“My hope for each student this school year is to know they are a Child of God, and that God loved them before they were even born and will continue to love them forever.” – Cindy Long Since 1986, I have worn many hats at the John Paul II Center...
Justin’s success story really came to fruition this school year. ”At the beginning of this school year Justin started the School to Work program by working at David’s Cleaning Service. With assistance, Justin folds, separates, and counts the laundry at David’s. As the weeks progressed Justin needed less assistance, eventually...
Each day JPII staff work with our students and adult participants to provide them with unique special education and social programming. Beyond normal programming hours, our staff continues to offer opportunities to include our families to enrich the lives of those we serve. Taking that mission to the next level,...
“I asked God to help me find a place for Christopher.” – Leydi B. When your child doesn’t have the tools necessary to learn, what would you do? For Leydi, it meant searching for a school where her son Christopher would be comfortable so he wouldn’t cry every day as...
We all know as parents how difficult it can be to get our children out of the door in a timely manner. Mornings are exhausting and often leave parents feeling depleted, frustrated, guilty, anxious and the emotional list goes on! Did you know that establishing a routine in the morning,...
Who could have imagined that when we opened our doors in 1982 to 16 students that 40 years later we would have 54 students enrolled and expanded our services to include an adult program with 37 participants. Growing our mission would have been impossible without the assistance of those who...
At last year’s Legacy Gala, Suzanne Fernandez shared her family’s journey through the special education system. That evening, her daughter Melissa turned 21. While it was a happy day, it was also a very scary one for Suzanne as her parent. Turning 21 meant that at the end of the...
Before the COVID pandemic hit, JPII adult participant and JPII graduate Gina C. had a part-time job that she loved. Unfortunately, her employer needed to restructure because of new guidelines, and Gina’s position was eliminated. It was a difficult time for her. Fast-forward one year, and Gina’s mother reached out...
“I think the most special part of Justin being at JPII is that he has friends.” – Tisa U. Friendships and meaningful social interactions are essential for children to be successful and happy. For those with disabilities, building friendships and interacting appropriately can be difficult, but with the proper support and...
Follow Up from Mrs. Berkhammer: As we enter month two of the lunch program, I was thinking a little bit about JPII this time last year. What a difference a year’s time can make. We have definitely made progress! We have evolved and made huge strides in the right direction. ...
