Pope John Paul the Great kicks off to a great start

By Kipp Hanley

Published: August 25, 2008

The administration at Pope John Paul the Great Catholic High School didn't need any minor miracles to get through the first day of school.

But that doesn't mean they were expecting everything to be rosy.

"When the phone service works, we cheer," joked Sister Mary Jordan Hoover, principal.  "People might take that for granted, but we don't."

Aside from a lot of half-empty bookshelves in the library and no locks yet for the students' lockers, the new school in Dumfries was open for business. Classes don't begin until later this week for the 200 students enrolled at PJP, so Monday served as more of an introduction to the building, the teachers and to each other.

It was also pretty fun, said sophomore Thomas Ranieri, who transferred from Paul VI in Fairfax to PJP this fall.

"This skit that some of the teachers did, it was pretty funny," said the 15-year-old Thomas, who is playing for the school's junior varsity football team.

He, along with many of the other students in attendance Monday, were well on their way to becoming fast friends. Thomas's new football pal was 15-year-old Michael Edgerton. Thomas and Michael met for the first time Monday and were hanging out at the end of the day.

Michael, who was taking classes online last year from his home in Fredericksburg, was blown away by his new academic setting.

He said it was amazing to finally put a face to what he's read about in the newspaper.

Freshmen Maggie Vasquez, 13, and Virginia Benitez, 14, said they had a great time on their first day of school, as well. The two girls knew each other from attending Holy Family Catholic School in Dale City.

"I like how the chapel is in the middle [of the school] and it's the first thing you see," said Virginia, who wanted to attend PJP to learn more about her Catholic faith.

Freshmen Tia Stewart and Ingrid Peifer just met Monday and both walked away impressed with their new school. Tia had been attending Carl Sandburg Middle School in Alexandria while Ingrid, a Woodbridge resident, was attending Aquinas.

"Everybody was really welcoming here," Ingrid said. "It wasn't too scary."

"It was good," Tia said. "I feel like I have a chance to grow here."

Perhaps no one described Monday better than receptionist Juanita Lynn, a day filled with positive vibes not fire alarms or fights.

"This was the best first of school I've ever had," said Lynn, who worked for St. Francis of Assisi in Triangle the past two and a half years.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-369-5738.