‘Graduates of Chesterton are going to be faith influencers’
By Amberly Boerschinger | For On Mission
GREEN BAY — Chesterton Academy in Green Bay, a Catholic high school based in classical education, will celebrate its first graduating class on Saturday, May 31, with a 10 a.m. Mass at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. A reception will follow.
Chesterton Academy of St. John Paul II Classical School welcomed its first class of 9th grade students in fall 2021. Each year thereafter the school has added one grade level, leading to 2025’s first class of graduating seniors.
Both the K-8 St. John Paul II Classical School and the Chesterton Academy, are on the St. Philip the Apostle Parish campus, located at 320 Victoria St. The schools are part of the Green Bay Area Catholic (GRACE) Education System.
Jennifer Budde, the mother of three students currently enrolled at Chesterton Academy, reflected, “Nine years have gone by since that first day I dropped off my 4th grade son (Andrew) at St. John Paul II Classical School.”
“This May, Andrew’s class will graduate as seniors,” she said. “It gives me peace knowing that his class has been prepared for their new journey in life. Not only have they been prepared academically, but they have also developed a deeper personal relationship with our Lord.”
Classical education immerses students not only in traditional academics, but also in philosophy, theology, logic and art, she said.
“Beauty is what inspires me the most about classical education,” said Budde, who is also an art teacher at St. John Paul II Classical School.
“It is what draws me closer to God,” she said. “It inspires creativity, which assists the students in being problem solvers no matter what field he or she goes into. Beauty is infused in our school’s disciplines.”
“We are kind of a destination school,” Chesterton Headmaster Patrick McKeown said.
“We are pro-life, family-centered and invested as families, students and staff,” he said. “We crossover with a lot of homeschooling families and we have nurtured and developed a healthy tension with parents who are heavily involved in their family’s education and faith.”
McKeown said he learned about St. John Paul II Classical School when he and his family moved from Milwaukee to Green Bay.
He said he first worked there as a teacher when the current graduating class were 6th graders. He moved with them through middle school before taking the role of interim headmaster.
McKeown said he will return to teaching for the 2025-26 school year.
When asked how Catholic classical education sets itself apart from traditional Catholic education, McKeown reflected on the Holy Spirit.
“The Holy Spirit is central to our days, real and present,” he said. “These students are living out the fruits of the Spirit, authentically learning, serving and worshipping daily, and that spirit of joy is attractive.”
One of the powerful experiences each student has as a senior at Chesteron Academy is a pilgrimage to Rome.
McKeown accompanied the seniors, who were in Italy when Pope Francis died.
“Seeing these young people encounter Rome and in Assisi was incredible,” he said. “These are just kids like any other who are worried about friendships, college and acne, and to see the thoughtful, sweet, prayerful young people they have become is moving.”
“Accompanying them on pilgrimage was truly a gift from God,” he said. “They participated fully in Mass each day, sang in St. Peter’s Square together as a group, and they carried home with them backpacks of the graces, flowing like gold coins.”
McKeown said that, despite not having a resident chaplain, Chesterton Academy is blessed by a great group of priests who support the community and mission.
Fr. Ryan Krueger, pastor and rector of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral and pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Green Bay, offers a Holy Hour or a 41-minute class period every Friday.
The sacrament of reconciliation is also regularly celebrated by nearly 60 students.
Sam Mirkes, marketing director for GRACE, said, “I’ve only been here a short time, but you can see and feel the impact of the Holy Spirit on the students and teachers. It’s such a wonderful, special place to visit and the fact that they get to engage in a Holy Hour each week is fantastic. Graduates of Chesterton are going to be faith influencers. You can feel it. They will bring more young people into the church.”
Some of the features of Chesterton Academy’s education include students being organized in house systems where upper grade students mentor and accompany younger students.
Chesterton Academy also holds “Shout Out Fridays” when students are recognized not only for their academic accomplishments, but also their moral and spiritual accomplishments. Not only do staff shout out to students, but students participate in shouting out to staff and their peers as well.
Gary Guevara, who teaches biology, astronomy, algebra I and music, said that Chesterton Academy offers a depth of learning and character that will be significant in the lives of students.
“Classical education frees the person to think, speak, write and articulate themselves,” he said.
“Every graduate will have read classical literature, performed in a stage play, sung in a choir, traveled to Rome, and written and defended a senior capstone thesis,” he said. “That depth and breadth fosters the whole person and creates empathy because they have all had to do something outside of their comfort zone. They are pushed, encouraged and supported to do things they didn’t think they could do.”
Guevara said he is convinced Chesterton Academy is sending some great people out into the world.
While he noted that success is measured in many ways — college ratings, degrees, jobs and salaries, for example — he said he will ask the graduates of Chesterton Academy he sees, “‘Are you still going to Mass? Are you practicing your faith?’ If they don’t know God loves them and wants them home, nothing else matters.”
“My heart is full of hope for our future Catholic Church,” Budde said. “Now there is a new generation of leaders who, through learning the traditions of our Catholic faith and openness to seeking the truth, have a zeal to witness to others the beauty and awe of our Catholic faith.”