3rd Annual Bohemian Art Fling Saturday at St. Bede

The Bohemian Art Fling, a one of a kind arts & crafts show, will be at St. Bede on Saturday, September 29th from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria. St. Bede is located at 3850 Atlanta Highway, at the corner of Atlanta Highway & Perry Hill Road.

Parking is available both in front of the school on Atlanta Highway and behind the school off of Perry Hill Road. Come see and purchase one of a kind artwork and various crafts from numerous vendors.

For more information, contact Deborah Nix at DNix@montgomerycatholic.org or call the school office at (334) 272-3033.

Middle School Students Support Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Middle School student body will walk to raise funds for Montgomery’s “Buddy Walk” benefiting the Montgomery Area Down Syndrome Outreach Group’s walk to be held on October 6th at the Montgomery Zoo. The Buddy Walk was created by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to provide its affiliates and other local groups with a way to promote acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down Syndrome in their communities. The students will be walking in the Ida Belle Young park adjacent to Montgomery Catholic’s Vaughn Road Campus on Friday, September 28th.

Montgomery Catholic Students "See You at the Pole" on Wednesday, September 26th

“Gather. Unite. Pray. Come Together” (John 17:20-23) is the theme for See You at the Pole this year, with the event scheduled for Wednesday, September 26 at schools throughout the United States and in many other countries. In 2006, more than 2 million teenagers met for See You at the Pole in all 50 states. Internationally, reports came in from countries on six continents. Other countries have launched SYATP movements with their own promotional efforts, including Australia and Canada where it was observed this year on May 10.

See You at the Pole is a student-initiated and student-led movement that started in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas, in 1990. SYATP brings students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools, and families, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and countries. The San Diego-based National Network of Youth Ministries coordinates SYATP promotion. Paul Fleischmann, president of the Network, observed: “Every year, we have seen this day serve as a springboard for unity among students on their campuses. See You at the Pole unites students in prayer at the beginning of the semester. Young people have taken unprecedented leadership through this to have a positive impact at their schools.”

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s high school students will gather at 7:30 a.m., elementary students at the St. Bede Campus will gather at 8:00 a.m. and middle school students at 8:15 a.m. on the Vaughn Road Campus.

Thirty-nine 7th grade Students Qualify for Duke TIP Program

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is proud to announce thirty-nine students in the seventh grade have qualified for Duke University’s 28th Annual Talent Identification Program. The talent search identifies academically talented students scoring in the 95th percentile or higher on a grade level standardized achievement, aptitude, mental ability test or approved state criterion-referenced test. This program is recognized as a national leader in identifying academically talents students across the country.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s students who have qualified for the Duke TIP Program are Sterling Anderson, Michaela Armstrong, Hannah Barranco, Anna Vail Chancey, Zachary Cruce, Michael Dallas, Elana D’Argenio, Baines Deal, Kenneth Dickerson, Zachary Donaldson, Broghan Freeland, Sydney Hash, Gabriella Hayes, Zach Hulcher, Sydney Jarman, Megan Karst, Will Littleton, Alex Manning, Josh Marshall, Jarrett Mason, Stone Miller, David Norris, Taylor Pitters, Conner Preston, Trey Riggles, Robbie Sankey, Giselle Simms, Blayne Spigner, Joanne Spottswood, Jack Starr, Maggie Starr, Spencer, Starr, Natalie Sullivan, Shelby Taff, Sarah Talbot, Caya Taylor, Ethan Watkins, Daniel Weber, and Lexie Wilkinson.

Shannon Boswell to represent Montgomery Catholic at Junior Miss Scholarship Program

Senior Shannon Boswell will represent Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in Montgomery County’s Junior Miss Scholarship Program on October 7th and 8th held at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church. The Junior Miss Scholarship Program began as an outgrowth of a community floral festival and has evolved into a national scholarship program in which thousands of high school senior girls participate each year. Started in the 1920s and headquartered in Mobile, America's Junior Miss Scholarship Program is now the oldest and largest program of its kind.

Thirty-five girls from across Montgomery County will participate for thousands of dollars in various collegiate scholarships with the winner moving on to the state Junior Miss competition. The girls will be evaluated in a physical fitness routine, poise competition, talent, and panel interview.

Shannon Boswell has been a dancer with the Alabama Dance Theater since the age of three and a member of the ADT Dance Company for the past four years. She will perform a dance choreographed by ADT professional dancer Joy Ohme. Shannon says, “I have enjoyed getting to know all of the participants from various schools. We’ve had fun getting ready and learning the different routines. It’s exciting to be a part of such a great program.” Shannon is the daughter of Willie and Sheila Boswell.

Photo: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School senior & Montgomery Co. Jr. Miss participant Shannon Boswell.

Cross Country Team Claims Small School Division Title at Smiths Station Invitational

Congratulations to our Cross Country Team who traveled to East Alabama for the Smiths Station Invitational on Saturday, September 15th. The Girls won the overall title in the small schools division with Alexandra Gilbert (3rd), Savannah Szabo (4th) and Elena D'Argenio (7th) finishing in the top 10. The Boys finished second overall with John Terino third and six other Catholic runners finished in the top 30. Our team is coached by Mr. John Terino and assisted by Miss Mariangela Sullivan.

For pictures of our Cross Country Team in action, click here: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/560497531vxsJKB;jsessionid=abcWZybOK92DEbzb8_uur

Montgomery Catholic Students Imagine Whirled Peace with Pinwheels for Peace Art Project

In today’s world, peace needs to become more than just a word. On Friday, September 21, 2007, art students at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School will participate in an International art and literacy project, “Pinwheels for Peace.” The students will “plant” pinwheels with messages of peace in the front lawn of the middle and high school, located at 5350 Vaughn Road. This year’s international theme is “Pinwheels Everywhere!”

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started by two Art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, of Coconut Creek, Florida, as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. Groups in over 2,400 locations “planting” approximately a million pinwheels throughout the world have committed to spinning these pinwheels on September 21st. Locally, the Middle & High School Art Instructor, Ms. Joane Grant, has coordinated the Pinwheels for Peace project at MCPS since the project’s inception.

In this non-political art project – Peace is not necessarily associated with the conflict of war; it can be related to violence/intolerance in our daily lives, to peace of mind. To each of us, peace can take on a different meaning, but, in the end, it all comes down to a simple definition: “a state of calm and serenity, with no anxiety, the absence of violence, freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people.”

For the third year in a row, the Montgomery Catholic middle and high school art students have created pinwheels of all shapes and sizes. As part of the creation process, the students wrote their thoughts about "war and peace / tolerance/ living in harmony with others" on one side. On the other side, they have painted, created collages, etc. and visually expressed their feelings. The students assembled the pinwheels and on International Day of Peace they will "plant" their pinwheels in the front lawn of the high school as a public statement and art exhibit/installation.

Weatherly Named National Merit Semifinalist

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is proud to announce Jacob Weatherly as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. The names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 53rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program were announced today by officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship® awards, worth $34 million, that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalist level of the competition by fulfilling several requirements. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

Established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Program, NMSC is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. Scholarships awarded through this program are underwritten by NMSC’s own funds and approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

Photo: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalist Jacob Weatherly.

Mayor’s Assistant Jeff Downes '85 Speaks to Senior Economics Class

Mr. Jeff Downes, Executive Assistant to Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright and Montgomery Catholic 1985 Alumni, recently spoke to Coach Joe Arban’s senior Economics classes about opportunity costs and their effect on city budgets and the bottom line. Mr. Downes gave a variety of real examples the capital city faces when considering opportunity costs and the annual budget. Students gained a better understanding of how municipal budgeting, city services, and the costs that affect those services many take for granted each day.

Given an imaginary number and a variety of city services and budget requests, the students had to review the opportunity costs of providing for those requests and services while staying within a set budget. Senior Whitney Barranco said, “I didn’t realize how difficult the decisions for opportunity costs and their affects really were until we had to do it for ourselves. There is a lot more to it than meets the eye. It really brought it all into perspective.”

Pictured: MC Alumni Jeff Downes ’85 speaks to seniors about opportunity costs at Montgomery Catholic.

Record Number of Girls Attend Montgomery Catholic's Cheer Camp

The Montgomery Catholic Varsity Cheerleaders hosted 90 girls in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade at their annual cheerleading clinic on Saturday, September 8th from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the Fr. Pat Delahunty Gymnasium on the Vaughn Road campus. At the clinic, the girls were divided into small squads according to age and taught cheers, beginner stunts, chants, and a dance.

All of the participants will perform the cheers they learned in a pre-game show on Friday, September 21st when Montgomery Catholic hosts Montevallo.

Pictured above: Varsity Cheerleader senior Cecily McAlpine shows the Kindergarten & 1st Grade girls the motions to a cheer at camp.

To view photos from the event, click here: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/560634450PWLtBc;jsessionid=abcO1LiCq9Gq7gFvUlXtr