Congratulations Jr. NHS Inductees

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School inducted 23 eighth grade students into the Jr. High National Honor Society during a special ceremony on October 24, 2008. These students are the first members of the Montgomery Catholic Jr. High NHS.

Pictured: row 1: Jarrett Mason, Taylor Pitters, Mary Frances Mount, Maggie Starr, Caya Taylor, Michaela Armstrong, Katherine Terino, Elena D'Argenio, Broghan Freeland. row 2: Lexie Wilkinson, Megan Karst, Robbie Sankey, David Norris, Giselle Simms, Gabby Hayes, Sarah Talbot, Joanne Spotswood. row 3: Kenneth Dickerson, Trey Riggles, Karen Kappellman, Shelby Taff, Zach Hulcher, Connor Preston.

A special reception was held in the Barranco Center for the new inductees and their parents.

MCPS students attend YMCA Europe Youth Festival

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School seniors Roscoe Anderson and Austin Barranco attended the 2008 YMCA Europe Youth Festival in Prague this summer.

Anderson and Barranco are active members of the Montgomery Catholic Government Club and both have held numerous offices in YMCA Youth in Government Programs.

Anderson is currently Alabama's Youth Governor and will preside over the 2009 Alabama Youth Legislature. Barranco was the House Floor Leader at this year's Youth Legislature. Barranco will also serve as a delegate for the Youth Conference on National Affairs later this year.

While in the Czech Republic, Roscoe and Austin attended the Europe Youth Festival to learn about the cultures of different countries, meet friends from across the world, and to learn about the YMCA's role in other countries.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic seniors Austin Barranco and Roscoe Anderson hold the school banner while in Prague, Czech Republic this summer.

Kindergarten Visits ASF for "Charlotte's Web"

Mrs. Redden's Kindergarten class from St. Bede recently visited the Alabama Shakespeare Festival to see "Charlotte's Web" on the Octagon Stage. The students were all smiles following the performance.

In the tradition of "Winnie the Pooh" and "James and the Giant Peach", ASF continues great family programming with a delightful staging of E.B. White’s classic tale of a spider who becomes the best friend a little pig ever had—and whose good deeds are returned in the most inspiring ways.

Archbishop Rodi Visits Montgomery Catholic

The Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile, recently visited the high school campus of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. Archbishop Rodi spoke with each of the high school religion classes on his first official school visit, and visited with the students in the hallway during break and between classes.

Senior Brandon DuBois admits he was a little apprehensive about meeting the Archbishop but was instantly put at ease.

"The Archbishop was very friendly and approachable. He talked about things we are interested in like college football and asked us what senior year was like. I was very impressed," said DuBois.

Archbishop Rodi will return to Montgomery Catholic on Saturday, November 1st to celebrate the dedication of the Dolly Barranco Activity Center and Cafeteria at 1:00 p.m. All are invited to attend.

Pictured: Archbishop Rodi speaks with MCPS senior Carrie Tucker between classes.

Starrett Wins Grand Prize for "Howl-iday" Art Contest

Mary Reagan Starrett, a 5th grade student at Montgomery Catholic's St. Bede Campus, was a grand prize winner in the Montgomery Humane Society's "Howl-iday Card Art Contest" on October 10th. Starrett appeared before the entire "Walk and Wag" festival at Alabama Shakespeare Festival to receive her $100 prize and trophy.

Mary Reagan's winning picture will be featured on this year's Montgomery Humane Society Christmas cards. The Humane Society received hundreds of entries for this contest.

Catholic girls win Hoover cross country meet

The Montgomery Catholic girls cross country team recorded 32 points to finish first in the 1A-5A division of the Hoover Invitational held at Veteran's Park on Thursday.

Lizzie Terino led the Knights, placing second with a time of 22:01.

Alexandra Gilbert was sixth, followed by Katherine Terino (7th), Sarah Talbot (8th), Brianna McClure (9th), Jessica Taff (10th) and Sara Beth Parker (11th), Elena D'Argenio (15th) and Megan Foran (32nd).

St. James was second and LAMP finished fourth.

LAMP won the boys race with Catholic finishing fifth. Steve Brown and Mark Hunkins placed 14th and 15th, respectively. Thomas Sutton was 25th, followed by William Sherman (40th), Josh Glenboski (43rd) and Michael D'Argenio (55th).

The racing Knights will participate in the AHSAA Class 4A sectional meet Oct. 30 at Keisel Park in Auburn.

Lady Knights Volleyball in State Play-Offs

Congratualtions to Coach Jill Clark and the Montgomery Catholic varsity volleyball team on winning the AHSAA Class 4A, Area 4 tournament championship last week and for their fourth-place finish in Saturday's Region tournament.

The Knights, now 19-12 overall, move on in state playoff competition. They travel across town Thursday night for a sub-state playoff game against Alabama Christian. The match begins at 5:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to next week's AHSAA state tournament in Pelham.

The area tournament was held at Catholic on October 14. The Knights were seeded first in the tournament and did not disappoint. They defeated Greensboro 3-0 to clinch the title.

Saturday, the Knights opened region tournament play at St. James with a 3-1 victory over W.S. Neal of Brewton. St. James defeated the Knights 3-0 in the semifinals. Clarke County beat Catholic in a thrilling five-game match in the consolation.

Coach Clark and the team would love to have your support Thursday night at Alabama Christian. Come out and support the Knights as they battle for a berth in the state tournament.

Drummond Bowls Over Competition

Parker Drummond, a seventh grader at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, was recently presented a number of bowling awards by his Central Alabama Bowling Association Coach Bill Hause. Parker received a plaque for bowling the highest series scratch for the 2007-2008 bowling season in the Central Alabama Bowling Association for his division.

Drummond was also awarded a bowling shirt for earning a place on the All Star Team based on his high average. He also received three plaques from the state tournament earned earlier this year in Huntsville for 2nd place in the Team Division, 6th place in Singles Division, and 3rd place in all events.

Pictured: MCPS student Parker Drummond accepts bowling awards from Central Alabama Bowling Association Coach Bill Hause at Bama Lanes in Montgomery.

Montgomery Catholic Students Attend 35th Annual Red Mass

Students in Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth grade as well as the Seventh and Eighth grade Student Government officers from Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School joined the state of Alabama's Unified Judicial System officials in celebrating the 35th Annual Red Mass at St. Peter's Catholic Church in downtown Montgomery on October 6. The Most Reverend Robert J. Baker, Archbishop of Birmingham, celebrated the Mass.

The tradition of the Red Mass goes back many centuries in Rome, Paris, and London. It is the Solemn Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated generally near the beginning of the Judicial Year and attended by judges, lawyers, and court officials of all faiths for the purpose of invoking God's blessing and guidance in the administration of justice.

Above, Middle School students spoke with Alabama Supreme Court Justice and 1970 Montgomery Catholic graduate Patty Mungenast Smith, center, at the reception for the Red Mass.

Montgomery Catholic NOW Classes Keep Olympic Spirit

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Middle School NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) Classes keep the Olympic Spirit alive with class competitions. Middle School students meet with their NOW classes for 25 minutes each morning where they meet in small groups to discuss study skills, plan for upcoming tests, and conduct regular daily homeroom duties. Recently, each classes adopted a country, studied its background, history, and culture, and then competed against each other in a series of competitions. For Jamaica, Miss Vinson had t-shirts custom airbrushed for each of her students in the colors of the Jamaican flag.

Happy Birthday Johnny Appleseed!

Students in Mrs. Redden's Kindergarten class celebrated Johnny Appleseed's birthday with an apple tasting party. The students sampled many variety of apples in all sorts of delicious snacks like apple butter, apple juice, dried apple chips and many different kinds of fresh sliced apples. Above, James Warner Cleghorn, Jimmy Wildes, and Spencer Bach enjoy their apple-inspired snacks.

To view photos from the party, click here: http://family.webshots.com/album/567983524WsmYUZ

WSFA Visits Kindergarten at St. Bede

WSFA StormVision Meteorologist Josh Johnson visited Mrs. Burden's Kindergarten class at the St. Bede Campus of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. Mr. Johnson reported the weather segments for Alabama Live! and The Twelve O'Clock Report news broadcasts.

Mrs. Burden's class has been studying weather, charting it daily in the classroom, and creating weather related artwork which they showcased live during one of the segments from their classroom.

Following the indoor segments, the broadcast carried out into the courtyard where the Varsity Cheerleaders and members of the Marching Knights band held a mini-pep rally for all of the Kindergarten students.

To view photos from the event, click here: http://family.webshots.com/album/567737521cThNYV

Montgomery Catholic Crowns 2008 Homecoming Queen & King

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School announced their Homecoming Court and crowned the Queen and King for 2008 during the half-time festivities on Friday, September 26, 2008.

The Freshmen Class attendant is Miss Amanda Logan escorted by Mr. Jacob McAlpine. Logan is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Logan. Amanda is a Junior Varsity Cheerleader and a member of the Pep Club. McAlpine is the son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Gaylon McAlpine. Jacob participates in football, basketball, and soccer at Catholic and is the President of the Freshmen Class.

The Sophomore Class attendant is Miss Mary Allison Tyner escorted by Mr. Kenny Davison. Tyner is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Tyner. Mary Allison dances with a semi-professional dance company, studies voice at Huntingdon College, and is active in the Girls' Leadership Club at Catholic. Davison is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Davison. Kenny is a member of the Varsity basketball and baseball teams as well as a Junior High Jimmy Hitchcock Award nominee for Catholic.

The Junior Class attendant is Miss Sarah Armstrong escorted by Mr. Michael D'Argenio. Armstrong is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brett Armstrong. Sarah is a member of the Varsity Cheerleading squad, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Key Club and Pep Club. D'Argenio is the son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Michael D'Argenio. Michael is the captain of the Cross Country team, percussionist for the Marching Knights, and is a core team member of the youth group at Church of the Holy Spirit.

The Senior Class attendants are Miss Kelsey Steffen escorted by Mr. Cater Elliot and Miss Hannah Been escorted by Mr. John Dugan. Steffen is the daughter of Mr. Henrique Roelho and Mrs. Barbara Steffen. Kelsey serves as the chaplain for the Lady Knights soccer team, vice president of the Pep Club, and is a member of the yearbook staff. Elliot is the son of Mr. William Elliot and Mrs. Rhonda Stewart. Cater is an active member of the Key Club, Pep Club, and Government Club. Hannah Been is the daughter of Col. and Mrs. David Been. Hannah is a member of the Varsity Cheerleading squad, dances on a competition dance team, and is a member of the National Honor Society. John Dugan is the son of Mr. John Dugan and Ms. Colleen Dugan. John is a member of the Varsity football team, enjoys wake boarding, skiing, snowboarding, and playing golf.

The 2008 Homecoming Queen & King are Miss Mara McCracken and Mr. Austin Barranco. McCracken is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chris McCracken. Mara plays on the Varsity Volleyball team and is a member of the club volleyball team "Dig It Alabama" where she has been voted the most valuable player. Barranco is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Barranco. Austin is the president of the Senior Class, was the House floor leader at this year's YMCA Youth Legislature, and represented the United States at the International Youth Festival in Prague, Poland this summer. Austin will also serve as a delegate to the Conference on National Affairs.

The Homecoming dance was held on Saturday night at the St. Bede Family Life Center.

To view pictures from the event, click here: http://family.webshots.com/album/567559069XiIAgZ