June 2021
Congratulations Class of 2021!
Fifty-nine students graduated on June 8th during a mass at St. Peter Church in West Brandywine. The theme for this year's 8th Grade Eucharistic Celebration and Commencement Ceremony was "Light." Father Fitzpatrick, pastor of St. Peter Church, was the primary Celebrant assisted by Father Brennan, pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary. Following the mass, students were commended for academic achievements and awarded $73,725.00 in scholarship awards for high school. Many thanks to our benefactors and friends who further the mission of Catholic education with support at the secondary level. Following the ceremony, graduates gathered at the St. Peter Parish Celebration Center to celebrate their accomplishments. Congratulations to the Class of 2021 and best wishes in all your future endeavors!
Kindergarten Graduation
Family members and friends gathered at St. Peter Church for Kindergarten graduation. Students performed a variety of songs highlighting their spiritual, academic and social growth during the past school year. Congratulations to all of our fifty-eight Kinder graduates....first grade here they come!   
Celebrating Forty Years....Class of 1981
Sister Thomas Anne, IHM, Principal
(now Sister Dorothy Thomas, I.H.M.)
Mrs. Linda Hicks and Sister Helen Teresa, I.H.M.
8th Grade Teachers
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Bernadette Doyle Elisco, CACES '81
What is one of your fondest memories of Catholic school?
I loved getting to clean the convent at St. Cecilia's I loved how the table was already set for dinner and each place setting had their own salt and pepper shaker.

How did Catholic school influence your adult life?
My life was impacted by developing a relationship with the Blessed Mother and praying the rosary. 

After graduating from CACES, Bernadette attended Bishop Shanahan High School and graduated from Penn State Univeristy with a B.S in Health Policy Administration. Along with raising her three children, Bern spent spent close to 30 years in Pittsburgh working as a bookkeeper in her husband's advertising agency, Elisco Advertising. Currently she resides in Florida and works as an account resolution specialist for a Dutch firm that makes medical equipment. Also graduating from CACES were her sisters, Maureen Doyle Evans '83 and Trisha Doyle '85. Her four nieces Gabrielle Sheller, Rachael Sheller, Madeline Logic and Camille Logic and her nephew Brian Sheller also attended CACES and PJP.

Bernadette's mom, Ellen Doyle, is a long time and treasured volunteer at PJP II. From greeting students at morning arrival to decorating the Multi-Purpose Room at Christmastime and Easter, Mrs. Doyle continues to spread joy to the students and their families wherever she goes.
Kathleen Phenneger Pavelik, CACES '81
What is one of your fondest memories of Catholic school?
I have so many fond memories of Catholic School from being a cheerleader to attending various school dances and sporting activities. I fondly remember the school plays and being active in different fundraising events. I don’t know that I could pick just one favorite memory, my time spent in catholic school was some of the most memorable moments of my life and I still value the impact that the educators, administrators, parents, and my fellow classmates had on my life and helped me become the person I am today.

How did Catholic school influence your adult life?
Catholic School helped me reinforce the strong faith foundation, morals, and work ethic that my parents instilled in me as a young child. I am grateful for the sacrifices my parents made in order to send me to Catholic School. I learned something valuable from each of the educators that taught me in Elementary School, and I developed many lifelong friendships with classmates who share the similar values that I do.

After finishing 8th grade at CACES, Kathy attended Coatesville Area Senior High School and graduated with first honors in 1985. After graduation, she received a presidential scholarship to attend Marywood University in Scranton PA. She graduated suma cum laude from Marywood in 1989 with a B.S. in Communication Disorders and received a presidential scholarship from Loyola University in Baltimore Maryland, where she attended graduate school full time majoring in Speech Language Pathology. In 1991, she graduated from Loyola suma cum laude with a M.S.and became an ASHA certified Speech Pathologist. Since graduation, Kathy has enjoyed a varied career path providing speech therapy services to adults in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, as well as long term care facilities.She has been working with the pediatric population for past 20 years providing speech therapy to special needs children from ages birth to 3 with varied medical diagnoses through The Early Intervention Program in Chester County.

Kathy and her husband Barry have two grown children who graduated from PJP II. Laura Pavelik, '11 went on to Bishop Shanahan High School and graduated in 2015 within the top 25% of her class. She received a scholarship to Thomas Jefferson University, where she pursued her passion to become a Physician Assistant. Laura was enrolled in the Honors Program at Jefferson, and graduated suma cum laude and is now working as a Physician Assistant with a cardiac thoracic surgery practice at Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia. She also enjoys working part time some weekends as a primary care physician at Christine Meyer, MD and Associates. Andrew Pavelik, '14, attended Bishop Shanahan High School, where he also graduated at the top 25% of his class in 2018 and received a scholarship to attend Thomas Jefferson University. Andrew is currently in his junior year of study in college and is also pursuing a career in medicine as a Physician Assistant. Andrew’s interests lie in emergency medicine.

Kathy and her family have a long and proud history with Catholilc schools in the Coatesville community. Her mother, Camillia Pacana Phenneger, attended St. Cecilia's parish school.
Calling All CACES '97 Graduates!
Save the Date! Saturday, September 18, 2021. Catch up with fellow classmates from the Class of 1997! For more information, please contact Stephanie Lake Ferrare at s[email protected].
Honoring Mary
A time-honored Catholic school tradition, students participated in a school-wide outdoor May procession as well as individual classroom ceremonies on each floor of the school to honor and crown the Blessed Mother during the month of May.
Fundraiser Updates
Blessed with two days of gorgeous weather, the 9th Annual Kids Dash for Cash crossed the the finish line, raising $45,200.00 for the school's STEM and Fine Arts programs. Students were awarded over 50 raffle prizes for their efforts in collecting donations, securing sponsors and walking laps. Many thanks to our business sponsors, families and friends who generously supported the event this year. Special thanks to our volunteer co-chairs Elllen & Chris Sharkoski, who despite the challenges of the Pandemic, were successful in bringing the Dash for Cash back to campus this Spring so the students could participate in this very fun event!
STILL TIME TO DONATE!
The school's Annual Fund campaign will come to a close on June 30th. If you would like to support our school with a monetary gift to the PJPII Fund please click here: https://givebutter.com/PJPIIFund. No gift amount is too small. Thank you for your support! All donations are tax deductible in accordance with applicable laws.
CYO Baseball Champions!
The 2021 Pope John Paul II Junior Varisty Baseball Team had an extraordinary season this Spring, compiling a record of 10-1, and ending their season as Region 17 CYO JV Baseball Champions! The team was comprised of the following players:Brandon Houck, Bryce Riberio, Craig Scangarella, Derek Natale, Devin Manning, Jayden Guiseppe, Landon Conrad, Luke Larson, Mark Smythe, Nicholas Guldin, Noah Hertzog and Paul Martin. Coaches: Brian Manning, Sandy Martin and Kent Larson

The season was very successful from the start as they received a first round bye into the playoffs, after going 8-1 in the regular season. They faced St. Elizabeth’s in the semi-finals and won a close game 7-6. Devin Manning, Landon Conrad and Derek Natale all contributed two RBI’s each in that game to hang on for the win. In the Championship game, the Saints faced a tough 9-1 Sts. Simon & Jude team. Devin Manning started and struck out 7 batters through 3 and 1/3 innings, while Landon Conrad pitched the middle part of the game. Derek Natale closed the door, striking out all four batters he faced to end the game and bring home the championship! Jayden Guiseppe was 3 for 3 in the game and contributed 3 RBI’s for the 5-1 win.
 
The coaches and fans are so proud of all these boys as each one contributed to the overall season. Congratulations boys on a well deserved championship!
Congratulations Mrs. Knezo!

After 26 years of teaching at CACES/PJP II, Mrs. Knezo has announced her retirement from classroom teaching. She will continue to support PJP's technology infrastructure.

Mrs. Knezo built the technology program starting with a few 286 processor PC’s located in the Junior High Nurse’s office to what we experience today. She wired the original school buildings (CACES) by drilling holes through the thick stone to connect students to the world wide web for the first time. She was instrumental in planning the technology infrastructure for our new PJP building.

Mrs. Knezo is a wonderful example of faithful stewardship. During her time as both a CACES parent and a CACES/PJP teacher, she contributed her time, talent, and treasure most generously. While Mrs. Knezo will still be seen around campus, her daily presence will be greatly missed!
POPE JOHN PAUL II REGIONAL CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL