Fall 2023 GRACE Newsletter

The Fall 2023 GRACE newsletter is here! Learn how the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is teaching students about the Mass and God’s love, discover what the middle days elective program is all about, read about how one school is carrying on a 15-year-old tradition at the monthly Mass, and more!


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.

Voice of the Customer Survey Now Open

The 2023-2024 GRACE Voice of the Customer Survey is now open until December 10th to all GRACE families! You received an email earlier this morning containing the link. We’re excited to hear from you! Thank you for your help.


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.

High School Enrollment Now Open

Enrollment at Chesterton Academy of St. John Paul II Classical School is now open! This is a great opportunity for families to stay within the GRACE system after grade 8!

We invite you to learn more about the admissions and application process. Visit the website by clicking here for more information!


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.

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Advent Lessons and Carols Concert

Chesterton Academy of St. John Paul II Classical School invites you to Advent Lessons and Carols!

This event will be taking place on Saturday, December 16, at St. Norbert Abbey. The Abbey is located at 1016 N. Broadway in De Pere.

The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the concert will begin thirty minutes later at 6:30 p.m. No RSVP is needed to attend! See you there!


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.

St. John Paul II Classical School’s Outstanding Volunteer

Each year, schools in the GRACE System select a very special volunteer from their community to receive the outstanding volunteer award. This award was presented at the back-to-school mass. St. John Paul II Classical School is pleased to recognize Mrs. Amanda Matczynski for the award this year.

Mrs. Amanda Matczynski is an active parent and school aide at St. John Paul II Classical School and Chesterton Academy of SJPII. Amanda’s three children all attend SJPII. Amanda also serves on the Site Advisory Council, recently vacating the role of Chair for the past 2-years and currently serves as the fundraising chair/liaison for the site’s fundraising events. She has led the schools “Two Wings Gala” for the past 2-years and will do so again this spring. Not only is Amanda involved within the school, she is also an active parishioner at St. Bernard Parish and participates in many events within the parish including cooking for shelter meals, organizing the child and infant loss memorial Mass and lectoring at Mass. If that isn’t enough, Amanda also is the Executive Director of her family’s non-profit organization, the Marvin & Debra Cherney Family Foundation, and holds board positions with other non-profit organizations throughout northeastern Wisconsin.

St. John Paul II & Chesterton Academy’s Headmaster, Mr. Patrick McKeown, stated, “Mrs. Matczynski has been a pioneer parent from the inception of the school as well as an outstanding volunteer in so many capacities. We are thankful and grateful for all her time and dedication.”

Thank you Mrs. Matczynski!


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.

What We Cannot Be

At Chesterton Academy of SJPII we strive to contend with the wealth of ideas handed down to us by intentionally NOT playing it safe.  Learning to wrestle with the heaviness of thought in a classical curriculum should and often is thrilling and at times difficult.  It is in the struggle that we grow and find out our mettle.  It is also a hallmark of our students that they have a joy about their learning precisely because it is often not safe. I was inspired to share a piece by Anthony Esolen in a recent post to explain it even better:

I cannot see how the “SAFE space” can coexist with genuine education. You have to be willing to enter the arena of hard thought, argument, evidence, authority — and that is not SAFE, nor should it be. I don’t mean that education always has to be a deadly fight. But the insistence that it be SAFE for your opinions or your feelings — that is silly. It can’t be.

Come experience what is new and growing in catholic education at Chesterton Academy of SJPII!


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.

Field Trip to Our Lady of Champion

Thank you for a well planned, very special field trip to Our Lady of Champion. We are absolutely thrilled our kids got to experience this and think it speaks to the mission of our school and its priorities that this is such an important event to attend, despite the stress involved of having so many little ones at a huge event. It surprised us that it didn’t look like any other school group was there! 

God bless you! 

-The Ullmers


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.

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Inaugural Solemnity Mass

The Compass recently highlighted October 9’s inaugural Solemnity Mass at Our Lady of Champion. The mass took place at the national shrine in her honor and had a great turn out of 3,500 despite the chilly weather!

Read more here.


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.

Golden Apple Awards Now Open to Nominations

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Golden Apple Awards! The prestigious Golden Apple Award recognizes exceptional Greater Green Bay teachers. Nominations for teachers and teams of teachers who have made a positive impact will be accepted now through Friday, October 27, at 3 p.m. The nomination forms can be found below:

Please show your support and take some time to nominate our fantastic GRACE teachers!

Further information can be found here.


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.

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New Strings Program

The newly launched strings program for our 1st through 5th graders is underway at St. John Paul II Catholic School!

Through the joyful leadership of Ms. Daos, children are learning to play the violin through the Suzuki method. This method works naturally and classically in “enhanced memory, perseverance, concentration, discipline, ability to learn in all areas, creativity, appreciation of beauty and the ability to listen.”

We hope that all the students grow deeper in love with the music, beauty, simplicity and versatility that a strings education through the Suzuki Method offers.


St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.