MCPS Junior Skis to the Top in Competition

MCPS Junior Skis to the Top in Competition
Originally uploaded by fnwchs.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School rising junior, Jessica Balchunas, won her division in a water ski tournament held at the Faith Lake Ski Club in Shorter, AL on June 18-19, 2005. Jessica is a three event skier competing in slalom, short board, and jump. Jessica began her love for water skiing at the age of four and has been competing for the last seven years. Jessica set a new personal best in the slalom this weekend which qualified her for the US Water Ski Southern Regional Championships in Paducah, Kentucky. She also qualified to compete in the National Championships in West Palm Beach, Florida. Jessica is a member of the Montgomery Catholic Varsity Cheerleading Squad and a member of the Montgomery Ballet Senior Company.

MCPS Announces New Varsity Basketball Coaches

MCPS Announces New Varsity Basketball Coaches
Originally uploaded by fnwchs.

After an extensive search led by Athletic Director Tony Taylor, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is proud to announce Coach Tiffany Frederick as the new Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach and Coach Jimbo Tolbert as the new Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach.

A Birmingham native, Coach Tiffany Frederick will serve as a full-time member of the Physical Education Department teaching Health and Physical Education classes in our 7-12 programs. Tiffany began her college basketball career at Northwest Shoals Community College where she led the state in assists, was ranked 7th in the nation in assists, was named the Most Valuable Player at Northwest Shoals. Additionally, her team won the NJCAA Division 1 State Championship in 2001. Transferring to Auburn University Montgomery in 2002, Tiffany continued her success both on and off the court. Tiffany was AUM Lady Senators’ team captain for two years, helped lead them to a National Tournament appearance in 2003 and a Sweet 16 National Tournament appearance in 2004. Tiffany was also very active with volunteer work through the Big/Little Sister Program, Lady Senators Adopt-A-Highway Program, Angels for the Elderly, “Reading Makes a Lifelong Difference” Initiative, and worked with the Special Olympics at the 2004 Basketball Nationals. Although she was very active in athletics and extra-curricular activities, Tiffany also maintained her place at the top of her class. While at AUM, she was inducted to the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society where she served as Vice President, was named to the Dean’s List and to the Vice Chancellor’s List. In 2005, Tiffany was named a member of the Who’s Who Among America’s College Students.

As a 1998 alumni of Montgomery Catholic, James “Jimbo” Tolbert is looking forward to returning to his alma mater. Jimbo will lead the Boys’ Basketball program at Montgomery Catholic. Jimbo attended Auburn University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance in 2003. While at Auburn, Jimbo served as the manager for the Men’s Basketball team for two years working with the coaches and players during practices and with the individual players during off-season workouts. In the 2000-2001 season, he was promoted to head manager where he coordinated the activities of six other managers to ensure the program ran smoothly. In addition to working as a manager at Auburn, he participated on the practice team during the 1999-2000 season and was added to the team for the NCAA Tournament in 2000. Jimbo transferred to Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, where he played basketball for two years. While at Lander, he was one of only three players to participate in all 28 games of the 2001-2002 season, averaging 16 minutes per game, and started in 22 games in the 2002-2003 season, averaging 17 minutes per game. Following reconstructive knee surgery, he transferred back to Auburn University to finish his college career. Throughout his college years, Jimbo participated in a number of basketball camps including the Cliff Ellis Basketball Camps, the Joe Dean, Jr. Dixie Camps, the Jimmy Tillette Basketball Camps at Samford University, the Lander University Basketball Camps, and basketball camps hosted by the University of South Alabama. Most recently, Jimbo has served as an Assistant Coach for the John Carroll Catholic High School Basketball Program in Birmingham, Alabama, which posted a 54-12 overall record in two seasons, winning the 2004 Class 6-A State Championship and a 2005 Class 6-A appearance in the Sweet 16 Northwest Regional Tournament.

Montgomery Catholic Athletic Director Tony Taylor says, “We are excited to have Tiffany and Jimbo join our basketball staff. They are both very fine people and bring a lot of talent and energy to the table. Coach Klinger and Coach Robinson left the program in a good place and we look forward to building on the momentum they have started.”

Mr. Weber Receives Marbury Technology Award

Weber Receives Marbury Technology Award
Originally uploaded by fnwchs.

(Birmingham, AL) Mr. Faustin N. Weber, president of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, received the "Marbury Technology Innovation Award", given by the State Department of Education to "recognize exceptional creativity, leadership and instructional excellence in the use of technology to improve learning in his or her school." State superintendent Dr. Joe Morton presented Weber the award in the opening session of Alabama Technology Conference in Birmingham, AL, on June 15.



Among the reasons for receiving the award, Mr. Weber was recognized for working with school PTO to establish a regular means of funding technology at his school. The annual Seafood Dinner has allowed the school to purchase well over $200,000 of computer equipment for use by teachers and students over the last ten years. This has helped the school purchase nearly 100 computers, outfit two complete computer labs, install digital projectors and create a first rate school administration program. Because of these things, teachers have access to email at their desks and are able to send report cards to parents at any time in the school year on request. The school has a digital security system which can be accessed anywhere on line. An email list serve keeps families informed on a week to week basis. The school web page has on-line calendars for school and athletic events, a 360-degree virtual tour of the school, a new family information page, athletic web pages full of photos and team news, on-line applications and registration information, information for teachers to assist them in teaching and on-line photo albums. Recently Mr. Weber conducted a series of on-line evaluations of school programs and teachers, soliciting feedback to assist the school in improving services to families.



In accepting the award, Weber reflected: " I am grateful to the parents, teachers and students of Montgomery Catholic for supporting our school in so many concrete ways. In addition, I am sure that one reason I have received this honor is because I design our school's web page, and for that, I owe a debt of gratitude to my son. Three years ago, our web design teacher had to leave us be with his sick mother. There was no one on the faculty to teach basic html code to our students, so I inherited the class by default. Each night, my then 10 year old son would tutor me on a section of html code, which I would then dutifully teach the next day to our high school students. Such has the world changed that ten year olds can teach principals of high schools!"

MCPS Welcomes Mrs. Sue Vaughn as High School Principal

Mrs. Vaughn
Originally uploaded by fnwchs.

Mrs. Sue Vaughn officially became principal of our high school on June 15, 2005.

She comes to us from Roswell, GA, where she taught both middle school and high school Spanish for 15 years. She has a Master's degree in languages and an Administrative certificate.

She is the first lay woman to be named as principal of the high school in its 130 year history!

Belsterling and Vercelli named on all state team!

Belsterling and Vercelli named on all state team!
Originally uploaded by fnwchs.

Congratulations to Alison Belsterling, shown above, who made first team all-state in soccer and all metro, and Lauren Vercelli, who was named first team all state in softball and all metro.

Also gaining recognition are: Dwight Hause, all metro in baseball and honorable mention, all state; Amanda Beeseley, all metro softball and honorable mention, all state; Kristin Lushington, all metro in soccer, and honorable mention, all state; Anna Vercelli, all metro, soccer; Abby Beesley, all metro in softball; Jennifer Tudor, all metro honorable mention in softball; Colin Newmeyer, all metro honorable mention in soccer. Lee Wright and Bob Weber, honorable mention, all metro in baseball.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Class of 2005

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's 130th graduating class!
Originally uploaded by fnwchs.

The Class of 2005, the 130th graduating class in our school's distinguished history, had over 40% receive scholarship offers, totalling over 1.4 million dollars! Kate Griffith was the valedictorian and Chad Margetson was the salutatorian. Faus Weber and Jenna Golson were the ideal grads, whereas Tony Chen and Lauren Vercelli were the leaders of the year. Congratulations to all; we will miss them.