"St. Bede Science Olympiad Team Conquers Jacksonville Again" by Tara Bourke, St. Bede Sixth Grade Science Olympian

Saturday, February 23, all members of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s St. Bede Science Olympiad team were up bright and early at 5:00 a.m. Why would any kids do that? Well, they do it because of their love for science. They began their day with the long 2½-hour drive to Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Alabama, to compete in the Elementary Science Olympiad competition.

When they reached their destination they were warmly greeted at the opening “ceremonies,” then sent off sleepily to their events. While there, they made paper helicopters, took tests on weather and wildlife, built bridges of pasta, and made many new friends.

Finishing this fun-filled day they received more first place medals than any of the other 18 schools competing at the Olympiad and took home the third place trophy! The team members are Sixth graders Tara Bourke, Ann Marie Dean, Clay Ronan, Ashley Barranco, Anna Mills, Maddie O’Mara, Alex Castanza, and Allie Micher. Fifth Graders Paige Barranco, Andrew Bomberg, Jacob Hulcher, Ashley Kim, Ashley Karst, Mandy Jones, Mary Janet McLaughlin, Lindsey Guin, and Sean Federspil, Fourth Graders Emily Barranco, Patrick O’Mara, Mary Reagan Starrett, and Marissa Dogan. Montgomery Catholic’s St. Bede Science Olympiad Team is sponsored by Mr. Nick Bourke, Mr. Larry Meiers, and Miss Heather Kirsch.

For fifteenth years, Jacksonville High School has sponsored an Elementary Science Olympiad, which is an academic interscholastic competition designed to increase student interest in science and improve the quality of science education. The Elementary Science Olympiad offers a unique opportunity for students to test their creative and cooperative skills, interact with other motivated students, and expand their minds with science.

Elementary Science Olympiad teams are comprised of up to 24 upper elementary students who compete in a series of individual and team events which participants prepare for prior to the tournament. The majority of Elementary Science Olympiad events are team competitions that require teamwork, group planning, and cooperation. The emphasis is on learning, participation, interaction, and having fun.

PICTURED: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School St. Bede Science Olympiad Team.

Montgomery Catholic Science Olympiad Team wins at Regional High School Competition

The first ever high school Science Olympiad team at Montgomery Catholic competed in the Regional Science Olympiad Competition held on the campus of the University of Alabama on Saturday, February 23, 2008. Montgomery Catholic has competitive Science Olympiad teams at the elementary and middle school levels. This was the first competition for the high school team from Montgomery Catholic, who earned honors in 3 of the 23 events.

Seniors Jacob Weatherly and Gabby Moore took 2nd place in Chemistry and 4th in Experimental Design. Freshmen Nick Smith and William Whitt placed 5th in Epidemiology. Also competing for Montgomery Catholic were Cindy Camacho, Kathleen Benning, and Amanda Youngpeter. Montgomery Catholic's High School Science Olympiad Team is sponsored by Mrs. Kathy O'Connor.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's High School Science Olympiad Team members Cindy Camacho, Amanda Youngpeter, Nick Smith, Gabby Moore, Jacob Weatherly, William Whitt, and Kathleen Benning.

Montgomery Catholic Dedicates Baseball Field in memory of Brannon Cochran '99

On Saturday, February 16th, at 11:00 a.m., Montgomery Catholic dedicated the baseball field to Brannon Cochran. Brannon graduated from Montgomery Catholic in 1999 and was an avid supporter of the Knights throughout his short life. Brannon passed away unexpectedly in October, 2006.

You could always find Brannon at Catholic games cheering from the sidelines, no matter the sport, but his biggest love was Catholic baseball. He attended and played in every alumni baseball game held each spring and encouraged his former teammates to join in on the fun.

Two of Brannon’s closest friends, classmates, and teammates, Tony Ceasar and Charlie Barranco, wanted to honor their best friend’s memory by raising money to have the baseball field named for him.

Hundreds of Montgomery Catholic alumni and friends attended the field dedication. The annual alumni baseball game followed the ceremony. The varsity boys solidly defeated the alumni team 11-1. Tony and Charlie had t-shirts printed for the alumni team to wear, all bearing Brannon "Booty" Cochran's CHS jersey #21.

Accepting the honor on behald of Brannon's family was his brother, Joseph Cochran '02. Joining Joseph were his parents, Rick and Marty (Rupert '72) Huett, as well as a host of family and friends.

Donations are still being accepted. Please send them to MCPS c/o Brannon Cochran Field, 5350 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116.

To view photos from the event, click here: http://family.webshots.com/album/562541499dcjPru

Catholic Softball Program Wins Season Opener; JV Program to begin in '09

The Lady Knights won their season opener out scoring the Carver High School Lady Wolverines 15-3, under the direction of Head Coach Tim Trokey.

Thirty-two students in grades 7-12 tried out for the Varsity Softball Team this year with 16 joining the team. With such a tremedous show of interest, the Montgomery Catholic Athletic Program will field a junior varsity team beginning in the 2009 spring season.

The 2008 Lady Knights are Liz Armstrong, Sarah Armstrong, Hannah Barranco, Jessica Barranco, Anissa Britt, Kaila Camara, Rhyan Duffey, Emily Ellis, Jordan Fox, Morgan Foxworth, Rachel Jackson, Kirsten Lancaster, Haley Loria, Mackenzie Martin, Emily Starr, and Caitlyn Wiggins. The Lady Knights are managed by Callie Wilkinson and Kelsey Williamson.

Montgomery Catholic will play in a tournament against Brewbaker Tech on Friday and Saturday at Fain Park.

Weber Selected as Headmaster for Pope John Paul II High School in Tennessee

Faustin N. Weber, president of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, has been selected as the new headmaster for Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, for the 2008-2009 academic year. Mr. Weber will officially assume the position in late June.

In explaining his decision, Mr. Weber said, “God has blessed our recent capital development work and regionalization efforts, and the results are that enrollment has surged from 640 to 800 in less than five years. Increasingly, my job as president has become that of the chief financial officer of the institution--a responsibility I welcome, but at the same time, I yearn for closer relationships with families and students more typical of the principal position."

He continued, “When Mrs. Vaughn announced her resignation at the end of this year, I saw an opportunity to merge the president and principal position for a time, and proposed to the Board that we do so, coupled with hiring a business manager to assist me as president and an assistant principal to assist me as principal. The committee studying this proposal, however, worried with some justification that the short term issues as principal would trump the long term planning of president and believed that combining might threaten the recent trajectory of success we've enjoyed under the distinct president-principal model. Recognizing their concern, I began to look for other positions around the country that incorporated a hybrid leadership model, which is what led me to the headmaster position at John Paul II.”

Mr. Weber’s 23-year career at Montgomery Catholic began in the fall of 1985 as a Theology and English teacher, after completing his Master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.

From 1989 until 2002, he served as principal of Catholic High. In June of 2002, Mr. Weber was hired as the school president leading the merger of what is now Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, a regional kindergarten through 12th grade school on two campuses.

Weber reflected on his four years of full time teaching, 13 years as principal and six as president.
“Montgomery Catholic has been a great blessing to me and to my family. I met my wife here when we were both first year teachers. We’ve raised our kids here, from kindergarten on up. My best friends are all connected to this place. Though I am excited about the new challenge, I love this place and am very proud of all that we’ve accomplished together as a community,” said Weber.

A president search committee has been formed, lead by the Board in conjunction with the Office of Catholic Schools.

Weatherly Named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is proud to announce Jacob Weatherly as a National Merit Scholarship® Finalist. Jacob 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, Jacob has maintained outstanding academic records throughout his high school years, has been endorsed and recommended by his school principal, and has earned SAT scores that confirm their qualifying test performance.

Jacob also had to submit a detailed scholarship application, including a self-descriptive essay and information regarding his participation and leadership in both school and community activities. Weatherly is currently the Secretary-Treasurer of the Student Government Association.

Catholic’s Matthew Copeland Elected Mayor at Youth in City

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Government Club participated in the YMCA’s Youth in City program on Friday, February 8, 2008. Nineteen students participated in the all day event held at City Hall.

The Youth in City program allows students to experience the workings of city government first-hand by writing and submitting city ordinances, campaign and be elected by their peers as council members, and conduct a mock session of our city’s council meetings.

Austin Barranco and Roscoe Anderson, both juniors at Montgomery Catholic, were elected to the city council. Many of the government club’s ordinances were debated and passed by the council.

At the end of the session, all participants vote to elect next year’s city Mayor. Matthew Copeland was elected and sworn in as 2009 Youth in City Mayor of Montgomery. Matthew also received the “Best Participant” award from the Optimist Club of Downtown Montgomery at the event.

Montgomery Catholic’s participants in Youth in City were Roscoe Anderson, Julian Arrington, Austin Barranco, D’Jara Britton, Matthew Copeland, Cater Elliot, Rebecca Hails, Ashley Johnson, Brianna McClure, Mara McCracken, Briana Morgan, Marie Quillin, Caroline Starr, Alexandra Taylor, Justin Taylor, Kyle Taylor, Aaron Weber, and Hayden Whyard. The Montgomery Catholic Government Club is sponsored by Mrs. Amy Johnson.

To view photos from Youth in City, go to: http://family.webshots.com/album/562443068gSONRm


Pictured: YMCA Youth in City participants from Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. Row 1: Mara McCracken, Rebecca Hails, Briana Morgan, Ashley Johnson, and Alexandra Taylor. Row 2: Austin Barranco, Marie Quillin, Caroline Starr, and Brianna McClure. Row 3: D’Jara Britton, Julian Arrington, and Roscoe Anderson. Row 4: Justin Taylor, Matthew Copeland, Aaron Weber, and Cater Elliot.

Newmeyer Signs with Tusculum College

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Colin Newmeyer has signed a letter of intent to play soccer for Tusculum College, an NCAA Division II school located in Greeneville, Tenn., nestled in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains. Over the years, Colin’s love and talent for soccer have brought him great success in both AHSAA and club soccer circles at both the state and national level. Colin has been a member of the Capital City Streaks club soccer organization since 1999, playing in the Governors Cup Finals, State Cup Semi-Finals and played on two State Cup championship teams.

Playing in the Olympic Development Program (ODP), Colin has been selected for state pool play at all events as both a midfielder and left defender. He also traveled with the team to compete in Mexico just last summer.

Colin’s talent grabbed attention long before he made it to high school. As a starting varsity letterman at Montgomery Catholic in the seventh grade, he received honorable mention on The Montgomery Advertiser’s All-Metro team.

Colin has earned numerous high school awards including varsity team MVP for two years, Offensive Player of the Year and has been his high school team co-captain since the 10th grade. Colin played in the Alabama High School Athletic Association All-Star Game last summer and was the South team MVP. Last season, The Birmingham News recognized Colin with a place on its Class 1A-4A All-State Team and The Montgomery Advertiser named him to their All-Metro Team. With a full season remaining, Colin already holds four Montgomery Catholic boys soccer records including career goals (73), career points (186), points in a season (68), and points in a single game (10).

Colin is the son of Brian '81 and Kristi Newmeyer.

To view photographs of Colin Newmeyer’s scholarship signing, click here: http://family.webshots.com/album/562384426FjfXGY

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Colin Newmeyer signs with Tusculum College flanked by his family and teammates during the ceremony.

Sale-A-Bration, Saturday February 23rd

Your trash may be another one’s treasure. Find out by renting a parking space at the Sale-A-Bration on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Montgomery Catholic's High School parking lot on Vaughn Road. Hosted by MCPS’s Eighth Grade Class, sale proceeds will be used to fund the class trip to Washington, D.C., in May.

The public is invited to rent a parking space for only $10 (tables are available for another $5). The Sale-A-Bration is 7 a.m. until 12 noon. Those wishing to donate gently-used items for the class to sell may drop them off at the school cafeteria on Friday, February 22 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Refreshments will be available as well as babysitting. To reserve a space, simply download applications available online at www. montgomerycatholic.org.

For more information, please contact Jean Bradley at 409-9097.