Dear Parents and Members of the Pope John XXIII Community,

I am deeply saddened to inform you that we learned late yesterday afternoon that Ms. Meagen Jones was tragically killed in a traffic accident early Monday. I don't think I can find words that adequately express the sadness in our hearts or the sense of loss that we feel.

We were not able to tell the students yesterday because Meagen's mother had not yet heard the news. We had a brief assembly and prayer service this morning. Counselors are available to help students deal with their grief.

Meagen was a member of Pope John XXIII for only a short time, but she loved the school and had an immediate impact. In addition to her work as our Director of Admissions, Meagen taught language arts and helped coach volleyball.

Meagen was excited about putting the finishing touches on a plan to open a Learning Center at Pope John this summer to assist students with learning differences. She was passionate about teaching and helping all students reach their full potential.

As I reflected on the news of her death, the image that kept flashing in my mind was Meagen's interactions with her young nephews, Clay and Travis. They would visit her here at school every week. When they spotted her, their eyes would light up, and they would run and wrap her in their arms. Today, in our grief, we are consoled by the knowledge that she is safe in the loving arms of Our

Father.

We have a saying here... Wear the Red...Walk the Walk... and Make a Difference. Meagen certainly did those things. Although her time here was tragically too short, she made a tremendous difference to those whose lives she touched.

We loved her and will miss her dearly.