CV NEWS FEED // The Archdiocese of Detroit, Michigan has given St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School until May 1 to meet its fundraising and student enrollment needs, or it will have to close.
As of April 28, the school has fundraised $80,000 of its $120,000 goal through its Fund Our Future initiative, according to The Detroit News. The school also needs 29 more students to enroll for the 2024-2025 school year as a part of the requirements set by the archdiocese. Since launching the efforts to save the school, five of the necessary 29 new students have enrolled.
“St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School was formed in 2019 after a 2011 merger of John Paul II Catholic School, Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic School, Mount Carmel Catholic School and Wyandotte Catholic School was dissolved,” the Detroit News reported.
The school offers a liberal arts education steeped in the Catholic tradition, and also has daily Mass and adoration. The curriculum focuses especially on Latin, literature, Catholic tradition, and simply helping students become “joyful learners,” as the school’s website reads.
The website praises the Catholic classical approach at St. John Paul II for facilitating goals including:
– Deepening the understanding of our Catholic faith and traditions;
– [Restoring] meaning and purpose to learning about the world around us;
– [Cultivating] habits of rigorous thinking about the truth, beauty and goodness of God.
The website also praises the classical approach for prioritizing among other things:
– A stronger emphasis on literature;
– An expansion and deeper exploration of reading and writing;
– Promoting inquiry, critical thinking and active learning;
– Emphasis on open-ended discussion and higher-level questioning and developing a stronger intellectual freedom.
– Teaching each student to think and learn independently.
The school also offers homeschooling students the opportunity to attend classes on Wednesdays with full-time students. Homeschooling families are also welcome to attend Mass at the school, to participate in the school’s sports, and to come on field trips.
The school also features a free S.T.R.E.A.M program, which features hands-on activity events to teach students about science, technology, religion, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
These programs and opportunities will come to an end in May if the school does not reach the goals set by the archdiocese in light of low enrollment.
According to the Detroit News, Principal Melissa Manczak and Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Church pastor Fr. David Bechill sent a letter to those involved with the school informing them about the possible closure.
“For those unaware, St. John Paul II Catholic school offers a classical curriculum that emphasizes truth, beauty, goodness as it has been revealed to us by God,” said Bechill and Manczak in the letter dated April 22. “Despite the excellent education we provide, we have recently been informed by the Archdiocese of Detroit that we must substantially increase enrollment and funding at our school or we will face closure.”
Jennifer Nelson, one of the parents whose daughter attends St. John Paul II, shared with the Detroit News about her love of the school and her hope that it remains open.
“This is such a treasure, especially to have in the Downriver area,” Nelson said. “All the kids have formed a bond. And even new kids that come in too, they have the bond. I think that, too, she enjoys the Adoration that they have. The quiet time [before] Jesus, in His presence.”
Nelson added that the school teaches the students about hope and many other virtues that can be applied in daily life.
“It has an emphasis on virtue and how you treat other people and also self-control and fortitude, patience, perseverance,” she said.
She expressed hope and faith that the school will reach its goals.
“… I’ve already seen God’s hand in this. And I think that sometimes things might seem like they’re not going the way that we were hoping,” Nelson said, adding that learning about the possible closure was a shock.
“But I think God has a bigger plan,” she continued, “and I think this is spreading awareness about our school but also about the classical curriculum that kind of brings God into every subject and just shows the beauty and goodness.”
Those interested in supporting the school and making a donation can click here.
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