École St. John Paul II opens its doors

By Jeremy Appel on September 5, 2018.

jappel@medicinehatnews.com @MHNJeremyAppel

History was made Tuesday with the inaugural classes at École St. John Paul II School.

It was also a momentous occasion for Kearsten Hoffert, 27, who began her first day as a teacher.

“This is a dream job for me,” she said. “I’m a really big believer in things happening for a reason, and I feel like everything just aligned perfectly for me to be here.”

Hoffert teaches a Grade 3 and 4 split class, as well as serving as a part-time K-6 music teacher.

“Not only is the building amazing, but the staff and admin will value you and appreciate you,” she said. “I already know that and it’s day one.”

Hoffert described her first day on the job as “chaotic,” but says she’s ready for whatever comes her way.

“We’re all just kind of learning together,” she said. “It’s fun.”

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Alayna Burr, one of Hoffert’s Grade 4 students, had similarly high praise for the new school.

“I absolutely love this place,” the nine-year-old exclaimed. “Everyone around here is kind.”

Burr has a passion for the arts, participating in extra-curricular acting, but is also fond of science, even though she finds the latter difficult at times.

“I like a challenge,” she said.

Burr experienced bullying at her former school, so it came as a relief when Hoffert preached “mutual respect” as one of the rules of her classroom.

“I’m really excited to meet new friends,” Burr said, adding she’s already met three people on her first morning at St. John Paul.

Principal Robert Dumanowski called the school’s first day of classes “the beginning of a new chapter,” likening its community to brick and mortar.

“We have a place to call our own now,” he said. “We are ready, we are solidly committed to the mandate that we have before us and we’re going to make this a learning community that’s second to none.

“We are going to create history moving forward.

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