DUMFRIES, Va. (CNS) -- Looking over an auditorium filled with the first students of Pope John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Dumfries, Sister Mary Jordan Hoover of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia saw hope.

"I see great hope in you, and it's filled me with a lot of hope," the principal told the 200-member student body. "You're a generation of students that wants to make a difference, and that's why you're here today."

The school is the fourth Catholic high school in the Arlington Diocese and the first to open in the diocese in more than 25 years. Across the country, according to the National Catholic Educational Association, 13 Catholic high schools opened last year while 13 closed. The previous school year, four Catholic high schools opened and 10 were closed or consolidated.

The new high school will include a comprehensive bioethics curriculum, the first of its kind in the country. The curriculum, written by the Nashville Dominicans, as the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia are also known, includes classes such as "Principles of Ethics," "Bioethical Issues at the Beginning of Life" and "Bioethical Issues at the End of Life."

Aug. 25 marked the first of several days of orientation at John Paul the Great -- a time when students didn't need their backpacks or books, but instead took tours and divided into small groups to get to better know their school, one another and the philosophy behind their education.

Faculty members and students alike admitted to some first-day jitters.

Tenth-grader Amanda Ulmer felt plain "nervous" just before walking through the school's glass doors for the first time. But she was hoping to take advantage of the smaller community at the school to get to know people better sooner.

Dominican Sister Terese Auer, who chairs the bioethics department, said a feeling of eagerness was pervasive among the faculty and staff.

We're "ready to see the rubber hit the road," she said.

Father Matthew Zuberbueler, chaplain, opened the school day with a prayer and spoke brief words of thanksgiving for the presence of the students and for the school year.

"We have to rejoice today and be grateful to God that we have been called here from all different situations," he said. "A spirit of gratitude should be ours today and really in all the days ahead."

At the Aug. 17 blessing of the new school, Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington told the crowd of about 1,200 that the school is "Catholic because at its center and core is Christ in the Eucharist."

The school's chapel -- with the tabernacle blessed by Pope Benedict XVI during his April Mass at Nationals Stadium in Washington -- is situated in the heart of the building. Flanked on opposite sides by walls of glass, it's impossible to miss.

"The entire design of the school's architecture proclaims" the school's Catholic roots, the bishop added.

During a reception after the school's blessing, Father Zuberbueler said it was good to see the building filled with people. "Today, at least, you can get a feel for what it's going to be like," he said.

The blessing and opening of Pope John Paul the Great comes 13 years after its initial investigation by the late Arlington Bishop John R. Keating in 1995. Ground was broken in September 2006 and Sister Mary Jordan was named principal in May 2007.

The 200 students comprise the freshman and sophomore grades at the school located on a 40-acre campus. Additional grades will be added each year.

Sister Mary Jordan described the new school as a "21st-century Catholic school" modeled after a pope who encouraged youths to "be not afraid to follow Christ."

The school differs from other diocesan schools because of its foundation in the Dominican tradition, she said. "We believe Catholic education changes people; it makes a difference in their life. That's why we're happy to be here today and to be part of this inaugural year."

Incoming freshmen Teresa Morris, Tory Nagel and Kelly Donovan said they are looking forward to their first year, especially to meeting new people and finding their niches.

"The academic programs are supposed to be really good, and the bioethics, that's going to be really cool," Donovan told the Arlington Catholic Herald, diocesan newspaper. All three also are looking forward to the field hockey program.

© 2008 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops