Message from the Principal Simcik | | |
Dear John Paul II Center Community,
We are grateful to welcome another season of giving thanks at John Paul II Center! As November begins, we are reminded how blessed we are to have such a wonderful community of students, adults, families, staff, board members, and supporters. Your dedication helps bring our mission to life every day.
Last month, we gathered for Mass with Bishop Schlert in honor of Saint Pope John Paul II. It was a special opportunity to come together in prayer, reflect on our mission, and celebrate the dignity and God-given potential of every student and adult we serve. Thank you to Mrs. B. for preparing the Polish feast that we enjoyed after Mass. It was delicious!
Thank you to Fr. Bortz from St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church for presiding over our Penance Service as Angelina, Sarangely, Brandon, Christopher and Dre received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.
October ended with a festive Halloween celebration! Our students and adults enjoyed showing off their creative costumes, playing games, and sharing plenty of laughs. A special thank-you goes to everyone who helped make the day memorable, especially the Sisters of the Precious Blood for welcoming us to trick-or-treat with them. The smiles, laughter, and sense of community made it a wonderful celebration!
Our Adult Program continues to make a positive impact through volunteer opportunities, educational outings, and community partnerships. These experiences foster connections while encouraging learning, independence, and personal growth. We are also grateful to everyone who sold or purchased Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends passes!
As we enter this season of gratitude, preparations are underway for our upcoming Christmas auction benefiting the Legacy Gala. We are incredibly thankful to everyone who contributes their time, talents, donations, and generosity to support our fundraising efforts. Stay tuned for more details!
This season also offers an opportunity to remember John Paul II Center through our annual appeal. Your generosity helps provide the programs, therapies, resources, and opportunities our students and adults need to learn, grow, and thrive. Every gift makes a meaningful difference. Donations may be made through our website or by contacting the Development Office.
We are always looking for caring, compassionate individuals to join our team! If you or someone you know is interested in working in a supportive, faith-filled environment serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, please visit our website to explore current opportunities.
From all of us at John Paul II Center, thank you for being part of our family. May this season of gratitude bring you and your loved one’s peace, joy, and countless blessings. We wish you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
Yours in Christ,
Kaylee Simcik
Principal, John Paul II Center for Special Learning
| | Annual Appeal: Cynthia's Story | | |
Dreams don’t always follow a specific path, but they can still lead you where you were meant to be. Just ask Cynthia:
”Never give up on your dreams, even if they don’t work out for you at first, they can still work out. It doesn’t have to be a linear path; it can be a different path but still be your dreams.”
For Cynthia, working at CollegeTowne is more than just having a job. It gives her a sense of purpose, connection, and an opportunity to be part of her community.
“Having a job makes me feel happy so I don’t stay home all day and I can see people and help in the community.”
| | | Click above to hear Cynthia's story! | | |
At JPII, inclusion means more than being welcomed through the door. It means building community partnerships that create opportunities to contribute, learn, build relationships, and share our students’ gifts.
Perhaps most beautifully, Cynthia knows that the future she once imagined is now within reach:
Her path may look different, but it is filled with possibilities - thanks to donors like you!
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Join us for JPII’s Christmas Auction, running November 23 through December 17!
This year, we’re trading our traditional raffle for an exciting online auction featuring a wonderful variety of donated items.
Mark Your Calendar!
- Auction Opens: November 23
- Auction Closes: December 17
- Item Pickup: At JPII, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Monday, December 21.
Important: You must create a new bidding account to participate. Account information, including usernames, passwords, and payment details, is not carried over from the Legacy Gala auction.
Happy bidding, and thank you for supporting JPII!
| | | Celebrating the Feast of Saint Pope John Paul II | | |
Our JPII community gathered on October 26 to celebrate the Feast of Saint Pope John Paul II with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Alfred Schlert of the Diocese of Allentown.
Following Mass, students and staff came together to enjoy a delicious Polish feast, prepared under the direction of Mrs. Berkhammer with the help of our dedicated staff and students. It was a wonderful day of faith, fellowship, and celebration in honor of our patron saint.
During his message, Bishop Schlert encouraged us to look to Mary as our protector, just as she was a source of guidance and protection for a young Saint Pope John Paul II. His message served as a meaningful reminder of the importance of faith and trust in Mary's loving care. We were grateful for this special day celebrating our faith, our namesake, and the JPII community!
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Penance Service
Thank you to Fr. Bortz from St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church for presiding over our Penance Service as Angelina, Sarangely, Brandon, Christopher and Dre received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. This is one of the largest groups of JPII students to make their Sacraments in the last few years! We are so proud!
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Halloween Festivities
Halloween was filled with fun, laughter, and plenty of festive activities for our students and adults. We enjoyed dressing up and parading over to visit our neighbors at Precious Blood Convent, dance parties, games, and a variety of challenging activities, including an amazing obstacle course designed by our occupational therapists. There were also food and treats, along with a special trip to the trunk-or-treat hosted by our friends at LaSalle Academy. It was a wonderful day filled with fun and community spirit!
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First JPII Student Receives ServSafe Food Handler Certification
We are proud to celebrate Jeremy, the first JPII student to earn his ServSafe Food Handler Certification! This professional credential recognizes his knowledge of food safety, personal hygiene, and kitchen sanitation.
As we prepare to open Special Blends Café by JPII at Alvernia University’s American House in downtown Reading, Jeremy’s accomplishment is an exciting step toward greater independence, confidence, and career readiness.
“Jeremy chose to go above and beyond, studying hard to master food safety. His accomplishment is inspiring other JPII students and adults to pursue their own ServSafe certifications,” says Rene Berkhammer, JPII’s Director of Transition.
Congratulations, Jeremy! We are so proud of your hard work and can't wait to see you put your skills into action at the café!
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October brought some spooky fun to the adult program! We visited the Spirit Halloween store, went pumpkin picking at local orchards, and visited the corn maze at Wilcox Farms. We soaked up as much outside time as we could before the weather gets colder, with nature walks and social groups outside on our beautiful grounds. The girls participated in Girl Talk trip to Shady Hollow Horse Farm. As always, we enjoyed several Berks County library classes and events on our community outings.
We continue to maintain our volunteering sites with Meals on Wheels, Berks Encore, Shady Hollow, Nolde Forest, Helping Harvest, and the Exeter Food and Clothing banks. We love giving back to our community!
| | JPII Girl Talk Club Visits Shady Hollow Assisted Riding | | |
Last month, our Girl Talk club had a gorgeous day at Shady Hollow Assisted Riding! They learned a lot about the equine residents of the farm, including how to properly introduce themselves to a horse, grooming, the names of different parts of a horse, mucking stalls, and more. They also enjoyed visiting with the goats and a picnic lunch! Thank you to Power of the Purse in Berks County for another wonderful experience!
| | Guys' Group Goes Hiking at Hawk Mountain | | | |
Employment Opportunities
Are you looking to make an impact that will truly make a difference in someone’s life? We are seeking individuals who are passionate about helping all students and adults reach their God-given potential. Work with a team whose goals are to carry out our vision and mission of supporting students and adults to success and independence.
We're hiring:
- Speech Pathologist (part time) for Adult Program
- Adult Program Administrative Assistant (part time) for Adult Program
- Direct Service Professionals for Adult Program
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JPII School Uniforms:
School uniforms are available online at FlynnO'Hara. There are boys and girls in youth and adult sizes in banded and non-banded short and long-sleeve polos as well as khaki shorts, skorts, and pants. All items are ordered online and shipped directly to you (or you can visit their Allentown location). No orders or payments are taken at JPII.
You can visit the Allentown FlynnO'Hara retail location to measure your students, shop, or pick up an online order.
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