Preserving the culture and traditions that make Bishop Verot Catholic High School a beacon of Catholic education in Fort Myers is important. The rapidly growing school lives by the mantra: “It’s Just Different Here!” The newest Bishop Verot students had an opportunity to see that mantra brought to life in an exciting Freshmen Retreat.
With a freshman class of 227, the largest ever at Verot, the retreat had to be modified to accommodate so many students while still maintaining the unique bonding experiences past retreats have offered. The freshmen boys stayed overnight on Aug. 21, 2024. The girls arrived on Aug. 22, after doing service work in the community. A joint mixer then took place before the boys left and the girls spent the night.
“The freshman retreat is a great experience for freshmen to get acclimated into the school,” said Camilla Motley, a senior retreat leader. “They meet new people and experience the Verot family to learn what we are all about.”
A key component of the annual retreat included participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
“Going to Mass really helps the students get adjusted to the faith life, because faith life is such a big part of Verot,” Camilla said.
The students also participated in a candlelight vigil in the school courtyard, where they heard inspirational talks and prayed together. This is when the students learn the alma mater, and the importance of the motto: “Non Exidet – We will not fail.”
Another tradition is going into the community to volunteer and perform service hours at locations such as the Calusa Nature Preserve, Children’s Advocacy Center, Community Cooperative Inc., Ronald McDonald House, Special Equestrians, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, and the VA Clinic.
Bobby Lecker, another senior retreat leader, explained how the freshmen were taught how “service is more the idea it is not about you and that the student’s mission is in God. It is to go out and help other people to provide to the community and to strengthen it through our service.”
For the freshmen, the retreat helped them to feel more welcome while also meeting many more people than they had in the first week of school. One freshman admitted that he barely spoke to anyone at school before the retreat, but now he feels more comfortable at Bishop Verot and talks with everyone.
Freshman Taylor Hoffman said she didn’t know what to expect attending Bishop Verot, but after meeting the senior leaders she felt everyone was very welcoming.
“The retreat makes us feel good about being freshmen and that we are actually getting welcomed into high school and that we are excited for the next four years of our lives,” Taylor said. “I kind of just hope to become part of the school culture. The seniors are definitely a big influence on that, and I look up to them as role models.”
The goal of the retreat is to incorporate the freshmen into the school and make them feel special and wanted at Bishop Verot, Camilla explained. “We try to invite them in and get them the new experiences so they can have the best experience possible.”
Small group discussions take place to allow each student to share their story and what they expect to get out of Bishop Verot. The retreat offers new experiences outside of the classroom while the new students are given advice to stay true to themselves.
Freshman Ethan Alexander left the retreat thankful to the senior leaders.
“It is awesome to be welcomed in to start the high school career,” Ethan said. At Bishop Verot, he aspires “to grow my faith in Jesus and to make friends who also love God how I do.”
Camilla said she hopes the big takeaway from the retreat is that the freshmen get new connections. “I think connections are an important thing at Verot so this can be the start of what can be an amazing four years.”
After learning about the culture and traditions of Bishop Verot, the 227 freshmen are certain to become an important part of the school’s culture and history.
The total enrollment is 893 and the freshman application process in now open for the 2025-2026 school year. To reserve a spot for the Freshman Placement Exam, please apply at bvhs.org/admissions/application-process.
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Would you like to know what authentic, non-confrontational, joyful evangelization looks and sounds like? If so, be sure to attend the upcoming workshop with St. Paul Street Evangelization Vice President Adam Janke from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sept. 28, 2024, at Church of the Resurrection Parish, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. Mass will be offered at 8 am in the Parish Chapel. There will also be an optional “Live Lab” experience from 4 p.m.- 5 p.m., giving participants the chance to put into practice what they have just learned. Saint Paul Street Evangelization is a non-profit, grassroots organization that has mobilized thousands of ordinary Catholics to take the Gospel to the public square and be instruments of God in the salvation of souls. The one-day Basic Evangelization Training with SPSE is open to all adult parishioners from any Catholic parish. Registration is $25 and includes light breakfast, lunch and all training materials. Please register at 
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School was established in 1960 and is the only Catholic School serving Charlotte County. It serves children from Pre-K through 8th grade and is one of 15 Catholic Schools within the Diocese of Venice, which serves about 6,500 students in grades pre-K through 12th grade.
The new playground, which is next to the new portables, uses recycled materials with the surfaces padded for added safety and is also for use by the pre-school students. The new school bus will allow more flexible options for the school sports teams, field trips and possible transportation to and from school for families who live father away.
As a product of Catholic schools, Amy has dedicated most of her career to Catholic education within the Diocese of Brooklyn in New York, where she served for more than 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rider University (NJ, 1996), a Master of Education (Queens College, 2001), and a Master of Education Leadership from Fordham University (Bronx, NY 2018). Amy began teaching 5th grade at St. Brigid School in Brooklyn, NY where she taught science and religion. After nine years at St. Brigid, Amy moved up to teaching on the high school level and for the next 13 years taught biology, psychology and anatomy at St. Joseph High School, an all-girls Catholic high school also in Brooklyn, NY. While at St. Joseph High School, Amy served as Student Advisory Facilitator, Science Department Chairperson, Dean of Faculty, and eventually Assistant Principal. In 2019, Amy took on the Principal role at St. Mel’s Catholic Academy in Flushing, NY where she served for the past five years. Amy has been married for 20 years and met her husband while working at Brigid School (he was the physical education teacher). The Barrons have two teenage daughters (18 and 15). She loves baseball and animals and is looking forward to her family’s new life in Florida.
Micah O’Connor has more than 16 years of combined experience as a teacher and principal. Having previously served as Principal of Our Lady Fatima in Huntington, West Virginia for six successful years, Ms. O’Connor has a proven track record of fostering academic growth and creating a supportive learning environment. Before assuming the Principal role, Ms. O’Connor spent a decade as a dedicated teacher, shaping students’ minds and instilling a love for learning. Ms. O’Connor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education, a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education, and a Certification in School Principalship from Marshall University, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional development and leadership excellence.
Bambi Giles has served as Assistant Principal for seven years at St. Andrew Catholic School and has extensive teaching experience including roles as fifth-grade teacher, middle school English/language arts teacher, and Resource Coordinator. Bambi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with a minor in Health Education from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
After a successful career in the theatre and television lighting industry, Steven Cullipher retired from the lighting industry in 2014 and relocated to Sebring and began attending St. Catherine Parish. He attended South Florida State College, receiving an Associate Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management. While attending South Florida State College, he began his career in education, progressing from AVID tutor, to substitute teacher, to instructional paraprofessional, and finally to elementary teacher. In 2018, Fr. Jose Gonzalez, V.F. expressed the need for a third-grade teacher for St. Catherine Catholic School and Mr. Cullipher answered the call. While teaching third grade at St. Catherine, he completed his Master of Education in Educational Leadership at the American College of Education and has served the last three years as Assistant Principal. Mr. Cullipher and his wife have two adult children, one granddaughter, with another granddaughter on the way. Mr. Cullipher states, “I am honored to for the opportunity to work with Father Jose, the outstanding team of faculty and staff of St. Catherine Catholic School, and to be able to serve them and the students and families of our school community.”
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The podcast of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholics Across the Aisle: Commentary on Public Policy and Civic Life, brings a non-partisan moral voice to public dialogue on key policy issues of the day and assists listeners to become educated and active participants in civic life. The podcast’s latest episode focuses on the urgent issue of Amendment 4. Sara Johnson, statewide grassroots director for 
