Crystal’s St. Raphael Celebrates New Gym, Longtime Teacher

There was joy in St. Raphael Catholic School on Wednesday as parishioners celebrated the grand opening of a renovated gym.

The school reopened the gym Wednesday night after a significant renovation.

The revamp brought new floors, banners and paint to the gym.

However, the event was more than just a ribbon cutting. It was also a chance to celebrate a longtime teacher.

The newly-renovated gym at St. Raphael.

“It’s a very special night because we have tried this many years before, and now the dream has come true,” said David Johnson, a teacher who has been at the school for 50 years.

At St. Raphael, he’s affectionately known as “Mr. J.”

“If you look at that base of people here, that’s because of Mr. J,” said Rob Kottke, a parishioner at the church. “And he just keeps everyone engaged and they believe in what he’s doing, and he’s a special guy.”

The new gym is dedicated to Johnson.

See also: St. Raphael School Celebrates End of Year with Rocket Launch

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