Congratulations to the Middle School Forensics Team for their recent success at the St. Rose Forensics tournament! Along with the team winning the Carolyn Baker award for earning the most points per student that performed, all four participants from Pope Prep placed in the tournament: James Lee - 1st in Dramatic Interp, Prisha Patel - 1st in Impromptu, Abby Jacobs - 4th in Poetry, and Kinsley Cole - 3rd in Prose. Go, Knights!
Student Life
Pope John Paul II Preparatory School strives to create a Catholic culture in a cooperative community. Our goal is to foster and develop a sense of morality, responsibility, and social consciousness in each student.
We want our students to form strong and lasting relationships with their peers, teachers, and coaches, and we provide a variety of events for this to happen. Beginning with the new student orientation, to the "Senior Walk" before graduation, students embrace opportunities to have fun. There are pep rallies, tailgates, House games, dances, retreats, community service, and many more opportunities for students to bond and make lasting memories and life-long friendships.
Thank you to all of the Pope Prep Grandparents who joined us for the Grandparents' Luncheon! We loved seeing quality time spent between grandparents and grandchildren, the smiles and laughter overheard, and the good time had by all! Thank you to all of those volunteers who helped make this day memorable for our grandparents! To access event pictures, please use this link to find your photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eiUCe3wSOJ9JtXVJZHujeME_6z4s568W?usp=sharing Thanks again to Kristen Weigel Photography for sharing her talent with our community!
Faculty and students paused to remember the 20th anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001; we are grateful for this memorial on our campus created by Pope student Brady Green ‘25. The 297 American flags that Brady placed on our lawn created a memorial to the 2,977 victims of the attacks that day 20 years ago. Each flag represents 10 lives lost. We pray for those souls and the souls of those lost in the violence since that day; we are grateful for this beautiful memorial on our campus.
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
Frequently Requested Forms
Learner's Permit
Tennessee State Law requires students to present a Compulsory Attendance Form (SF1010) when applying for their learner's permit. Students or parents should request the form from Mrs. Karen Brown, Registrar, by completing a Compulsory Attendance Form Request: https://forms.gle/
Parking Permit
Students must complete a Parking Permit Application to park in the student parking lot. The application form can be picked up from Mr. Andrew Park. You can contact Mr. Park at 615-590-6037 or andrew.park@popeprep.org.
Hardship License
Pope Prep does not provide transportation to and from student residence. Therefore, the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security may issue a hardship license at a parent's request for a child who needs to provide transportation for a school-sponsored activity when the parent(s) are unable.
Part of the application includes a letter from the Head of School stating the student's need for the hardship license (sports, school activity, etc.). To request a letter from the Head of School, please contact Lori Jones, Executive Assistant to the Head of School, at lori.jones@popeprep.org. Please allow five days to process the request. You can find more information about the Hardship License at https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/classd/classh.html.
TESTIMONIALS
Students
“I had the choice to go to the top magnet school in Tennessee, but instead, I chose JPII. Through the Innov8 program, they allowed me to follow my passion for designing roller coasters. They provided the software and allowed me to work with the engineers at Holiday World. For the last two years, I have been combining the study of engineering, architecture, physics, and art to create what I hope will someday be the roller coaster at a theme park that millions will enjoy. I don’t know where else I would have been supported or given the resources and time to do this as a high school student.” - Nolan Patton ‘21
"JPII has provided a great opportunity to explore many of my interests, including athletics, leadership, and the arts. My teachers have helped me develop my skills and personality, which have transformed me into who I am today. I've also learned that it's always good to smile and laugh at least one time every single day." - PB Mamolo '20
“JPII makes wellness a priority. Time is set aside for the entire school, students and faculty alike, to take part in wellness activities, such as mindfulness training, spending time with therapy dogs, and initiating a Kindness Campaign. Through the culture of wellness, I’ve realized that learning and success matter most when it comes with joy and time to appreciate all the little things.” - Emma Wasden ‘20
"JPII is a great school because there are a lot of amazing teachers who are willing to help and there are a lot of awesome people I've come to know and now consider forever friends!" - Matthew Hisrich '22
“There is a constant feeling of peace at JPII. No matter what’s going on in my life inside or outside of school, when I walk into the building each day, there’s a sense of peace because of Jesus’ presence in the Holy Eucharist and in the teachers and students around me. I transferred to JPII as a sophomore. The administration, staff, teachers, and students made me feel so welcome that JPII felt like home to me.” - Ava Priest ‘21
“JPII was not originally on my mind as an option for high school. However, I was drawn to JPII and had the courage to “go to the beat of my own drum,” quite literally, because of the beat of the various band offerings at JPII and the excitement that filled the air when the bands performed on my 8th grade shadow day. I knew that I wanted to pursue my passion for music through piano and still participate in sports. It’s hard for me to believe the impact that JPII has had on me in just one short year. I am a member of the elite Jazz Ensemble and a member of the Lacrosse team. Now I’m the one playing “the beat” to new kids coming in on their shadow days!” - CJ Meffe ’22
Parents
“We feel fortunate that all three of our children were well prepared at JPII and went on to thrive in college and beyond. After graduating from college, our oldest son earned a master's in biotechnology and is now working in a science lab. Our middle son is currently attending medical school at the University of Kentucky, while our youngest is a junior at Mississippi State pursuing an architecture degree. We feel fortunate that JPII helped our kids to not only thrive in sports, arts, and academics but also to gain self-confidence and community awareness.” - John and Cathy Dempsey, parents of Blaise ‘09, Reece ‘13, and Pace ‘17
“JPII Athletics has not only provided our children with great athletic instruction but has also helped to mold them into good people. When your children spend as much time with coaches as they do with you, you want to make sure that what they are hearing is consistent with your family’s values. Each of our children experienced a level of care and support at JPII that reflected their personalities. We see this as part of the JPII Advantage for our family.” - Rick and Kristin Heagarty, parents of Ricky ’13, Reece ‘17, and Brooks ‘20
“We have been very happy that our son chose JPII for his high school experience. We were aware of the academic excellence and now know that it transcends the classroom into the Fine Arts program. As parents, it has been our pleasure to watch Christopher develop his confidence and to mature over his years at JPII. We believe his personal growth is a direct result of his involvement in the JPII Theatre program, enhanced by his involvement in all aspects of the fine arts, including his performances and stage presence at Governor’s School for the Arts. JPII has prepared Christopher well for college and everything else beyond JPII.” - Tim and Michelle Muller, parents of Chris Muller ‘20
Alumni
“The dedication of my JPII teachers to ensure my understanding of subjects that were difficult to me really helped when I was struggling academically. They would make time to meet with me to help me be the best student I could be. At JPII, I learned how to learn and how to utilize resources, two skills that have proven to be instrumental to my current success in chiropractic school.” - Hunter Williams '14
"I always thought that I wanted to be a nurse. During my senior year Innov8 internship with Dr. Laura Barnes, I became 100% sure that nursing was for me. Innov8 allowed me to work alongside Dr. Barnes and her nurses at Hendersonville Hospital. I fell in love with nursing and oncology. Upon graduation, I was accepted into Bellamine University's direct entry nursing program. As a rising junior, I am working as a CLS provider for a little boy with End-Stage Renal Failure. Ultimately, I would not have been hired for this position had it not been for the JPII Innov8 experience. Building my nursing resume, discerning my career direction before high school graduation, and securing a direct entry nursing spot (which accelerates my college course work) all combined to ensure my eligibility to work in the nursing field as a college junior." - Madeline Barber '17