Florida Catholic | Sundaes On Monday

Sundaes on Monday begin Catholic Schools Week

John Paul II Catholic High School students enjoy the sweetness of Catholic education with an ice cream social.

MARCI ELLIOTT | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 02.08.08

Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Sister Veronica Marinari shares whipped cream with students at John Paul II Catholic High School’s ice cream social Jan 28.
MARCI ELLIOTT | FC

TALLAHASSEE | Nearly all 162 students of John Paul II Catholic High lined up for ice cream in the school’s gym Jan. 28. There were bowls of cherries, walnuts, candy toppings of all kinds — and faculty members finishing off the individual creations with dollops of whipped cream.

Behind the fun the kids were having was a profound message: Catholic education still counts and is highly sought, even in today’s world.

“I’ve always gone to Catholic schools, except once when I went to private school,” said Mark Moes, 18, a senior who transferred from Pensacola Catholic High School to John Paul II. “I haven’t been to public schools, but I think you get a better quality of education in Catholic schools. I have seven brothers and sisters, and they all go to Catholic schools. My parents are devout Catholics, and I guess you can say Catholic schools are part of our family.”

John Paul II principal Randall Felton said the high school is still young and plans to grow.

“We opened in 2001 with 20 kids,” Felton said. “We have plans for a second phase of construction someday, when we fill this campus completely. We had our first graduating class four years ago.”

Hillary Freesmeier, 16, the first junior to be Student Council president, is another product — and fan — of Catholic schools.

“I’ve been attending them for 14 years, since pre-K,” she said, adding that she has a brother who’s a freshman and a sister who’s in the seventh grade at Trinity Catholic School across town.

“I come from a long line of Catholic kids,” Hillary said. “A Catholic education has given me opportunities to do a lot of things I always wanted to do but never had a venue. I’ve always looked for leadership opportunities and ended up making decisions I don’t think I could have made in a public school.”

Since she’s been at John Paul II, Hillary has been instrumental in establishing dance and soccer teams and in other key roles in extracurricular activities.

Trinity Catholic School, also in Tallahassee, planned an open house, service projects and other events to recognize the importance of Catholic education, according to its Web site. A Jan. 29 open house was for prospective students and parents who wanted to tour the school and meet the administration.

Among other Catholic Schools Week projects at Trinity were an all-school Mass, eucharistic procession and Benediction and a talent show. Students also celebrated the contributions of service men and women, priests and religious sisters and brothers and school staff and volunteers.

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