Senior Michelle Perone Named National Merit Scholarship Finalist

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is proud to announce senior Michelle Perone as a National Merit Scholarship® Finalist. Michelle is one of over 16,000 scholastically talented high school seniors to have an opportunity to continue in the competition for over 8,200 Merit Scholarship® awards, worth over $33 million. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, students must fulfill several requirements and about one-half of the Finalists are selected as Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar® title. As a Finalist, Michelle has maintained an outstanding academic record throughout her high school years, has been endorsed and recommended by her school principal, and has earned SAT scores that confirm her qualifying test performance. Michelle also had to submit a detailed scholarship application, including a self-descriptive essay and information regarding her participation and leadership in both school and community activities. Michelle is considering the University of Notre Dame and the University of Alabama among her many collegiate choices following high school.


Picture: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Senior Michelle Perone, National Merit Scholarship Finalist.

PICE donates over $21,000 for Reading & Band Programs

Partners In Catholic Education (PICE) recently presented Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School with two checks totaling over $21,000. PICE Representative Gary Tomlin and PICE Past-President Debbie Harvey presented Band Director Mr. Kerry Palmer with a check for $16,500 to help purchase new band uniforms for the marching band program set to take the field this fall. Middle School Principal Anne Ceasar and High School Principal Sue Vaughn were presented with a check for $5,000 to enhance the library collection for the school’s reading program.


Picture: On hand for the PICE check presentation Mr. Kerry Palmer, Mrs. Anne Ceasar, Ms. Sue Vaughn, Mr. Gary Tomlin, and Mrs. Debbie Harvey.

Band Receives Superior Ratings at District Festival

The Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Middle School and High School bands participated in the Alabama Bandmasters’ Association District Band Festival at Opelika High School on Friday, February 24. This festival features concert bands performing selections for a panel of judges for ratings. The MCPS Middle School Band received an “Excellent” rating, while the MCPS High School Band received a “Superior” rating – the highest possible score for a band at this type of festival. This was the band’s first appearance at an area competition.

The High School Band qualified for advancement to the State Band Competition to be held at Vestavia Hills High School on March 13 and 14. Members of this band are preparing diligently both at school and at home for this prestigious event.

The Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School band program was formed at the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year, and is directed by Mr. Kerry Palmer. The program consists of a beginning program at St. Bede Elementary School, led by Mr. Jim Valieant; concert bands at the Middle School and High School campuses; and a marching band that will take the field for the first time during the upcoming 2006 football season.

Congratulations to Mr. Palmer, Mr. Valient and all the band members for such success—in just two years!

Pictured: Members of the Montgomery Catholic Band, Toni Profio, Lindsay Avant, Thomas Herge, Adam Benedict, and Lindsay Taylor.

St. Bede Scores Big at Science Olympiad Competition

The St. Bede Science Olympiad team places again this year at the annual Elementary Science Olympiad held at Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, AL. The Science Olympiad team is under the direction of Ms. Melanie Grayson, Mr. Larry Meiers, and Mr. Nick Bourke. The team took third place in the overall competition. Individual students won 5 first place medals, 8 second place medals and 2 third place medals for their performance in various competitions. Members of the St. Bede Science Olympiad Team are Sixth graders Josh Stark, Forrest Taylor, Wheeler Ronan, Ben Crocker, Forrest Phillips, Dominic Godwin, Mallyna Sessions, Kevin Norris. Fifth graders Ian Ginnaty, Chase Forshey, David Norris, Giselle Sims, Jarrett Mason, Broghan Freeland, Zach Hulcher, Connor Preston. Fourth graders Ann Marie Dean, Alex Castanza, Tara Bourke, Anna Mills, Clay Ronan, Patrick McGinn, Geoffrey Myers, William Mitchell.

Pictured: St. Bede Science Olympiad Team members pose with their Third Place trophy at the Elementary Science Olympiad competition at Jacksonville High School.