“We are proud to share the wonderful news that our Middle States Association Visiting Team will recommend John Paul II Center for Special Learning for full accreditation, with no monitoring issues or stipulations through 2032. This is the best possible outcome! The team was impressed and recognized that we had...

“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...

JPII Adult Program nurse, Pam Traczuk, instructs staff member on proper CPR techniques The COVID pandemic brought two health-related issues to light for JPII’s nurses and therapists.  Our nurses took a deeper dive into our preparedness to treat medical emergencies and identified the need for additional medical equipment and supplies...

Join us on April 30 at our 12th Annual Legacy Gala as we celebrate the resilience of John Paul II Center’s dedicated students, adults, staff, and volunteers. The evening includes dinner, a performance by our students and adults, silent and live auctions, and the presentation of our Halo and Peggy’s...

Our popular Christmas raffle is back online again this year. We had such a wonderful response to last year’s online version, we’re doing it again! Our online raffle opens on November 22 at 9 a.m. and closes on December 17 at 8 a.m. Most tickets are $1 each, with four...

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. ...

Exciting News from Mrs. Berkhammer: This year has been trying to say the least. Let us start by saying that since the start of this pandemic, we have always tried to find the positive in the mess of the past year. Some days are better than others. Just like everyone...

Teacher Excellence Endowment Fund Planned gifts are very personal. They come from the heart and provide donors with the opportunity to create their lasting legacy. While these gifts are often made as bequests, it is possible to provide a planned gift today so you can see its immediate impact. At...

“Exercise has a clear physical effect on our body; making us stronger, positively changing our health, and combating underlying health conditions” – Tara Simmons Help Us Improve Physical Health And Relieve Stress Through Adaptive Physical Education Program So many things have changed as a result of the COVID pandemic.  For...

“We’ve never had anyone care for Molli the way that your staff does,” – Kellie G Before coming to John Paul II Center for Special Learning (JPII), Molli had a difficult time in school. Simply getting her on and off the bus became a challenge because she didn’t feel comfortable...

Tonight I dropped a Chromebook off at Orlando’s house. The Chromebook was all set up, connected and ready to go. I did all this leg work so Orlando would have a smooth transition. I did this so he could be ready for the first day of school. His family chose...