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Happening ... in the Local Church
 From
left: Father Dennis Goth, Jeff Kieffer, Robin Fillmann and Father Ed
Kacena pose with the Pope John Paul II Middle School coat of arms,
created by Liz Guntle, St. Lawrence School art teacher. (Photos by
Louisa J. Reese) |
 Josh
O’Korn, Sammie Bartholome, Sydney Clasby, Billy Sutton, Maggie Byrnes
and Luke Jones model the new school uniforms. |
By Louisa J. Reese
For The Catholic Moment
MUNCIE — The mood was electric. Excitement filled the air Jan. 25 as students, faculty, parents and parishioners from St. Lawrence and St. Mary schools joined together at St. Mary to celebrate the official announcement of the merging of their two middle schools.
The new Pope John Paul II Middle School, with grades six through eight, will open in August on the St. Mary campus. Jeff Kieffer, St. Mary School principal, will head both St. Mary Elementary and the middle school.
Kieffer, St. Lawrence Principal Robin Fillmann, St. Mary pastor Father Ed Kacena and St. Lawrence pastor Father Dennis Goth led the gathering in the St. Mary Cyr Center gym. There were presentations; the unveiling of the school colors, coat of arms and new uniforms; and completion of a joint service project.
“It’s exciting to see the Catholic parishes in Muncie continuing to work and grow together in collaborative ministry to better serve the community,” Father Kacena said. “When the parishes and their schools come together in united efforts such as the new middle school, we all benefit from combining our strengths, our experiences and our resources.”
St. Lawrence School has about 110 students; St. Mary, about 180. Both offer grades pre-school through eight.
Kieffer said Pope John Paul II was a man of great spirit and character who taught that faith can change history. Those were qualities the advisory councils wanted to project in the new school’s image, he said.
Father Kacena added, “It is appropriate that Pope John Paul II Middle School be named after one who spent so much of his life and ministry bringing peoples together.”
The symbolism of the coat of arms, created by St. Lawrence art teacher Liz Guntle, was explained by Fillmann. The cross represents Christ in our hearts; the two-headed eagle, the joining of the two schools; the shield, unity; the scroll, academic achievement; the ivy, strong and lasting friendships; the blue wave across the top, heaven; and the helmet, the Knights, the new name for the school’s athletic teams.
The motto for the new school is “Developing the Mind, Strengthening the Spirit.”
Several students modeled the uniforms, which included khaki and plaid skirts, khaki slacks, a white blouse and shirt, maroon knit shirts, and a vest and sweater.
“We have done what we came to do,” Fillmann said. “We have established a force to be reckoned with in the new Pope John Paul Middle School. I hope to see all of you young people one day, here, and showing everyone what we can do when we’re together and one with Christ. ... I feel very blessed to be at St. Lawrence at this exciting time.”
At the conclusion of the celebration, students from both schools, under the direction of St. Mary Middle School teacher Jason Breeden, set up lines to assemble care packages to be sent to troops in Iraq. The students assembled 82 boxes, containing valentines made by the students, treats, magazines and other items.
The St. Lawrence and St. Mary school advisory committees began meeting two years ago to discuss ways they could join in extracurricular activities. When a school merger became a possibility in the fall of 2006, the committees began joint planning meetings. Over the last year, subcommittees met to work out the details, which led to a final vote in spring 2007 to merge.
Designed to serve east central Indiana, the new middle school is open to Catholic students from surrounding parishes, as well as to students of all faiths. No new construction is necessary. The middle school will be located in the Cyr Center.
According to Father Goth, “By combining and sharing our resources, Pope John Paul II Middle School will be able to offer an excellent educational experience while providing enhanced opportunities for athletics and extracurricular activities — all in a Christian atmosphere where everyone is welcomed.”
“We are building on our current record of academic excellence,” said Paul Ranieri, president of the St. Lawrence School Advisory Council. “(It is) a record that, for the last testing cycle, resulted in St. Mary and St. Lawrence schools posting the top two overall ISTEP pass rates in the area.”
As a child, Kieffer attended St. Mary Parish with his family and then later attended St. Lawrence Parish.
“I think it’s really neat to be a part of the two parishes coming together (in the new middle school), that were a part of my past,” he said. “... I think we are on the verge of something great.”
St. Lawrence sixth-grader Danielle Pedersen said that she is “excited to be going to a bigger school.”
Seventh-graders Amy Adair, Lauren Muzzarelli, Noelle Fisher, Shannon Koelsch and McKenzie Cremeans, from St. Mary, shared their feelings. “I think it’s going to be exciting,” Amy said. “Just meeting new people and being in a different atmosphere.”
Lauren liked the name of the new school. “Pope John Paul really did a lot of things,” she said. “He set a good example to follow.”
“Everything will be new,” Noelle said. “There will be new people, new uniforms.”
Shannon said, “There is going to be a lot of change, but change will be good for us.”
“I really like the new coat of arms,” McKenzie said. “,,, It really represents the school and what we’re going to be about.”
Josh O’Korn, St. Mary sixth-grader, said he supports the merger “because it gives us opportunity to meet new people and have a new experience. We’ve been at St. Mary’s for a long time. It’s a good change. I like the new uniforms. And I’m real excited to see what the basketball uniforms will look like.”
Celeste O’Korn, Josh’s mother, said, “I really love it (the new middle school). ... I’m looking forward to ... seeing the St. Lawrence people bring their talents to the school, their abilities, their unique style of Catholic education. I think it will be good.
“I think it’s going to give us greater visibility in the community, too,” she said. “It will set the bar high in Catholic education. It will give a greater sense of Catholic community. I would hope that it would serve as an ecumenical vehicle for those in and outside the Muncie community to look at us and recognize good solid faith in our God. ... As we grow in unity over time, they will say, ‘Look at that school, how cohesive they are and unified and one with God. We want that. We want to be a part of that.’”
“The merger will make the school stronger,” said parent Jerry Rollen.
His wife, Debbie, said, “Bringing the two schools together is a good thing. It gets the children to cooperate with each other. ... I would like to see it grow into a high school. I’ve always wanted a Catholic high school in Muncie.”
To learn more
More information on enrolling for the inaugural year at Pope John Paul II Middle School is available on the Internet at www.stmarymuncie.org or by calling St. Mary School at 765-288-5878. An open house is planned for February.