with the Pope John Paul II Preparatory School transcript.

Transfer students who have spent two or more years at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School will be eligible for consideration for valedictorian if the grade point average earned at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School computes at the top of the class over the same period of time as other students in that particular grade level. A student who has attended Pope John Paul II Preparatory School for fewer than four semesters is not eligible for consideration for valedictorian, salutatorian, or honors graduate status. Likewise, a student must have completed three semesters of Pope Prep to be invited to the National Honors Society (NHS) when students are invited to apply to the school's chapter of NHS in the spring of their junior or senior year. The school will recognize the NHS status of transfer students who have completed the induction process at their previous school.

Dual Enrollment Courses

Dual Enrollment courses provide a path for juniors and seniors to earn college credit since students are co-enrolled at Volunteer State Community College. Each semester course earns three college credit hours. Students are encouraged to talk with counselors about dual enrollment and Advanced Placement options since colleges vary in how they accept these courses. Pope Prep's administration determines course offerings on campus. We seek to expand these options in future years through a continuing education grant program to help more Pope Prep faculty members be eligible to teach college credit-granting courses. An updated course catalog will be released each spring to reflect these expanded Dual Enrollment course offerings. With permission from the Assistant Head of School for Academics, students can enroll in online courses through Vol State and receive elective credits for these courses at Pope Prep. To qualify for the Dual Enrollment Grant, students must have been Tennessee residents for at least one year and meet testing and GPA requirements set by TSAC.

Academic Deficiencies

A yearly average of 60 or higher constitutes passing. Grades are computed on a semesterly basis. Failures and grades below 70 are considerations along with successfully navigating the school's academic probation policies to consider a student in "good academic standing." Consistent completion of school work, tutorial attendance, and attendance in the school's after-school academic support program when earning grades below 70 are key factors in the Assistant Head of School for Academic's decision to provide an offer to re-enroll at Pope Prep in subsequent semesters or years. A growth mindset for students is at the core of Pope Prep's philosophy in all areas ranging from academics to student life. Student progress is critical in decisions to offer, in consultation with parents, re-enrollment to students who are struggling to meet the general expectations of the school.

Summer School (Credit Restoration)

Students who earn a grade below 70 (0-69) in a class in any given semester will have the opportunity through an independent online program with tutorial support to restore that credit to a C- (see GPA/transcript section of handbook). Students who earn a D (60-69) range grade in any semester will be given the option to take a summer school/credit recovery course in no more than three semesters. Students in the F (0-59) range grade will be required to attend summer school to matriculate to the following grade level. Based on a review by the administration, students may be asked to leave the school based on a combination of following the Academic Probation guidelines and two or more grades below 70.

The summer school courses are designed to be completed independently. Making up work and building skills from an entire semester requires a significant outlay of students' time. In general, a student should plan to work for about 50 hours per semester per course; however, mastery tests and skills that students develop throughout the school year help reduce the material students must retake. To help students throughout this process, families can contact the Assistant Head of School for Academics to find a tutor, or families can find a tutor of their choosing. For F-level grades, students who fail to complete summer school will not re-enroll at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School for the following school year. If a student who opts to take summer school with a D-range grade fails to complete course requirements, they will maintain their current grade on the transcript.

Although these online courses are designed to be completed independently to provide flexibility in the summer for students and families, students must hit benchmarks to continue this independent work. For each semester of summer work, students are encouraged to complete their work under the supervision of school counselors if they have not completed 25% of the course by June 15; 50% by June 30; 75% by July 15; the entire course, by course Registration. This supervised completion of the online courses is available to students from 9:00-12:00 Monday through Thursday throughout the summer except for "dead week." Students who meet these benchmarks will be waived from the cumulative exam provided that they complete all content reviews and progress checks for the online program.

Schedule Changes/Add-Drop Policy

Based on a combination of student grades, standardized tests, and recommendations from Pope Prep teachers, department chairs place students in courses that best meet their needs, balance student goals, and the desire to challenge themselves. Also considered is the statistical analysis of past student performance to maintain strong GPAs and academic performance to keep open college options. Changes in course levels must be approved by the relevant department chair or Assistant Head of School for Academics.

If approved by the relevant department chair in core classes or the Assistant Head of School for Academics for elective courses, students can change courses for the first two weeks of the first semester. After the first two weeks, the instructor must initiate course changes in consultation with the relevant department chair and families.

Philosophy of Curriculum and Teaching

At Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, the academic program centers on intellectual growth that acknowledges and incorporates all essential aspects of the person – the spiritual, social, creative, and physical. Challenging coursework designed to prepare students to pursue further academic life confidently is drawn from the following academic disciplines: English/Language Arts, Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Theology. The theology and religious education components of the curriculum are central in the program as each of the other disciplines reflects its connection to the life of faith. Contributing further to the comprehensive development of each student are the fine arts and their accompanying productions and performances, which encourage creativity and expression. Athletic participation promotes action and leadership. Co-curricular activities develop the intellectual, leadership, and social skills which students translate into service. The academic program fosters the development of the whole person as an interlocking network of courses, activities, events, and resources.

More important than the sum of its courses or activities, the program at Pope Prep centers on the relationship between the teacher and the learner.  The climate established by this relationship is designed to foster learner involvement, engagement, curiosity, and passion.  Catholic educator, Jacques Maritain, suggests that every individual possesses an "inner vitality."  Like Maritain, the school believes that the teacher supports and strengthens that vitality through the quality of interactions with the student.  In our goal of developing lifelong learners, we recognize that the caring guidance of teachers who are as devoted to the student as to the subjects they teach is essential if education is true to the pursuit of truth and wisdom.

Moreover, we remember that 'the learner' is an individual who possesses a particular collection of talents, abilities, and concerns.  Guided by our belief that "Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all have the same nature and the same origin…all enjoy an equal dignity", we translate this value into our program. While common to all students in its goal to offer elements essential to college preparation, the program individualizes the challenge according to distinct talents and interests.

Academic Course Levels

The program seeks to provide academic coursework, which challenges a broad range of talents and areas of strength and is designed for all graduates to be eligible to attend college. To this end, coursework is offered at several levels of challenge:

Middle School: College Preparatory, Accelerated, and High School level Honors courses

High School: College Preparatory, Honors, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement.

• College Preparatory – Coursework at this level requires a variety of study skills and learning habits. Independence in completing daily assignments, accomplishing individual projects, and understanding the major content concepts is expected. Students must display sufficient motivation to complete tasks. Competent performance at each level of the critical thinking hierarchy will be strengthened to ensure that students are well prepared to meet the academic demands of college.
• Accelerated – Coursework at this middle school level largely mirrors the demands of Honors courses at the high school level. In terms of the pace of content and homework demands, students at the accelerated level exhibit the ability for more self-directed learning and participation in less scaffolded approaches to critical thinking tasks. Accelerated students typically project as Dual Enrollment or Advanced Placement courses at the high school level, provided they maintain their work ethic and ambition throughout their school careers.
• Honors – Coursework at this level requires that students demonstrate a higher degree of self-direction and performance.  They will manage more extensive projects and reading outside of class.  Both a faster pace and frequent demands for higher-level thinking and problem solving are expected.  Students will be expected to demonstrate greater knowledge and analytical criticism in all areas of assessment.

• Dual Enrollment – Coursework at this level is defined by the college in which students are co-enrolled and the placement requirements that require a combination of GPA and standardized test scores to meet the requirements of the dual enrollment institution. Since an outside institution grants the college credit, Pope Prep does not have control of the placement requirements of these courses. Most notably, the payment of the co-enrolled courses occurs through Tennessee's Dual Enrollment Grant Program that requires students to be legal Tennessee residents for at least one year to qualify for the Dual Enrollment Grant. If a Pope Prep teacher is the instructor of this course level and a student does not meet the Dual Enrollment requirements, that student will be offered the course at an Honors level with the GPA boost involved with that transcript designation.

• Advanced Placement – Work on the advanced placement level is comparable to college-level work.  College-level textbooks, outside reading, various types of research projects and presentations, and rapid pacing establish rigorous academic demands.  Regular demonstration of higher-level cognitive skills and wider command of the content must be demonstrated in all academic activities of the class.  Students are instructed in both the content and skill areas particular to the College Board AP examinations for the course. Sitting for the National AP Examination in May is a requirement for completion of the course.

Exam Policy

At the end of each semester, comprehensive final assessments are administered in each class. Students who expect to be successful in college must know how to prepare for and pass a comprehensive exam.  Each teacher will prepare and administer an exam at a designated day and time (as specified on a schedule published by the Assistant Head of School for Academics each term).  Students must sit for the entire length of the exam – no early dismissals will be granted.  At the middle school level, exams will count as 10% of the final semester grade. At the high school level, exams will count as 20% of the semester's final grade.

Senior Exam Exemption Policy

Seniors who have achieved a minimum average of 80 in a course for the second semester may be granted exemption from the second semester exam in that subject.  Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors must take all exams scheduled.

Homework

Homework is essential to success at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. College-bound students must develop study techniques and discipline to do work on their own. 

Homework is assigned daily in amounts that reflect the level of difficulty and demand of the course. At Honors levels, daily homework will be more challenging but manageable as all teachers consider the range of academic and extra-curricular demands placed on their students. Extended assignments and projects will be assigned over longer periods, allowing students to break up the work into reasonable daily segments.

In addition to the quantity of homework that a student completes, the quality of the product will also be monitored.  Clear expectations of the product's physical appearance and basic guidelines for acceptable quality are presented to the students early in the academic year and adhered to throughout the year.  Since homework constitutes a significant assessment tool in most classes, students are held accountable for its quality, and appropriate consequences are assigned if it fails to meet acceptable standards. 

Tutorials

The academic departments at Pope Prep offer free tutoring for their students during lunch, before, and after school, following the school's tutorial schedule. In addition, teachers may make individual arrangements with students to receive help before school in the morning or the afternoon. Students who are struggling in their classes are encouraged to seek extra help. Though tutorials are not "required" as a matter of general school policy, teachers may require individual students to attend certain tutorials to make up missing work, particularly assessments in the event of an absence

Academic Probation Policy

The goal of Academic Probation is to ensure that students gain the support that they need to be successful academically while also helping students learn accountability. All students will begin each school year (semester one) in Academic Clearance. To scale the consequences and level of support to student needs, students fall into four categories concerning the probation process. 

• Academic Clearance: Students maintain grades of 70 or above in all of their classes. If students have concerns or need additional support, we encourage them to reach out to their teachers or counselor.
• Academic Concern: Students are placed on the Academic Concern status if they have one course grade below 70 (D or F range) for two weeks in a given semester. The purpose of Academic Concern is to provide communication to students and parents about potentially slipping academic performance, particularly if there are extenuating circumstances that may require additional support from a member of the Student Support Team (SST)
• Academic Probation: Students are placed on Academic Probation status if they cannot maintain a 70 or above (A-C range) in all courses after two consecutive weeks of being placed on Academic Concern. Students on Academic Probation will receive a Probation Contract with additional supports and expectations required to return to Academic Clearance status
• Academic Ineligibility:  Students are placed on the Academic Ineligible status if they fail to utilize the supports and meet the expectations of the Probation Contract within the established timeframe. Students on Academic Ineligible will receive an Ineligible Contract with additional supports and expectations required to return to Academic Clearance status within an established timeframe. Ineligibility lasts for at least two weeks. Students on Academic Ineligible status will not be allowed to participate in any school extra-curricular activities until they return to Academic Clearance. To aid these students in this process, students will attend an after-school study hall from 3:30-5:00 on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, which provides oversight for students who struggle to complete work independently. 

Academic Standing

To maintain enrollment at Pope Prep, students must be both in good Student Life and Academic Standing. Truancy and behavioral records are the primary reasons why a student may not be in good Student Life Standing. Beyond narrowly looking at grades, a student's ability to meet the terms of Academic Probation contracts (primarily work completion and tutorial attendance) and Academic Ineligibility policies (the terms of probation and attendance in the after-school study hall) are necessary for students to maintain good academic standing.

Academic Status Review and Notification

A course grade report is run each Friday*, starting the third week of each semester to determine academic status for the following week. The following Monday*, students and their parent(s) will be notified of their academic status if placed on Academic Concern, Academic Probation, or Academic Ineligible. *If there is no school on that day, this action will fall on the previous or next school day (as determined by the Assistant Head of School for Academics).

• Academic Concern:  Students placed on Academic Concern, and their parent(s), will receive an email notifying them that:  the student has been placed on Academic Concern; the expectations the student is required to meet to return to Academic Clearance: and an attached copy of this policy & procedure.
• Academic Probation:  Students placed on Academic Probation, and their parent(s), will receive an individualized email notifying them that:  the student has been placed on Academic Probation; the expectations the student is required to meet to return to Academic Clearance: an attached copy of the individualized Probation Contract that outlines the specific courses where the student's grade is below 70 (D-F) range and their teacher's name; and an attached copy of this policy & procedure.
• Academic Ineligible:  Students placed on Academic Ineligible, and their parent(s), will receive an individualized email notifying them that:  the student has been placed on Academic Ineligible; the expectations the student is required to meet to return to Academic Clearance: an attached copy of the individualized Ineligible Contract that outlines the specific courses where the student's grade is below 70 (D-F) range and their teacher's name; and an attached copy of this policy & procedure.

Communication

By the end of the day on Monday*, Pope Prep staff will attempt to briefly meet with students placed on Academic Probation or Academic Ineligible status. Pope Prep staff will also attempt to contact the parent(s) by phone.

• Student Communication:  Pope Prep staff will attempt to briefly meet with each student on the Probation or Ineligible list to ensure they received the email sent earlier in the day; offer a printed copy of their contract; answer questions about the Academic Probation & Support Policy and Probation/Ineligible Contract; ask if there is any additional relevant information that might impact student's ability to meet the contract requirements. If there are other concerns, the student will be referred to their school counselor.
• Parent Communication: 
  • Academic Probation:  Pope Prep staff will attempt to contact each student's parent(s) by phone to ensure they received the email sent earlier in the day; answer questions about the Academic Probation & Support Policy and Probation Contract; ask if there is any additional relevant information that might impact student's ability to meet the contract requirements. Pope Prep staff will refer the parent to the student's school counselor if there are other concerns. If the Pope Prep staff cannot reach the parent(s), a voicemail will be left (if possible) with their contact information.
  • Academic Ineligible:  The student's School Counselor will attempt to contact each student's parent(s) by phone to ensure they received the email sent earlier in the day; answer questions about the Academic Probation & Support Policy and Ineligible Contract; ask if there is any additional relevant information that might impact student's ability to meet the contract requirements; and schedule a family meeting with the student, counselor, and appropriate faculty/coaches. If the School Counselor cannot reach the parent(s), a voicemail will be left (if possible) with their contact information.

Academic Review

Suppose a student becomes ineligible multiple times in a semester or remains ineligible for four weeks. In that case, the Assistant Head of School for Academics and a School Counselor will meet with the student and family to discuss whether Pope Prep is the right fit for the student. The meeting either will result in a more individualized student support plan or a decision that the student will not continue in future semesters as a Pope Prep student.

Veracross and Grade Updates 

Veracross is the Learning Management System (LMS) used by Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. This LMS allows students, parents, and teachers to monitor grades throughout each semester to understand how individual assignments affect overall semesterly grades and monitor missing work. Veracross also provides critical data about academic performance and factors that influence that performance either positively or negatively. Low test grades, for example, may suggest the need for a greater emphasis on study skills. Patterns of missing work may indicate a need for organizational skills or changes in homework oversight. Historically, the two primary factors that adversely affect student grades are absenteeism and patterns of missing work. Assignments will be coded in the following ways to help understand these patterns:

• Pending: The assignment is not yet due, or the assignment has been submitted on time but has not been graded yet.
• Complete: The assignment was submitted by the due date and has been graded.
• Missing: The assignment was not submitted by the due date because of an unforeseen absence. No late penalties will be assessed provided a student meets the new deadline set by the teacher.
• Incomplete: The assignment was not submitted by the due date, and late penalties will be assessed.
• Not Required to Complete: The assignment was waived based on teacher discretion. Not Required to Complete does not affect semester grades.
• Complete, Not Graded: This designation suggests that an Academic Integrity violation has occurred in most circumstances.

Please note that teachers will enter grades on work that is not submitted on time either due to absenteeism or late work submission; however, they will maintain the tags of Incomplete and Missing so that students, parents, and faculty will be able to see whether an accumulation of absences or patterns of late work is a factor in lower academic performance. The grades entered when teachers maintain the Missing or Incomplete coding in Veracross calculate the same as if the assignment were marked Complete. Except in cases of extended absences, teachers will not take late work after two weeks have passed. 

Grade Reporting

Official grade reporting will occur on a semester basis and 'frozen' on the Report Card tab of the Veracross reporting system. Since student progress in any class may be monitored daily through the Parent Portal on Veracross, official grade reports will be printed and mailed only upon request. Semester Grades in each full-credit class will be assigned at the end of the term. In middle school, these grades are recorded; however, they are not translated into a Grade Point Average (GPA). The Pope Prep GPA is calculated solely based on courses taken at the school while enrolled in grades 9-12. 

Weighted /Unweighted Grading Scale

Students are encouraged to take courses that challenge and demand the expansion of their talents and skills.  In recognizing the more rigorous demands of students who pursue advanced-level coursework, we reward the effort by calculating a weighted GPA and numeric average. Grades earned in Honors or Advanced Placement classes will be assigned additional points for purposes of computing weighted GPA. .3 points will be added to the numeric average of grades earned in Honors classes; .4 points will be added to the numeric average of grades earned in Dual Enrollment Courses; .5 points will be added to those in Advanced Placement courses. 

Pope Prep GPA Calculations

Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated each semester based on students' grades at the end of each semester. 80% of each semester grade is based on assessments throughout the semester and 20% for semester exams. On the transcript, numerical grades are converted to letter grades based on the conversions below. In the college application process, Pope Prep generates three GPA points. The first is the unweighted 4.0 GPA scale, e.g., without weights added for Honors and Advanced Placement courses. The second is the weighted GPA, with +.3 quality points being added for Honors courses, .4 for Dual Enrollment Courses, and +.5 quality points added for Advanced Placement courses. For Hope Scholarship eligibility, the school also creates a converted Tennessee Uniform Grading Policy GPA.

Students who earn a D (60-69) range grade in any semester will be given the option to take a summer school/credit restoration course in no more than three semesters. Students in the F-range grade will be required to attend summer school to matriculate to the following grade level. Based on a review by the administration, students may be asked to leave the school based on inconsistent performance in courses and/or failing to utilize the supports in the Academic Probation Policy.

Standard Courses	Honors Courses (+.3)	AP Courses (+.5)
·      4.0 (A): 93-100 ·      3.7 (A-): 90-92 ·      3.4 (B+): 87-89 ·      3.0 (B): 83-86 ·      2.7 (B-): 80-82 ·      2.4 (C+): 77-79 ·      2.0 (C): 73-76 ·      1.7 (C-): 70-72 ·      1.4 (D+): 67-69 ·      1.0 (D): 63-66 ·      .7 (D-): 60-62 ·      0.0 (F): 59      and below	·      4.3 (A): 93-100 ·      4.0 (A-): 90-92 ·      3.7 (B+): 87-89 ·      3.3 (B): 83-86 ·      3.0 (B-): 80-82 ·      2.7 (C+): 77-79 ·      2.3 (C): 73-76 ·      2.0 (C-): 70-72 ·      1.7 (D+): 67-69 ·      1.3 (D): 63-66 ·      1.0 (D-): 60-62 ·      0.0 (F): 59 and below	·      4.5 (A): 93-100 ·      4.2 (A-): 90-92 ·      3.9 (B+): 87-89 ·      3.5 (B): 83-86 ·      3.2 (B-): 80-82 ·      2.9 (C+): 77-79 ·      2.5 (C): 73-76 ·      2.2 (C-): 70-72 ·      1.9 (D+): 67-69 ·      1.5 (D): 63-66 ·      1.2 (D-): 60-62 ·      0.0 (F): 59 and below

 

Tennessee Lottery GPA

For purposes of qualifying for the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS) programs, transcripts are created that have both the Pope Prep grading scale and the Tennessee Uniform Grading Policy (TUGP). Pope Prep and TUGP GPAs may differ due to the lack of differentiation of the TUGP grading scale.  This complies with the opinion set forth by the state Attorney General and the requirements of the Tennessee General Assembly in creating the TELS. 

Class Rank

Except to determine valedictorian and salutatorian, Pope Prep does not rank students. Schools are increasingly abandoning a ranking system that encourages competition among students that undermines a cooperative and supportive classroom climate.  Such systems either encourage students to take courses for the wrong reasons or discourage students from taking more challenging courses over concern about damage to class rank. Decile groupings will be made available to colleges along with both the unweighted and weighted GPAs. This will provide information about a student's academic status and relative place in class without accentuating the negative aspects of the ranking system.

Head of School and Faculty Lists

The Assistant Head of School for Academics publishes a Head of School and Faculty List at the end of each semester to recognize outstanding achievements. Students who earn grades at 'A' level in all but one of their core classes and 'B' level in the remaining class will be named to the Faculty List. Students achieving all A's in each core class will be named to the Head of School's List.

The mission of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School's school counseling department is to provide a comprehensive counseling program addressing the academic, college/career, and personal/social development of all students.  Services include individual counseling, academic support, college planning, and student and family advocacy.  Our goal is to promote a commitment to health, personal, academic, and spiritual growth and to aid students in becoming responsible, culturally aware, and productive members of society.  Our mission and goal will be supported and further strengthened by consultation with teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and community advocates.

Counseling Office Structure and Contact Information

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School has a comprehensive counseling team consisting of four full-time certified academic counselors.  High school students are assigned to a primary counselor based on the House System, while a dedicated middle school counselor serves middle school students.  To access these assignments and each counselor's contact information, please visit the School Counseling section of the Pope Prep website.

The counselors provide many services to students and parents, including personal/social counseling, academic support, college and post-secondary planning, wellness programming, and student and family advocacy. The student support coordinator helps students and parents deal with more challenging personal issues impacting wellness and academic success. The School Counseling office is located across from the Student Life office in the main academic hallway.  Students and parents are welcome to schedule counseling appointments in person, by email, or by phone.  

Counseling Office Services

Individual Counseling and Group Counseling

Academic Advising and College and Career Planning

Community Education Programs

Comprehensive Student Wellness Support

Comprehensive Community Wellness Support

Student and Family Advocacy

Crisis Counseling

PSAT, ACT, and AP Testing

Academic Support

Academic support starts in the classroom, but many – if not most – students benefit from additional support outside the classroom.  In a rigorous academic environment, counselors can provide continuous monitoring of progress, conversations around growth with students and families, and continued provision of resources for success as necessary. We believe academic success is part of a comprehensive approach to student development.

Personal and Social Support

Students in school are not just classroom learners but developing individuals. School counseling is built on the belief that schools should care for the development of the whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, physical, and social/emotional wellbeing.  The counseling department at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School provides a safe space for students to explore developing self-confidence, a sense of belonging to the school environment, habits of lifelong learning, and personal autonomy.

Wellness Program

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School has a wellness program that addresses student support individually and community-wide. A Student Support Team (SST) consists of counseling, student life, academic affairs, campus ministry, accommodations, athletic training, admissions, and the school nurse. The SST meets every other week to discuss and create an action plan for students identified as potentially needing additional academic and/or personal/social support. 

The second component is wellness programming for the entire school community.  These programs seek to educate students, parents, and faculty/staff on various topics currently impacting the health and wellbeing of our school community. Examples of previous wellness programming include a school-wide wellness week, an all-school assembly on mental health and adolescents, and a student and parent program on cyber awareness and safety.  

College and Post-Secondary Planning Support

The School Counseling office at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School offers various college and post-secondary planning services to students and parents.  These services include counseling meetings with individual students, counseling meetings with families, grade level assemblies and classroom meetings, evening and weekend programs for students and parents, individual visits with college representatives, and a school-wide college fair.  It is common during a school year for the Counseling department to host the following programs related to the college and post-secondary planning process:

• Mock admission exercise for senior students
• College Application Saturday Programs for senior students
• Recommendation Letter Writing Workshop for Teachers
• College/Post-Secondary Information Night Program for parents of seniors
• College/Post-Secondary Information Night Program for parents of juniors
• College/Post-Secondary Information Night Program for parents of freshman and sophomores
• School-wide College Fair - over 140 colleges represented
• Individual meetings with college admission representatives
• Paying for College: Information on the Financial Aid and Scholarship Process
• Transitioning to College: A Discussion With a Panel of Pope Prep Alumni - program for senior students
• College Workshop for Junior Students and Parents - workshops led by college admission professionals on a variety of topics related to the college search and application process
• College/Post-Secondary Decision Day Celebration for senior students

The School Counseling office will send academic records and letters of recommendation to accredited institutions and organizations and their representatives for students being evaluated for admission or scholarships by the student's request. Confidential letters of recommendation for scholarship and admission are considered the author's property, not the student, and can be rescinded at any time. If there are specific institutions or organizations a family does not want records released to they should notify the School Counseling office, in writing, of the particular omission requests.

Outside Referral Process

The school counselors at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School adhere to the American School Counselor Association's position on confidentiality.  School counselors believe that the relationship between students and their school counselor requires an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality.  Students must trust their counselor to enter into a meaningful and honest dialogue with them.  However, students will be informed that exceptions to confidentiality exist. Counselors must inform others of information they obtained in the counseling relationship to prevent serious harm to themselves, others, or legally required.  The school counseling department at Pope recognizes the primary obligation for confidentiality is to the student; however, that obligation must be balanced with an understanding of the family or guardian's legal and inherent right to be the guiding voice in their children's life.

If a student expresses a desire to cause harm to themself or others, the school counselor will inform the student that confidentiality must be broken. The counselor and student will contact the student's parents or legal guardians to make them aware of the situation.  The counselor will provide the parents or legal guardians with a list of outside resources and agencies to further assess the student's situation and recommend the appropriate treatment.  If appropriate, school administrators, such as the Head of School, Assistant Head of School for Academics, and Dean of Students, will be notified to help establish a system of support for the student.

Suppose a student works with a mental health professional outside of school, like a psychologist, physician, counselor, and social worker. In that case, it is often beneficial for the primary counselor to serve as a liaison between the school and the outside resource/agency. For this communication to begin, the consent of a parent or legal guardian is required.  If parental/guardian consent is granted, the counselor may consult with outside professionals to establish a support network that extends inside and outside school. 

Suppose a student reports that harm is being done to them, i.e., physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and psychological harm. In that case, the counselor will file a report with the Department of Children's Services.

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School intends to create a Catholic culture that fosters and develops a sense of morality, responsibility, and social consciousness within a supportive, cooperative Christian community. Any analysis of the human condition reveals a need for moral reflection to develop the cognitive side of the character, the part of our moral selves that goes beyond individual autonomy and subjective feelings. Students need first-hand experience performing caring actions and following a school philosophy that makes service a priority to develop empathy and caring. Pope John Paul II Preparatory School hopes to go beyond fixed moral virtues like honesty and emphasize emotional maturity, self-esteem, perseverance, and a sense of duty to enhance moral character.  In a community that promotes values and character, mature students can identify and resist the powerful phenomenon of peer pressure and follow their path. They have the strength and empathy to respond to others in distress and confront perpetrators who taunt or harass fellow students. Good character is also dependent on self-control and curbed self-indulgence. The practice of genuine openness to the truth can keep prejudice, self-righteousness, anger, and arrogance outside Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. 

Model of Discipline

The goals of the Student Life office are to create a school culture reflective of Gospel values and develop students to be responsible future servant leaders. We recognize that student mistakes are opportunities to learn. However, serious breaches of school norms and policies may result in more severe consequences for maintaining a physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually safe environment. The Point System outlined below is designed to help students learn to make habitually good decisions that will serve them well into the future.

The three-tiered Point System includes Lower Level Offenses (Minor Disciplinary Actions) and Higher Level Offenses (Major Disciplinary Actions). Typically, an individual teacher, coach, or staff member addresses Lower Level Offenses, which result in Loss of Privileges (LOP) (see below) rather than more serious consequences. In contrast, Higher Level Offenses are referred to the Student Life office and may include more serious disciplinary consequences ranging from suspension to expulsion.

The Point System

The Point System helps recognize behavior patterns that reveal the developing character of each student. We, as a school, believe that character is malleable, and each student is capable of developing into a successful future servant leader with self-discipline. We expect each student to be present during school hours, complete the work assigned by teachers, and abide by community norms to foster success for all students.   

Every semester, each student in good Student Life standing, meaning that they are not on an individualized Student Life Probation Plan for Higher Level Offenses, will start the semester with zero points. Students are allowed up to nine points for Lower Level Offenses, which reflect lapses in judgment and do not reflect a broader pattern of behavior. 

Lower Level Offenses 

Lower level offenses are behaviors that students engage in that violate school policies and break Pope community norms. Lower Level Offenses are divided into three tiers based on the severity of the offense, Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III.  Disciplinary action for Lower Level Offenses will be based on a point system outlined below.  

Tier I (1 point): tardy to class, out of uniform

Tier II (2 points): Misuse of Technology (games on iPad, airdropping, air pods, etc.), disruptive in Mass, use of cellphone during the school day, profanity, public displays of affection, littering (inside or outside of the building), cutting in the lunch line, in an unauthorized area (i.e., locker rooms during lunch). 

Tier III (3 points): Disrespectful actions toward a peer or faculty/staff, behavior that takes away from other students' learning abilities, cheating, plagiarism, or any form of academic dishonesty (Low-Level Academic Integrity) *Please see the Academic Integrity Policy. Skipping class (includes late arrival to school without a note from a medical professional after 8:25 a.m.). Three points will be issued for each class missed. Non-compliance with emergency procedures (propping of doors, etc.), unauthorized visual or audio recording of another person (student, faculty, staff, etc.)

Overview of Minor Disciplinary Actions for Lower Level Offenses

1-9 points = no disciplinary action.

6 points = student and parent/guardian are notified.

10 points = student is placed on Disciplinary Probation and experiences Loss of Privileges (LOP) for ten consecutive school days. Any absence(s) during the ten days will extend the duration of the discipline. A student can appeal the Disciplinary Probation through a review process by the Disciplinary Review Board.  

Loss of Privileges (LOP) include the following:

1. No free lunch period. The student will report to the Assistant to Student Life in the Center of Innovation, where the student can eat lunch and complete homework. 
2. No access to lunchtime tutorials, even if the student is on Academic Probation. Students with a teacher's note can be excused to make up tests, quizzes, etc., if pre-arranged by the relevant teacher. 
3. No access to Apps or the internet.
4. Students will be required to have teachers sign off each period that no further disciplinary incidents occur.
5. Students will turn in their cellphone to the Assistant for Student Life at the start of each day and pick them up at the end of each school day. 

Once a student fulfills the expectations of the LOP, the student's points will restart at zero. 

If a student is LOPed a second time in a given semester, they will meet with the Dean of Students to discuss potential consequences. Consequences may include an individualized Student Life Probation Contract, with the possibility of suspension or dismissal from the school.  

Suppose a student receives a third LOP during the school year. In that case, the student and their parent/guardian will participate in a family meeting with the Dean of Students and other appropriate school personnel (e.g., school counselor, Head of School). A Student Life Probation Contract will be developed with the student, and violation of the contract may result in suspension or dismissal as determined by the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) and the Head of School.

*Each semester, a student's points will reset back to zero.  

Higher Level Offenses

Higher Level Offenses are behaviors that violate school policies, potentially violate civil law, and/or intend or cause harm to self or others.

Higher Level Offenses are the most severe offenses and may result in suspension or dismissal.

Higher Level Offenses include, but are not limited to:

• Bullying behavior toward a peer, faculty, or staff
• Substance (alcohol, drug, drug paraphernalia, etc.) possession or use on campus or at an off-campus school event
• Fighting
• Sexual harassment
• Theft
• Racial harassment
• Weapons of any kind
• Threatening to harm oneself or others

Only the Dean of Students (or designee) can address Higher Level Offenses.

Disciplinary pathways following a Higher Level Offense may include any of the following actions, based on the severity of the offense:

• The student and their parents will participate in a family meeting with Student Life, Head of School, and/or Associate Head of School, and other appropriate school personnel (e.g., school counselor).
• A Student Life Probation Contract will be developed with the student. Violation of the contract may result in suspension or dismissal as determined by the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) and/or Head of School.
• Immediate suspension or dismissal as determined by the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) and/or Head of School.

Disciplinary Probation

Minor infractions (see Philosophy of Student Life/Disciplinary Policies in the handbook) are handled by individual faculty and staff, who report these infractions to the Student Life office. A student may be placed on probation by the Director of Student Life and Houses for accumulated infractions of school rules and regulations. Suppose the improvement of behavior is not evident. In that case, the student will be brought before the Disciplinary Review Board to recommend suspension or potential dismissal to the Head of School.

Disciplinary Review Board

The Disciplinary Review Board is an advisory committee to the Head of School. The board consists of a committee of the Assistant Head of School for Academics, Dean of Students, Dean of Diversity, Equality, & Inclusion, select teachers, and a school counselor. The board's purpose is to review serious disciplinary issues and provide different perspectives to help the Head of School make a just decision consistent with the Catholic mission of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. Although each incident will be reviewed individually, the Disciplinary Review Board will consider prior incidents in providing guidance on consequences. Refusal to attend a Disciplinary Review Board will result in a student's dismissal from the school.

Major Disciplinary Actions

Typically the result of Higher Level Offenses, major disciplinary consequences are the result of actions that violate school policies, and potentially violate civil law, cause harm to self or others, and may require removal from the school. The consequences for these actions generally consist of suspension, probation, or expulsion. A disciplinary review board composed of academic leadership, student life leadership, and counselors will review the circumstances subject to all major disciplinary actions.

Suspensions

Parent(s) or guardian(s) are initially informed by the Dean of Students by a phone call and then by a suspension letter and its consequences. The student will be interviewed by a member of the Disciplinary Review Board for suspensions. The Head of School reserves the right to call a meeting of the Disciplinary Review Board for advice on decisions. The Student Life office may request a conference with the parent/guardian before a student can return to class.

In-School Suspension: Students will be assigned to report to the Student Life office for the entire school day.

• Assigned if there is a concern that a student could not be adequately supervised outside of school or for other reasons determined by the Dean of Students.
• Reserved for major disciplinary infractions that are not reported to colleges.

Out-of-School Suspension: Students may not come to school until a day identified by the Dean of Students.

• Assigned for a violation that requires a student to be separated from others or is of a serious nature. During the suspension, the Administration determines if a student can return to school or if further investigation is needed.
• Students must declare any suspension to a post-secondary institution when requested on a college admissions application. The school requires counselors to report suspensions on college application materials. A review by the Administration will determine if there is a reason not to report the suspension to colleges.

Violations that will result in a Suspension

Truancy or excessive tardiness, major instances and/or a pattern of cheating, excessive number of LOPs (Loss of Privileges), excessive dress code violations, gambling, lying, possession or use of tobacco and/or a vape, racist or sexist comments or behavior, theft, unauthorized audio and/or visual recording of others, vandalism, bullying, cyberbullying, fighting, hazing, threatening harm to others in-person, through social media or any other form.

Dismissal

If a student commits a serious disciplinary offense liable to dismissal, they, along with the parents or guardians, will attend the Disciplinary Review Board hearing. The committee will discuss the offense with the student and hear from the parents or guardians. Upon conclusion of the meeting, the board deliberates and makes recommendations to the Head of School concerning a course of disciplinary action based on the evidence and testimony given during the meeting. The decision may be accepted or rejected by the Head of School, the final arbiter. Refusal to attend a Disciplinary Review Board will result in dismissal from the school.

Students who have demonstrated behavior or taken action that seriously threatens the safety of themselves or others, and is clearly in conflict with the school's mission, will have to leave the school immediately. Students will not be allowed to reapply to Pope John Paul II Preparatory unless a review by the Administration allows for reapplication.

Violations that will result in Dismissal

Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or an off-campus school event, fighting or the threat of violence, possession of alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, serious disrespect towards school officials or law enforcement, sexual harassment, racism, repeated instances of academic integrity violations, failure to comply with counseling and or probation recommendations, violation of probation, failure to comply with school safety directions.

*Parent behavior that is threatening or harassing a student or staff member can lead to the removal of their student from the school but is not classified as an expulsion.

Academic Integrity

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School seeks to foster the development of people of character who live out the lessons from the Gospel and learn to make moral decisions. In academics, students are expected to complete their work with integrity and honesty. Student grades and assignments are expected to reflect their work, and dishonest attempts to earn credit will result in serious consequences.

Consequences for cheating, plagiarism, or any form of academic integrity will include, but are not limited to receiving a zero on the assignment and a referral to the Dean of Students and the Disciplinary Review Board. Multiple referrals or more serious violations of the academic integrity policy will result in a hearing by the Disciplinary Review Board to discuss further consequences, including suspension and Student Life probation. Suspensions due to academic integrity will be reported to colleges. Egregious violations or patterns of uncorrected behavior may result in dismissal from Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. If a dismissal is a potential consequence, the Disciplinary Review Board will invite the Head of School and hear from the student and a parent or guardian before making a recommendation to the Head of School. The Head of School may dismiss students for violations of the Academic Integrity policy or other school policy breaches.

Although not an exhaustive list, the below are examples of academic integrity that will not be tolerated at Pope:

• Copying any part of someone else's homework, quiz, test, or any assignment designated as individual work and/or knowingly allowing another student (s) to copy answers
• Using any sources not authorized by the teacher during an assessment (e.g., homework, lab, quiz, test, or other assignments).
• Submitting work from another student or allowing another student to submit one's work in their name.
• Stealing tests, quizzes, answer keys, or any assignment belonging to another student or teacher.
• Continuing to work on a quiz or test after being instructed to stop.
• Attempting to cheat (e.g., possession of unauthorized notes or resources on a quiz or test).
• Falsifying grades and/or altering assignments to resubmit assignments for an improved grade.
• Committing an act that is dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent to achieve academic success.
• Plagiarism or using someone else's ideas or words as if they are your own. Plagiarism includes verbatim copying without acknowledgment or citation, paraphrasing another's work or ideas, combining multiple uncited sources to present the ideas as one's own, or using public domain resources intended to aid cheating.

Drug and Alcohol Policy 

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School does not tolerate the use, possession, distribution, procurement, or production of prohibited substances on campus, during a school-sponsored activity, or during an activity reasonably related to the school. These prohibited substances include, but are not limited to, the following (see below for an explanation of terms):

• Illicit drugs
• Alcohol
• Tobacco/Nicotine
• ·Unauthorized prescription medication
• Other substances that produce a drug-like "high"
• Drug
• "Look-alike" substances

Drug Testing

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School reserves the right to randomly drug test and/or test when there is reasonable suspicion that a student has used or possessed a prohibited substance on campus, during a school-sponsored activity, or during an activity reasonably related to the school:

• The Dean of Students will meet with the student to share their reasonable suspicion and inform them they will be tested for suspected substances. (In extenuating circumstances, Pope John Paul II Preparatory School Administration reserves the right to drug test any student).
  • If observed on campus before, during, or after the school day, the student will be sent home immediately following substance testing and suspended for at least one day. (The number of days depends on the type of substance, level of intoxication, and other variables determined by the Administration).
• The student will immediately (if possible) be tested for substances, which may include any of the following:
  • Urine drug screening
  • Oral Nicotine test
  • Breathalyzer
• The student will complete the required suspension and notify the Dean of Students when the test results are received.
• If there is any suspicion of abuse, neglect, or drug exposure by an adult, the Dean of Students will contact the Department of Children's Services.

Negative Test Results

If all of the test result(s) are negative, the Dean of Students will call the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) to inform them that the results of the test(s) were negative.

Positive Tests Results

If any test results are positive, the Dean of Students will notify the student and call the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) to inform them of the results. They will also be informed that a comprehensive substance use screening and assessment is required to maintain school enrollment and to determine the extent of the student's use and recommendations for services.

• The Dean of Students will provide a letter to the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) explaining the assessment process, including the contact information for Cumberland Heights, or other approved agencies, to schedule the assessment.
  • Suppose the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) choose not to follow up with the assessment, and the student does not currently have access to other appropriate services. In that case, they will be notified that the student may be at risk of expulsion, and a referral to the Department of Children's Services may be completed.
• Depending on the substance test results, the student may be suspended for additional days. (The number of days depends on the type of substance, level of intoxication, and other variables determined by the Administration).
• Upon receiving recommendations from Cumberland Heights, or other approved agencies, the Dean of Students and the School Counselor will contact the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) to schedule a family meeting with the student. The goals of the family meeting include, but are not limited to discussing recommendations, ensuring the family has a plan to follow up on the recommendations, and establishing reasonable and individualized resources and support for the student at school. Parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will also be notified that the school requires a letter of completion of services from a qualified health provider.
  • Once the school receives that letter from the qualified health provider, the student will repeat test(s) for substances.

Multiple Positive Test Results

If any test results are positive, the Dean of Students will notify the student and call the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) to inform them that their student, which tests they received, and which test results were positive.

• Because this is considered a second violation of the policy, they will be notified that the test result(s) warrants referral to the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) for further review. A DRB will be scheduled with the family.
• If the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) or the student does not participate in the scheduled DRB, it is an automatic expulsion from the school.
  • The student is not allowed to return to school before the DRB.
  • In consultation with the recommendations from the DRB, the Head of School will determine further action, which may include expulsion from the school.
• The Dean of Students and the School Counselor will support the student and family in accessing community resources, including but not limited to another referral to Cumberland Heights.

When there is reasonable suspicion that a student has distributed, procured, or produced a prohibited substance on campus, during a school-sponsored activity or an activity reasonably related to the school:

• Complete Section A.
• In consultation with the Head of School, the Dean of Students will notify appropriate authorities (e.g., law enforcement) if deemed necessary.
• The Dean of Students will notify the student and the parent(s)/legal guardian that the incident warrants referral to the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) for further review and schedule a DRB with the family.
  • If the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) or the student does not participate in the scheduled DRB, it is an automatic expulsion from the school.
• In consultation with the recommendations from the DRB, the Head of School will determine further action, which may include expulsion from the school.

Explanation of Terms

Possession: having any type of substance and/or paraphernalia on your person or in your belongs including but not limited to: locker, car, backpack, athletic equipment

Distribution: the sharing or selling of any substance and/or paraphernalia

Procurement: the purchasing or receiving of any substance and/or paraphernalia

Production: the creation, production, or fabrication of any substance and/or paraphernalia

Illicit drugs: Any substances that are illegal for minors according to Tennessee State Law

Unauthorized prescription medication: Medication prescribed to someone other than the student; prescribed medication is used in a manner different than prescribed. Controlled substances, as prescribed by a physician, must be stored and administered by the school nurse (see school's Health Policy).

Other substances that produce a drug-like "high": (e.g., herbal incense)

Drug paraphernalia:  All equipment, products, and materials of any kind that are peculiar to, marked for, used in injecting, ingesting, inhaling substances (e.g., vape). This does not include prescribed medications (e.g., EpiPen, inhaler, etc. Refer to the school's Health Policy).

"Look-alike" substances: non-nicotine vapes

Reasonable suspicion: May include students who exhibit any number of the signs of drug use in adolescence. Including, but not limited to: a decline in student's grades, change in academic/athletic/social interest, shakes, tremors or slurred speech, a change in appearance. For more warning signs, please visit https://www.cumberlandheights.org/.

Digital Citizenship  

Digital citizenship is defined as engaging in appropriate and responsible behavior when using technology. As a part of the Pope Prep community, students are expected to treat others with respect and dignity, exhibit intelligent online behavior, and make choices that reflect positively on both the student and the school.

Violations of digital citizenship include, but are not limited to bullying, offending, harassing, or threatening others using technology, including email, messaging apps, social media, web pages, blogs, video and images, and/or text messages. It is considered inappropriate when it involves:

• Using obscene, profane, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful messages
• Posting information that could cause damage, danger, or disruption of the educational process
• Posing as another person online or misrepresenting one's identity to another
• Making a personal attack, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks
• Posting false or defamatory information about a person
• Using technological communication to intimidate, bully, harass, target, intentionally exclude, or embarrass others in any areas included in this policy

Please note: A student's home and personal use of technology can impact the school and other students. Students may face school discipline if a student's personal expression involving technology -- such as sending derogatory or threatening messages to another student or accessing a violent website -- disrupts the educational process.

Pope Prep encourages parents to speak regularly with their students about their social media presence.

Unauthorized audio or visual recording of others is strictly prohibited. As members of a community, respect for privacy is important. In today's world, it is easy to record the actions of others, but we do not have the right to share the words or actions of others without their permission or, at minimum, make them aware that an event is considered public. The Administration realizes that much is beyond its control. Any social media posts during school hours have limitations. In particular, students should not take another student's device and post something that implies that the device owner posted the material himself.  False postings or postings of individuals unaware of the posting can be damaging, devastating, and have long-term consequences. This policy supports Administration's commitment to teaching digital citizenship.

In addition, usage of Pope Prep imagery, name, or logos without expressed written consent is not permitted. Students may not create any social media accounts that use the Pope Prep name or logo without the express written authorization of the Head of School.

Safety

• Being in unauthorized or unsupervised areas: When parents are not present, we assume the role of "in loco parentis," meaning we supervise our students as if we are in the parental role. Parents should know that when their student is at Pope Prep, they are protected and behaving as a parent expects. Students are always to be supervised by adults and are not permitted in areas of the school where there is no supervision. Locker rooms are locked (except for PE class time and during athletic events) and prohibit student entry. Classrooms are only open to students when the teacher is present. Students are not allowed in the parking lot or other outside areas during the school day.
• Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Harassment: Bullying is the deliberate attempt to denigrate, intimidate, or embarrass another student. Bullying can be verbal, emotional, or psychological. It can be done through direct taunting, through spreading vicious rumors, or through social media sites. Bullying is the exact opposite of the behavior and action that Pope John Paul II Preparatory School espouses. It is a very serious infringement of the standards of community living and will not be tolerated. Students who see bullying, or are victims of bullying, should tell a trusted adult in the building. Parents are encouraged to immediately report bullying incidents to the Dean of Students involving their own or other students. The situation will be investigated and dealt with discreetly and tactfully to stop the bullying behavior but not reveal the person who reported it. Those who bully others are liable for suspension or expulsion. Students have the first responsibility to stop bullying. Bullies typically need an audience to impress.  Never underestimate the power of one or two voices. When one student tells the bully to stop what they are doing, statistics show that the bullying stops almost 50% of the time. When two students do so, the bullying stops nearly 100% of the time.
• Fighting: Physical violence is unacceptable at Pope Prep. Students will have differences, but we teach them skills and have ample resources, including our staff, to exclude the need for violence to resolve any problem at school. Students who feel threatened can anonymously report a concern to avoid violence or the use of force to protect themselves.
• Non-compliance with safety procedures and emergency drills: Safety is of the utmost importance. Students must treat all drills as real-life events and follow all safety rules. Students are issued a school photo ID and lanyard, which must be worn around the neck at all times. IDs are not to be worn in any other fashion. Students will use their IDs to enter the door by the chapel. IDs will not work on any other entries. If a student loses their ID, they must report it to the Student Life office immediately. Students are not allowed to open, prop open, or unlock any other door in the building. All doors except the chapel door are exits only. Students are to report anyone not wearing their ID and lanyard to staff, To help maintain our safety protocols.
• Racial Harassment: Racial harassment is any activity of a racial nature that is offensive or unwelcome to a reasonable, prudent person, which may consist of racial comments or physical intimidation. Incidents of racial harassment should be reported to the Head of School, Dean of Students, or school nurse, who will treat the matter professionally and sensitively.
• Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is any activity of a sexual nature that is offensive or unwelcome to a person and may consist of requests to perform sexual acts, subtle pressures to perform sexual acts, unwanted touching, and in certain circumstances, lewd comments and gestures. Incidents of sexual harassment, whether in person, online, or through social media, will be treated with the same degree of seriousness. All incidents should be reported to the Head of School, Dean of Students, or school nurse, who will treat the matter professionally and sensitively. The Head of School will offer the student whatever help a student may need and set in motion the procedures dictated by Diocesan policies and civil law.
• Theft: We respect the property of others. No student shall steal anything from their fellow students or the school. "Buying" from others without their permission is stealing. Students should report a theft immediately to the Student Life office so an investigation can take place. To avoid theft, students should act responsibly by locking items in their locker, not sharing their locker combination, and labeling items with their name.
• Threatening to harm oneself or others: Pope John Paul II Preparatory School must be a place that is not only safe but feels safe. No one should ever be concerned for their physical safety or the safety of others. Any threat of violence will be taken seriously, and students should report and may report anonymously any concern about potential violence. A student who threatens to harm others or does harm others will be immediately removed from the campus. The Administration will contact law enforcement as necessary to assess the threat, report a crime, or seek guidance in settling a conflict. Outside professional counseling will be used to determine if a student is a threat to themself or others. *Social media postings are taken just as seriously as verbal or physical threats made directly.
• Weapons: Pope John Paul II Preparatory School does not allow students to bring any weapon onto campus. Students are not allowed to bring any following to school: guns (including air guns, paintball guns, and fake or toy weapons), knives (including pocket knives and Swiss Army knives), ammo, fireworks, pepper spray, Tasers, or explosives.  Depending on the severity and circumstances, students are liable for expulsion and/or can be turned over to local law enforcement.  

Off Campus Behavior

The school has responsibility for the student during published hours, and the parents have responsibility for their children outside of those hours. If the school learns of off campus behavior, including actions that involve social media, that is private or public in nature and harmful to the health or safety of the student, the school will notify the parents, who will handle the matter as they see fit. If, however, a student's off campus activity is public in nature and reflects poorly on Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, the school will take disciplinary action that, in its estimation, is proportionate to the damage done to the school in the eyes of the community.

Similarly, as an adult community, we share responsibility for each other's children and should communicate issues of concern about other's children with their parents.  We should be receptive and appreciative of such calls.  However, we are sovereign over our children alone; therefore, we cannot substitute our judgment for other parents (as would be the case, for example, if a parent decided to host a party that involved drinking, even if that parent went through the precaution of "taking away keys").  Parents who knowingly allow another family's children to participate in illegal or immoral activities while under their jurisdiction violate a trust among our families and may be asked to withdraw their children from our school.

All school field trips and school-sponsored activities are under the school's jurisdiction, independent of location.

Food and Drink in Hallways/Cafeteria Behavior

Students are expected to follow basic rules of decorum and good dining etiquette when eating or drinking in the dining hall or courtyard. All students are responsible for clearing trays and leftover food/non-food items. A classroom teacher responsible for those particular students must authorize any food in the classroom. Students are expected to declare all food and drink items to the teller for payment before passing through the cash wrap area. Students are prohibited from eating or drinking any items until they have been paid for them. Failure to do so is treated as theft, and the student will be liable for expulsion. Attempting to conceal food (in pockets, bags, etc.) and drink items to avoid paying is considered theft, and the student will be liable for expulsion.

Inspections

The school, operating in loco parentis, reserves the right to inspect and search book bags, lockers, cars, and students' personal property on the Pope Prep campus.  

General Locker Policy

Students must keep their lockers clean and orderly. This entails leaving no open food or drink in their lockers. [Students are expected to keep all valuables (wallets, purses, phones, iPads, money, etc.) locked inside their locker or on their person.]

Athletic Locker/Dressing Room Policy

Students in PE or Strength and Conditioning classes are required to change in the designated locker room. Students are encouraged to bring any valuables they have to their teacher for safekeeping during class. Students should not leave any valuables in the locker room when unattended, both during the school day and after school.  Students should not leave any belongings in the PE changing room. Items left in the changing room will be turned in to Lost and Found. Each in-season sport will be assigned a locker room for their use during their season.  

Cellphones and cameras are strictly prohibited in locker/dressing rooms. Under no circumstances should pictures of any kind be taken in these rooms. 

Lost, Found, and Misplaced Items

Though Pope John Paul II Preparatory School assumes no responsibility for students' personal property or possessions, we keep a Lost and Found in the Student Life office. All items found in the school building or on school grounds should be given to the staff in the Student Life office. Unclaimed items are eventually donated to charity.

Parking Policy

A student driving to school must obtain a Parking Permit to park on campus. Students wishing to secure a permit must submit a photocopy of their driver's license and complete a Parking Permit Form.

Students must display their Parking Permit on the rearview mirror and must park only in the designated Student Parking Lot.  Students are not allowed to park in the Faculty Parking Area or the Front Visitor Parking Area. Students without the proper paperwork and Parking Permit are given verbal notice and written notice. On the third notice, the car will be towed at the student's expense.

Parking Lot Safety

Students and Parents are asked to follow posted directional signs at all times. The speed limit on school roads is 15 miles an hour. Failure to follow guidelines can result in a student's campus driving privileges being revoked, and for more serious driving infractions, local law enforcement can be contacted. Students are accountable for keeping their parking lot clean of trash. Students can be transferred to the lower field to park for special events. Students may not change for practices at the lower parking lot, play music from their car, and loiter before or after school.

Permits will be renewed and reviewed annually and may be revoked at any time for speeding or reckless driving, or other violations.

Pregnancy

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School teaches its students to view their sexuality as an extraordinary and wonderful gift from God. We teach our students to integrate their sexuality into a life of love, commitment, dignity, self-awareness, and moral goodness. This teaching includes abstaining from sexual activity outside of marriage. If a student becomes pregnant, her parents must contact the school nurse or an administrator at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School as soon as it is known.

Failure to make this report will result in dismissal from Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. Male and female students who wish to remain at Pope Prep must agree to participate in pregnancy counseling provided by Catholic Social Services. In addition, the school must receive written notice from medical personnel on an ongoing basis that the mother is fit and healthy enough for school. Finally, the students must remain discreet with the pregnancy, not drawing unnecessary attention to it while at school or school functions. Under these conditions, students involved in pregnancy may be able to continue their education at Pope Prep for a time. Still, the Head of School will make the final call after careful consideration of all the situation's specifics and consultation with those involved.

A student who chooses to be a primary caregiver and take primary financial and legal responsibility for a child may not continue at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. Married students also may not continue at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School.

Because of the school's absolute commitment to the value and dignity of every human life from conception, a student who procures an abortion or has been involved in deciding to have an abortion will not be permitted to remain at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. 

Restricted Area Policy

Restricted locations during the school day are parking lots, unsupervised classrooms, PE locker rooms except if they are in their PE class, wooded areas, streets and paths surrounding the campus, and other areas with signs indicating no student access. 

 

Campus Ministry at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School aims to bring students closer to God through prayer, service, and faith development. The office of Campus Ministry strives to provide students with opportunities to learn more about their faith through interactions with their classmates, teachers, faith leaders, and the wider community. The holistic student will utilize the Campus Ministry office to build a more significant relationship with God that complements their academic and extracurricular activities. Ultimately, service and faith are at the heart of the Gospel message and Pope John Paul II's mission; as such, they are necessary for developing young men and women of character. The office of Campus Ministry is here to foster the growth of servant leadership and faith among all students, no matter the student's background or future vocation. 

Class Retreats

Retreats are a fundamental aspect of the student experience at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. They are designed to meet the diverse developmental and faith needs of our students. High school students attend one required retreat during the school year, which takes place off-campus over a regular school day, and are centered around a common theme. Along with class retreats, all students will participate in a day of service retreat each year. 

Retreats are meant to provide our students with a necessary "pause" from the demands of their school day and allow them to enter more deeply into a relationship with God and their classmates in an engaging and reflective manner. Retreats also offer a way for our students to engage in leadership and community building throughout the retreat. The faculty is also actively involved in each retreat day and provides positive examples of servant leadership to our students, in addition to their commitment and time in the classroom. The importance of these retreat days cannot be understated, as they create their bonds that tie our community together as one Body in Christ, as brothers and sisters sent out to share the message of the Gospel to all. 

Retreat Themes by Year:

Freshmen: "Our encounter with Christ...sets us on the right path." - St. John Paul II 

                  Focus on Foundations

Sophomores: "Each one of us belongs to a great family…" - St. John Paul II        

                  Focus on Community 

Juniors: "Be generous...in the service of your brothers and sisters." - St. John Paul II 

                  Focus on Servant Leadership

Seniors: "The future is in your heart and in your hands." - St. John Paul II 

                  Focus on Discipleship

Prayer 

There are multiple opportunities available for students to participate in an active prayer life at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. All students attend Mass once a week to celebrate our community, united in the Spirit as One Body in Christ. Daily Mass is available in the chapel for all who would like to celebrate the liturgy. Priests from Our Lady of the Lake will be on campus daily to meet any spiritual needs of students. Students also can participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation twice a year, during the Advent and Lenten liturgical seasons. As these Sacraments are tangible expressions of God's grace in our life, it is pivotal for our school community that we provide the ability to receive the Sacraments as often as possible. 

Service

To love and to serve others is the core of the Christian community and fellowship. "Just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve" (Mt 20:28), so too are we called to fulfill our duty of loving both God and neighbor by practicing the works of mercy and cultivating responsibility to care for those around us, especially those in greatest need. The goal of the service program is to provide students with the experiences and tools to become other-oriented in a world that is increasingly more self-oriented; by doing so, each student can become more like Christ, who is the ultimate model of love and self-giving. Knowing that Pope John Paul II Preparatory School does not exist in a bubble, it is of utmost importance to engage with the greater Nashville community through acts of love and service.

The Campus Ministry office exists to provide the school community with opportunities to practice service ministry throughout the year. These opportunities serve to educate students about the social injustices and disparities in our community, challenge our students to grow in relationship and solidarity with people in great need, and respond to God's call of self-giving love. 

To cultivate each student as a minister of Christ, all students must complete a service requirement every school year. Each grade level must do a minimum of five hours of service at a pre-approved non-profit organization; ideally, this organization aligns with the service theme for each grade level. The remainder of the required hours may be completed at a non-profit organization, church, or in service to Pope John Paul II Preparatory School (outside of the regular school day hours). The purpose of focusing on a service theme for each grade is to foster a culture of discussion and reflection so that service learning is not an isolated event for each student. Instead, the shared experience provides a foundation in class for students to share their experiences and discuss them in a larger context. Each student will graduate with at least four different service experiences that broaden the scope of material and spiritual poverty to the JPII graduate by the end of four years. 

To summarize:

1.      Five hours of every year's service requirement must be completed at a pre-approved non-profit that ideally aligns with the service theme of the student's grade level. 

2.     All other hours must be completed at a pre-approved non-profit organization, church, or in service to Pope John Paul II Preparatory School (outside of the regular school day). 

3.     To guarantee that hours will be approved, students with questions about service must speak to the Service Coordinator before undertaking the service. 

	Freshman	Sophomore	Junior	Senior
Retreat Theme	Foundations	Community	Servant Leader	Discipleship
Service Requirements and Theme	15 hours   5 hours must come from a pre-approved non-profit organization   Feed the hungry	20 hours     5 hours must come from a pre-approved non-profit organization    Give drink to the thirsty	25 hours      5 hours must come from a pre-approved non-profit organization    Shelter the homeless	25 hours     5 hours must come from a pre-approved non-profit organization    Visit the sick and elderly

"Darkness can only be scattered by light; hatred can only be conquered by love." - Pope John Paul II 

Athletic Offerings

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School offers the following sports activities: Football, Basketball, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Cross Country, Track, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Tennis, Swimming, Golf, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Bowling, Ice Hockey, Dance, Club Archery, and Club & Skeet Shooting (in partnership with Nashville Row). 

Clubs and Activities

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School offers a full complement of activities outside athletics designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of interests.  A sampling of those activities includes the following: Student Government, Drama, Band, Yearbook, Forensics, Model United Nations, Youth Legislature, Math Team, Dance, musical and dramatic variety productions.

House System

The House System at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School was formed in January 2003 to maintain close bonds among students, build relations between students and faculty, promote school spirit, and foster student leadership, responsibility, and accountability. The student body and faculty are divided into six Houses, each named after a Pope: The House of Gregory the Great, The House of Leo XIII, The House of Peter, The House of John XXIII, The House of Clement, and The House of Pius IX. The Houses are intramural, student-led organizations that provide leadership opportunities, community service, intramural competition, and student induction and orientation. Each House is a balanced mix of students in each grade level. Each House has developed its unique traditions, coats of arms, Latin motto, and activities.  

Each House elects its student leadership. Under the guidance of the Director of Houses, and with the support of faculty Advisors, each House Council is responsible for organizing and running House meetings, activities, and competitions and serving as part of the School Council. Each House Council comprises a House President (senior), a senior rep, a Vice President (Junior), a Junior Rep, and two sophomore reps. From this group, a School President and Vice President are elected (both seniors). The School Council’s duties include supervising all aspects of the House System, organizing Homecoming and Coming Home festivities, organizing all Friday school assemblies, and serving as a liaison between the student body and the Administration. The Director of Houses helps facilitate and support this student-run, student-designed system and advises the School Council. Serving on the School Council is considered an honor and a privilege. All members of the School Council are expected to fulfill their specific officer duties and serve as models for their classmates by meeting three primary standards:

1. School Council members must attend School Council meetings to represent their classmates properly. Missing more than three meetings for a reason other than school absence will result in removal from the School Council.
2. School Council members must model Academic Integrity to serve as examples of honorable behavior for their classmates. Academic Integrity violations, once elected, could result in removal from House Council, at the discretion of the Director of Houses and Head of School.
3. School Council maintains good academic standing continue participation in House Council, which entails out-of-school commitments. Failure to do so for one semester will result in probation status. Failure to do so into a second semester will result in removal from the School Council.

The Student Health Center provides health services to currently enrolled students. The school nurse is available from 7:45 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. each day.  The Student Health Center offers nursing care and triage for acute and chronic illness, early detection of illness, health counseling and teaching, healthcare procedures and treatments, assistance with administration of prescribed medication and treatments, First Aid medical care and treatments, administration of non-prescription medications (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Tums, cough drops, and Benadryl) and crisis intervention. The school nurse initiates referrals to parents, school counselors, community health resources, and community mental health professionals for appropriate care as needed.

Immunizations

The state's immunization requirements follow the current schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Required immunizations for children attending school must be documented on the Official Immunization Certificate.  See the chart below as to requirements for immunization in the State of Tennessee:

Children with medical or religious exemption to Immunization requirements

Students are required to have their health examinations and proof of immunization following the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Department of Health regulations. The Diocese of Nashville accepts exemptions for legitimate health concerns but not for religious reasons. This exemption is only granted upon presentation to the particular school of administration of written documentation from qualified physicians or medical experts that the immunization endangers the child's health. All exemptions are at the discretion of the school's administrator, with the advice and counsel of the Catholic Schools office. Any questions regarding exemptions will be referred to the Head of School.

Annual Physicals

Annual physicals are required for all students. Students must have a yearly physical completed by July 31^st of the upcoming school year, and the physicals must be valid for the entire school year. To assist families and to keep costs down, it is customary for the school to arrange free physicals through the generosity of local doctors and nurses in late May or early June for the following school year (determined annually). We encourage ALL students to make use of this service when available.

Consent for School Nurse Services and Medical History

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School is concerned about our students' health, safety, and well-being. For the school health staff to stay informed and support and promote our students' safety and well-being, parents must complete Pope Prep Permission and Consent forms through www.dragonflymax.com. The form permits the school nurse to treat the student for services ranging from basic First Aid to emergency care and administration of stocked over-the-counter medications. The School Health Center will supply Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Tums, and Benadryl on an as-needed basis and at the school nurse's discretion. These forms give the nurse medical/legal consent and provide important information in a medical emergency.  These forms need to be renewed annually.

Illness and Injury

If a student becomes ill or is injured at school, students are advised to go to the School Health Center to be evaluated by the school nurse.  The school nurse will assess the student and contact the parent/legal guardian and advise disposition if necessary. The school nurse will care for the student in the interim.  If the injury or illness requires emergency medical care, the school nurse will activate Emergency Medical Services and notify the parent/legal guardian immediately.

In most situations, Pope Prep prefers students to come to school; however, here are a few guidelines to help the parent/legal guardian in deciding when to keep your student at home:  If your student has a fever > 100.0 F, diarrhea not caused by diet or medications, vomiting, or been diagnosed with the flu, you will need to keep your student at home for 24 hours AFTER symptoms resolve and your student is fever free.  Suppose a student has been diagnosed with a contagious condition such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), Mononucleosis, MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus), impetigo, chickenpox, shingles, etc. In that case, the student will require a medical release statement from their licensed healthcare provider to return to school.

Medications Administration (Prescription or Non-Prescription)

Authorization for self-administration and assistance with self-administration of medications, prescription and non-prescription, form HS003 must be obtained annually and when changes occur submitted through www.dragonflymax.com. In all instances where prescription and non-prescription medications not stocked buy the Student Health Center (i.e., cold or allergy medications) are to be administered (assisted self-administered or staff administered) during school hours, on field trips, or retreats, the following is required:

For prescription medications to be administered during school hours, the medication must be in the original container and labeled correctly. Form HS003 (prescription medication or non-prescription medication taken for longer than ten days) must be completed and signed by the prescribing Licensed Healthcare Provider that identifies and contains the following:

• The name of the drug and dose.

• Approximate time it is to be taken.

• The diagnosis or reason the medication is needed.

• A list of adverse effects that may be reasonably expected.

• Contraindications to administering the medication.

• The ability of the student to competently self-administer the medication(s).

• Prescribing Licensed Healthcare Provider Signature, date, and phone number.

• Parent/legal guardian and student signature and date.

For non-prescription medications (not stocked by School Health Center, i.e., cold or allergy medications) to be administered during school hours, the medication must be in the original container and labeled correctly. Form HS003 must be filled out and signed by the parent/legal guardian that identifies and contains the following:

• The name of the drug and dose.

• Approximate time it is to be taken.

• The reason the medication is needed.

• Start date and discontinue date (if > than ten days, must be filled out by licensed healthcare provider).

• The ability of the student to competently self-administer the medication(s).

• Special instructions and handling.

• Parent/legal guardian and student signature and date.                 

The parent/legal guardian should hand-deliver prescription or non-prescription medications to the School Health Center whenever possible.  The school nurse or head of school reserves the right to require parents to bring in medications as necessary.  For controlled substances, school office personnel shall verify the amount of medication delivered by counting individual units of medication in the presence of either the adult who delivers it or another school personnel. The school nurse shall document the amount of medication in the student's medication record in Veracross. The amount of medication and initials of personnel who verified medication count shall be documented in Veracross.  Controlled substances shall be stored in a locked drawer in the School Health Center.   

Any school personnel (employee, volunteer, or designee) authorized by the head of school or school nurse to assist with self-administration or administer medication to students will be provided appropriate instruction approved by the Tennessee Department of Health and Education and the Catholic Diocese of Nashville and will be supervised by the school nurse. Determining which individuals should be responsible for medication administration will be the joint responsibility of the head of school and the school nurse.  

School personnel (school nurse, employee, volunteer, or designee) authorized by the headmaster or school nurse to assist with self-administration or administer medication to students shall see that the medication is given within one hour before or after the specified time parent and practitioner.  

An individual Medication Record will be established in Veracross for each student. The record will include the date, time, dosage, initials of the individual dispensing medication, extension or disruption of medication, any changes, description of reactions experienced by the student, or errors made in the medication administration by the student or staff.  Medication and treatment documentation in Veracross is part of the student's record. Following FERPA and HIPAA regulations, an accurate and confidential record-keeping system will be recorded in Veracross each time a medication is dispensed.

Annual authorization for prescription and non-prescription medications will be valid for students attending summer school.  Narcotic pain medications will not be administered during school hours, and students cannot be under the influence of narcotic pain medication while at school.  ALL prescription and non-prescription medications will be kept in the School Health Center.  Students are NEVER ALLOWED TO SELF-CARRY ANY MEDICATIONS except for Insulin, Glucagon, EpiPens, and Inhalers.

 

Parent-School Partnership

Parents are the primary educators of their children. Pope John Paul II Preparatory School seeks to work in partnership with parents to make their children's education comprehensive, effective, and inspiring. 

Parents are encouraged to take an active interest in their children's progress and are encouraged to approach faculty members, staff members, or administrators directly by telephone, email, or appointment. The first point of contact should be the faculty member or advisor concerned and related to the particular concern. If this contact is unsatisfactory or if the parent's concerns are more general, parents should contact the appropriate administrator. General matters of an academic nature should be referred to the Assistant Head of School for Academics. General issues relating to Student Life should be referred to the Dean of Students.

Because parents are the primary educators, a constructive working relationship between the school and a student's parent or guardian is essential to accomplishing the educational mission of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School.  The school reserves the right to terminate or not renew a student's enrollment contract if the school reasonably concludes that the actions of a parent or guardian make a positive and constructive relationship impossible or otherwise seriously interfere with the accomplishment of the educational aspirations of the school.

Political Advertising

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School is a 501(c)(3) organization. 501(c)(3) organizations cannot participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. Pope Prep cannot permit any campaigning in any form at any event on its property or an event sponsored by Pope Prep.

To promote our students and school in the community, from time to time, Pope John Paul II Preparatory School will use students' images and/or names and/or artwork in publicity press releases, school publications, website news stories, or videos about the school. All such materials will be reviewed by the Administration of the school for appropriateness before promotion.  Pope Prep protects the privacy rights of its students or likenesses of its students, including student directory data, to promote the interests of external commercial vendors, unless in rare cases, prior written permission is obtained from both the parents and the school Administration. 

School Closing

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School follows an independent policy regarding school closings for inclement weather. The most important priority for these decisions is the safety of students. However, because Pope Prep draws students from 10 different counties, there may be occasions where conditions are safe in Hendersonville and the school opens, but conditions are unsafe in the outlying counties. Parents must make the final decision whether or not to send their child to school; if a child is absent or late for class due to inclement weather, parents need to send a note explaining the reason, and the absence or tardy will be excused.

Because of distance and geography, there are occasions when the Clarksville or Bowling Green buses will be canceled and students who ride those buses excused* while the remainder of the student body must attend. We will try to keep these days to an absolute minimum.

The fastest way to determine if we are closing is to check the website's front page, the Pope Prep App, and social media. If there is no news, we are not closing. You may also watch for closings, early closings, or late openings on Channels 2, 4, and 5. 

Early Closing for Inclement Weather

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School follows an independent policy on early closing, i.e., closing after school has already begun. When the school closes early, student drivers will be permitted to leave immediately. Therefore, parents of student drivers must discuss early closing situations and agree on the best course of action before the day of the early closing. The school administration cannot "check on" every student driver and must assume that student drivers that leave do so with their parent's permission.

Weather Station Links:

News Channel 2 WKRN

News Channel 4 WSMV  

News Channel 5 WTVF

 

Pope Prep rotates bi-weekly (Blue Week and Gold Week). Eighty-minute class periods provide greater consistency for lesson planning and student focus. Lunch periods are 30-minutes, splitting high school into two lunch periods, while the middle school gathers as one. Regular Assemblies, House Meetings, and Advisories provide space for community building and program development in Student Life, Campus Ministry, Academics, and School Counseling. Scheduled tutorial periods are built into the day, with high school students having four per week and middle school two per week. Mass is celebrated weekly and is separated between high school and middle school. 

Computer Network and Internet Access

Disclaimer. The Internet is a worldwide network of computers that contains millions of pages of information. Users are cautioned that many of these pages include offensive, sexually explicit, and inappropriate material. In general, it is difficult to avoid at least some contact with this material while using the Internet. Even innocuous search requests may lead to sites with highly offensive content.

Additionally, having an email address on the Internet may lead to receiving unsolicited emails containing offensive content. Users accessing the Internet do so at their own risk. Pope John Paul II Preparatory School and the Diocese of Nashville are not responsible for material viewed or downloaded by Users from the Internet. Your use of the Internet at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School is governed by the following policy to minimize these risks:

Permitted Use of the Internet and Pope John Paul II Preparatory School Computer Network.

The computer network is the property of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School and is to be used for legitimate educational purposes. Users are provided access to the computer network to assist them in the performance of their academic pursuits. Additionally, students ("Users") may also be provided access to the Internet through the computer network. All Users are responsible for using the school's computer resources and the Internet in an academic, lawful, and ethical manner. Abuse of the computer network or the Internet may result in disciplinary action, including possible expulsion and civil and/or criminal liability.

Computer Network Use Limitations

Prohibited Activities. Without prior written permission from the School Administration, Pope Prep's computer network may not be used to disseminate, view, or store commercial or personal advertisements, solicitations, promotions, destructive code (e.g., viruses, Trojan horse programs, etc.), or any other unauthorized materials. Occasional limited appropriate personal use of the computer is permitted if such use does not a.) Interfere with the User's or any other student's work; b.) Have an undue effect on the computer or Pope Prep's network's performance; c.) Or violate any other policies, provisions, guidelines, or standards of this agreement or any other of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. Further, at all times, Users are responsible for the computer system's professional, ethical, and lawful use. Personal use of the computer is a privilege that may be revoked at any time.

Illegal Copying. Users may not illegally copy material protected under copyright law or make that material available to others for copying. Users are responsible for complying with copyright law and applicable licenses that may apply to software, files, graphics, documents, messages, and other material you wish to download or copy. Users may not agree to a license or download any material for which a registration fee is charged without first obtaining the express written permission of the School Administration.

Communication of Trade Secrets. Unless expressly authorized to do so, the User is prohibited from sending, transmitting, or otherwise distributing proprietary information, data, trade secrets, or other confidential information belonging to Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. Unauthorized dissemination of such material may result in severe disciplinary action and substantial civil and criminal penalties under state and federal Economic Espionage laws.

Duty Not to Waste or Damage Computer Resources

Accessing the Internet. To ensure security and avoid the spread of viruses, Users accessing the Internet through a computer attached to Pope Prep's network must do so through an approved Internet firewall or another security device. Bypassing the school's computer network security by accessing the Internet directly by modem or other means is strictly prohibited unless the computer you are using is not connected to the school's network.

Frivolous Use. Computer resources are not unlimited. Network bandwidth and storage capacity have finite limits, and all Users connected to the network have a responsibility to conserve these resources. As such, the User must not deliberately perform acts that waste computer resources or unfairly monopolize resources to exclude others. These acts include but are not limited to sending mass mailings or chain letters, spending excessive amounts of time on the Internet, playing games, engaging in online chat groups, uploading or downloading large files, accessing streaming audio and/or video files, or otherwise creating unnecessary loads on network traffic associated with non-educational-related uses of the Internet.

No Expectation of Privacy. Students are given access to iPads, computers, and Internet access to assist them in the performance of their academic pursuits. Students should have no expectation of privacy in anything they create, store, send or receive using Pope John Paul II Preparatory School's computer equipment. The computer network is the property of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School and may be used only for purposes approved by the School Administration.

Waiver of privacy rights. User expressly waives any right of privacy in anything they create, store, send or receive using Pope John Paul II Preparatory School's computer equipment or Internet access. User consents to allow school personnel access and review of all materials created, stored, sent, or received by User through any school network or Internet connection. The school has the right to monitor and log all aspects of its computer system, including, but not limited to, monitoring Internet sites visited by Users, monitoring chat and newsgroups, monitoring file downloads, and all communications sent and received by Users.

Blocking sites with inappropriate content. Pope John Paul II Preparatory School has the right to utilize software that makes it possible to identify and block access to Internet sites containing sexually explicit or other material deemed inappropriate in school. 

Technology Responsible Use Policy

This policy aims to educate students on the responsible use and expectations when using the various forms of technology on and off-campus. Allowing students to utilize technology during the educational process enhances each student's overall learning experience. Our goal is to provide a safe, appropriate, and effective learning environment for all at the school.

The Responsible Use Policy includes all forms of technology, such as but not limited to: iPad, laptops, cameras, cellphones, texting, messaging, email, chat, instant messaging, gaming, and social networking sites. Due to continuous advancement in technology, Pope John Paul II Preparatory School reserves the right to add to the policy throughout the school year as deemed necessary.

Violating any portion of the Responsible Use Policy may result in disciplinary consequences, including suspension or expulsion from Pope John Paul II Preparatory School and/or legal action. The school will cooperate with law enforcement in any investigation related to any potentially illegal activities conducted through our network. The school reserves the right to apply disciplinary consequences for computer-related actions conducted off-campus if such activity adversely affects the safety or well-being of students or other members of our school community or constitutes behavior embarrassing to the school. Students and parents should report threats of violence or harm in cyberspace to law enforcement immediately.

Privacy and Online Behavior

• Students will not share passwords or use anyone else's passwords.
• Students will not impersonate another's identity.
• Students will be ethical and respect the privacy of others.
• Students understand that Pope John Paul II Preparatory School has the right to look at any data, email, logs, or files on the network or an individual device without the prior consent of the system's User. In addition, the school reserves the right to confiscate and search a student's electronic device to ensure compliance with the Responsible Use Policy and school policy as outlined in the Student Handbook.
• Students will not submit, publish or display any defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually-oriented, threatening, racially offensive, or illegal material.
• Students will not encourage the use of a controlled substance, alcohol, or tobacco.

Recording Sound/Taking Pictures

Students will not make and/or post photo, audio, or video recordings of another student or Pope John Paul II Preparatory School employee/volunteer without specific permission from the individual being recorded and the supervising teacher.

Regardless of intent, any use of cameras in restrooms or the locker room will be treated as a serious violation.

Unacceptable Uses of Electronic Devices through Network or Internet

Violating any state or federal law or municipal ordinances, such as:

• Accessing or transmitting pornography of any kind, obscene depictions, harmful materials that encourage others to violate the law, confidential information, or copyrighted materials.
• Criminal activities that are punishable under law.
• Selling or purchasing illegal items or substances.
• Spamming; spreading viruses.
• Causing harm to others or damage to their property, such as: using profane, abusive, or impolite language; threatening, harassing, or making damaging or false statements about others, or accessing, transmitting, or downloading offensive, harassing, or disparaging materials.
• Deleting, copying, modifying, or forging other Users' names, emails, files, or data; disguising one's identity, impersonating other Users, or sending an anonymous email.
• Damaging computer equipment, files, data, or the network in any way, including intentionally accessing, transmitting, or downloading computer viruses or other harmful files or programs, or disrupting any computer system performance.
• Accessing Social Media during school hours without the specific instruction of a teacher or staff member.
• Playing games on devices during school hours.
• Using the network or Internet in any manner that violates any school policy.

Any unauthorized technology used to bypass security systems, including Internet filtering, is not permitted. This includes using "shh," proxy-bypass software, remote desktop sessions, anonymizing websites/software, and other technologies.

Responsible Device Use Policy For Specific Technology

General Purpose and Intent of the school-issued iPads and Laptops Responsible Use Policy

Members of the Pope John Paul II Preparatory School community will use iPads and Laptops as assigned and approved by the faculty, staff, and/or Administration, along with all other electronic communication and computing devices, in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner at all times. Students may receive permission for their own devices, but the following policy is specific to school equipment. Student devices are accountable to the Internet usage rules and use on campus, but access to the device is through parent consultation and permission. Technological resources, including iPads, Laptops, and other technology, at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School are provided to support the school's mission and holistic educational experience. Pope John Paul II Preparatory School's goal in providing these resources is to promote educational excellence by facilitating learning through creative thinking, resource sharing, scholarship, research, and communication. The use of these technologies is a privilege that carries responsibilities and behavioral expectations consistent with all school rules and policies, including but not limited to those stated in the Student Handbook.

Specific iPad or Laptop Responsible Use Policy

• Any viewing, sharing, or transmission of iPad or Laptop material containing inappropriate content, offensive language, derogatory rumors/gossip, or other content not in keeping with Pope John Paul II Preparatory School's mission or philosophy is strictly prohibited.
• Any iPad or Laptop use, whether or not utilizing the school's network, which could pose a risk of physical or mental harm to anyone, is prohibited.
• Any iPad or Laptop use, whether or not utilizing the school's network, which could pose a risk of property loss, is prohibited.
• While on the campus, an iPad or Laptop may only be connected to the Internet using the access provided by Pope John Paul II Preparatory School.
• Students will not share their passwords, addresses, or other personal information on the Internet without the authorization of a school representative.
• Students have no privacy rights in the use of their iPads or Laptop. All iPad and Laptop activity, including communications, Internet history, or other uses, are subject to monitoring by Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. School representatives may inspect and, if they deem necessary, confiscate any student's iPad or Laptop.
• Certain Internet materials may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of the author or copyright holder. The student's responsibility is to respect and adhere to all copyright, trademark, and other intellectual rights and trade secrets laws.
• The Pope John Paul II Preparatory School network may not be accessed without authorization. This includes, but is not limited to, accessing the network using any account other than a student's own.
• According to the Pope Prep iPad orientation, students are solely responsible for the care and safekeeping of the device they are using. Any loss or damage (outside of reasonable wear and tear), regardless of the cause, will be the strict financial responsibility of the students and parents. Students must immediately report damage or loss, including theft, to Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. Students are not permitted to repair, alter, modify or replace any device without express authorization from the school.
• In consideration for using devices provided by Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, each student and their parent/legal guardian agrees not to sue and hereby releases, waives, discharges, holds harmless, indemnifies, and defends Pope John Paul II Preparatory School and the Diocese of Nashville, as well as their respective employees, personnel, staff, volunteers, agents, directors, affiliates, and representatives, from all liability, losses, damages, claims, actions, and causes of action of every nature for all known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, bodily or personal injuries, property damage, or other loss, whether claimed by the student, parent, legal representative, or any third party, relating in any way to the use of the devices furnished by Pope John Paul II Preparatory School to the student.
• When using the school's devices, we strongly encourage students to consider whether their electronic communications and other uses of the devices may be regarded as offensive, hurtful, or otherwise inappropriate by others.
• Violations of any portion of this Responsible Use Policy may result in disciplinary measures against the student up to and including expulsion.
• The use of the iPad or Laptop is for educational purposes. Students are not allowed to download or use apps or websites for any other purpose. Any non-essential apps, videos, etc., can be deleted to make space for classroom use.
• The iPad used as a FaceTime, video camera, still camera, or audio recording, can only be done with the permission of the instructor.

The Pope Prep Student iPad 

• The iPad and charging cable issued to the student are the property of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School.  As such, employees of Pope Prep can access iPads at any time.
• All students may use only the Pope Prep issued iPad in school. No personal devices are acceptable without explicit permission from a faculty member.
• Students will come with a fully charged iPad to school every day.
• Students will have a case on the iPad at all times.
• Students will have a stylus available in each class.
• Students will have headphones for the iPad available in each class.
• Students should use Pope Prep Apple ID on iPads.
• With limited storage space, students' work should be backed up to iCloud and Google Drive. 
• Students and parents who have concerns about text content being shared between students via mobile devices may send or bring evidence (screenshots) of the activity to School Administration.