Catholic Schools Week: Celebrating the Blessings of Our School Community

Jenny Yankovich, Principal of John Paul II Catholic School, describes herself as a product of our Catholic schools. Immediately following her college graduation, she returned to the area to teach within this archdiocese.

“My husband and I knew we wanted our children to attend Catholic schools because Catholic education is very important to us,” Mrs. Yankovich says. “I know firsthand the impact of a faith-based education. This is a gift our students are given.”

We celebrate this gift of a faith-based education during Catholic Schools Week, which is an annual recognition of Catholic education in the United States.

“I tell the students that we’re going to celebrate what you get to do every day,” Mrs. Yankovich says. “I always tell them you get to come here. You don’t have to be here, but your parents are making sacrifices so that you get to be here.”

Typically, Catholic Schools Week starts the last Sunday in January, and at John Paul II Catholic School, the week includes a myriad of different activities.

“We spotlight these things that we do every day that don’t happen at public schools,” Mrs. Yankovich says. “We start our day with prayer. We go to Mass as a school community. We pray for each other and with each other to remind ourselves of what we get to do here.”

The week is divided up to celebrate the different people who make us who we are including our teachers, students, families, parish, and community. Usually there is a service project that the school engages in for the entire week, as well, to give back to the community.

“On Sunday, there will be an open house to invite families and community members to meet our teachers and see what we’re all about,” Mrs. Yankovich says. “We honor our parish and community and make sure to thank them.”

For teacher and staff appreciation day, the students usually write “thank you” notes and shower their teachers with love.

“It’s an opportunity to thank teachers and staff for everything they’re doing, and we know how difficult it has been during these past years,” Mrs. Yankovich says. “We also celebrate our families and have a day for grandparents, too, so that they can come into the school and be involved.”

Mrs. Yankovich has been involved in many Catholic Schools Weeks at John Paul II Catholic School — she has been with the school for 14 years and has served as Principal for the last six years.

“It is always a busy week!” Mrs. Yankovich says. “I have a planning committee made up of teachers who plan Catholic Schools Week together, and I am grateful for them.”

Parishioners and community members can be involved in so many different ways during Catholic Schools Week, and one way is simply to spread the word about our school and the work we are doing together.

“We are John Paul II,” Mrs. Yankovich says. “Having a strong faith foundation is the biggest gift we can give our kids. Wherever they go next, we’ve done our part here, and they can build on that.”

If you would like more information about Catholic Schools Week at John Paul II Catholic School, please reach out to Principal Jenny Yankovich at 913-432-6350 or jyankovich@archkckcs.org.